23 Sept 28th–Oct 4th, 2023 phoenixnewtimes.com phoenix new Times | cONTeNTs | feeDBacK | OPiNiON | NeWs | feaTuRe | NighT+Day | culTuRe | film | cafe | music | THU 9/28 FRI 9/29 SAT 9/30 SUN 10/1 LAURIe MoRvAN BANd SHowTIMe @ 7pM BoB CoRRIToRe’S BIRTHdAY BASH $25 • SHOWTIME @ 8PM Rev. peYToN’S BIG dAMN BANd wITH wANdeRING HeATS $25 • SHOWTIME @ 8PM SUMMeR oF Love $15 • SHOWTIME @ 4P container of things he has bought. Not all of it will go into his store — some of it will be put in his warehouse or sold at the Antique Gatherings booth inside the Scottsdale Marketplace. But if you want to learn more about the pieces it is recommended that you visit him at his gallery at the Seville Shopping Center. There, he can share in detail more about the history and the style of each piece. “There’s a lot of history behind what we have. and I think that we’ve reached a point where Restoration Hardware is great for some things, but, I mean, how many oatmeal linen slip-covered sofas can we have in Arizona?” Carson says. He notes the blandness of some of today’s popular design styles. But the tide may be turning; flip through some of the popular interior design magazines such as Modern Architecture and Decor, and you can find trends angling toward color theo- ries and antiques. “You’re seeing more of a return to tradi- tion because everything was starting to look the same. and I think people want different things,” Carson says. It could be a generational thing, because his average buyer is between the ages of 50 and 73 years old. One of his best customers is 90. “I mean, you’re buying a piece of history. Antiques have a place; you’re recycling something that has a story to it and has character. It’s not like buying some kind of acrylic box you’re gonna keep on the coffee table with coasters in it. I think people are waking up.” Carson is also aware that some of his items are costly. Antiques are not cheap and with housing prices being what they are in Scottsdale and the surrounding areas, he understands a young couple’s life savings is better invested in other things rather than expensive antique furniture. “Younger families are buying houses that you can land a plane in,” he says. “They’re ‘house poor,’ meaning it was all they could do to come up with the down payment and pay the mortgage. The furni- ture is secondary and they start off with furnishing the primary room, which is the family room, and they buy the beds for the kids and go to IKEA. I think that’s part of the reason that my customer is over 40 because the person is more settled and they’re in their second home.” Still, there’s more than antique collecting going on in Carson’s store — there’s history, because every piece of furniture has a legacy. Just like a fine piece of heirloom jewelry or a restored classic car, the value isn’t solely based on what you put into it, but also what you get out of it. “Come and explore, and if you’re inter- ested in something we’ll tell you about it,” he says. “I mean you don’t get pieces from Restoration Hardware or Crate and Barrel that have the dovetailing on the drawers or the dowel rod construction that are cast bronze with mercury gilding that came from the Palais Royal, I mean, it’s a whole different ball game and what a lot of what I have, because of the style, really does inte- grate well with contemporary furniture.” Those curious people who are pondering an upgrade of their home decor, or just adding a touch of antiquity to their already established modern layout will find museum-quality finds and grand ideas in Carson’s store. As much as he is passionate about the items he collects, he also wants to share them with others. He will give his customers advice on how to preserve them, but that’s as far as it goes. “You know,” he says, “I learned long ago — and it was my father’s first lesson when I started the business in 1994 — he gave one piece of advice. He said, ‘never fall in love with your inventory, it’s inventory; that’s part of your business. Once you sell a piece you say goodbye.’” Carson takes appointments, but his store is open to the public from Tuesday until Saturday. Tod Carson Antiques is located at 7000 N. Scottsdale Road, Suite C-138, Scottsdale. Antique store owner Tod Carson amid his showroom collection. (Photo by Tod Carson) New Old-Fashioned Style from p 21
