THE CLASSY LITTLE THINGS, THAT MAKE …. THE BIG DIFFERENCE IN STYLING !

Vintage and antique decor have always been one of the best ways to add charm to your home. Pieces that date back to the early 40s 50s 60s and even 70s can bring nostalgia to your home, and evoke luxury at the same time.

When you look at furniture, a chandelier, a decorative accessory…. you can appreciate and hold in them, the memories of the past. Their elegance, style and stature coupled with the present geometric designs makes each piece one-of-a-kind.

Today, mixing and matching different styles of furniture is a designer’s favorite. The result feels unexpected, whimsical, chic, and always gets a second look. There is no need for many pieces; just a few can make a BIG DIFFERENCE.

Searching often for my clients and finding beautiful pieces, I thought it is a pity not to share such a beauty.

So, here they are!

Candlesticks

Pair of Petite Italian Candlestick Lamps

Italy
circa 1900's-candletsticks
Delicate silver leaf candlesticks that have been wired into charming lamps. The lamps are crowned with hand painted custom-made silver leaf parchment shades. There is a small antique silver metallic trim as an accent on the top and bottom of the shade.

These lamps would be perfect on a vanity or chest of drawers.

Oil Painting

 

Oil on Canvas by W.R. Barrel (listed American artist)

USA
Late 1950's
W.R. Barrel is a fine arts listed American artist - this piece is a beautiful scene of "Two ladies at the flower market" - reminiscent of Jackie O. Spatula oil on canvas.

I am not a specialist in art, but my up to now experience taught me, that either you love a piece at the first site, or dislike it.

What I really liked in this painting, is the colors the painter used. It’s a painting that, by looking at it every morning, I’d say to myself: “it’s going to be a great day today!”  Don’t you agree?

 

Tea & Coffee Set

Modern Classic Art Deco Tea and Coffee Set by Robert E. Locher

United States
1934
This is a rare and fabulous modernist set designed by Robert E. Locher, an internationally known interior designer who consulted for the silver company of Rogers, Lunt & Bowlen. The pattern was hailed for its simple, clean and with pure classic lines.
Coffee Pot 7."h x 8.25"w
Tea Pot 6.5"h x 8.25"w
Creamer 4."h x 5."w
Coverd Sugar 4.25"h x 4.75"w

Ahhhh! This is my favorite. It is so classy. I happen to have a similar set, together with a silver disc, placed on a glass table in my living room.

 Silk Scarf

Framed Vintage Hermes Silk Scarf

France
Circa 1960s
Vintage silk scarf depicting six different carriages and their accessories. Entitled "Les Voitures a Transformation," from Hermes of Paris. First issued in 1965, with subsequent reissues. Framed and mounted on picture board. Protected by new UV-resistant acrylic glazing in a brushed brass gallery style frame.

Who said scarves are only to wear them. Elegand brand scarves can be also framed and hanged on your living room, foyer, den or any other wall you think they will look good on. The result will be very sophisticated. 

It looks sooo chic. I love it!

 Sterling Silver Box

English Sterling Silver Box

England
1940's
Handsome English sterling silver box, with silver stamps dating the box to 1946 and marked "Made in England".

The interior of the box has an adjustable divider.

Searching for old boxes is my favorite hunt. A small collection of similar boxes will look good on a coffee table.

 Vintage Lamps

Pair of Vintage Murano Lamps In Lavender Pink Opaline By Seguso

Italy
1960s
Rarest of the rare - a wonderfully intense LAVENDER PINK in a classic teardrop shape, heavily ribbed. These are from Jelly Belly collection by Seguso. They are mounted on their original silver leafed bases, which have brought back to their original beauty.

The lamps measure 30 inches to the socket top. As shown, the top of the shade is 37 inches high. Lampshades are for display only and not available for sale.

Only the name Murano, says it all. There is nothing left for me to add!

Magnifyer

Gucci desk magnifyer

Italy
1960's
This would make a great desk piece

They say that small details make the  BIG difference:) How about this Gucci magnifier on your desk?

I KEPT SOMETHING SPECIAL, THAT I LIKED, FOR THE END

Studded Minaudière

Van Cleef & Arpels Diamond Studded Minaudière

France
Circa 1935
This exquisite minaudière, a strapless case crafted of precious materials, was created by the famed French jewelry firm of Van Cleef & Arpels. The body of the case is crafted of sterling silver and is secured by a stunning rose gold and pavé diamond clasp. Inside, a mirrored lid, covered lipstick holder, lighter, glass covered compartment and two additional compartments provide plenty of room for carrying all sorts of essentials in grand style. 

The firm of Van Cleef & Arpels has a rich history of milestone creations, including the minaudière. It was created to give women a convenient yet sophisticated “traveling vanity” carrying case that would be as unique and spectacular as their jewelry creations. The idea for the minaudière was inspired by socialite, philanthropist and arts patron Florence Gould, wife of American railroad mogul Jay Gould. Legend has it that Charles Arpels witnessed Mrs. Gould tossing her basic travel necessities into a Lucky Strike tin. Arpels went to his studio and soon presented her with the first minaudière.

