Have you ever wondered if antiques could talk-
what they would say
What have they seen through the years
as they sat unassuming in the corner of the room?
Did they see history in the making?
Hear secrets?
Or did they sit and gather dust in an old barn or attic
forgotten and just waiting to be rediscovered?
I admit,
it’s a little strange to think about a piece
of furniture and what it may have seen
through it’s years.
But this beautiful settee…
well, it just inspired me.
I imagine an old stone house
and a little place to sit for a spot for tea,
for reading a few pages of a good book,
for quiet conversation with a friend.
Maybe it sat through the years as the children grew…
as the hours that a young girl spent sitting and chatting with friends
turned to quiet moments with a new love.
I imagine that young woman has now years later
just married the love of her life in the formal gardens at her home.
just married the love of her life in the formal gardens at her home.
Tossing her veil and bouquet on that settee
she left to chase the dreams that stood just before her.
Then I imagine that same now a little bit older girl bringing that old worn
settee home with her to her own living room
knowing it is the perfect little spot for a place to sit with tea &
for quiet conversations with her own famil
for quiet conversations with her own famil
This is one of those pieces that I just fell head over heels for when I saw it.
(okay, that actually happens a lot)
Originally when I found this, I thought I would reupholster it…
The fabric is stringy and worn in places.
The seat cushion- long gone
The wood is dinged up here and there…
&
I love it.
I love the wear and tear and shabby fabric.
I love the old lovebirds in the carvings at the back
and the dainty details at the legs.
Love it. Love it. Love it.
This was a little treasure I found when I purchased that set of
Italian painted furniture on craigslist.
The woman selling the furniture was so sweet and as we sat to chat
we talked about this little dainty settee that was in her sitting area.
Ohh how I wanted it and she was selling it…
but someone already claimed it as theirs.
Keep me in mind, I told her…. Just in case.
A few weeks later, she called me and said if I wanted it
it was mine.
It has been sitting in my daughters bedroom piled with pillows
but I pulled it outside for a few photos.
but I pulled it outside for a few photos.
Since her ‘sitting area’ was in the backyard…
I talked my daughter into a few pictures.
She’s a bit of a character this girl…
Yes…carnation antennae…
I really don’t know where she get’s it from
😉
This post is from last year but it is a favorite of mine
and this girl who is having fun for the photos turned 14 recently
My baby- baby is fourteen!!!
Cannot believe it!
Cannot believe it!
Happy Birthday baby girl!
love, Love, LOVE!!!
and every girl should wear carnation antennae at least once in their life:)
xo, Rosemary
Oh, how gorgeous! I LOVE it!
Gorgeous! It must have been meant to be yours! Love the pictures, too! So fun, romantic and ethereal. I often think about my vintage/antique pieces of furniture too and wonder what they've "seen and heard" in their long lives!
Wow what a beautiful piece!! Weird that I wouldn't want it in my house – just not my style, BUT I love it for its uniqueness and possible story behind it, which you probably told just right! Great find!
This is positively LOVELY, such beautiful photos, amazing settee…
Stunning!! And the photos are fabulous! Adorable daughter!
Lou Cinda 🙂
It's a gorgeous piece just as it is! I love it. The story you've conjoured up is perfect, and I'll bet nearly exact. It's funny how some furniture just seems to tell it's own story straight to us isn't it? Your daughter seems to already be enjoying that settee and Christening it with her story. Have fun always!
What a beautiful piece. Love the carving, and the fabric. Your daughter is a lucky girl.
Your little settee is actually made in good old USA around 1920. Classical style with french influence. It would have been in a fine home of that deco period. Enjoy. Richard from My Old Historic House.
Ohhhh, it's soooo wonderful. Of course you love it, what a treasure, and even more beautiful for the worn spots…
Cindy
Chances are, the history you imagined for this settee involved carnation antennae somewhere along the line. I am almost certain of it!
Those crazy Victorians!
Your daughter is a beautiful goof!
What a stunning beautiful shabby romantic item. Wow….!
Have a nice day and your daughter too, lol.
Bey, Sylvia
This is fabulous, Courtney. I'd keep it just the way it is! xoxo
It was destiny that this setee should belong to you! It's gorgeous!
Oh–What a lovely piece. I love it too…and it is almost as cute as the girl sitting on it! xo Diana
Gorgeous!!!
Hugs
Charo
I'm in love with this pretty settee too! Wish it were mine.
It's so pretty sitting in the grass and the photos are lovely.
You've given it new life and happiness.
hugs
Sissie
I love your settee! How I wish I could stumble on such a find!
You have THE cutest model! The settee is just fabulous ~ what a lucky, lucky find ~ waiting just for you!
What a beautiful settee!
Angela and Renee
are you kidding me right now? I was just looking at some of the most fabulous settee's and thinking ~someday~ and then I see the most beatuiful post from you! Your daughter is just beautiul, just like mom! The settee, I have no words….I hope it's life was exactly how you explained it. I'm so glad it found it's way home with you!
Enjoy your week!
XO
Kristin
Love, love, love, love, love……..love, LOVE!!!!
What else is there to say ?
Love!!!
Good for you 🙂
Gorgeous piece! Your daughter is so pretty and a happy girl, I love to see this. Hugs, FABBY
Gorgeous settee and even more gorgeous young lady sitting on it! You can tell she is a character! I'm thinking she may just have to let us see it in her room all piled high with pillows. What a special piece for a young lady and I'm so glad you shared it with us!
