10 Treasure Troves for Bric-à-Brac

Pictured: A former $5 bin of curios from round the world at Asia Barong in Great Barrington.

While we suffer through a constitutional crisis the likes of which America has never seen, at home the tiniest delights can offer a moment of peace. So buying yourself a small object of emotional significance—whether it’s a quirky thrifted figurine or a vintage trinket—can spark joy in a day otherwise consumed with doom-scrolling through evidence that the world’s strongest democracy is crumbling before our eyes. It’s no wonder, then, that interior design is embracing maximalism again.

From cheeky thrift-store finds to grandmillennial tchotchkes, the “more is more” approach has returned as a quiet rebuttal to the idea that restraint equals taste. Especially in unsettled times, cool doodads offer a visual pause, a memory trigger, a reminder that pleasure doesn’t have to be grand or expensive. A shelf filled with mismatched ceramics or a table scattered with found objects can feel grounding in a way a pristine room rarely does.

That belief is what author Mary Randolph Carter calls the “gospel of good junk.” Carter, a longtime champion of meaningful clutter, argues that so-called “junk” isn’t clutter at all when it’s chosen with affection and memory in mind. “If you love it, it’s not junk,” she writes—a mantra for collectors who see objects as evidence of a life well lived rather than things to be hidden away. Good junk, in her telling, is personal, expressive, and emotionally useful. It’s the stuff that makes a house feel human.

Here are ten places where retail therapy really can do wonders—from cavernous antique barns to carefully curated shops—each offering the chance to find objects that don’t just decorate a room, but quietly tell your story back to you.

1. The Antique Warehouse 

99 S. Front Street, Hudson, NY. theantiquewarehousehudsonny.com

A Hudson institution and one of the largest owner-operated antique shops in the Northeast, this massive 40,000-square-foot warehouse is a collector’s dream. Booth after booth overflows with furniture, lighting, architectural salvage, and decorative oddities. One day you might find mid-century barware, the next an art nouveau statute. What makes The Antique Warehouse so compelling is not just the endless variety but the way displays are curated to surprise. You genuinely don’t know what you’ll fall in love with until you see it.

2. Asia Barong 

199 Stockbridge Road (Route 7), Great Barrington, MA. asiabarong.com

Asia Barong is less an antique shop and more a world museum of decor. With tens of thousands of Asian antiques and art pieces. From towering bronze Buddhas to delicate porcelains, it’s a stunning, immersive experience. There’s an outdoor sculpture garden dotted with stone lanterns and carved deities, and indoor galleries packed with textiles, teak furniture, and carved panels. Whether you’re after a small jade amulet or a dramatic statement piece, Asia Barong’s offerings are as rich visually as they are culturally.

3. Millerton Antiques Center 

25 Main Street, Millerton, NY. millertonantiquescenter.com

This bustling multi-dealer center feels like a vintage department store. Nearly 40 dealers under one roof offer eclectic finds that range from early-American estate jewelry and retro kitchenware. The inventory truly spans everything in between, and because the stock turns over frequently, repeat visits almost always yield new delights. Millerton Antiques Center rewards patience and curiosity. You may even find an old toy you forgot you lost in your youth. Grab it here for a few bucks, stick it in the corner of a bookshelf and feel just that little bit more in touch with your past and present.  

4. Beekman Arms Antique Market 

6387 Mill Street, Rhinebeck, NY. beekmandelamaterinn.com/antique-market

Behind the nation’s oldest continuously operating inn lies this refined antique market. More polished than your average flea, this barn-style market showcases estate jewelry, fine porcelain, and antique curios that compliment Rhinebeck’s historic charm. The ambiance is relaxed but elevated, making it easy to browse heirloom pieces and playful smaller objects with equal delight.

5. Berkshire Emporium & Antiques 

59 Main Street, North Adams, MA. berkshireemporium.com

North Adams’s eclectic emporium is a whopping 20,000-plus square feet and divided into themed rooms, each with its own vibe. From vintage clothing and jewelry to vinyl records and handmade crafts, the Emporium offers a lot of options. Bonus: a café right inside lets you sip coffee and nibble a pastry mid-browse. It’s an easy place to spend a lot of time. 

6. Hudson Mercantile

202 Allen Street, Hudson, NY. thehudsonmercantile.com

A carefully curated vintage and antique destination The Hudson Mercantile specializes in a diverse mix of antique and vintage furniture, art, and accessories that feel both collectible and verified enough to find something personal. It’s the kind of place where you can lose yourself in pots of hand-blown glass, retro lighting, and sculptural finds that make perfect shelf fillers or statement pieces. The large space is ideal for collectors who revel in the hunt and love the thrill of discovering little bits of history tucked among larger treasures.

7. Elephant’s Trunk Flea Market 

490 Danbury Rd (Rte. 7/202) and the Corner of Candlewood Lake Rd South, New Milford, CT. etflea.com

Currently closed for the winter but well worth marking on your calendar for a warm weather visit, the largest weekly flea market in New England is a full-on sensory overload of bric-a-brac. Hundreds of vendors gather every Sunday (April through December) for a sprawling showcase of antiques, vintage goods, and unexpected oddities. From ceramics and old vinyl to truly weird finds (animatronic dinosaurs, anyone?) this is where maximalism thrives. Come early to score the best goods and wander, chat, and collect until your cart can’t hold another thing.

8. Foreign Cargo 

17 North Main Street, Kent, CT. foreigncargo.net 

A rare fusion of global art gallery and vintage shop, Foreign Cargo is nestled in a historic house on Kent’s Main Street. Family-run for over five decades, it features antiques and artifacts from around the world. Hand-carved African masks, Balinese wood sculptures, Indian textiles, Chinese antique furniture—the eclectic mix feels curated by a passionate traveler rather than a commercial buyer. The upstairs gallery often presents larger show-stoppers, but smaller handmade jewelry, clothing, and trinkets make perfect memorable gifts or conversation pieces.

9. Hoffman’s Barn

19 Old Farm Road, Red Hook, NY. hoffmansbarn.com hoffmansbarn.com

For a classic barn-sale vibe, Hoffman’s Barn delivers. What started as farm storage has become a sprawling antique and vintage collection—from cast iron pans to vintage bicycles to an old Ford Model T. The lawn often overflows with large outdoor pieces, hinting at the bounty inside. Inside, shelves are stacked with glassware, china, hardware, furniture, books, and curios the way barn finds should be: abundant, eclectic, and often surprisingly affordable. If you love old stuff with character, this is treasure hunting in its purest form.

10. Hunter Bee 

21 Main Street, Millerton, NY. hunterbee.com

Equal parts gallery and boutique, Hunter Bee specializes in decor with personality. Owners Kent Hunter and Jonathan Bee curate an ever-changing mix of bold folk art, industrial signage, and funky conversation pieces. Picture a giant pop-art poster beside a tiny hand-carved miniature, or a vintage marquee letter displayed next to sleek modern seating. This is the store for the collector that’s looking for something a little more refined. You might come in for a small item and leave with a gorgeous new couch. So be careful.