Welcome to My Vintage-Inspired World
Hi, I’m Ann, the creator of Dabbling & Decorating. I share vintage home decor ideas, thrifted treasures, and seasonal styling tips inspired by New England living.
After 26 years in education sales, I traded the hustle for a slower, more meaningful life filled with antique finds and cozy home charm. Today, I split my time between our vintage-style home in the Vermont mountains and my family’s coastal Maine home.
Both spaces are full of character, collections, and stories, and I’m here to help you create a home with heart, too.
Just for Fun: A Few Things About Me
My Vintage Roots: A Family Legacy of Thrifting and Timeless Style
I owe my love for vintage home decor to my parents, lifelong collectors, antiquers, and champions of timeless style.
My dad built furniture by hand and played tennis into his 80s. My mom had a sharp eye for antique charm and thrifted treasures, and she passed that love of decorating right down to me.
Thanks to them, I can’t pass a flea market, antique store, or Goodwill without stopping to explore. Vintage is in my DNA, and their influence still lives on in every room of our home.
Growing Up in Coastal Maine: Where It All Began
Some kids played house—I redecorated one.
Growing up on the coast of Maine, I spent my childhood rearranging antique treasures and vintage finds in my parents’ home every chance I got. Those quiet moments of creative freedom sparked a lifelong love for vintage home decor and coastal charm, passions that continue to shape the eclectic style of both our Vermont and Maine homes today.
Our Coastal Maine Home: A Vintage-Inspired Family Retreat
After my parents passed, we lovingly restored their coastal Maine home, preserving their cherished antiques and layering in our own vintage cottage style.
Today, this space tells a story of family, history, and New England charm. From nautical heirlooms to Colonial-era antiques, it’s a true retreat filled with soul. Want to see more? Explore the full series:
Featured Posts from Our Coastal Maine Home Series
These are just a few of the stories and spaces from our family’s coastal Maine home. You can see the full collection by clicking the button above.
Our Life Today: Antique Road Trips, RV Style & Ella the Bernese
These days, life is one big vintage adventure.
My husband Steve and I have been married 26 years, and we spend our time skiing, hiking, thrifting, and hitting the road in our panoramic Class B RV. Whether we’re exploring Vermont backroads or coastal Maine towns, we’re always on the hunt for that next great antique find.
Our RV adventures inspired the Antiquing Road Trips & RV Decor Series, where we blend travel, style, and secondhand treasure hunting. And no trip would be complete without Ella, our spirited Bernese Mountain Dog, who charms everyone she meets.
Want a glimpse of life on the road? Scroll through some of our favorite moments below.
Home Decor Brands I’ve Partnered With
I’ve had the privilege of collaborating with more than 50 trusted home decor brands, styling products I genuinely use, love, and live with in our homes.
Each partnership is a reflection of my passion for vintage-inspired decorating, eclectic charm, and authentic storytelling. If it doesn’t feel like home to me, you won’t see it here.
Here, are just a few of the amazing brands I’ve partnered with over the years.
*Featured collaborations include:
Wayfair, Stonewall Kitchen, MacKenzie-Childs, Revival Rugs, and more.
Sponsored Decorating Posts
Explore my favorite collaborations and how I styled them in our homes:
Interested in Partnering? Let’s Talk.
If you’re a brand looking to connect with a passionate audience of vintage decor lovers, let’s create something meaningful together.
I offer authentic storytelling, styled photography, and honest reviews, always grounded in my own home.
Audio more your vibe?
Prefer listening over reading? Tune in to my podcast interview with Melanie Ferguson on her inspiring “Creatives on Fire” series. In this engaging conversation, I share how I transformed my love for vintage and home decor into a full-time blogging passion. Discover the story behind the blog, my journey from hobby to fulfilling career, and what fuels my creative fire every day. Don’t miss this chance to connect with me on a more personal level—press play and join the conversation!
As Seen In: National Features and Trusted Home Decor Publications
I’m honored to have my vintage-inspired style and home decorating journey featured by some of the most trusted names in home and lifestyle media. From celebrating seasonal style in Martha Stewart to sharing our Maine home in Country Sampler Magazine, these features highlight the heart of what Dabbling & Decorating is all about: meaningful spaces, cherished collections, and timeless vintage charm.
