The Neuhoff District’s phoenix evolution is rooted in repurposing old treasures for new life — an ethos shared by retailer Love Train Antiques. The eclectic homeware store in Germantown encourages clients to find modern purposes for European vintage. 

“We try to focus on pieces that are functional for today,” says Nashville store manager Edward Sullivan. “When we look at a piece, we look at it for, of course, aesthetics, and then we look at it and say, ‘OK, how can this function in today’s home?’”

Last fall, the Atlanta-based business opened its second location in Nashville, offering an array of furniture, art and other assorted novelties. If you were to walk in today, you might find an expressive dog statue (that likely sat in a French or Belgian garden in the 1920s) or a large, curved iron piece — originally meant to hold wood — that Sullivan hopes a lucky client will use as a console table. 

“[The store] crosses different genres as far as home décor, from things that look a little more contemporary, like the sofas that are vintage from the ‘70s, to a French chest of drawers,” he explains. While Sullivan’s style leans more traditional, store owner Mark Sage gravitates toward all things contemporary — and the space evenly represents both aesthetics.

X 25_11_07_RAU_LOVE_TRAIN-1713.jpg

A 1740s French walnut desk is one of the oldest pieces currently at Love Train Antiques. “You can just see and feel the history of it,” says Sullivan. The store’s inventory shows just how well quality pieces stand the test of time — even if that test is centuries long. “Today, people want things that they can invest in, which you get with antiques — the way they’re constructed [and] the years they’ve survived already,” says Sullivan. 

The store is primarily visited by interior designers who are looking to complete a client’s home with something truly one-of-a-kind. That’s where Sullivan and Sage step in. Many guests bring in photographs of their spaces, and team members suggest ways to incorporate interesting pieces. The duo is even willing to visit a home and offer on-site design advice. 

Love Train Antiques will soon expand into upholstery services, which Sullivan says will “add a little softness to the room” and expand “that view of the old and the new.” 

The store will also continue to host events in the space, like album release parties and cocktail gatherings to celebrate new imports. Additionally, celebrity photographer Ed Rode’s pop-up art show will continue at Love Train Antiques until June 20. 

To learn more, visit https://www.lovetrainantiques.com/nashvilleantiques.