Happy Sunday, everyone! I hope you’ve been enjoying this beautiful warm weather we’ve been having. Of course, all good things must come to an end, and I’ve heard some parts of Southern Ontario may see their first snowfall this week. Oh well… we knew it couldn’t last forever!
A couple of weeks ago, Tania and I found ourselves on yet another daytrip to Southwestern Ontario. We’d gone to experience one last meal at our favourite place, Pinecroft, before they closed their patio for the season. (Dessert is a meal, right!?) We enjoyed a slice of their famous carrot cake and lemon-lavender cheesecake with some coffee, surrounded by the stunning fall foliage and the tranquil quiet of the forest. Clearly we’re the only ones who still thought it was patio weather, because everyone else was sitting inside! I’ll admit it was a tad chilly, but the views more than made up for it.
We ended up covering a lot of ground that day: three counties, to be exact! After starting in Elgin County, we drove our way back through Oxford County and into Norfolk County, where we did some deer-watching at the Waterford Deer Park, sampled beers at a couple of local breweries, and got into the Halloween spirit at Waterford Pumpkinfest. More to come on all those things, but for now, I wanted to share a particularly fun and unique place we visited: the Waterford Antique Market!
As someone who loves all things vintage, I’m a big fan of antiquing. And luckily, there are so many fabulous antique markets to explore here in Ontario. Some of my favourites include the Hamilton Antique Mall, the Aberfoyle Antique Market and the Prudhommes Vintage Market – and now, I’m adding the Waterford Antique Market to that list!
Established in 1999, the Waterford Antique Market is located on Alice Street across from picturesque Shadow Lake. The two-storey, 17,000-square-foot space is home to over 75 vendors selling everything from furniture and home decor to clothing, jewelry and rare collectibles. It might sound overwhelming, but the layout is very well-organized, making it easy for you to find exactly what you’re looking for – and perhaps even some things you weren’t!
If you’re a fan of antique furniture (and if you’re not, you should be – the quality and craftsmanship is unlike anything you’ll find in stores today!) then you’ll love this market. Two of my favourite booths: Wild Dove Vintage and The Little Vintage Shop on Woodley, which had the most delicious jewel-toned velvet chairs.
The market has hundreds of thousands of housewares, from functional kitchen essentials to purely decorative pieces. I’m always on the lookout for blue-and-white china, vintage Wedgwood, floral patterned teacups and Depression glass – I found all of it (and more) here!
How cool is this vintage uranium glass? It casts such a mesmerizing green glow!
We spotted some creepy knick-knacks that would make great Halloween decorations… it is spooky season, after all!
Tania was immediately drawn to these intricately patterned pysanky (traditional Ukrainian Easter eggs.) I’ve tried my hand at making these with Tania’s family (who is Ukrainian) and let me tell you, mine didn’t look anywhere near as pretty as these!
I love anything weird, wacky and whimsical, and the Waterford Antique Market truly is a cabinet of curiosities. From carousel horses to quirky lamps to life-sized dog sculptures, I spotted so many interesting oddities!
After exploring both floors of the antique market, we popped into Your Home Your Story, a home decor boutique with a delightful French country/shabby chic aesthetic. It’s located in the market building, but has its own retail space with a separate entrance. It’s truly one of the prettiest shops I’ve ever visited!
Before heading out, we stopped into The Green House Makers Market. Located just down the street from the antique market in the old Waterford Train Station, this charming shop sells a variety of handcrafted items from Canadian makers.
I hope you enjoyed my reviews of the Waterford Antique Market, Your Home Your Story and The Green House Makers Market, and that I’ve inspired you to pop into these three amazing retail destinations on your next trip to Norfolk County. Trust me: you won’t regret the visit!
What are some of your favourite antique stores, markets or malls in Ontario? Please let me know in the comments or send me an email – I’d love to hear your recommendations!
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