j’ai deux amours, mon pays et paris
bonsoir à tous
it’s hard to believe that a month has flown by. this is officially my last night and the packing’s done, stomach full and lids are heavy. i’ll miss paris but love miami too and although my heart breaks for the oil spill, i’m looking forward to getting home and seeing what’s ahead.
packing artwork was the last thing to do and i just thought you may enjoy some of the pieces from the markets that are coming home with me. these are pochoirs by lucien victor guirand de scévola (meaning they’re hand painted over engravings). i fell in love with them cause they have the playfulness of paris’ sensuality combined with gorgeous colors, set in the backdrop of luxe paris apartments.
i love the tryst going on in the salon while the party is just outside the door…
i always wonder what went on in these apartments before our time, the fires that burned, who hurried home as dusk fell with treats from the markets to faire that famous french cuisine, and after, embroider, read, write and play and love. what could life have been like in this mysterious city for so many centuries? and to think it was all done by candlelight, with no running water and little heat. still so much was accomplished with such exquisite detail.
it looks like they were having a grand old time in spite of any hardships though. it’s because of those days that the fleas remain as fascinating as they do. how did people create such lovely things without the technologies and advances we have today using just their imagination and bare hands?
this oil is from the 20s and as a peony lover i just had to have it.
i didn’t get her (above) but love her just the same. but i did get these little books. the colors are still vibrant and the books are sweet lessons in love. the french have a way of making love so adorable and romantic!
and even though her hatbox is british, it’s still a bon voyage message to paris, i’ll be back soon (when the weather’s better hopefully)! it’s always bittersweet to leave but knowing this solid and magnificent place is here keeps me content. happy memorial day to you at home and see you on the other side!
smitten by the fleas
my name is claudia and i’m a flea-aholic.
hi all! hope your weekend is winding down well and you had a good memorial day! guess it’s no surprise where i ended up on the last full day to myself! my girl christine and i went to the markets to pay for the things on hold and celebrate a great day in the sun with friends.
i’ve been meaning to introduce you to one of my dear flea friends, stephane. he has a stall at paul bert and was the perfect host, as usual, with a ton of guests, wine and cheese.
i wasn’t sure who’d want to be photographed so just stuck with the man himself. it’s funny cause you just never know who’s who at a place like the flea market. steph has a place close to me in the marais that was phtographed for a french magazine. he gave me a copy and i thought you may like the tour as much as i did.
some of the furniture is now in his shop, funny where things end up!
and we were hosted by another friend where we polished off an incredible homemade and gâteau more wine…
which led me to splurge and purchase these chairs!
of course, i had to choose carefully but it was so hard
how can you not love a place who upholstered everything in satin back in the day?
these were hard to resist
and even when we tried to do something other than the markets, the streets laid out more goodies before us at a brocante!
you never know what is going to be just ahead, guess that’s the magic of this ridiculously magical city.
here upon closer inspection were the relics of so many men who fought to protect it this dear place.
and their arms. how things have changed.
and i probably couldn’t leave paris without seeing a daybed on the street,
or a chaise for that matter!
i still have my heart set on this one but don’t think it’s gonna happen. i don’t have a store anymore and really not even an apartment. how’s that for the cobbler with no shoes?
the color combination is killing me! (thanks, mom, for saying i should get it. it would look good in my old room ;p
anyway, back to work tomorrow to restring the chandeliers with my clients so i’ll bring flowers and take pics of the final result. till then, have a great night and extend your weekend as long a possible!
to the world you may be just one person, but to one person you may be the world
bonjour toute le monde!
i hope you’re having a bon weekend and le soleil is shining. i’m winding down my trip and just wanted to share this little handpainted card on parchment i picked up this morning for a euro. my french is far from parfait but basically it says that to be happy with myself, i need my friends. it made me think of you and how much it meant to have you along on the trip even if it was from afar. your notes and comments mean so much to me and without you this wouldn’t be half the fun, so thank you for being there and i hope to share paris with you one day soon. i’ll be back in september, so check for flights!
anyway tomorrow is another early morning, i’m shopping for a sweet pâtisserie in california so lots of goodies are headed west. monday i’m back with my clients to make sure their chandelier crystals are all in line ;p
for now it’s close to 3am and i’m ready to drop so bonne soirée with love from paree!
