About taking something tarnished and polishing it up  and why those simple and easy projects are not always the way to go.

A Story and look at our kitchen

Would it surprise you to know that I haven’t always been a girl that makes sense?

 I can be honest. I have learned that my way of thinking often doesn’t make any logical sense. I know what I like. I know what I want- but does the method to my madness make sense? Often, absolutely not. And you know who knows it even more? 

My husband.

I am THE best at making that man crazy. (at least I am good at something, right?  

And there was a moment  back.in.the.day when we were young (19 and 21) and working on our first house and I was a basket case of pregnancy hormones and I started falling apart at some random thing and knew that I was a pain in the you know what – and in his exasperation he paused and smiled and wrapped his arms around me and said: 

‘Anyone can have an easy woman…  why would I want that when I can have you?’ 

I had a couple reactions honestly. The first- blubberfest because-he has always been the sweetest man and he loved me even when I was feeling pretty unloveable and was literally an emotional wreck. But that he also had no idea how much more emotional that emotional side could get.  (young love haha- he has since learned!)

Which brings me to this house.

Home

The house we live in now is our 3rd home together. Well 4th if you count that tiny house on wheels that he bought when he returned from Desert Storm that we lived in for a few months. And with each house- there has been a challenge of some kind. Some bigger than others- but none were quite as much a basket case of issues as this one we live in now… kind of like me.

From the day I drove into the driveway- I knew this was not going to be an easy job.  It was ugly and it looked like it should be bulldozed. So Why would I even want to get out the car and take a closer look at something that was already so decrepit and broken from glance? 

The honest answer is that it was at the tippy top of our price range in expensive California and this was the only house that I felt drawn to when I first saw it.  Sure it was tarnished. Beyond tarnished really- it was a the point of when tarnish starts pitting and eating away the metal. And when my husband came to look at it and said ‘No way- this is terrible.’ And I couldn’t disagree- it was. Especially compared to the sweet farmhouse we had moved from in Minnesota on 120 acres that cost less than a brand new car. 

But  I reminded him about what he said back in the day…and changed it to fit the project.

Anyone could take on an easy project-  why would we want to do that when we could tackle this one?

Yeah, I don’t think that thinking went over real well.  The truth is – even after I got him to agree to wander through- he wasn’t so sure.  You see, we had 3 little kids- and my husband worked in another county for several days and nights at a time -which meant it was the kids and I at home for 3-4 days a week by ourselves.

And we knew we weren’t going to be able to buy the house, walk in and throw lots of money at it to fix all the issues- we were going to have to pay to fix each thing as we could. And do each project with little skills.

This house was rough. But I argued it was a diamond in the rough. (Okay- it looked like coal but who is really counting? )

 We originally thought it would take a few years- we would flip it and we could look for another project.  But the more that we worked on things and that tarnish was polished away – I saw the bones that the house had and how perfect they were. And the more I found myself feeling so much like this was the perfect place for us.

And a lot of those first glance elements that we were told to replace in favor in updating and making the house more appealing to the market-  they were the things that spoke the loudest to me. Some of them were not the easiest of things to live with- but we decided that they were not going to be changed.

The Kitchen

One of those things is the original cupboards that were in the kitchen. How do I go from that story to this story about the kitchen? It is a rambling kind of Monday folks-  I have no other explanation.  But I have often been asked how to remodel a kitchen and keep that vintage feeling and look- it definitely helps that our kitchen has those original bones to work with.

We could have replaced the drawers that drop and the doors that never like to stay closed- but  kept those elements that make us crazy and that we love all at the same time.  (Again- my husband knows nothing about this lol.)

7 Simple Ways to Add Vintage Charm

So all kidding aside-  if you have a vintage kitchen you want to be more functional- how can you update  and keep the original vintage character and feeling?  Or  how about adding some vintage charm and touches to your newer kitchen?  And of course- without breaking the bank with a huge kitchen renovation bill?

Here are 7 simple ideas today that I think absolutely can make a difference without changing everything.

1. Change the lighting

This is a simple thing- but you know that ceiling fan with a beer bottle pull in our kitchen when we moved in? (see 2 pictures back for a close up)  Yeah, two chandeliers was a much better fit I think. The chandeliers currently in our kitchen are $20 vintage finds. They aren’t perfect and I have thought about updating them since- but they are kind of part of the story now I think. 

