Sunday, December 5, 2010

French Antiques: Autumn in Europe.











I recently got back from a trip to Europe.  I spent most of my time in France, London, Edinburgh, Germany, Austria, Belgium & Holland.....

Both Autumn & Spring would have to be my favorite time of the year to go shopping in Europe.
There is so much color & the weather is a lot cooler...









I find the luxury of a coffee, chocolates......
Freshly baked croissants or Baguette...... especially with some decadent 'Delice de Borgone' triple creme cheese from 'Lincet Fromagerie' in Burgandy
or if blue is your Flavor....
'St. Agur.' doudle creme from the provence of Auvergene.... always taste better in the cold weather.




.....and the best way to indulge would be with a glass or two of ' de Ladoucette' Poully-Fume
from the winery, Chateau, which was once the the home of the illegitimate daughter of 'Louis XV'

or.....

  

Although I would have loved to have spent the entire trip staying in a beautiful Chateau of 5 star Hotels.......

Most of my time in Europe is spent running around to Antique Fairs & meeting with other dealers to prepare for a French antique shopping trip later this year....













Monday, October 11, 2010

What Makes a Home ?

What Makes A Home.........


High ceilings...............





Windows to allow natural light....

                                            


Warm & inviting detail....
                                
                                      


A grand entrance & a spiral stair case...........



A warm kitchen...........



An open space.......


  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------






I tend to see things a little differently to most............


When I first purchased this apartment shell, everyone told me I was crazy!!!
......Perhaps sometimes in life you have to be a little crazy.....





                    

The contents of this collection are made up from fragments of history lost in time..............
Pieces which have survived the French revolution, countless wars, famine, poverty
& of course the biggest test of time, fashion.













 In times of opulence, they stood majestically......
 & in times of depression they were shadowed in attics as forgotten moments & lost memories......









Gilded pelmets which were once dressed in silk curtains, above french doors leading out
to perfectly manicured gardens.......

Crystal chandeliers which sparkle like diamonds, once lit up hallways which leading to opulent salons....... 




An old workbench scared from years of use in a workshop......  
Copper pots & pans from a French Cusine, used for countless banquets & grand dinners......












                                                          




































300 year old solid oak doors, which were once the grand entrance to to a Chateau in Normandy, which was badly damaged in a fire...............