I try to imagine how this lady would look like, to inspire Charles Arpels to create such a great gift for her!.

The art of being sophisticated and classy has a lot to do with your background and your lifestyle.

Don’t be afraid to mix and match, and make your home truly classy with an overture of luxury!

I picked these pieces for a family, which had lived many years abroad, in different countries. They brought back a beautiful collection of antique furniture and decorating objects.

The new furniture we added have simple design, in order to let the antiques, draw the attention.  We needed 2 more items and that is why I chose this collection.

They liked 3 from the above collection. Can you guess what they are?

The Van Cleef & Arpels Diamond Studded Minaudière was not for them to choose. I just liked it to add it to my post.

I hope you enjoyed my findings. Thanks for viewing.

 

 

 

Decorating your kid’s room with love and imagination!

Remember how it was to be a kid, and your room was your sanctuary, and most treasured room of the house? Recreate those fond memories of your room through your kid’s rooms with imagination and love.  Try these helpful ideas to inspire, and help your child adore their abode. 

Colorful kid’s rooms:

When choosing colors for your child’s room consider what makes them happy, and what is versatile in finding furniture, coordinated bedding, storage and playful decor. Ask your children what colors they’d like the room to be – sometimes a little input from your children will go a long way!

Design - a - bed

Coordinate lighting fixtures, wallpaper, furniture, and fun organizational items throughout your child’s room for whimsical aesthetics and practical storage. While your kid’s room can look great, it also needs to be functional and realistic for little hands to keep it tidy.

 

Design - a - bed 

Create a theme:

Themed bedrooms for children are a great way to take their favorite hobbies, games, and admiration for youthful characters and pastimes and place them around the room. What child wouldn’t want to go to sleep in a princess bed, or a racecar bunk bed?

Determine what television shows your child admires, or fictional characters he or she enjoys. Also consider using nature, colors, sports, and other abstract themes throughout their room.

 Home Sweet Home 

Sharing a room:

When creating a room that needs to be shared by siblings, consider the age appropriate decor for each. The color scheme can still be coordinated but choose older/younger-bedding accessories, hang up decor, storage and even furniture to reflect the age of each child. Personalize each child’s side of the room with playful name plaques hung on the wall, and embroider bedding, throw pillows, and even furniture with colorful stencils.

Creativity with gender specific decor: 

For some children gender specific toys has no boundary, and isn’t that what makes children different and unique. Regardless of your child’s gender, be imaginative in the use of decor and consider using real items to depict fun scenes. Real sports equipment, recreational items, and dress up clothes, make for fun decor to spark imagination in your child’s room.

 iVillage

 

Create a scene with fun murals and vinyl stickers:

Another creative idea for your kid’s room is to use murals or vinyl stickers to liven up the room, without having to spend a lot of time or expense. Today, vinyl stickers and wall murals come in every theme imaginable and will fit every child’s taste under the sun! From abstract to cartoon characters, to nature scenes and athletic superstars, choose ones that will change your child’s room into a wonderland.

 Your child get’s one time in their life to truly enjoy being a kid, and letting their imagination run wild in their room is a perfect outlet for creativity. Use these ideas to create a one-of-a-kind space that your child will remember for years to come!

 

 



 

 

Merci shop in Paris… a perfect answer to charity shop for luxury items!

Main courtyard entrance

I always enjoy visiting beautiful and quaint shops around the world.  In person, or just virtually online, the “trip” mentally is always exciting. Merci, in Paris has a perfect answer to the charity shop and it’s a wonderful find. 

Entrance to the flower shop

Merci isn't just your average tiny little charity shop in a backstreet. It's a luxury concept store, over 1500 m² (approx. 16 145 sq.ft) large that sells anything you could possibly need, whether it's a book or a roll of yarn. The founders Marie-France and Bernard Cohen (who also created, then sold the luxury children's wear label Bonpoint) have gotten in touch with designers, artists, musicians, actors, stylists, authors and famous friends who have kindly donated items from their own collections or crafted special pieces to be sold here exclusively.

Some pieces come from current collections or have been designed just for the store. The remarkable concept here is that designers who are offering their goods on sale here are foregoing their profits, so all the brand new items will cost you around 30% less than the normal sale price. In turn Merci will donate to a foundation benefiting impoverished children in Madagascar, one of the poorest regions in the world and a cause close to the heart of Madame Cohen, who has traveled there several times. Her goal is to give young children (especially girls) the chance of an education so that they can one day have a career.

 

Courtyard decorations included greenery with bird cages (left) and a red Fiat (right).

What's even more amazing is that during the sale season, slashed their prices even further. So in addition to receiving already cheaper items for an almost wholesale price, you got another 30-50% off. Regardless of how much the items cost, Merci is worth a visit, just for the store alone. Tucked away in a back yard, you won't immediately detect the main entrance, but instead see two different storefronts: one for the cafe and the other for the flower shop. Between these two, you'll find a gate that leads to an inner courtyard, where Merci has placed the first vintage item: a red Fiat Cinquecento, which is the main shop’s seasonal attraction. I'm pretty sure this item isn't for sale though.