2. Fresh coat of Enamel type paint

Vintage paint has a vintage type sheen you are probably familiar with. It is more gloss/enamel look than flat or eggshell. But it definitely isn’t photo finish type baked on paint. I have found that some of the best paint for our vintage cupboards to keep the look and keep the functionality of easy to clean is a enamel. Oil based if you can do it- but that does require a bit more to it and lots of open windows and no touching for several days- so water based enamel is a good option too.

3. Add an island

We didn’t have an island when we first moved in. It was just a long galley style space with very little counter area. We added one island, then switched it for a second larger one and then finally were able to add the perfect fit a few years ago. It absolutely makes a huge difference in this room and gives us so much more space to work. 

4. Architectural interest

On the ceiling. On the walls. Add some of that old world style interest with wood planks, beaded board or ceiling tins. You can do this more easily with wallpapers that have the look- or put actual planks or tins up.

5. Open Cupboards

Those open cupboard areas on the ends of our kitchen? Originally had doors. One was broken and when I removed it to try and fix it- loved seeing the wood walls in the back and decided to paint it and leave it open. I repeated at the other end for symmetry and voila. 

6. Update your backsplash & Counters

Tiles, beadboard, or even a slab of stone- your backsplash and counters can make your kitchen look totally different. You don’t have to go expensive with a specific type of stone- there are many options for all price brackets. Just remember with a slab- you will need a fabricator to cut and install so that does add a bit to the cost.

7. Change your hardware

Knobs and handles are an easy change- and they are inexpensive as well. I ordered unlaquered brass knobs and pulls from House of Antique Hardware and they were perfect for giving our kitchen that original vintage look when we updated the lucite knobs.

These are all simple ways to give your kitchen that vintage feeling and look without changing everything or having a kitchen remodel bill that runs into the 5 figures.

And up next in their series-  a few ideas for temporary changes for example in a rental kitchen  -without renovating anything.  

Something that completely blows my mind when I look back at this house and kitchen and remember where we started? I knew it could be beautiful & charming. I saw the potential through the dust and yuck. But I had no idea that it would be in magazines. Or that it would be included in 3 books. I had no idea that opening the door to this house would lead to opening the door to writing a blog or books. Which just reminds me to be okay with looking at things a little differently. Even if it makes my husband crazy even now. And yes indeed- you can ask him- I am absolutely even better at doing that than I was before.

In case you missed them – I just released my 3rd book French Country Cottage Christmas (currently on sale for $20!!) And my first book is FRENCH COUNTRY COTTAGE & my second book FRENCH COUNTRY COTTAGE INSPIRED GATHERINGS

You can see more of this grazing table HERE– it is perfect any time of the year!

I have been doing a whole lot of reflecting while dreaming and planning the past couple of weeks. Every time I do a reflection series- it seems looking back at the project comes up so you will see more of that including some before I have not shared yet soon.

Happy almost Friday all!

The post A story & 7 easy ideas for adding vintage charm to your kitchen appeared first on French Country Cottage.

Answering some design dilemma questions and general questions this summer on the blog- and one of the most recent ones has to do with using antiques and reproductions and how to mix them.

Does this sound familiar?

You are looking to create a beautiful room full of elegant vintage and antiques pieces that create a ‘feeling’ and tell a collected story.

But you also need them to function for daily even heavy daily use- and not worry. I hear you.

When I was decorating the house when we first moved in- I was looking for pieces that I found on craigslist and at the flea markets- but on a we have a whole house that needs to be completely renovated and updated kind of budget. So- the challenge was finding good antiques that had the look and that I did not have to overhaul – and also that were sturdy enough to stand up to daily use with 3 young kids. That was really the beginning of me finding my style, learning how to ‘get the look’ on my budget and also why I learned that the words ‘antique reproduction’ is not something so shy from- it is a good thing.

Tip: Find good reproductions and mix and mingle antique and new- you can create a beautiful room and have the best of both worlds.

Useful and decorative

I love vintage and antiques as much as the next person. I collect bits of silver, have drawers full of old flatware and have a hard time walking by a set of antique chairs- or even one antique chair that speaks to me.

