Big Daddy’s: On The Outside

Huge urns overhead!

Drag racing memorabilia, Elvis souvenirs, vintage jukeboxes and funky diner furnishings: that’s what popped into my head when I first heard the name Big Daddy’s Antiques … Happily, during a visit last week, we found none of those kitschy relics. That’s why this amazing warehouse of extraordinary antiques and decor for both indoors and out will now be simply BD’s for me. Those two letters are the only signage on the massive building and truckyard that houses the emporium, and I think this understated moniker suits it better. Traveling to BD’s from Riverside took a little doing, even with Google map assistance, but the trip was worth it. Upon arrival Paul declared that BD’s was “like Disneyland!”, and I had to agree … this place made me very happy … No ‘small world’ this, however; a majority of items here range from merely large to enormous in scale; shrinking violets beware!  In this post, I will focus on the garden goods BD’s features, and they check off my fave boxes … Take containers: they have an astounding array of vessels in all my preferred materials, including concrete, stone and metal. And, most of them are patinated or distressed attractively, and, excitingly, quite large (and presumably heavy) … but that’s not all …

Succulent loveliness!

… they also have many of these interesting vessels paired with lovely succulents. And …

Industrial goodness!

… they have lots and lots of cool industrial items! Not to mention …

Turret, anyone?

… architectural bits and bobs, and awesome statuary!

Vessels, containers, planters

In search of a suitable container for that huge aloe tree? How about a man-sized terra cotta flowerpot? Or, an enormous painted-and-rusty metal urn? Maybe a ruggedly-pocked stone pot? Whichever, BD’s got it. There are also moss-flecked troughs, carved stone vases and faux-bois logs; all would complement succulent insiders. Oh, and note that enormous metal basket being used as a hose holder in the top left picture. I asked for a price check on it and the $600 price didn’t seem that bad: it’s huge, after all!

Perfectly paired

Visually, there’s something about the lusciousness of juicy leaf succulents paired with distressed containers that is so appealing. BD’s features several vignettes that display this effect quite pleasingly. Of course, the displays with concrete faux boix examples really speak to me … parlez vous debit card?

Models of industriousness

Hard-working industrial items, most of them metal and rusted, hold a special place in my design pantheon and BD’s has a lot to love. Everything from French trollies, to factory grates and smelting pots can be found here. Metal gabions, gates and grills, and all manner of bucket, would look great in a garden setting as accent or focal point.

Garden people

Crumbling cornices and other architectural fragments are available at BD’s, as is a diverse array of statuary. People your garden with a cast iron attendant, a pair of huge Balinese stone deities, or the yearning head of a Greek demi-god; or, set out to pasture concrete sheep or other vintage livestock, and you’ll never have to see your accessories in anyone else’s backyard. OOAK is a BD’s given.

You’re probably wondering what I bought at BD’s; you’ll be amazed to know I came away empty-handed. See, it took us longer to get there than expected, so we got there alarmingly close to their shuttering for the Easter holiday weekend, leaving me with just enough time to take the pictures for this and the upcoming post. **Sigh** But it’s okay because it just means we’ll have to go back again … giving me enough time to save up my mad money for a special piece. The question is: will it be something for inside, or outside, the Rancho? As you’ll see in the next post, BD’s takes the same themes they feature in outside decor, inside.

Big Daddy’s Antiques is located at 13100 South Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90061; 310 769-6600; click their website here: bdantiques@gmail.com