Overview of the ground floor (left) and skylight (right).

Smaller home decor items (left) and eco-friendly plates (right).

Annick Goutal perfume section (top and lower left) and the neon lit room (right)

Cohen, who's late sister happened to be Annick Goutal, managed to get the company to donate several scents which are on offer. Instead of selling them in the usual fancy flasks, they are sold in simple glass bottles, though consumers are urged to bring their own containers which can be filled with their favorite perfume. The benefit is that you'll save 40% off the store price. Another great deal.

Jewelry housed in cabinets and glass domes (top image: farawaytrends.com).

I was also fascinated by the fine jewelry, which was housed in various glass cases, some of them resembling displays of art. There was also an area filled with purple neon light, currently shut off, but I was told this section usually displays clothing.

The vintage clothes section.

Heading towards the right side of this floor, you end up in another large room. The first thing I saw was a small collection of vintage pieces under a staircase, mainly formal wear including robes from Dior or YSL, though one rack also held some casual pieces such as vintage Levis or Adidas. Shoes were placed neatly on the ground, with bags and belts displayed on a rack nearby.

Interesting wall decorations along the stairwell

The main clothing area is where you'll find the majority of the (new) designer pieces, including Stella McCartney, Isabel Marant, Barbara Bui, Azzaro, Acne, Jerome Dreyfuss and many more who are waiving their profits for a good cause. Some of these are exclusive store-only items, such as the famous YSL safari jackets, which have been reissued in khaki and white. There was also an impressive selection of menswear, and the old-school couches, vintage furniture and other memorabilia made it a fun place to browse.

Menswear (lower image: commeuncamion.com).

The upper level contained mainly furniture, as well as some stationery, a haberdashery corner and a room for children's wear.

Fell in love with this two-seater (left) and more furniture (right)

 

The children's section with a very cute elephant (left). View of the ground floor from above (right).

The first time I came here, I never realized there was a lower level as well. This is the place to come if you need household and kitchen items, whether it's a broom, a few light bulbs or a salad bowl. Towards the back you'll find the restaurant, with a wonderful view of the back garden.

The haberdashery section features a nice selection of colorful buttons.

The coziest place to sit and have a drink or snack is probably the library on the ground floor, which has been designed to resemble an old-fashioned literary cafe. Entire walls are covered in second-hand books, with prices ranging from 3-10 EUR. Tables and chairs can be found in the main area, surrounded by more books, a perfect place to dive into a novel and enjoy a hot cup of coffee.

 

The library (left) leading into the cafe (right).

Finally, if you feel the urge to recreate the look of Merci's interiors, but can't redecorate your entire apartment or house just yet, head over to the flower department, where you'll find everything from potted plants to impressive floral arrangements courtesy of the very talented florist.

 

Throughout the Merci store, you'll find 'merci' printed on the wall, under which several names or companies are listed, a way for the owners to thank those who have provided the goods on sale. If you haven't noticed by now, this is the ultimate place to do some guilt-free shopping.

My friend V. is currently in town for a visit and this is the first place I dragged her to.

I say: a brilliant idea and 'Merci Beaucoup!'

Address: 111 boulevard Beaumarchais, 75003 Paris
Opening Hrs: Mon-Sat: 10:00-19:00
Merci: Shopping for a Cause in Paris

Hunting in your closet to find your necklace...Never again!

It all started the day I couldn’t find my turquoise necklace; I wanted to wear with my brown dress and arrived late to my appointment….

There is an area in our homes that gets neglected… The area where you throw everything quickly and run…isn’t this every woman’s problem?

Here are some organizing ideas I found and thought of sharing them here with you. 

 

 Fashion Gal Fireman

Hanging display

The appearance of how you see jewelry displayed in a retail store, can give you an organized way to see them all and at the same time and decorate your bedroom wall.

This creative idea takes knobs of various sizes to display necklaces. The knobs are screwed on a board covered with textile or leather or wallpaper. Choose what you like best and then frame it and hang it on your wall.

You can use cake stands for small items that cannot be hung and place them on your bedroom drawer.

 

Here are more decorating ideas I found that you could easily make yourselves. Go to the address shown below to see how you can make them.

 Smart & Sassy with Sprinkles

  

 The Decorologist

Main decorating attraction of your bedroom 

I find this vintage idea beautiful, don’t you? This mannequin can serve as a decorating idea in your bedroom and at the same time serves as storage and displaying solution of all this little adds on that make a woman…look chic.

 Recessionista Party

The rear side of your bedroom door

The rear side of your bedroom door is a clever place to store your bulkier jewelry and accessories at arms reach.

There are door hangers in the market that you can find and use them like this.

Everything has a place

If you know that your jewelry collection could have a room by itself inside your room, a full standing jewelry organizer may fit your lifestyle. This is a very well organized free-standing unit I found at the above address.

  This Next

I love to wear jewelry in different colors and lengths that look nice with my outfits.

Now, that I found where to store them, I will never be late on my appointment…

I would love to hear your ideas of jewelry storage. Please upload your photos on my facebook page if you like to share them with us.