paris when it drizzles
what to do when it rains? play house!
bonjour guys! hope all is well in your world. here in paris it’s been a study in duality, both quiet and hectic, raining and sun, lonely without claudia II and busy with rearranging the apartment. i’ve been working with lorraine to freshen it up but my shots aren’t great. still i hope these will give you an idea of how much is going on in a small studio. really it couldn’t be more perfect. i love all her little details and with some of my flea finds it was fun to stage a bit and shoot it. she always has little flowers and surprises in drawers like these silk ones which i loved with the yellow glass.
a friend of mine told me about taking wide shots and then in tighter and tighter for close ups. sounds reasonable but it’s something i never thought to do so i’m giving it a whirl. hope these aren’t too repetitive.
anyway you may remember lorraine’s apartment (claudia II’s mom) from a couple years ago. not much has changed but a little rearranging really opened it up. the windows have been wide open for days. no screens and no ac. and not a mosquito in sight. just geraniums as far as the eye can see!
lorraine got new deschamps sheets and i’ve been busy getting bulbs, shades, a throw and new pillows. i’ll be renting it for her on the off months so if you need a place when you’re in paree, let me know. it’s the quintessential pied à terre and feels like home with everything you need. well, actually i haven’t been able to figure out the tv, but then again, haven’t missed having it at all!
the bed is a double which is nice and roomy. the carvings are mind boggling.
i love the mirrored vanity and all her pretty things she shares with her guests.
i’m taking you around the room…this is out the window (obviously). an adult school is across the street which is great cause there’s never anyone there except some evening classes once in awhile.
the view is of the street is of course, gorgeous. it’s in the heart of the marais on the very tiny rue des tournelles.
and the artwork is magnificent.
even in such a small place there’s room for everything including a chair to lounge in by the window.
a makeshift mantle (i light the candles and pretend there’s a fireplace)
lorraine found this intricately carved piece which fit perfectly over the window. it’s just another point to ponder when waking up slow…not to mention the glorious chandelier!
so the guy who installed it was a hack…it’s still pretty ;p
around the other side is a marble top table for 2 to 4, perfect for working or having an intimate dinner party.
and of course, all the comforts of home with the tv and phone. i haven’t even shown you the kitchen and bath which are equally adorable but the sun just came out so i best get it while i can! bonne nuit and suite dreams!
ps: miss you, claudia deux, it’s not the same without you. you really made this house a home!
objects of desire
bonjour chère friends. i’m in a romantic mood tonight. after taking over 300 photos today i’m narrowing it down to the highlight of the day. as usual i was digging through papers in old boxes and stumbled on over 100 love letters written by a prolific jeune homme to the object of his affection, mademoiselle gabrielle. she must have been some special lady. or a femme fatale.
the letters span from 1898 to 1909 (so far, i haven’t even checked them all). everything about them is incredible from the stationery to the handwriting, to the few he seemed to write in code with criss crossed precision, making them a little hard to read. claudia II thinks maybe this was a clandestine romance. one thing is sure, he was creative and devoted. maybe they’re a little risque? i can’t read them well and want to have a french friend translate.
as a hopeless romantic this was a goldmine to discover and i can’t help but imagine who these lovers were and why they were separated for so long. mlle gabrielle must have kept these letters for years and i wonder how this treasure ended up in a box at the flea market.
maybe there were no children to treasure them (that would make sense if they were separated ;p
but i’ll keep studying them and see what i can decipher. for now, i knew you’d enjoy them as much as i did and will keep you posted when i get a few translated and try to put their love story together. have a wonderful weekend with the ones you love!
i don’t care what they say
allo everyone, it’s another bright and sunny day in paris! what a difference it makes when it’s warm here, it’s a completely different experience. just two weeks ago i had to buy a coat, gloves, scarf, boots and sweaters. it’s going to be 73 degrees so traipsing through the brocantes and the boxes of dirty papers and letters will be a lot more fun than doing it than with gloves and runny noses.
