All vintage lovers need to know that there is a new kid on the block. Noah David, creator of DC Treasure is enriching the growing vintage and consignment furniture scene in Petworth. Noah settled in Petworth because it is “a great environment for vintage furniture. There are a lot of artisans here, and folks here tend to value the architectural history around them.” DC Treasure joins Mom ‘N Pop Antiques, Bentley’s, and Ruff and Ready, all shops located in Petworth’s growing vintage scene.
Still very much a hole-in-the wall shop, Noah operates out of a carriage house near his home. This true labor of love began in late 2012 and has been growing ever since. I stumbled upon his work on Instagram and immediately fell in love with his ability to find beauty in imperfections. Noah explains, “I try to take a less is more approach with restoration, because I think the character marks on a piece are its personality.” Each one of Noah’s pieces has a story. You will find rustic farm tables, pretty dressers, detailed desks, and much more.
Of course, I had to try and get some tips on how to score the perfect vintage finds. Like a true treasure hunter, Noah gave little away about where he finds his pieces. He says. “I can’t give away all my secrets for finding great stuff, but I will say I rely on a good combination of pickers, and a healthy dose of alley cruisin’ in the pickup. I’m always looking to connect with more pickers–the movers, junkers, scrappers, that know where all the honey holes are. So much of the furniture I acquire, I get off a truck that’s headed to the landfill, and there’s a real satisfaction in saving this stuff.”
Don’t think that just because these pieces were thrown out, that they are trash. There are a ton of benefits to buying older furniture. Noah explains, “The old adage, ‘they don’t make it like they used to,’ is so true. Vintage furniture is just higher quality, because it was built to last, often using older, more mature wood.” With the help of some paint and reclaimed materials, Noah makes these pieces appealing to the modern shopper. Noah hopes that DC Treasure becomes a “full-service vintage furniture and design outfit, not only selling and restoring furniture, but providing a full creative vision for your space–whether it be a living room, or a whole bar or restaurant.”
DC Treasure is not a traditional retails space with regular hours. To see Noah’s stuff, you will need to make an appointment. To see his latest creations you can visit his website, follow him on Instagram, or search “dctreasure” on Craigslist.