But… you have to consider if you can use that piece everyday as well. While that antique chair you just went weak in the knees over looks beautiful- maybe that wonky repaired back leg makes it too unstable for everyday use. Or the antique step ladder in the bathroom? Perfect for holding candles and flowers- but not for standing on.

That doesn’t mean that you can’t have that chair that speaks to you in a corner with a stack of books on it- but do make sure that antique chair in daily use is beautiful and functional. You don’t want to be cautioning guests to not sit the side chairs by the fireplace because they are merely decorative for example or stringing tape across the front so no one sits on them.haha.

Reproductions

Which is one of the places where reproductions come in. Even if your first choice is an authentic antique – you can usually find a good reproduction that can be just as timeless and incredibly detailed as an antique piece- and is often much more functional for your everyday lifestyle.

Not all reproductions are created equally of course- you can be fairly choosy about where to shop and find the ones that pay attention to detail and finishes that are authentic.

I have reproduction tables in the kitchen and the bathroom- and they have been wonderful. Our kitchen island is a drapery table with drawers and details like carved legs and the most delicious bleached wood finish.

I searched and searched for an antique that would fit the look, size and our kitchen. I didn’t want to have to refinish something because it wasn’t the correct color or alter something because it didn’t fit perfectly. I was watching craigslist & shopping second hand but not finding the right fit. While at High Point Market in the Eloquence showroom- I saw this huge table… with the right finish, that more narrow than a dining table width I needed- and all the antique details I love.

I added a marble slab to the top and called it good.

Side note: Something you might not know about the marble slab? It has an irregular edge on one side. You can somewhat see it right before the cookbook in the photo above. The fabricator was pretty stressed about it knowing it would cut into the top. I told him that I knew it was there and I was all good with it. So, he hesitantly cut the rest of the slab for the top- and when we placed it on the island- he nodded and loved how it looked that the irregularity really made the marble feel like it was antique and it had always been a part of this piece.

A Collected Look

When I was writing Inspired Gatherings- we knew we were going to be including something in the dining room- and I wanted it to feel different and special in here. This room is actually a good example of mixing several different age pieces and making it work.

1. Chandeliers -New reproductions
2. Farm table- built by my boys and husband using reclaimed wood
3. Cane back chairs- Vintage from the 1960’s
4. Cupboard- French Antique from the 1800’s

It is a mix and mingle of different ages and styles- but they come together perfectly and I love the way it shows that not everything has to be a ‘period’ antique to create the look.

Another example of vintage and new mingling together that I am asked about all.the.time. These layered mirrors in the living room.

Many folks think they are both antique but the secret to these? One is 100+ years old- and one is brand new.

The tall mirror was a craigslist find. It is about 7.5′ tall and absolutely stunning in person. It was a bit of a job for my husband and I to load up and get inside ourselves honestly- but it is incredible. The details on the crown are beyond.

The smaller mirror is a new find.

I bumped into it while shopping at HomeGoods. It has the look of an antique and lots of details- and layered with that large antique mirror- it is beyond beautiful. You can find more reproduction mirrors here

I have both vintage and new lighting in my home as well. The kitchen has a pair of $20 thrift store find vintage chandeliers. They are missing a few bits here and there- but I have a soft spot in my heart for them since they really tell a part of the story of how our house came together.

But while I have a couple antique chandeliers- most of the lighting in our home are reproductions. For safety and because there are so many good ones out there.

Those delicious antique chairs (that yes -are sturdy and usable) an antique drapery table and Trumeau mirror (all from Eloquence) and a brand new chandelier. They all mingle together perfectly and create a space that feels like it all was meant to go together.

Stay tuned for a closer look at that gorgeous trumeau mirror and drapery table – both from Eloquence. And don’t miss your chance to enter to win one of thse beautiful medium Birdcage Chandeliers from Eloquence – today is the LAST DAY to enter!

See you tomorrow for a bit of ‘blooming’ fun- have a great Monday everyone.

The post Get the Look- using antiques and reproductions together appeared first on French Country Cottage.

Treasure hunts can often involve those treasures that got away.

Maybe you got there just a few minutes behind someone who snatched that perfect piece up already- but sometimes- that search pays off. And you find yourself the proud owner of the one that didn’t get away.
See more in my post here

The post French Country Fridays- The one that didn’t get away appeared first on French Country Cottage.

