Bright Notes of Nostalgia

Written by Laura Shimko

Photography and styling by Melanie Brunk

This home sparkles with festive vintage finds, a retro-inspired holiday palette and fun, unique pieces.

For Melanie Brunk (@brunkjunk on Instagram), the flea market bug bit at a young age, when her mother and grandmother took her to flea markets, antiques stores and garage sales. She learned to love bright notes of nostalgia, especially for the holidays. “I learned from them how to hunt for the perfect treasure,” she says. And vintage holiday décor has always had a special place in her heart. “I love the traditions, nostalgia and memories the holidays bring,” Melanie says. “I never want to grow up—and Christmas is the perfect time to let your inner child out to play.”

A speech pathologist and mother of two, Melanie enjoys hunting for vintage treasures at local antiques shops in Fort Smith, Arkansas, as well as with her girlfriends at the First Monday Trade Days in Canton, Texas. “That’s where I have been lucky enough to find many of my Tonka vehicles and vintage Christmas pieces,” Melanie says. When it comes to her favorite items in her collection, Melanie likes to style her Fisher Price houses. “I love adding bottlebrush trees, tiny string lights and fake snow to them for Christmas,” she says. “Don’t forget Santa’s sleigh on the roof!”

tinsel tree and paper ice cream ornaments — Frosty Treasures. Melanie’s unique Christmas collection includes these fun ice cream pieces. “I have a vintage ice cream collection that I use every summer, but I never thought about using them at Christmas until I found ice cream ornaments,” she says. “I knew I had to make a frozen treat tree and a tiny Frosty is just right at the wheel of the Mister Buddy ice cream truck!”

How to Style a Knickknack Shelf

Do you have a lot of knickknacks but aren’t sure how to style them? Melanie offers the following tips to transform any shelf space into the perfect display
for your décor odds and ends:

bottlebrush trees and toy house create a Christmas scene — Toyland. Going mini in your décor is a fun way to add charm. Here, Melanie displays her Fisher Price house, which has a year-round place on her shelf. “I love to decorate it for Christmas by cutting out snow for the roof from white felt and adding miniature string lights and bottlebrush trees,” she says.

Pick a theme. Before starting, collect your pieces and see if there is any overall common element that you can use to group them together. “I’ve styled shelves around a holiday theme or a color theme,” Melanie says.
Select a centerpiece. “I like to pick my favorite piece or the biggest piece from the theme I’ve chosen for the center of the shelf to ensure that’s the first place your eye is drawn,” Melanie says.
Even it out. Build out from your centerpiece, filling in spaces on either side. “Make sure the knickknacks are balanced so the shelves look symmetrical and cohesive,” Melanie advises.

vintage Pyrex bowl filled with bottlebrush trees — Riding in Style. Melanie’s vintage toy vehicle collection is another highlight in her design. “This little Santa and Mrs. Claus have bendy arms and legs and are just right to fit in this Tonka Jeep,” she says. Mini presents and a tiny wreath on the front help the Clauses ride in style.”

vintage blue toy truck with Mr and Mrs Claus

Spotlight: Vintage Radios

Perhaps not the first thing that comes to mind for vintage holiday décor, these vintage radios are full of retro charm and are another unique addition to Melanie’s overall design. She started collecting them when her mother gave her one as gift. She offers the following tips for those wanting to include these fun pieces in their décor:

shelf turned advent calendar with vintage holiday figurines

What do you look for?

“For me, aesthetics are the main focus when looking for vintage radios, so whether or not the radio is functional doesn’t matter. This allows me to pay very little for them since they usually say ‘as is’ on the price tag. I also like the idea of giving a beautiful piece another life even if it no longer serves its original purpose…it’s still valuable to me!”

How do you style them?

“I like varying the way I style them from season to season. Sometimes, I group them all together to make a statement. Other times, I’ll separate them or group them by color. They’re so versatile and I love how well they mix with other collections or stand alone.”

vintage books with reindeer figurines — REINDEER ROUNDUP. Melanie’s Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew books are the perfect backdrop for her reindeer vignette.

Where do you find them?

“My mom gave me my first vintage radio when I moved into my house. I’ve found all of the others at my local antiques stores. It pays to be consistent with the hunt when you want to build collections.”

Spotlight: Vintage Vehicles

Melanie’s collection of vintage cars, vans and trucks are a unique addition to her Christmas décor. Perfect for adding in little knickknacks and for styling in festive vignettes, these vehicles also have their own stories to tell. Melanie shares some quick tips below on what to look for:

vintage suitcase with glass trees — POWER OF LAYERS. Using other vintage elements in your holiday décor is a great way to make the look feel organic to the space. Here, Melanie lls her vintage suitcase to the brim with festive fun. “So much of decorating is about layering,” she says. “More is more in my opinion!”

Why do you like them?

Find Out How to Decorate for Christmas with a Dash of Retro

“I love their bright colors, the use of metal and the intricate designs. It makes me happy to think of all the life they have lived before they came my way.”

How do you style them?

“Usually, I have a Christmas tree tied to the top of them with twine or a bunch of elves riding around in the truck bed.”

Where do you find them?

“Antiques stores, flea markets and eBay.”

How much do you pay for them?

“I typically pay between $15-$40, but I’ve also paid more for one I just had to have (I’m looking at you, Mister Buddy Ice Cream Truck!).”

vintage tins filled with bottlebrush trees

vintage Canada Dry crate with Santa mugs and figurines

mint clock radio and turquoise vintage typewriter

bright notes of nostalgia with vintage Pyrex bowls with coordinating colors of bottlebrush trees and toy pink Jeep with three snowmen in colorful hats and scarves

toy vintage station wagon with bottlebrush tree strapped to the top

vintage blue toy truck filled with elf dolls — All Aboard! This green Wagoneer is one of my favorite pieces. Filled to the brim with miniature figures, presents, and a bottlebrush tree strapped to the top, this little guy is ready to make his deliveries!

pink artificial tree with bright ornaments and vintage serving trays and Muppet stuffed animals — Pretty in Pink. While red and green are the traditional holiday palette, opting for other, less conventional colors are a great way to add in a pop of fun. “A few years ago, I decided to go with a pink tree, and I’ve never looked back,” Melanie says. “I love the nostalgic vibes these color choices deliver.”

A-frame toy house with fake snow, toy VW bug and bottlebrush tree — Cozy Cabin. Melanie gave this Fisher Price A-frame a festive makeover. “More wintry touches make this cabin really shine for Santa’s arrival,” she says.

snowman cutout and vintage Christmas sheet music on display in front of bookshelf — Functional Frogs. Melanie’s creativity makes her holiday décor feel even more one-of-a-kind. “This Frosty die cut is held in place with flower frogs, perfect for displaying vintage ephemera like vintage Christmas cards and die cuts,” she says.

bright notes of nostalgia with ice cream themed aluminum tree vignette — Ice Cream, You Scream. “When I saw this ice cream truck it was love at first sight,” Melanie says. “Also, who doesn’t love to think of Frosty driving the ice cream truck? He’s the perfect snowman for the job!”

Don’t miss this year’s upcoming holiday special issue! You’ll be able to order your copy here. Meanwhile, you can explore other holiday homes with creative uses of vintage finds such as Christmas at Gran’s: Festive Decor Inspired by Nostalgia. Or you can get to work on some holiday DIY crafts such as DIY Wine Glass Cloche and Upcycled Paper Scrap Gift Tags. Of course, don’t forget to follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest for more updates and flea market inspiration.