Kudzu Atlanta Antique Market News

Exciting news! Vintage inspired weddings are the hot trend, and Kudzu has just launched it’s Kudzu Pinterest Wedding Registry Service! Now couples have the opportunity to create a registry that reflects their taste for unique and unusual items selected from the tens of thousands of items at Kudzu’s two locations. Our staff can help guide couples through the selection process, and then create a personal registry site on Pinterest that anyone anywhere can visit to select an item that newlyweds will know they’ll love. Don’t be stuck with the same old department store registry, create something unique that shows friends and family what your tastes really are!

Unlike traditional wedding registries, brides and grooms can select from Kudzu’s vast selection of items that have a history and tell a story. Creating a Kudzu registry provides a fun and memorable gift giving experience. You won't find "cookie cutter" gifts here. Think "eclectic" garden art, unique barware, Amish made furniture, industrial lighting, folk art, and collectibles.

But that’s not all. Kudzu can be a terrific resource for ‘provisioning’ your wedding event with wonderful décor items of all types. Our designers can help you imagine a uniquely personal reception or rehearsal dinner using Kudzu’s treasure trove of vintage and global decorating items. Table settings, room décor, centerpieces, Kudzu has thousands of choices. And if you’re looking for inspired bridesmaids gifts or wedding party gifts, we’ve got those too!

If you’re looking for inspiration, check out what these couples have done using vintage to create a fabulous wedding. We hope it gives you that "vintage" vision for your special day.

Join us Friday evenings from 5-8 pm at our Sandy Springs store, Kudzu and Company, for some of Atlanta's best Food Trucks, Live Music, Art Show, and great late shopping. Last Friday was a blast, with almost 500 attendees enjoying 5 food trucks, including Mighty Meatballs, Fry Guy, and Yum Yum Cupcakes, a live concert by the Donna Hopkins Band, a free art show inside the store and special shopping prices. Here's what's coming up:

• May 3- Aviva and the Flying Penquins + 5 of Atlanta's best food trucks!
• May 10 - Heather Luttrell + 5 of Atlanta's best food trucks!
• May 17 - Barry Richman Band + 5 of Atlanta's best food trucks!

Foodie Fridays - Don't miss 'em!

Join us this Saturday, April 20, 10:30, at our sister store Kudzu and Company for our next Kudzu Design Seminar, a free design series by area professionals. This month:
Accessories: The Personality of Your Home
Presented by well known Interior Designer, David Long
* Grouping collectibles, building collections to display in the home.
* Presenting the perfect book shelves.
* Ideas for using accessories for table top
* Layering and limiting.
Complimentary coffee served plus drawing for free gift certificate! Saturday Seminars are offered monthly at Kudzu & Company, 6450 Roswell Road, Sandy Springs. Next month: The Magic of Lamp Shades!

FREE DESIGN SEMINAR AT KUDZU & COMPANY IN SANDY SPRINGS SATURDAY, MARCH 16, 10:30-12:00
TO REUPHOLSTER OR NOT TO REUPHOLSTER ?  

Fall is officially here, and it seems to have happened overnight. Yesterday, you were lying by the pool, sipping lemonade and enjoying the hot sweaty days of Summer. Today, you grab a sweater as you rush out the door for work, feeling the brisk morning air bite at your bare arms. There’s no turning back the clock, no pressing pause, and certainly no hibernating for you! The seasons are changing, and quickly. With only a few short weeks until Halloween it’s time to start getting ready! Kudzu has noticed the changing seasons, and in accordance with “Pumpkin-flavored-everything” month, we have decided to compile a list of things to get YOU ready for the months (and holidays) to come!! We talked to dealers of all trades to compile this list and we’re sharing it with you to help make these next few months just a little bit easier. So grab a pen and paper, write this down, and add a few special “to-do’s” of your own. 

A is for Ambiance. If there’s one quick, easy, and cheap way to make your house instantly ready for a new season, it’s to change the ambiance. The best way to do this is to make it smell like the season. If you don’t have time to whip up a homemade pumpkin pie, try lighting a pumpkin flavored candle (or whatever flavor you like). Filling your home with the smells of the season might not prepare you for everything to come, but at least your house will smell good while you figure it out! B is for Bedding. Change your bedding from those breezy Summer sheets to the warm comforters and quilts, good for cuddling up in all Winter long! C is for Comfort food (and Company!) These are the months where more and more guests will be visiting your home. Indulge in those cook books you have never opened, and whip up some delicious homemade chili. Top it off with a fresh baked pie and your friends are sure to spread the word.

