“Do your research,” says Molly Blankenship, a New York-based design consultant that runs the popular auction Instagram account @Notallbeige, and loves shopping LiveAuctioneers, Town & Sea, and AuctionNinja. “You need to know the right questions to ask. I have found that auction house representatives are always happy to answer any questions on the phone or through email.”
Town & Sea is one of our favorite new small businesses in the home industry. An online auction marketplace, bringing design inspiration to the auction block.
Have you ever found yourself endlessly browsing interiors on Pinterest or flipping through the pages of your favorite Rizzoli book thinking, “How can I achieve a similar look in my own home?” I launched Town & Sea last Fall with the hope of being able to add a twist to the typical auction experience by marketing sales with design inspiration.
“Online auctions provide a new frontier for design lovers across the world and are no longer reserved for high-end decorators or dealers. However, the current product shortages, long lead times and renewed appreciation for all things ‘home’ sparked by the pandemic, have lead to auctions becoming increasingly mainstream.”