claudia II and i love to sift through all the papers, letters, etchings, watercolors, postcards and documents that are taken for granted by the french. wonderful ephemera from the 18oos, handwritten agreements, original sketches, music scores, grocery lists, menus and paintings can be found in folders and boxes if you spend time to go through each one.
some i can understand and others can’t be deciphered but who cares what they say? it’s so much fun to find a treasure and see them all together at home. the handwriting, seals and creativity is endless! it thrills me and i’ll never get enough!
most tourists skim the surface at markets but the trick to finding treasures is to take your time. it’s so worth it!
anything paper is magical and has so much information and detail in the tiniest space. you really get a bang for your euro and it’s not heavy to transport back.
quel signature!
original water color above, probably a detail for a wallpaper sample in the 20s.
these are the kinds of folders you’ll see along side merchant’s tables so look underneath at the stuff that hasn’t even been unpacked or displayed.
well, these are some of my personal secrets to finding le diamonds, and for those of you who have asked for my resources, i promise to share all that with you with the launch that’s happening any day now. (we’re at the last stage, it’s just a matter of time and will have all the info in one place)!
ok well there are a couple brocantes and vide greniers (antique shows and attic sales) happening today and we’re itching to get out in le soleil so off we go! more soon!
love letters from paris
bonjour everyone! hope your week is going well! having free time really gives me the chance to enjoy the details of the city. i get obsessed with little things like shooting windows, doors and lately, letters. i’m trying to get the whole alphabet but here’s the collection so far.
the rare and elusive w
some are just pretty swirls and god help me if i start with numbers! but for a font lover like me this is heaven! have a great journée!
i wasn’t expecting this
bonjour everybody!
imagine my surprise to receive this in my inbox after our day off:
Dear Claudia,
The chest and dining tables are fabulous! I’m looking forward to getting a fresh bouquet of flowers to put in the center.
Today was the most wonderful. We met the delivery guys, had a leisurely breakfast at Bertrands, then walked to the Eiffel Tower and had lunch on the Trocadero. On our walk back we stopped on the little barge for a drink and by the time we returned home we were both exhausted.
We have decided we are shopped out, so we intend to escape for a short side trip. We will leave on Tuesday and return on Saturday. We have the bones…enough to feel comfortable to entertain guest when we return in September. We’re happy.
-r
it’s hard to believe but in half the time the apartment is finished to madame and monsieur’s liking, and they’ve decided to celebrate the fruits of their labor. as a couple who’d rather do anything in paris than shop, they were serious troopers, getting up early and tromping trough every nook and cranny to get exactly what they wanted. we’re two or three pieces short (the hall entry and mirror and headboards), but they now know where to go and can build on the apartment at their leisure. claudia is here for another week and i’m here for two and it’s a bit surreal not to be on a schedule but we’re thrilled they’re happy with the outcome. for me it’s bittersweet but we have plans to visit some of the places we always wanted to see and do but can’t cause we’re usually working. we’ll still be shopping for clients back home but you know how it is when you want to see that last piece in place. when they return i’ll get the final shots with flowers and finials but till then, i wish them bon voyage et bon sante on their adventures!
the softer side of life
hi gang, happy monday! i hope your week has started off right. we spent yesterday once again at the markets in paris (i know, i may have a problem). but the marche aux puces are little living museums, filled with the people keeping tradition alive, both in showing up each weekend for centuries to sell their wares, and also in the little things they do during the day from hosting gala lunches to working their craft in their stalls.
Au Brise-bise
Création de rideaux façon ancienne
Restauration de linge
Cours de dentelle aux fuseaux
http://www.aubrisebise.com
these first two pics are from a woman who was in her stall working on the lost art of broderie. i’ve always wondered what you do with these little wooden spools! she was moving them like braids in intricate ways to create the most gorgeous patterns.
today i was drawn more to the soft little things as opposed to hard core furniture, and enjoyed snapping shots of all the remnants and swatches of hundreds of years of design and innovation.
every detail is amazing when you look closely
this is the front and back of a book cover i picked up.
the markets have hundreds of tiny scraps like this
journals from merchants who kept the most beautiful records of styles and color ways. these are from chantal who has an incredible stand at vanves. she has quite a few tables, one has stuff for 3 euros, another for 10, one for 20, and a yet another for 100. truth is you can get just as interesting stuff on the 3 as the 100.