The boxes and bins and old garden sheds full of who knows what you are going to find when you start sorting through. Summer is prime flea market and garage sale season- and there are so many treasures just waiting to be found.

Shopping flea markets and yard sales for those elusive perfect treasures…
definitely addicting.
I have furnished quite a bit of our house and cottage with vintage – and quite a bit of vintage that was just a handful of dollars. I am definitely a bargain shopper- but I will pay more for something unique or that is a must have when I find it.

So what do you do when there are no yard sales or flea markets that week- or you just need something very specific for right now? You shop online sources- my favorite is craigslist.
And the other day when I was searching the ‘list’ for a few bistro chairs- I bumped into a listing for these.

A set of cane dining chairs & settee.

Something you might not know about me… I have a chair addiction. It is right up there with my addiction to flowers, all things chippy with old patina and history and anything and everything French.

My husband used to laugh at me for always finding a random chair somewhere that I ‘needed.’ and those chairs would be refashioned in the perfect fabric for the bedroom or living room.
And I have a huge soft spot for vintage cane chairs.
So yeah, I was emailing the seller.

When we got to their house to take a peek at them- I basically was already handing over the cash and loading them in the truck.

These are a few photos while grabbing them- they actually had cushions that were not so fabulous and sometimes if you have a bit of vision- you can see more of what something could look like with a few tweaks. I will share a detailed post about these chairs along with where they end up soon- but today I wanted to share a few of my tips for shopping online for vintage.

I tend to spend a bit of time perusing craigslist with coffee in hand in the morning. Though it is a little less exciting than rummaging through boxes in the middle of an old barn- it is thrilling even so.

What to search

I search broad things like ‘vintage’ ‘french’ ‘farmhouse’ ‘antique’ and if I am looking for something specific I search that as well. For these chairs- I searched ‘French vintage’ and they popped up.

And also search…


Other spellings, misspellings and ‘common’ names as well as unique.  Do you know how many times I have found amazing pieces by searching the wrong spelling? A Fireplace ‘Mantel’ is a perfect example. A lot of people list it as a ‘Mantle’ which is something completely different. As well, less common names for something- the French cafe chairs I was looking for were ‘bentwood chairs’  some people call those ‘bendy’ wood chairs, curved wood or even just cafe chairs- though they would technically be ‘Thonet Bentwood Chairs’

What to ask the seller Before looking in person


I ask several things right away- are there any issues, broken pieces, age and history and has the item been stored in a smoke free environment.
If it has been in a smoke environment – it is an upholstered piece- that is a stop. Even wood pieces soak up that smell and residue but upholstered pieces are a pretty definite no.

If it has damage 

Make sure you can use it or fix it as it is- or negotiate a price that works for getting it fixed- or walk away.  Especially if it is furniture. Things like broken legs on a chair are not going to be a good thing if they are unable to be repaired. Even if it is just a ‘for looks’ chair- you don’t want to have to string a piece of caution tape across to keep guests from sitting in it. (total joke- but you know what I mean) So I avoid bringing home things that have issues that prevent them from being safe.

To Negotiate- or not

The question… to negotiate or not. It depends on several things. How much do Have to have the piece? Are you feeling good about the asking price- or are you feeling like it is a bit too high?  I often will ask if the price is flexible ahead of seeing the item in person- and see what they say. In this case- they were happy to lower the price if I knew I wanted the chairs. I did- and so we had a deal before I had even seen them in person. Because, even with that fabric on them shown in the ad- I knew they were perfect.

A key to making sure you bring those treasures home with you- don’t wait to reply to the ad, don’t negotiate and then be a flake on picking them up and don’t offend the seller. If a price is off by a little bit- maybe decide to get over it or respectfully ask about their best price. If it is off by a TON- you run the risk of offending by low balling- in that case- I recommend expressing interest and then  watching the ad to see if they drop the price.

 I love the charm and character they have and we used them last week for a few quick photos right after picking them up.  I will share more about where they land soon.

And if you have any other tips for shopping vintage- please share in the comments!
Happy treasure hunting!!

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The post French Cupboard & 4 things I look for when shopping for antiques appeared first on French Country Cottage.

Here is a quick tour when I first arrived:

The evening was wonderful-  filled with good food, good conversation and good friends in the most stunning of settings. And a whole lot of my cheeks hurting in the best way from laughing so much.