AARP – Hit the Road for a Thrift Trip
Featured in AARP’s travel article Hit the Road for a Thrift Trip, I shared my best tips for planning a thrift store road trip, from packing essentials to mapping routes and uncovering hidden vintage gems. This national feature highlights my passion for blending travel with the hunt for timeless treasures. Explore more about thrift-centric road trips in my Plan the Ultimate Thrift Store Road Trip: Vintage Shopping Tips for Every Season post.
“Resist overscheduling. Stops often take more time than you think, says Ann Couser Kittredge, 60, who writes about her thrift-centric RV adventures in New England on her blog Dabbling & Decorating. She recommends picking two or three shops a day to focus on and typically reserves a couple of hours for lunch and regrouping.” — AARP.com
Martha Stewart – How to Have a Successful Yard Sale, From Planning to Pricing
I was recently featured on MarthaStewart.com in a piece about how to throw a successful yard sale, sharing my favorite tips for staging, promoting, and styling a vintage-inspired sale.
This feature highlights my passion for thrifted home decor, New England charm, and helping others create memorable and profitable secondhand shopping experiences from their own front yards.
“Kittredge recommends grouping items by theme or room, using risers and boxes to add height, and decorating the space just like you would a cozy corner in your home.” — MarthaStewart.com
Country Sampler Magazine – A Makeover in Maine
Our family’s coastal Maine home was featured in an 11-page spread in Country Sampler Magazine, titled “A Home Makeover in Maine.”
This beautiful print feature told the story of how we lovingly restored my parents’ home, blending cherished antiques, family photos, and vintage finds into a space filled with soul.
It was an unforgettable experience working with Gridley + Graves, who captured the heart of our home with warmth and authenticity. Explore more in my Behind the Scenes of Our Coastal Maine Home Feature in Country Sampler Magazine post.
This feature in Country Sampler Magazine’s 40th Anniversary Spring 2024 Edition highlights the legacy, character, and timeless charm that define my vintage decorating style. → Tour Our Coastal Maine Home
Also Featured In These Home Decor Publications
I’m honored to have my vintage home style and decorating ideas featured by these inspiring magazines, blogs, and home media outlets. Explore more on my Press & Publications page.
“Ann Couser Kittredge, founder of interiors blog, Dabbling and Decorating, explains, ‘I’ve always loved collecting vintage and antique baskets, and even a few newer ones. I look for all shapes and sizes, and I especially love it when they have a bit of wear or history to them.” — Home & Gardens
Vintage Finds, Modern Headlines
Who knew a love of old treasures could lead to so many fun features? See them all here.
Popular Vintage Decorating Series
These reader favorites highlight some of the most-loved themes here on Dabbling & Decorating—full of seasonal inspiration, thrifted treasures, and cozy, collected charm.
Thrifting with the Gals
A reader favorite series full of vintage finds, thrifting adventures, and decorating fun with fellow home bloggers.
Vintage Ski Lodge Decor Series
Whether you’re styling a ski house, mountain cabin, or cozy winter retreat, this series brings vintage alpine charm and Nordic-inspired style to your home.
Antiquing RV Road Trips
Scenic RV road trips through New England and beyond—exploring antique shops, flea markets, and vintage gems, with styling ideas and snapshots from life on the road.
Thank you so much for stopping by and getting to know a little more about me, my family, and the heart behind Dabbling & Decorating. If you love vintage home decor, thrifting adventures, and antiquing across New England, don’t miss our Vintage & Thrift Shopping Guide, it’s filled with my favorite stops, secondhand finds, and decorating inspiration.
From coastal Maine charm to Vermont’s mountain views, every space here celebrates a passion for decorating with history, character, and heart. I’d love for you to join me on this journey, where stories are shared, treasures uncovered, and every room tells its own vintage-inspired story.
See you soon—coffee’s always on here!
Where to next?
→ Start Here
→ Vintage Decorating Guides
→ Styling Tips
→ Popular Thrift & Antique Finds
Join the Vintage Circle — It’s Cozy Here~
Love decorating with vintage finds, thrifted treasures, and one-of-a-kind style? Leave a comment below to share your thoughts, pass this post along to a vintage-loving friend, or subscribe to join our Seasonal Vintage Decor Styling Challenge for seasonal decorating prompts to inspire your thrifted style. You’ll get weekly cozy ideas, vintage inspiration, and behind-the-scenes peeks delivered straight to your inbox.
Leave a Reply