Our Story

By George began in 2020 out of a love of history and storytelling. I have always loved antiques, old charming homes and finding treasures secondhand - I think in part because there is a little bit of magic in each of those things. I studied history in college because I have always been interested in imagining the past life of a thing, the people and places that have crossed its path. When I pick up a 200 year old antique porcelain English egg cup at an estate sale, I can't help but think about what lives that piece has lived, the tables it has sat upon and the people it has known.

In 2020, I was following a few other women on Instagram who were sharing their finds and dreamt that maybe it could be something I dabbled in when my kids grew up. That was until I happened upon the Rose Medallion haul of a lifetime on Facebook Marketplace. I'm talking 30-40 pieces, including several plates of a specific pattern that to this day I still have not found again, all for $100. The listing photo was a dining room table filled with all different kinds of things, with the Rose Medallion pieces peeking out from behind various other dusty items and labeled "Miscellaneous Household Items". That lucky find was the impetus to try my hand at sharing my finds on Instagram, and I had my first sale that September. I kept several of those Rose Medallion pieces, which I still have and will never sell, and sold a few alongside a few other found treasures. With the support of friends and family, By George grew from there.

While the types of pieces I source and sell have evolved since then, my philosophy remains the same. The personality of your home comes to life in the details. I believe that the coffee table books you select, the art you surround yourself with, the vessels you choose to hold your flowers, soap, jewelry, etc. are all intimate forms of self expression. My goal is to bring you a curated selection of those special types of pieces that allow you to express yourself within your home so that it feels like a true reflection of you and your family. I also believe that the right piece is always worth the wait and that the most interesting, warm and welcoming interiors are the ones that have been patiently and organically assembled over a long period of time. There is always magic in a space that has been lovingly created with patience and discernment, those homes are the ones that immediately make you feel warm, welcome and inclined to stay awhile.

I am drawn to pieces that tell a story, treasures shaped by high quality craftmanship, history and beauty. My personal interior design style, the lens through which I source for By George, leans traditional with a whimsical, romantic, time worn essence. I love an antique English platter with heavy crazing and an off color patina paired with a bright, fresh wallpaper. 

Every piece I source is chosen not only for its aesthetic, but for how it can be used, loved and woven into daily life. The antique tortoise shell box that becomes a place for small hands to tuck away treasures, the Moroccan inlay mirror that reflects years of birthdays, holidays and ordinary mornings, the brass trio of Giraffes that become the main characters in many narratives (in the imagination of my two children). 

I like to believe that the pieces I source, particularly from estate sales and thrift shops, are being "rescued" in order to live another life in a place where they will be seen and valued. Rescuing treasures for myself and for others brings me genuine joy and I'm grateful to all who support By George so I can continue to do the work I love.