D is for Decorate. Nothing gets you in the holiday spirit like a little festive home decoration. Whether you compete in the neighborhood Christmas lights contest, or you simply carve a pumpkin for Halloween, decorations are the easiest way to spread some holiday cheer. Want to go big on decorations, but not so big on your wallet? - Look for DIY ideas on the internet! Pinterest and DIY blogs are great places to find tip and tricks to decorate for the holiday season. E is for Eat. Do I really need to explain this one?!

F is for Fireplace/ Fire pit. Been using your fireplace as a storage spot these past few months? Well, clear out the clutter and sweep up the soot. The weather is only going to get cooler! G is for Garage. This is the perfect time to clean out and organize your garage. If this is where you store holiday decorations, start getting them out now. Doing this stuff early makes it much easier on you later on! H is for Home, duh! Reconnect with your home. Take this time to look around and do all those things you’ve been meaning to do. You (and your guests) will be spending a lot of time in your home these next few months. Listen to what it’s telling you! I is for Invite. Invite friends over for holiday get-togethers. It doesn’t have to be an actual holiday to hold a brunch or dinner with friends. If you think that’s too much- do a hot chocolate night with your girlfriends. Wanna kill two birds with one stone? Have a decorating party! Invite your closest friends over for treats and drinks and let everyone lend a hand in decorating!

Let’s skip J and K…L is for Light fixtures. Ever walk by those pendant lights and notice the cobwebs and dust bunnies? What better time than now to whip out the Swiffer and start dusting those lights. M is for Move. Move stuff around. Rearrange! Don’t have the money or time to buy new furniture or accessories? You don’t need to spend a fortune to give your home a makeover. Simply move things around. Switching things up can give your home an instant new look.

N is for Nesting. This doesn’t apply only to pregnant women. This is the perfect time to get acquainted with your house. Spend time in each room and discover what’s been neglected and what’s needed. O is for Organize. Before things get really crazy these next few months, start getting organized now. Go through house decorations, cookbooks, and more! Plan now to save you from stressing later. P is for Plant. Fall is the time to plant your bulbs for Spring. This needs to be done about 8 weeks before the first frost. Doing this now means you will have beautiful flowers blooming by Spring! Q…Hmmm, any thoughts? R is for Read. Curl up on that newly moved sofa, light that cleaned up fireplace, and get lost in a good book. I’m pretty sure this fixes every problem imaginable. S is for Shades. Give a room an instant facelift by replacing lamp shades. Switching up lamp shades makes the entire room look brand new! Skipping T, U, and V…

W is for Windows. Once (or better yet, twice) a year, give your windows a good thorough cleaning. This is an instant way to get the exterior of your home looking brand new! X, Y..really? Last, yet most importantly is Z for Zzzz. After getting through this list and the next few months, catch up on some much needed sleep! You'll definitely be needing it.

We hope this list helps you out during the hectic holiday season. Every letter may not apply to you, but use your own creativity to make this list fit your unique lifestyle. The seasons are changing rapidly and there’s no stopping them! So pull your boots up, print this list out, and start checking things off! Oh, and if you get a chance, stop by Kudzu to see whats changing with us over these next few months. Whether you're looking for decorations, new furniture, or just a friendly face, we're sure to have exactly what you need. Happy upcoming holidays from the ‘Zu to you!

Along with all the other great vintage finds from Kudzu, we also carry these product lines of soaps, candles, diffusers, etc:

Voluspa, Blithe & Bonny, Illume, Nouvelle, Paddywax, Vance Kitira, Himalayan handmade candles. 

Karen Nichols is the local artist and antique lover responsible for two booths at Kudzu Antique Mall. If you are wondering which booths are hers, you wont have to look for too long. Karen’s booths are always in perfect order, showing great symmetry and harmony between the items showcased. One of the first things you will notice when you see her booth is all of her beautiful oil paintings. This artwork along with her eclectic mix of furniture and antiques, represents the Karen Nichols that I got to sit down and talk to. She is one part artist, one part antique lover, and a million parts everything else. Fun, eclectic, and full of creative energy, Karen sat down with me to tell me about how she balances the two great loves of her life: art and antiques.

Karen, How long have you been an artist?

