Antiques with scars, stories add charm, warmth to homes

I am a sucker for old furniture. Whether it's a valuable antique or a vintage piece, these aged beauties, with their graceful lines and imperfections, lend warmth and character to their surroundings. I think furniture with a past adds oodles of interest to a space and gives a home a lived-in look.

If you want to become a serious collector of antiques and invest in pieces of great value, you'll want to do your homework first. Reams of books and a host of Web sites can help educate you about what makes some pieces more valuable than others and what you should look for when selecting different kinds of antiques.

But if you're like me, when you look for furniture for your home, you are less concerned with scouting out fine antiques and more interested in finding timeless treasures that will win your heart.