I've been waiting just for you...take me home!

There's something about an outdoor market on a sunny day that appeals to our most ancient selves: the anticipation of unlimited possibilities, the excited buzz of treasure seekers, an irresistible tingle when you spot something special that whispers, "You know I'm perfect for you...Take me home!"

That kind of exhilaration descends on the spacious parking lot at Magnolia Antiques & Home Interiors three times a year during the Marketplace at Magnolia event, next scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 19. This weekend, in fact.
Caryn Conway, owner of Magnolia's, dreamed up the Marketplace five years ago, and since then it's grown to be quite an attraction: sixty vendors displaying everything from furniture to pottery, jewelry to ironwork and art. She keeps the standards high: only antiques and collectibles are accepted. The event always sells out; at $25 per space, it's a great opportunity for sellers to make contact with buyers in a pleasant outdoor atmosphere, complete with homemade food and beverages. So far, in five years of operation, the weather has always cooperated beautifully.

Naturally, Magnolia's has something extra for the shoppers, usually a 20% off sale inside the store where 25 dealers have established a reputation as "The Best Antique Store in Sacramento" for the past three years.
Marketplace at Magnolia takes place 8am to 3pm the last Sunday of March, May and September, unless that date conflicts with a major holiday, so in that case it's best to call for information. Admission is free. Magnolia is only 15 minutes from downtown Sacramento, at 6458 Fair Oaks Blvd. in Carmichael, open daily 10am to 6pm. To be a vendor, or to find out more about the Marketplace, call (916) 973-8590.

Photos: Caryn Conway

Out of the ordinary

The motto at Sekula's Fine Art & Antiques is "Because your world shouldn't be ordinary," and there's certainly nothing ordinary about the early 20th Century, Arts & Crafts furnishings they have collected at their store in the 57th Street antique center in Sacramento.


Misha Sekula and Rick Kersey are decorators and designers as well as dealers in antiques, and their tastes run to rich textures (think gleaming leather and glossy, dark wood) and understated forms that unite easily with other pieces rather than clashing or dominating a room. My favorite pieces are the irresistible deep leather chairs in tones of chocolate and caramel, with soft mica-shaded lighting, Mission furniture in pristine condition, warm velvety textures in subdued patterns I could live with for decades and never get tired of them. Wandering through their website, I get nostalgic for an era before my time, in the early 1900s when Craftsman cottages set the style in California.
Sekula's has an art gallery, too, featuring contemporary award-winning artists such as Terry Miura and Keith Wicks, and photographers like Don Satterlee. Periodically they host showings of artists' works, the most recent being Visions of New York and Central Park by Kevin Courter. Photos of these works also appear on the website. I couldn't help but notice that the styles and subject matter blend beautifully with the furniture on display, even though the artists are from the current generation.

Sekula's also offers custom design for furniture and cabinetry. The store is open Wednesday through Sunday, 11am-5pm or by appointment.

Photos are from sekulas.com; visit their website to see much, much more.