By Amanda Raymond
amanda.raymond@salisburypost.com

SALISBURY — Jeff Penfil has always had a love for antiques.

When he was 8 years old, he bought antique cloisonné dishes from a yard sale for $3 and went to trade them for a 19^th century wedgwood teapot and sugar creamer at a local antique store for a gift for his mother.

The antique storeowner immediately recognized the value of the dishes, and told Penfil to come back with a parent. When Penfil returned with his mother, the storeowner explained the value of the dishes to his mother and told her it was more than enough to trade for the teapot and sugar creamer. Penfil actually got cash along with the trade.

The storeowner said Penfil had a good eye.

Fast-forward to now and Penfil has opened Stately Homes, an antique and fine consignment furniture store, on Oct. 14 at 126 N. Main St.

Stately Homes is the second store Penfil has owned in North Carolina. His first was Antiquarius, also located in downtown Salisbury. He operated the store for 25 years.

Penfil said he is happy to be in a new space. He sells 18^th and 19^th century American, French, Italian, Dutch and Swedish antiques, as well as high-quality vintage furniture from manufacturers such as Baker, Kittinger and Henredon.

“Whatever we’ve got is just absolutely the best of that thing,” he said.

There are fine Persian and Turkish handmade rugs gracing the floors of the store, chandeliers hanging from the ceiling and original watercolor and oil paintings on the walls, all for sale.

The pricing is based on research and comparisons, but all of the items are on consignment.

“The fact that I’m consignment … makes a big difference,” he said.

For example, a Frederick Carder Steuben crystal bowl might be $800-900, but only $200 at Stately Homes.

Penfil said customers come from Charlotte, Winston-Salem and Greensboro and are amazed at his prices.

“The stuff is priced to sell,” he said.

The cheapest items in the store are greeting cards that Penfil is selling for $1 and the most expensive item is probably an armoire that costs $10,000.

The items are arranged so that customers can see how they would look in their own homes, with living room furniture grouped together and porcelain and crystal pieces placed on shelves or glass cabinets.

Penfil has worked with a lot of the same consigners for years and enjoys working with them and learning the history of the pieces, whether they were passed down from relatives or found at estate sales.

He even has an antique collection of his own, stemming from a childhood of doing yard work to make enough money to save for college and buy antiques.

Penfil said everyone deserves the chance to have items they find beautiful in their home.

“I love being able to wake up in the morning and see beautiful things,” he said. “…I think everyone should have the opportunity to experience that.”

Penfil said he is proud of his new store and is grateful to the owners of the space for helping him with the transition.

The store is open from Tuesday to Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. or by appointment. Private showings are also available.

For more information, visit statelyhomesusa.com or call 704-633-6220.

Contact reporter Amanda Raymond at 704-797-4222.