and there’s plenty do dig through. i indulged my passion for linen and picked up some pretty little sets. these are for a baby’s bassinet, a demi lune pillow and tiny sheet.
j’adore the needle work on big linen sheets too. today we’re headed out now to montreuil which is a great monday marker where you can get tons of this stuff for next to nothing.
i’d like to surprise mom with some pretty fat quarters for her quilting.
when i shoot i often think of you, my blog friends, like sande from a gift wrapped life, who i’m sure would be right next to me digging in old boxes of ribbon.
and mande from a la parisienne who would no doubt love this batch of old flower accents. what little fleurs the ladies must have been, parading around in all these fine things!
last but not least after a wonderful brunch with erica of haven in paris in her montmartre apartment (merci encore, mon amie), we had one last stop to pick up something very special. i asked one of the bastille vendors to hold it since i’d spent every centime the day before, so we trudged all the way back to pick up this little feather. it’s still got the tag so it never made it onto one of those fine ladies’ hats but i’ll put it on the site and maybe it will go to someone who will give it a brand new shot at life. well, we better make that hay while the sun is shining, it’s beaming down so off we go, more tout de suite, bonne journée!
broken chairs and pink chandeliers
bonjour mes amis! it was a long cold day but finally sunny day in paris as we trudged through vanves, clignancourt and the bastille once again. it was my client who noticed that i seem to gravitate toward broken down pieces who have seen lots of action and have a penchant for pink chandeliers.
chairs seem to have a particular life of their own, i can only imagine the action they’ve seen, sitting silently for ages in paris apartments through both wild soirees and at desks while their owners wrote letters to lovers.
i know some of you share my passion for chairs so i just thought you’d enjoy some from this afternoon’s trek.
the abundance and variety is infinite, not to mention the condition, fabric, carvings and details.
i am dying for this 3 piece chaise and would love to bring it home.
there is so much to see in a day, my memory card is chock full of hundreds of lovely goodies but it’s getting late and tomorrow is sunday which means another full day of hunting. there’s no way a market can be happening and i can go someplace else. it’s like a drug.
every single stand and merchant has collected hundreds of pieces from the grand to the très petitte.
if you look closely at this stand you’ll see the enormous feathers on the back wall. i have to wonder, where were they found and who was the grand dame who had them as her backdrop?
i was particularly fascinated by paintings and drawings today and would love to have a collection of my very own.
i guess blue eye shadow was all the rage in the 1780s
i don’t usually go for guys (being such a girly girl), but he seems to have a lot of personality
and her, well, i’m in just in love with her dog.
between all my longings i really am focusing on my clients and suggested this mirror for their entry since it’s a total steal at 450 euros. it’s in debate but the detail is fabulous.
they ended up with a few great purchases today including this antique japanese chest,
and they got this highly french polished table for between the two chairs in the salon. it’s all being delivered on monday so we’re about to see a big change.
we also picked up this table and lamp which claudia so graciously carried through the market. she said it was lighter than her purse so she sure didn’t mind.
and this little sweetie was delivered yesterday. madame has discovered a love of butcher’s wax so we spent yesterday cleaning the chandeliers with toothbrushes while she brought this and all the other pieces back to life.
this mirror is going in the little bathroom over the sink.
it may look like it’s going slow but truthfully we’ve gotten almost everything on the list and the pieces that are there all seem like they belong together. it’s a fun puzzle to figure out and madame client actually did the snoopy happy dance so that let me know we’re really getting there!
if you’ve been playing along you’ll recognize the new chairs and the mirror above. as soon as everything is in, the contractor is coming back to hang the mirrors and chandeliers, sconces and attend to little details.
and finally, these are the chandeliers in the kitchen that we scrubbed over and over yesterday, just waiting to be hung back in an apartment after being ripped out with such nonchalance by someone who preferred ikea. we hope their second life will be a long and happy one shining down on the new owners, their friends, parties and dinners. hopefully they’ll stay for a good long time. mostly cause our cuticles are broken from scrubbing and we want them to live forever in a gorgeous apartment. it’s their birthright! ok, bonne nuit!
