While Serwer has mastered the art of searching for and selling rare or unusual items, customers also come to her with specific questions, which she then looks for.
WWhen Sally Serwer was six, her mother, Adeline Steinman, would take her to antique shows at the Temple of Israel. “It was in my blood too early,” says the interior designer and antiques dealer.
For more than 40 years, Serwer, 67, of Bloomfield Hills, has worked in interior design as the owner of Sally Serwer Designs. She has also sold merchandise at Berkley’s Masterpieces of individual colleagues For 15 years as an antiques dealer, we have served clients throughout metro Detroit and beyond.
At the forefront of Serwer’s unique style and flair is her willingness to classic and vintage pieces, which she aims to incorporate into any space she decorates.
“I’ve been known to be someone who uses antiques with all of my designs,” she says. “Even if it’s a very modern home, I feel like you need to have a new and an old home to make it different from everyone else’s.”
Serur picks up what she calls the “retail bug” from her father, Alvin Steinman, who owned the Alvin Pride women’s boutique in several locations across the state, and combined that passion with her mother’s love of antiques (another trait she says she relocated) to her own business.
Throughout her career, Serwer began collecting antiques that she could later sell to her clients. She collected a large group that she stored in her garage, and turned dealing with antiques into a side business she could add to her major interior design business.
“I sold it on my own, then went to the best store in town, Odd Fellows Antiques,” Serwer recalls.
Inside the antiques trade
Odd Fellows Antiques is home to about 50 antique dealers. Once a week, Serwer brings her latest merchandise for sale in her stall, which includes a wide selection of everything from fine fine antiques to flea market.
“I have great artwork and furniture, mid-century chairs, and antique French chairs,” she describes. “There are a lot of antiques dealers out there, and they specialize in one area, and I don’t really have a specialty because I like so many different genres. I have a whole chain for everything.”
While Serwer has mastered the art of searching for and selling rare or unusual items, customers also come to her with specific questions, which she then looks for.
“They hired me at first because they like my taste,” she says of her clients, most of whom are high-end clients.
Depending on the day, Serwer can work with anyone from celebrities who live in Michigan to young families looking for unique furniture and artwork. “I try to find things that are very classic and you never go out of style,” she explains. “I try not to buy things that are too fashionable.”
Find and collect antiques
For Serwer, the search for antiques never stops. “I crawl through holes to get things,” she laughs. Whether she’s traveling with her husband, William, discovering something special, or browsing estate sales, Serwer continues to anticipate her greatest discovery.
Before selling any item, especially chairs, Serwer also makes sure that everything is in perfect condition. “If I find an old chair, I will always remodel it,” she explains. “I like the idea of having a new, modern canvas.”
Over the years, Serwer’s work has been mostly through word of mouth. “I don’t like to do a lot of advertising,” she says.
When an interesting piece or collection becomes available, the latter tries to put it together so people can get a matching décor, it will post the antiques on its Facebook page, which can generate anywhere from a single buyer to hundreds of calls.
Serwer explains that in dealing with antiques, it’s always a busy season. However, her favorite time to sell is the summer when she can offer outdoor items.
“I like anything that’s old stone or architectural,” she says.
The holidays are also a great time to sell antiques, thanks to the high interest among customers for antique Christmas furniture and decor.
“Odd Fellows are known for having vintage stuff at Christmas,” Serwer says.
After more than four decades in interior design and 15 years dealing in antiques, Serwer has learned exactly what it takes to find rare items — and everyone can do it, she says.
“Don’t turn down a garage sale,” Serwer advises. “Go to the consignment stores. They are almost like antiques stores, but they don’t make it to the antiques stores because the dealers buy from them.”