🙂
Vanessa
Beautiful chair! Love it! I do wish they could talk. Or just to see it in it's original home like a movie. So fun.
~Shanon
Courtney!!! This piece is just gorgeous lady!!
Hi, I am over from Kim's WOW party… The settee is dreamy! Love the pretty photo's of it too.
Hey there! that is one gorgeous girl you have there and the settee isn't bad either! beautiful pictures!
I was wondering where I might find the link for the button for the Patina Style Giveaway? I just titled a button on my blog with one of your "general" buttons to direct folks back here, but didn't know if you had an actual html code for the exact giveaway button? am I clear as mud? lol
Kristine
What a gorgeous piece, Courtney. Thanks for linking up.
I love it all! The settee, the story and most of all the photos of your daughter! Precious!
Um…love! love! love! Of course as beautiful as
The settee is the, the young lady sitting on it is evenore lovely! Your photography is just fabulous Courtney!
Heather
Such a beautiful settee and an even more lovely daughter you have. Such a lucky girl!
xoxo
Kathleen
I was reading your post, slowly scrolling down enjoying the beautiful pictures of this amazing settee, getting lost in your tale of what you thought the history might be when I came across the picture of your daughter……I laughed so hard!
What a lovely settee and what a lovely daughter you have.
You are very lucky on both counts,
Sue
Your daughter is adorable! Beautiful settee too~ xo Rachel 🙂
What a find!!! Ooooo i am totally jealous…its beautiful.
Mxo
Those are the most adorable settee photos EVER!!
Tracey
Just beautiful! daughter first then the settee! 🙂
Photo's captured the heart beat of the mood, soulfully!!
xoxo
Dore
Beautiful piece…never really thought about…if furniture could talk:)
Blessings,
Linda
It was meant to be, and what a find! It's gorgeous just the way it is! I also think about what old pieces could say if they could talk. My farm table is made from 200 year old barn wood. Hmm….
xo, Amber
Gorgeous! I often wonder too, about the history behind pieces. I have an old chest that i love so. I wonder how many children reached in to pull out their favorite toy. Or what wonderful quilts it may of held…The settee exudes character, and oh the stories i bet it could tell…Ur daughter seems so "comfortable" and "at one" with the piece…..The settee will now have one more story to tell……..about the time a young maiden and her mom took pics in the backyard……….
A Beautiful Settee, but even a Sweeter Story… Love It!
Magnificent, it would have been saying 'take me Home' to me too! I'm so happy for you that it worked out so that you could bring it Home! The Photos are fabulous, swoon worthy!
Blessings from the Arizona Desert… Dawn… The Bohemian
Oh my gosh! I love the story of how it became yours….it was meant to be! And I really love the size. I didn't realize how petite it was till the photo of your daughter on it! Just precious!
Courtney it's absolutely beautiful just the way it is! Not as beautiful as your daughter though *winks* Goofy goofus or not! Lol! Obviously it was meant to be yours. Vanna
i LOVE this! chandelier and this settee is so lovely that i could cry 🙂
i totally follow your blog,
have a nice day 🙂
I’ve just stumbled upon your lovely blog. I look forward to popping by again for some more inspiration! I'm just new into blogging this year & have put together a daily blog on design, fashion, food, travel and anything pretty.
http://scrapbook-melissah.blogspot.com/ and
http://coastal-style.blogspot.com/ for everything chic and coastal
I had a lot of fun putting them together maybe you would like to check them out if you have a spare minute.
x
Melissah
I LOVE this…the settee is so pretty and your daughter is just beautiful…how sweet of her to play with you:)…it is an awesome piece!
Rene
PS…THANKS for the feature a bit ago…I am enjoying your blog and linky party…Have a great day!
What an absolutely gorgeous settee.
This has to be the PRETTIEST settee I have ever seen! OMG! you must have dropped the phone when she said it was yours. judy
Hi Courtney,
Gorgeous piece, gorgeous daughter! I love her wackiness too. Don't daughters just make the world go round? Funny thing, I do that same thing with furniture and vintage items that I buy. Always love to imagine where they have been and what they hav seen in their life time.
Hi Courtney…
Ohhh my goodness!!! I certainly can see why you fell in love with this frenchy fabulous settee, dear friend! I'm just tickled pink for you…that you were able to get it! It really is perfect in ALL of it's ways! Love, love, LOVE that ornate piece in the center back…ahhh…those love birds are sooo very sweet! The details…breath taking! Love the olden upholstery too…it's gorgeous! I wouldn't change a thing on it! I'm sure that your sweet and beautiful daughter is really enjoying this fabulous french settee! Loved all of your photos…especially the sweet photos of your daughter and her settee! Both…utterly delightful! Thank you for sharing with us!
Love ya, sweet friend!
Chari
Gorgeous! Would love this for a photo prop! 🙂
No wonder you fell in love. It's gorgeous. The carving in the middle seems to me to be a rare feature.
Wow.That Settee is amazing! Such a unique piece, I love it! Thanks for visiting my blog and inviting me to link up here. I'm sure I'll find great inspiration from your blog! Glad I found you..er..you found me! 🙂
gorgeous! I love the stories ~ this is why I love antiques as well! opportunities for special pieces like this don't come around very often ~
your pictures look magical!
:)Heidi
Your daughter is a vision just like her momma!!
Love this!
I have this exact furniture set… It has a sofa, love seat and chair. I absolutely love it.
Hi. Richard. Do you have more info on this setee? I just aquired one exactly like this one but different fabric.