an affair to remember toujours
bon soir everyone!
thank you for the bon appetit wishes last night. it was truly one i will never forget and feel privileged to have been invited to such a soiree magnifique. it felt like we stepped back in time to a salon gathering of some of the great young minds and talents residing and making their marks in paris.
from the moment we walked into the foyer and were handed champagne, the night was pure magic. as the 16 guests arrived, we mingled and chatted and the air was palpable with what our paletes were about to experience!
if you’re in paris, i highly recommend you make a reservation at the hidden kitchen. our host and hostess, braden and laura are the most charming and talented american couple you could hope to meet on your trip, and the exquisite beauty of everything from the decor of their apartment to every morsel they served was sublime!
their mantle was tres adorable
and the menu was abbreviated but we were beyond satiated.
le amuse bouche was tres amusant
my camera wasn’t great in low light but you get the idea.
who knew a poached egg could be sculpted?
the theme was a bit of a twist on american classics like buffalo wings and sliders
and david lebovitz’s dessert recipe was the perfect cherry on top of the fantastic feast.
thank god for the coffee at the end of our 4 hours together so i could go home and share it all with claudia who would have loved it. next time i’ll treat her as she’s someone who would have enjoyed every moment of it.
our hosts were the lovely meg zimbeck and king david himself
who held court and entertained us with stories of life in paris, the trials and tribulations of everything from breaking 50euros (the french only take out 40 euros at a time to avoid beaucoup drama). david is a pastry genius who is living here and enjoying life to the fullest. he just published his 6th book which we were given and i can’t wait to delve into.
and the evening was put together by lily of context who runs incredible walking tours (some given by meg and david themselves). i’d love to sign up for one of those afternoons of decadence! they also do private itineraries (her latest included a trip to the louvre after hours and onto laser tag)!
so that was ma nuit…
it’s a place that’s open to everyone and i hope you indulge. it’s one of the best ways to enjoy an intimate evening making new friends and time traveling and experiencing a gastronomic extravaganza! as good as the food was, the conversation, atmosphere and one of a kind evening was one i’ll treasure.
thank you erica for a night that will stay with me forever!
up mon alley: a private supper club in a paris apartment
hi guys, i hope you’re well and having a bonne semaine! i have about 3o seconds before having to run out to get something chic to wear to a special event tonight.i don’t usually write about food but tonite i’m headed to a dinner party held throughout the year, this time by david lebovitz in a paris apartment called ‘the hidden kitchen’. there’s going to be a seasonal 10 course tasting menu with paired wines so if i’m in any shape to write after then i will share le experience! hkmenus.com.
i was invited by my girl erica of haveninparis.com and can’t wait to see what it’s all about. i’ll take pics if i’m allowed (well you know me, even if not ;) better hustle!
paris is old and cold and settled in its ways
and i complain about the rain but there’s always a warm spot to dip into like this little spot in clignancourt…
hi guys, hope your week is going well. it was a day off for us so we really chilled and worked at home most of the day. these shots are highlights from yesterday. i fell in love with this little place at the flea in clignancourt, it kind of made me miss having a store cause it was filled with the girly stuff i love so much.
she collects all the things i die for…pink chairs, daybeds, glass sconces hats on stands with feathers. who wore these things? who lived that life?
le sigh, i’m a dreamer who loves carvings and flowers
and details
but god my camera blows!
this is all from the same shop at the flea. the owner was chatting so i didn’t get her card but will be back this weekend to find it.
back in reality we shopped for the apartment and made a couple of what i thought were great buys like this versatile jansen table,
and this old mirror to go in the dining room with the less fussy chairs and table between the windows.
and we’re going to revisit this footstool (and i’ll get those chairs for karina gentinetta who loves them as much as i do)!
this was an option for the little desk in the guest room,
and these were the final choice for each of the reading corners in the bedrooms.
we got these pieces delivered to the apartment so tomorrow claudia t is going to clean up the crystals on this bad boy,
the man of the house found this little cutie.
and with a bit of agony, the armoire was carried into its new home where it will stay for all eternity. well, a good long time anyway!