“As long as I can remember, it’s been part of my identity. As a kid, I was drawn to the arts. I remember doing a big poster in school when I was 8 and my bird looked like a real bird, not an “M”. It was an accident, but that accident showed what was inside of me. When I went to college, I never questioned what my major was going to be. Art is what I always did.”

Do you find that your art sells well at Kudzu?

“Yea, it’s done very well. It has out-sold my galleries. With the economy like it is, people aren’t going to galleries so much. Kudzu allows me to sell great art pieces at lower prices so that anyone can enjoy and own my work.

What is the inspiration behind your art?

“I think it has changed over the years and I think it continues to change.  I believe that we are attracted to certain things innately. We call it beauty, but its really just basic principles: complimentary colors, harmony, repetition, etc. I also draw inspiration from life experiences and places I’ve visited. My art becomes a way of holding onto those feelings and experiences and finding a way to share them with others.”

How did you get started in the antique business?

“I was always very interested in it. My husband and I have a place in St. Simons and I got to decorate it. We didn’t have a fortune to spend on the interior design, so I had to be creative. I “recycled” old pieces while working on a budget, and the final result was amazing. Also, painting can be very lonely. I spend hours alone in my studio. It’s nice to get away from that. It’s nice to be around people. I love the atmosphere at Kudzu and the people here. It’s a great balance to the other passion in my life.

How would you describe your booth at Kudzu? 

“My booth is very balanced. It’s a mixture of my artwork and pieces that I find. I love being in a good aesthetic.  I just think your environment is very important for your mental well-being. When I set up my booths or look for things,  I want everything to work in a sort of harmony. I set up my booth the same way I set up my paintings. I want things to work well together. I also like for people to be able to see things in a realistic setting. I love taking something old, fixing it up, and seeing how it can be used today. I like an eclectic mix of items: modern with old.”

Where do you find most of the items in your booth?

“Most of the items in my booth come from estate sales.  Over the years, I’ve made contacts with people and formed relationships. People get to know you and what you’re looking for and they contact you telling you what they have or what you might like.”

Do you see yourself making art and working in the antique business forever?

“Yes, I think so. They are a good balance to each other. Before I did this, I owned a fashion photography studio with two partners. It allowed me to have the social aspect while I painted on the side. When we closed that, I really started missing the social aspect of life, and that’s around the time that I picked this up. An artist that I love said if he could pick a place to have a studio, he would have a studio on a balcony overlooking a supermarket. I completely agree with that because painting is very lonely and it’s nice to not feel alone all the time. It’s important to be around people. I balance my time between painting and Kudzu. I work at Kudzu on certain days and then I set aside days to paint. I need to get away from one to truly appreciate and excel at the other.”

Karen Nichols is directly represented by her booths at Kudzu. They show a sense of balance and symmetry which is directly related to how she lives her life and fulfills her two great passions. After sitting down and talking to her (she even took me to her studio), I began to understand and see things a little differently- a little bit more like she sees them. If you want to get to know her better, just look around her booth. Each item tells a story and each painting expresses a unique emotion. Little pieces of Karen are seen throughout the booth. You just have to look long and hard enough to see them. Like the other booths at Kudzu, there is often more than initially meets the eye.

Check out all the progress that is going on at our new Sandy Springs location!! 

WE ARE SET TO OPEN OCTOBER 2012!!!

6/27/12: The old Red Baron's will be the NEW Kudzu!!

6/27/12: We have a ton of new space, ready to be filled with new booths!

7/20/12: Out with the old, in with the 'Zu!! Taking down the Red Baron's sign

7/20/12: We stripped up the carpet and stained the concrete!

7/24/12: Putting in the A/C so we can keep all you customers cool!!

8/23/12: First of the walls getting put up!

8/30/12: The space is getting filled in with walls! Construction is moving along nicely.

9/13/12: All of the walls are up! 

9/13/12: We are so close to our opening date. Cannot wait to get these booths filled in with items!

9/13/12: Working on the front facade of the store. Getting close to putting our sign up!

9/28/12: The front facade of our store is looking beautiful!!

9/28/12: Custom built-ins are being constructed and painted

9/28/12: Interior walls are getting painted 

10/28/12: Exterior sign is up

10/28/12: Interior construction is wrapping up

10/28/12: Industrial booth

10/28/12: Sneak peek of booths 

10/28/12: Sneak peek of booths 

10/28/12: Sneak peek of booths

10/28/12: Sneak peek of booths