Thursday, May 23, 2013
It's just amazing how the Internet can connect folks.
Like how I met Aimee, from Eurolux Antiques!
Aimee and Greg Talbot are owners of Eurolux Antiques in Newberry, SC.
I came across them through YouTube when I was searching for information on becoming a buyer of French vintage and antique home goods.
Aimee and Greg had done a great series of videos, taking the viewer on their European buying trip.
I watched every one of them, then had my husband watch every one of them.
Very fun!!
I then contacted them and asked if they had any recommendations on shipping internationally.
Aimee was so generous to pass along her shipping broker. Thank you over and over, Aimee!
This was a big missing piece to organizing our first ever buying trip to France.
Eurolux Antiques is a small family business. Aimee and Greg select each piece on their European buying trips.
Besides their YouTube videos of one of their trips, they also have several other videos, including how to care for antiques.
This video is a great introduction to their store and how they operate.
They are even fellow bloggers! Check out their blog here.
Below is a picture from the Eurolux Antiques' Pinterest page.
I thought it was a great example of how even just a few antique pieces - mixed with more modern pieces,
like the striped rug - can make a room come alive and have a lot of interest.
Check out that amazing chandelier.
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Aimee and Greg not only specialize in large French antique pieces like sideboards and buffets,
but also specialize in antique and vintage lighting - like the one in the photo above!
Below are a few selections from their extensive collection that can be found here.
I could design an entire bedroom around this sweet vintage Italian chandelier.
Some amazing pieces from Eruolux Antiques...
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So much to see at Eurolux Antiques!
A must-stop-and-shop when in Newberry, SC.
But, wherever you are, shopping online is always available.
Aimee and Greg take extensive photos and measurements and give extensive descriptions.
If you call Eurolux, one of them is most likely there, picking up the phone and ready to answer any questions.
They deliver White Glove from their door to yours!
How magnifique is that!
Thanks Aimee and Greg for helping me with my first buying trip!
Maybe we'll run into each other at a French brocante!
Posted in:
Shops
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Thursday, May 16, 2013
There are plans in the work.
Lots and lots of work.
The plan...
To go back to France this summer and shop the brocantes, marché aux puces,
the French Flea Markets!!
For my Etsy shop,
It's in my soul. Since traveling to France a few months ago, I've been working on plans to return.
And what better way to return... traveling the French countryside, hunting for beautiful home goods and small furniture to list in my shop.
I loved everything about France.
Below is a picture of me with the French artists, Pascal Laville.
This was taken in the city center of Besançon.
I ended up buying 2 paintings from him (not the one he's holding, he had already wrapped mine up).
I loved the city streets.
The architecture was everything I imagined it would be.
But more, because I was in front of it. Or in it. Or near it.
Speechless.
All these pictures were taken in Besançon, France. Our sister city.
Our group walking up through the Porte Noir to the Citadelle.
The Porte Noir (black gate) was built in Roman times, 161AD.
There is a lot to do.
Yesterday, I talked with an International Shipping Broker.
Huh?
I scribbled out notes as he reviewed all it would take to get my goods, my inventory back to the States.
Warehousing, storing, wrapping, boxing, crating, inventory lists, customs paper work, shipping via sea, and clearing customs here.
Yikes!!!
My husband, John has been looking into rental vans. I've been mapping out flea markets across France.
We're spoke and wheeling it, as John refers to it.
I must find a warehouse (the wheel) in a central location to our markets, something my broker can help me with.
We'll shop the markets (the spokes) and hull it back to the warehouse, and store it for shipping.
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I have never set a toe in this water of international buying and importing.
But, it's amazing how much can be planned by googling, googling, googling.
And, meeting folks (other Americans) online who have been on European buying trips.
(source)
Every image I see of a French flea market - stops my heart.
We plan to travel with another American couple, good friends of ours who have traveled the French countryside before
and who speak some French and German.
How could we say no!?
How can I not take this opportunity to return to a place that feels like my second home?
(google image)
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No plane tickets have been purchased (yet). But, it seems like a plan.
A fantastic plan!!
Stay tuned!
Posted in:
France,
my Etsy shop
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Wednesday, May 8, 2013
On Monday, I had a contractor, carpenter, painter, and metal worker in my house.
On Tuesday, I was at Arc Granite and Marble in Richmond, Virginia selecting stones for our kitchen.
On Friday, the plumber is coming to look at our jobs.
So, today... I cleaned my office.
While I'm very happy to be moving forward with several house projects,
let's face it...
...they are disruptive.
My office needed deep cleaning and it's a room that won't be touched by demolition or construction.
After I sorted through piles of papers, cleared surfaces and dusted, vacuumed up stink bugs and cat hair,
and pulled things off shelves and re-arranged... I had one of those moments.
I love my office.
Our office is a high use room. It's mainly used by me, since all my work is done here... but all five of us use it.
The original house plan was for this space to be the dining room. We decided, when the house was being built
to take this room and put glass doors on either side (to the kitchen and to the front room).
We also bumped out the exterior wall and put a glass door at the wrap around porch.
The bump out created a space to put our little love seat from our previous house.
So, it's a bit of a den too. It's been a wonderful spot to sit and talk.
At my desk, I have a wonderfully large cork board. It's from Ballard Designs. So are the file cabinets and the large work table.
(purchased over 8 years ago, I don't think they make my desk anymore...)
On my cork board is a pull out poster from House Beautiful Magazine.
It's a Designer Family Tree, filled with amazing designers from all over the US and a few overseas.
It was published a number of years ago, can't quite recall the year - but it's a huge inspiration for me.
I love how my daughter printed out the picture of Bunny Williams and I at High Point Market and tacked it
next to Bunny Williams on the tree. So sweet! Thank you, Ellie.
My office used to be yellow. Last spring, my dear friend Amy helped me paint it in Benjamin Moore Overcast.
I love the more neutral color.
I had painted the ceiling a sage green when we first moved in and I kept it.
I also ended up re-arranging the furniture and placed a large mirror on the back wall.
It was the mirror in my foyer and I painted it in the wall color. I love the window effect.
The mirror and lamps help the dark end of the room feel open and bright.
It's also been wonderful having the kitchen (to the right) so close by.
I can even see my wall ovens and timer from my desk!
The front room to the left.
Truman sleeping on the sofa.
When I drew the plans to bump out this sitting space, I already had this bookcase.
I knew I wanted it to go in this space between the two doors, so I drew up plans for this room so that it would fit.
After the house was built, and moved in - I loved how the bookcase slipped right in - between the two door frames.
What a good builder!
Last year, I had purchased this cowhide for my family room.
I ended up moving it in here after the sea grass rugs saw too much use and unraveled.
Last year, we switched to a Mac computer.
I usually fight big screens, but this time I was the one who wanted the bigger screen.
I wanted to be able to turn the screen toward the sofa. It's made a great place for my husband and I to watch a movie,
or my daughter and I watch episodes of The Office.
I'm a big fan of containing things in baskets and trays.
My desk basket.
I love my vintage, wicker handled letter opener and magnifying glass.
I use my magnifying glass a lot to read labels and look at details of my Etsy items for when I write descriptions.
The basket on my run of file cabinets behind my desk holds my iPad, phone and Nook for charging.
It's nice to take a moment and relax in a well designed space.
And, now it's all clean and organized. Ahhhh...
In about a month or less, our kitchen will get torn up and our deck replaced.
And - depending on how the quote comes back, our laundry room will be brought under construction as well.
For now, I'll enjoy my quiet, organized, dusted and vacuumed work space.
More to come on the house projects as they move along.
Posted in:
Home office
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