the buffet got waxed up and is getting its second wind. so little by little it’s coming together. more shopping and deliveries tomorrow. i hope i’m not boring the crud out of you but it’s good for me to keep my notes and thoughts and progress all together here.
the highlight of our day off was meeting di overton and tara bradford down the street from our apartment at merci. they are two of the coolest, sweetest, most amazing women i’ve ever met. if you get a chance, dig into their blogs, they’ve been around the world and back and at the same time are just starting new adventures!
ok claudia t is about to pass out so i have to turn out le lumière so bonne nuit!
the saucy sides of paris
i don’t know if i mentioned that my friend claudia arrived to assist with the job this week. she’s been coming on the trips for more than 10 years and is the kind of friend who will do anything for you and doesn’t mind if i get cranky or bossy which i may have done once. or twice. ok, maybe 3 times but that’s it!
when we’re together she always reminds me how much i love the risque side of paris. for my other project i’ve been looking for the perfect something to illustrate the french playfulness between the risque and refined.
we love to dig through old ephemera and always come out filthy but with lots of paper treasures. she collects images of architectural elements whereas i look for souvenirs and sketches of the saucy side of paris.
on another note, i really wish i had time to refine my photography skills, almost everything is inspirational, even old cuffs and collars, costumes and plumes…
back on the decorating tip, i always find new ideas in old magazines
and as we headed back out to clignancourt yesterday, we slipped into the waaaayyy back
where you can find some of the best stuff. it’s where dealers who don’t mind getting down and dirty do it. you have to dig deep and you’ll leave looking like a disaster but there are treasures galore.
back in civilization on the other side of clignancourt, we shopped once again for some pretty things for the apartment. these are a couple things i’m daydreaming about for my own little fantasy place in my own little mind…
wood panel from the 1800s i could just EAT
blue satin chairs that have seen much too much of a muchness. believe it or not i love them ‘as is’!
sick i know but that’s the real me!
and i could just pop this paneling up in any room and be very happy there!
back in reality, we met with our clients in the morning who found these great 8 chairs in the 5 minutes waiting for me! they go perfectly with their harvest table.
and they found this little stool for extra seating.
can you tell i wasn’t there? she doesn’t want the place to be filled with as she says, too much girly stuff! so i think they’re striking a good balance. a quick decision was made on a buffet for the dining room which, besides a trumeau mirror is actually the first of the rooms to be completed!
they’re debating these chairs for the bedrooms as each will have a cozy reading nook with a table, lamp and ottoman. they’ve just been recovered with linen and nice soft stuffing so being ready to go is a huge selling point.
claudia found them this 1920s blue deco table that looks like it’s seen a lot of good times. it’s in debate but we’ll revisit it and the chairs, mirrors, coffee and occasional tables today.
oh god i just realized it’s getting late and i hate to be the last one there. these sconces were the last thing we got yesterday before we all pooped out. this afternoon i promised lorraine (claudia’s mom) to her give her apartment a facelift so it’s gonna be a trés loin jour. claudia’s back with my croissant so you know i better fly! more in a couple hours, who knows what but i love the hunt! have a great monday, hope it’s sunny where ever you are!
happy mother’s day, mama!
good morning and happy mother’s day to my own wonderful mom and all you others out there who took the plunge and give it your all every day! i don’t know how you do it and still create the most beautiful blogs, homes and families and share it all with the world. it’s all i can do to take care of myself but i guess we all have our own path!
(my mom loves to quilt)
anywit’s almost 8am and i’m already late and have to run above are the two mirrors i hope our clients get, below is a fabulous armoire they purchased from a 9th generation trapeze artist at clignancourt.
with another secret compartment! below is one of the two chandeliers they purchased from him too,
and this one from stephane who has a little stand at paul bert…i’ll give you the addresses in another post so if you come you can visit them, they can really cut the deals.
finally this is the harvest table they got, wanting the juxtaposition of rough and refined…
and
and of course these are the things that i want them to get but she doesn’t go quite as girly as i do…oh well, maybe one day i’ll have a place to decorate of my own ;p
and these are just little details i hope you’ll get a kick out of. ok gotta go, more shopping to do, and everyone’s getting a little worn out so i have to maximize my time cause we’ve still only skimmed the surface of the list!!
