French Friday's - French Provincial Dresser

Okay.  It's settled.  I should absolutely not even leave my house because I can't seem to go out without buying something, but I found the most lovely french provincial dresser with beautiful hand-carved wooden appliques at an absolute steal today.  


Mind you, what I didn't pay in $$$ I made up for in sweat!  I live in an NYC style walk-up building, which probably sounds kind of cool and charming, right?  Well, it is ... just not when you have a penchant for extremely old, heavy furniture.  In case you missed that - there is no elevator (and I live on the third floor).  If I never went to the gym again I could probably stay in shape just from lugging my solid wood treasures up the stairs.  Although, if I'm being completely honest, I didn't really do much of the lugging today.


In any case, I am thrilled at finding this dresser because it is well-crafted and much-needed.  In my quest for furnishing my apartment with only things I love, I have been holding out for the perfect dresser, and have been hanging absolutely everything in my closet including undergarments (don't even ask what I've been doing with my socks).


Well, here it is!  As you might be able to see there are a couple spots where the appliques have come off, which I think only add to its charm, but the most important points for me (beside the aesthetics) were that the drawers roll smoothly and be completely spotless inside.  A couple chips here and there add character, but I don't really want to feel that connected to the previous owner :) 

$60 at Goodwill Toronto



Dresser $895 at Chatelet in Toronto.

Forever,
Amber

French Friday's - Let Them Eat Cake

While most of us have credited these words (which are music to my ears) to Marie Antoinette it is thought that in fact this phrase first appeared in Jean-Jacques Rousseau's Confessions written in 1765, when the future Queen of France would have been a mere nine years old.  

However, this bit of information will not dissuade me from posting lovely pictures of the wonderful artisanal pastry shop I came across on Queen Street East yesterday.  While I think the bulk of their business is generated by weddings, Bobbette & Belle make beautiful cakes and confections for all occasions so one needn't get married to commission a fabulous cake (there is a God).

The shop itself is a shabby chic passionista's dream come true with its lovely seating area in the front and the french farmhouse "cake-tasting" table surrounded by Rococo inspired burlap-covered chairs.  The store is clean, bright and spacious with lots of charming details such as ornately-framed pictures, blackboards affixed with fine china and a cool sign by artist Christine Flynn/Love the Design listing the Queen streetcar stops.

Farmhouse table with burlap-covered chairs

Picture sold at Love the Design

Wall with ornate frames.

And don't even get me started on the cakes ... beautifully detailed in the most gorgeous colours and shapes they line an entire wall.  


Hey ... no drooling allowed!!


Forever,
Amber

F. Winkle & Co. Antique Wash Jug

$7.50 at Goodwill Toronto

When I first saw this piece I was struck by its large size and beautifully detailed green and white Art Nouveau rose design (what I've come to learn is the "Irving" pattern).


It was so shiny and new looking that I had no idea it was an antique.  I fully expected to flip it over and find a HomeSense sticker stuck to the bottom of it.  Instead, after closer inspection of the cartouche mark, and a quick trip to Google, I found out that it was made in England sometime between 1890-1925.


For more information you can go to Passion for the Past Antiques & Collectibles.  Not quite sure what I'm going to do with it, so for now it is adorning a kitchen shelf!

Made by F. Winkle & Co. at the Colonial Pottery

Forever,

Amber

Summer Pastels

These images are from a series of photographs called Praia Piquinia by french photographer Christian Chaize.  I wanted to incorporate them into my blog because the pastels and sun-bleached colours illuatrated so beautifully in the images are often a part of the shabby chic colour scheme.  

The idea behind the series was the photographer visited the same stretch of land along the southern coast of Portugal over a five-year period during different times and conditions in order to capture the same scene through new eyes.  

These dreamy pics had me thinking about days spent basking in the sun and splashing in the crystal-clear waters (wearing sunscreen, of course), with long evenings spent dining in romantic open-air bars, drinking wine and nibbling on fresh grilled fish ... but I digress!

If these images inspire you, you can catch the whole collection at Christian Chaize's website www.christianchaize.com.

Forever,
Amber

French Friday's - Vive La France

Marie Antoinette

I have wanted to go to France ever since a) I excelled in Grade 6 french class (cute teacher) and b) since my high school trip that I was so anticipating was cancelled due to low registration numbers.  Well, my friends, it has been several long years and surprisingly no cancelled trips later and I still have not made it across the pond (and then across the pond again).  However, my love for all things french has not dulled, hence French Friday's (and no, they have nothing to do with fast food).


French Friday's will be a chance for me to post pictures of the french shabby chic look I love so much, but also to explore a bit about the history of France and the collective philosophy of the people who live in this beautiful country. I can't count the times I've admired a Louis XVI daybed or bergère armchair (fauteuil, in french) but know little about his life other than what I learned from Kirsten Dunst's Marie Antoinette.


I find that I can appreciate the things I admire that much more when I understand why they were styled that way. For those of you who can live without the history lesson, don't fear, there will be lots of pretty pictures!  Vive la France!!

Forever,
Amber

The Bella Cottage - One Of A Kind Wish List

These fabulous architectural elements have been added to the list of things I long for. 

Cupid in Rococo Style $295

Parisian Mannequin Circa 1900 $495

Shutters from a Villa in Corsica.
Circa 1900. $995/Pair

Gilt Finish Hand Carved Torcheries
$2395/Pair

Antique French Mirrored Arch $795

Bathing Beauties

White, romantic and feminine these bathrooms are definitely swoon-worthy.  Ooh la la...it's love!!

Image from DecorPad

Image from DecorPad

Image from Shabby Chic

Image from Country Living

Image from DecorPad

Image from Emily Wheeler

Image from Emily Wheeler

Seaside Style - Scallop Shells

Now that it's almost summer I've been thinking about how to add a touch of the beach to my decor so when I found these beautiful Japanese scallop shells at a flea market I scooped them up.  I like the idea of using these multipurpose beauties as a soap dish or a place to drop jewelry before climbing into bed.

Forever,

Amber

Summer's Cottage

Ruffles, florals and pastels can add a touch of femininity and comfort to any room or piece of furniture.  Here are a couple of images from Summers at the Cottage.  

Ruffled bath curtain.  Love!!

Can also be used as a throw for the bed.

I always love the acqua bottle and pink flower combo!

Antique Swivel Chair by Gilson

Pretty Peonies