SEATTLE — The bell chimes as the door swings open at Lander Street Vintage in SODO and interior designer Keri Petersen steps inside with the practiced eye of someone who has turned treasure hunting into an art form. If you've never been to a place like this, she says, "welcome to the thrill."
"It's kind of like dating, but with furniture," Petersen explains as she surveys the eclectic maze of vintage finds. "We're not looking for perfect, but we're looking for that piece that makes us feel something."
When Petersen brings antiques into her clients' homes, she's not just adding furniture—she's "layering in a little bit of history and a whole lot of soul." There's something transformative about introducing a piece that's weathered a century or two into a modern space.
"It changes the entire energy," she said. "And it's such a beautiful reminder that beauty can last even with a few scuffs and scratches."
Petersen has developed her own methodology over years of scouring vintage shops:
The First Lap: "I like to walk around once, pretty fast, just getting the vibes," she said. This initial sweep is about intuition, letting pieces call out rather than forcing connections.
The Deep Dive: The second pass is more deliberate. She opens drawers, runs her hands over surfaces, tests the weight of objects. "I look for good bones, solid construction, beautiful shape and interesting scale," Petersen said.
The Silhouette Test: Some things can be changed, others cannot. "You can always reupholster," she said, gesturing to a curvaceous vintage sofa, "but you cannot take a silhouette like this."
Breaking the matching myth
One of the biggest misconceptions about decorating with antiques is that everything must coordinate perfectly. Petersen dismisses this notion entirely.
"Don't worry about matching styles perfectly," she said. "You can bring antiques even in the most modern interiors. The goal is not a museum. It's a home that feels alive."
The key is choosing pieces with personality.
"If it has a great story or makes a great conversation piece, it's probably for you," Petersen said.
In a world saturated with mass-produced furniture, antiques offer something increasingly rare: authenticity.
"Antiques add soul, history and a little bit of mystery to your space," Petersen said. "They say, I have seen some things, and I have been to some places, and in a world of mass-produced furniture, that feels like a gift."
For more design inspiration and antique hunting tips, follow Keri Petersen and KP Spaces on social media.
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