nous avons fait des progrès
just happened to see this for the first time in all my years while waiting for the bus. deyrolle.com
we ran in for a minute. the place is bizarre, maybe even creepy but the building and rooms are amazing!
bon matin tout le monde! i hate that i haven’t been able to visit or respond to your comments, you are so making my day though when i get home and see you stopped by. it’s sooooooooooooo much more fun to be doing this along with you! my clients are whizzing through and making decisions, yesterday they got a sofa, rug, sconces, chandelier, inlaid table and bath light fixtures.
some of these feel like repeats but i thought you’d like to see some things in place. every little detail takes time but we’re getting there each day a little more. who knows what today will bring but we’re going to vanves and then clignancourt to hopefully do some damage.
didn’t notice this feather in the top of the desk but thought you’d like it!
they got this table before i arrived and it’s gorgeous in person. ok well as usual, it’s getting late and i’m with you instead of at the meeting point so a tout alors!!
c’est les petit choses
these adorable images were sent to me by my sis in law, jean who collect this artist’s work. i thought you’d enjoy them. they showed me once again that it just doesn’t take much to make a fabulous room.
or send a message!
bonjour tous! i hope you’re well, i’m about to run out once again, but wanted to share one of the lovely pieces we picked up yesterday for next to nothing. it’s a hand carved little desk from the early 18oos with secret compartments and lots of detail.
we’re off to bhv for a sofa and some essentials so i’m going to bundle up and jet. more soon!
the very merry month of may
bonjour mes amis! i have about 3o seconds left before having to run out the door. these were some of my favorite things from yesterday, i took 100 or more shots but only have a sec so here a a couple i hope you enjoy! this chandelier was only about 8 inches high and doesn’t even work but i love it!
i know this is random but j’adore papers
and got a couple things for myself
never used…who wouldn’t use this?
aw geez well i gotta jet…this is the market from one side of the canal st martin looking to the other
i went thru the market 3 times and it was different each time
today is open to the public so it will be all new once again
and we did get lucky at the last minute cause my clients found a pair of chairs they loved
from a lovely gentleman from lille who graciously delivered them within the hour they were purchased
cause you know we americans LOVE our instant gratification! well, it’s a start! gotta run, everyone’s waiting but you know you come first ;p
rooms avec views
photo from my lunch with martha who so generously treated me to Ladurée. she’s a doll and indulged me while trying to get a pitiful shot. i need practice!
hi all. i’ve been busy (it’s amazing how much you happily pack into a day here) but my mind is with you at home thinking about the oil spill that’s hit the coast. not to get political but i just want to put it out into the universe that we don’t need to ‘drill baby drill’ and risk more of our precious coastline and earth.
since i can’t do anything from here it’s back to our regularly scheduled decorating projet...i saw the apartment in person, it’s a dream come true. chevron floors, marble mantle, 7 street facing windows, high ceilings, moldings galore, an original food warmer, renovated kitchen and bath and location location location.
i realize i’m a bad photographer cause i didn’t really get a great shot of any one room but at least you can feast on some details.
we’re starting today as it’s a ‘trade only’ day at the bastille show. it’s almost 9am and i’m heading out to be the first in line since it’s right on my corner. i’ll take pics so more soon. have a bon jour!
un petit bain de soliel
bonjour tout le monde! thank you for your wishes for good weather, the sun is shining today so you probably had something to do with it. these photos have noting to do with anything except that isn’t it amazing what you can put on a pillow and have it look great!? maybe it’s just paris. i’m not sure.
so i did go and buy a coat and gloves yesterday and today will probably get some rain boots cause it’s not a dry forecast over the next 10 days. ick!
right now i’m off to meet mimi of bonjourromance.blogspot.com, a blogger acquaintance (living here in her very own lovestory/fairy tale) who’s invited me for a cafe au lait at Ladurée on rue bonaparte how could i refuse?
afterward i’m headed over to see my client’s apartment for the first time on rue monge. i picked up this postcard for them at the market and it’s so silly but i can’t wait to see if their place is in the shot!
