BLOUNTS CREEK — Anne Crumpler has a real appreciation for things from the past, and that love has led her to launch a new business venture.

Together with her sister Jean Boykin, Crumpler has opened Gold Trim Antiques & Collectibles, located at 1770 Gilead Shores Road in Blounts Creek. The shop officially opened Friday.

“This idea started years and years ago,” Crumpler said of the shop. “I’ve always loved family history and antiques, and for the last 10 or 20 years I’ve dragged Jean to antique stores. We always said one day we’d open our own shop.”

That dream became a reality when Boykin purchased the former Cox family home place, a farmhouse built in 1900. Crumpler, with the help of her oldest son, renovated and refurbished the structure. What once was a parlor, dining room and bedroom now showcase antiques, collectibles and gift items.

Antique shop inventory changes daily and since many of the items are one-of-a-kind, shoppers are advised to strike while the iron is hot. Even so, Crumpler and Boykin’s previous shopping excursions insure that varied and interesting merchandise will always be on hand.

Currently, an extensive collection of depression glass is offered, according to Crumpler. Antique furnishings dating from the late 1800s to the early 1900s have already been favorites of customers, as are delicate crystal collectibles and antique dolls. Homemade jellies, jams and pickles add another dimension to the shop, as well. New and used books, including local cookbooks, are also sold.

The artistic talents of Boykin and Crumpler are evident in the handcrafted grapevine and silk wreaths offered for sale. A seasonal room, presently devoted to Christmas, showcases unique decorations and will change with the approach of a different holiday, Crumpler noted.

Among the more unusual items is a 1954 Zenith television set found in the house, along with a circa 1900 icebox. And some pieces now displayed prominently were once never mentioned in polite company.

“We’ve even got chamber pots from the late 1800s,” Crumpler said with a laugh.

Crumpler and Boykin’s grandfather, the late Johnnie B. Cutler, operated a mercantile up until the late 1950s, so running a store is in their blood. And because they were well acquainted with the house’s previous owners, the late Elmer and Edna Cox, the sisters didn’t want the structure to lose its original charm.

“We wanted this house to have the character it had in the 1900s,” Crumpler said.

Along with the interesting array of merchandise, there are a few items displayed that are not for sale at any price. These include a handful of decorative pieces owned by Edna Cox as well as a Cox family marriage license from the 1800s.

And while Gold Trim Antiques & Collectibles is indeed a business, Crumpler said it isn’t just about making money.

“It’s more of a passion … and I love people,” she said.

Gold Trim Antiques & Collectibles is currently open Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The shop will also open Sundays from 2 to 4 p.m. through the holiday season. For more information, call 252-402-7245.