chelsea forge antiques and design
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Happy Thrifting: Chelsea Forge Antiques and Quaker Antique Mall

A few weekends ago I left the ten-mile radius surrounding our house to explore some new-to-me antique shops.

As you can see, I’m really branching out.

I even crossed over the border into Pennsylvania! Although, that’s not saying much because as the crow flies we practically live on the border of New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

I figured if I was going to leave my comfort zone, I’d better check out an antique shop that had a ton of square footage, so I chose the Quaker Antique Mall in Quakertown, Pennsylvania.

As luck would have it, Chelsea Forge Antiques and Design (pictured above) was right on my way, so I stopped there too. Would have been a shame to drive by it without stopping, right?

Therefore, I’ll cover both in this post! Neither shop has any clue who I am. I’m just sharing my experience.


Chelsea Forge Antiques and Design in Pohatcong, New Jersey, seems to offer a little bit of everything.

One-of-a-kind antiques? Check.
New or custom-built furniture? Check.
Interior design services? Checkity check.
Prop rental? Check and double check.
Photoshoot location with a historical setting? Triple check.

chelsea forge antiques and design

It will come as no surprise to you based on the type of house I live in that I especially enjoyed the historical nature of Chelsea Forge Antiques and Design, which is located in an old barn.

George Washington kept sixty of the Continental Army’s horses on the site. How cool is that?

chelsea forge antiques and design

There’s a lot to be said for ambiance and how products are styled or displayed when shopping at an antique store. Chelsea Forge Antiques and Design had that rustic elegance vibe going throughout their shop that made you want to stay and explore, which may or may not be good for your wallet. Ha!

P.S. If you aren’t local, they ship! So, if you see something you like on their Instagram page, let them know!


Quaker Antique Mall in Quakertown, Pennsylvania, felt familiar since it showcases the antique mall formula we all are familiar with – a variety of “booths” stocked by different individuals.

This is the kind of place that you need to take your time exploring due to the square footage alone. It’s a veritable treasure hunt of antique goodies.

I actually walked through several of the booths twice and noticed new things each time because there is so much to take in! Don’t expect anything you see in these photos to be there when you go shopping though.

There were a handful of booths selling handmade items. I always love to see how folks repurpose “junk” into something cool for your home.

I purchased two items at the Quaker Antique Mall: an oil painting and a zither guitar. A zither guitar is similar to an autoharp but has some functional differences.

The zither guitar is not playable, but I thought it would make for an interesting art piece in my music room.


Do you know what the moral of this thrifting story is?

I should leave the 10-mile radius surrounding my home more often!

Happy Thrifting!


P.S. If you’ve scored some antique or thrift store finds lately, I’d love to hear about it. In addition, if there is an antique or thrift shop you think I should visit and possibly write about in New Jersey or Pennsylvania, please let me know. You can always comment on this post, send me an email, or message me on Instagram or Facebook.

Probably the only thing you can’t send me is a message in a bottle. I’m landlocked!


If you enjoy learning about other antique and thrift stores around New Jersey and Pennsylvania, you might enjoy one of these posts. Please check before you go as things may have changed since I originally wrote these posts.

Happy Thrifting: Golden Nugget Antique Flea Market

Happy Thrifting: Andover, New Jersey

Happy Thrifting: The Nest at Farmstead Farmers Market

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