i’ll take a pic from the same spot as it is today ;p
we’re going to start a little early to get a head start on the bastille show along the seine which runs may 6-16. (it’s a great show that happens twice a year). the first day is reserved for the ‘trade’ so we’re putting together the laundry list and will soon be on our uber-focused mission! the plan is to decorate the entire place in two-three weeks. funny how whether you’re in a studio or a mansion, you need the same things. here’s our list:
Salon
1 sofa
3 chairs
1 coffee table/trunk
2 end tables
1 table lamp
1 cabinet to house printer
2 chairs for breakfast table
1 floor lamp
1 area rug
Dining Room
1 rug
1 large mirror
2 cabinets for serving
1 dining table
6 chairs
1 table lamp
1 chandelier
Foyer
1 entry table
1 large mirror
1 chandelier
Master Bed
2 nightstands
1 chest
1 vanity
1 stool
1 armoire
1 chair
1 floor lamp
2 bedside tables
headboard
Guest Bedroom
1 headboard
1-2 nightstands
1 table
1 chair
1 side table
2 bedside lamps
1 desk/vanity
1 chair
ok well as i’m writing this it’s starting to get late so off i go…à bientôt!
honing the eye of the beholder
hi guys! hope you had a great weekend. as usual, i am in paris with all the wrong clothes. it was supposed to be in the 70s but it’s only 46 degrees and i have no coat or even long sleeve shirts. so i haven’t left the apartment yet today which gives me some time to catch up on work which is starting to snowball already!
part of the reason i came a little early was to revisit some of my favorite haunts like the vanves flea market (pucesdevanves.typepad.com), and also to check out some of the markets that i’ve always wanted to see but never made it to like the antique book market at the bottom of the post.
part of what i’m working on is resource guide so i want to make sure everything is in tip top order so whoever uses it will know there wheres, hows and whens if shopping the paris fleas and brocantes.
part of my obsession with the markets has always been finding bargains as you may know. so many people claim there are no good deals left in paris but i have a completely different view. i’ve come to realize over the years that the best things really do come in small packages and the fleas are where to find them. the trick is in looking in the least expected places and really getting down and dirty!
i love to dig in one and two euro boxes and look in tiny tins, on messy tables and in folders, underneath things, even in boxes that dealers haven’t unpacked.
i take my time to really go through each stand and ask questions, look at the workmanship and study tools i’ve never seen. there’s an entire world on each dealer’s table just waiting to be noticed.
anyway that was my ‘little’ obsession yesterday. vanves never disappoints and yesterday was no exception.
it’s so not about the size or the quantity at these markets of what you get, the tiniest things can make the biggest impression. i got my clients an old postcard from the turn of the century of a view of their ‘new’ street’. i can’t wait to give it to them!
this was the market i’ve always wanted to hit but never made it to, the antique book market in park georges brassens, aka Marché du livre ancien et d’occasion Marché Georges Brassens. it’s open saturday and sundays and is just a few blocks down from vanves. if you go, there’s a little tram that runs between the markets, sort of a cross between a bus and a cable car. i swear, no matter how many times i visit this city it feels brand new!
take the tram from vanves metro to the park georges brassens stop if you go.
talk about amazing collections and bargains, and dealers who have a passion for books and old papers. it’s a goldmine.
ok well i have to get out there and get my brocante magazines to see what’s on when this month, i’m charting every vide grenier, brocante, market and festival so my client’s apartment will be filled to the gills in two weeks with brand new old stuff. more soon!
paris is not for everyone
but for those who love her, oooh la la, it’s like soul food!
bonjour tous! my feet are on the ground and so is my suitcase (merci dios). who couldn’t love a city who pays a pretty lady to pass out lilies of the valley welcoming visitors at the airport? (apparently a tradition since 1541 at the ports)! i’ve been reading a lot lately about people rolling their eyes when someone says they’re going to paris again…but she’s like an old friend you just have to see once in awhile.
i tried to nap to no avail. my partner in crime from miami is here, linda from parisen salon, so i’m off to rendezvous. finally got the internet connection working so i’ll be back soon with what’s up! more soon and have a great weekend!
ps you can’t crack a magazine without eye candy! these are new from christian louboutin…my days are about to get pretty schelppy and grungy so they’re just a dream, but a beautiful dream nonetheless!