 I mentioned that new old piece that just arrived from Eloquence yesterday in my random weekend post- and stay tuned for a closer look at all that gorgeousness.
And I am ordering a few more treasures that I will be sharing down the road as well.

They currently have a new container that just arrived- and quite a few markdowns in the vintage and sample section- so if you have been dreaming about bringing a bit of Eloquence home- take a peek.

They also just launched their own candle- Parisian Peony– and it smells incredible.
You can shop all things Eloquence directly now on their new website- or through Bella Cottage. 

I just shared more of the new Antique Cupboard here – It is most definitely love.

And question of the day… what is your favorite piece from Eloquence- and if you could choose 1 piece to bring home today- what would it be?

Happy Monday everyone!

The post French Antique Inspirations & What I love at Eloquence appeared first on French Country Cottage.

The post Vintage Zinc Bucket – and where to find one appeared first on French Country Cottage.

 

The post Eloquence Antiques & Reproduction at High Point Market appeared first on French Country Cottage.

 

The post Collecting- Tips for collecting and enjoying vintage silver appeared first on French Country Cottage.

And that is just a few of the treasures I have found shopping Craigslist-which in my opinion is a gold mine for vintage and antique treasures.

But something I am asked all the time is how do you find things?  Just search the antique section?
Or what do you search?
Do you go pick them up on your own? 

Do you pay full price?
How do you know it is a good deal?

All great questions and so today I am sharing a few tips for shopping and finding the best vintage out there.

#1. Search the right Keyword

First thing I do is get on Craigslist and start searching. 

I don’t search in the ‘categories’ as much as I do with keywords.  Just like when you Google something- you aren’t going to Google ‘antiques’ to see what comes up and hope you find that table you are looking for- you will google ‘antique table’ etc. to shop.  So if you have an idea of what you are looking for- search that in addition to doing a broad overall category search for an item. 

And don’t forget that oftentimes things are put into the wrong categories. Which is why a specific search is good.

#2. Search Vintage, Antique, Old, etc.

 I tend to use ‘Vintage’ rather than antique. Most people thing of antiques as older than 1920’s-40’s ish and so use Vintage when describing something instead. To note- people brand something as ‘Vintage’ far more often – even things from the 90’s though so you have to be careful.  I mean, I guess technically, something from 1990 might be considered Vintage to some- but that isn’t what most of us are looking for.  And I like to search ‘Vintage’ ‘Antique’ ‘old ‘ etc. with the item attached.

 (settee, cupboard, chest of drawers, etc.)  

#3. Try alternate spellings

I have found some amazing treasures- based on the wrong spelling.  For example- An antique fireplace mantel. I think at least 2 out of the 5 antique mantels that I have found on Craigslist were spelled as ‘Mantle’.  So search other spellings too-  you can find some treasures. 

#4. Ask for details when replying

When I contact someone about an ad- I always ask for more details unless they are super explained in the post which is not generally the case. 

Here are the things I want to know:

Are there any issues?

Broken seats, legs, missing parts, etc. All things to know before going to see something.

Age and history?

I personally like to know the age and history of a piece. Was it a family piece? Or where did it come from? How old is it? Etc. 

Smoke Free environment?

I can get over a lot of issues with a piece- but if it has been in a smoking environment for years- probably not going to be able to get over that.  If it is upholstered- a definite no go. 

If wood furniture- possibly. I give it a much closer look than I ever did before because of one piece. That the big French beautiful armoire in the hall- gorgeous. I fell hard for it right away. And when I got it home and started cleaning- I discovered that odd smell was from smoke- and there actually a bit of old tobacco gunk in the grooves. I didn’t notice it right away until I was scraping the details and grooves to clean it up and it was enough to make me queasy. 

#7. Know when to walk away

I know, quoting country music here- but sometimes those pieces are too damaged, too much work to bring into usability or a new piece that you could probably find less on sale somewhere.
Surprisingly- craigslist isn’t just vintage haha.
Of course – it isn’t- you can find allllll kinds of stuff there.
And sometimes- it is a new piece.
 I have seen Restoration Hardware, Anthro etc on there- and sometimes those pieces are a steal- and sometimes- not so much.
You might  see something you know you could get at the store for less. 

So just move along and keep looking.

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