vintage | The Chartreuse Life

Posts Tagged ‘vintage’

Happy Halloween!

Posted in Inspiration, Musings, tagged chartreuse and co, decor, decorating ideas, dining room, fall, halloween, vintage on October 31, 2012| 6 Comments »

Here’s a few pictures of my fall-decorated dining room. I had a blast putting it together – just in time for my daughters’ birthdays and Halloween.

Hope you like it!

I just love the play of the heirloom pumpkins against the silver candlestick and European sack linen.

The graphics of this non-working Big Ben clock on my mantle add some playfulness to the formal room.

Okay, so I have a clock thing . . . This one is adorable, and perfect when perched upon these 18th century French books.

These candlesticks are a favorite auction find. They’re from a church alter and are the perfect scale for my 11′ ceilings.

The mantle. (The bull’s eye mirror is from my grandmother. This spot is exactly where she always had it. When I look through it, it takes me back to my time as a little girls, fascinated by my distorted reflection in the glass.)

The sparkling, amber branches give off the perfect warm, fall glow. We leave them on all night as nightlights. (The dining room is the nexus of the house. With 4 doors in and out, you can’t get anywhere in our house without going through the dining room!)

I love adding an unexpected element to a table vignette. This vintage print was just perfect for my fall composition. The little mouse makes me happy, too!

The sideboard was also my grandmother’s, and also in exactly the same spot where she had it.

Thanks for reading!

Virginia

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Back to School

Posted in Musings, Tag Sale Updates, tagged back to school, bookshelves, chartreuse & co, chartreuse and co, lockers, storage, storage solutions, vintage on August 13, 2012| 2 Comments »

It’s a annual ritual I’ve been through for the past 18 years, with varying degrees of enthusiasm.

It always begins with the excitement of (my absolute favorite part of school) picking out the new school supplies. There is just something about those freshly sharpened pencils, brand-new pens, gloriously clean pads of paper. I’m happy just touching and gazing at it all.

And I have spread this little bit of wonder to my girls. We’re like kids in a candy shop when all the store roll out their aisles of supplies. Each girl would pick out her favorite things. We’d come home with bags brim-full. Gaze at them, love them. . . But then, what do you DO with all that stuff?

Here’s a few ideas:

I love these old card catalogs with all their cubbies. I especially love that they can be labelled so nicely. Put each family-member’s name on a column of drawers. Label the extra drawers with the supply it holds. For larger items (spirals, notebook paper, workbooks, etc.) place baskets beneath or on top. Organization of school supplies: done!

Another great card catalog.

Brass plate detail of card catalog. I just love brass tags, and find them even cooler when they’re still attached to the object they came with.

For textbooks and workbooks, consider an open hutch. This one is great because it has the ‘bar’ across to catch things before they fall.

An industrial shelf like this one (love the wheels and side bars!) works great as a compact school organizer. Give each child a shelf. Let them pick out a basket (or get a group that are identical to save on stress) to place on his or her shelf. Let each choose a heavy, flat-bottomed object to use as a book end. Fill the baskets with their small supplies. Stack the workbooks, and secure the textbooks with the bookends. Voila! you have all their school stuff in a personalized space that takes up less than 10 sq. ft.! Pretty sweet, huh?

Lockers are another great solution. They not only catch the school supplies, but they also give you plenty of room for sneakers, hats, gloves, and sports equipment. I love the cheerful color of this set, and that the doors flip up to open. Who wouldn’t have fun putting stuff away in this cool locker set?

This locker set is made up of shelving and a set of tough locker baskets. Each basket can be completely removed from the shelf, making it easy for everyone to access their baskets at once.

Next, we’re on to desks and some really clever ways to contain your desk-top supplies.
Thanks for reading,

Virginia

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Getting ready for the sale

Posted in Uncategorized, tagged barn sale, buckeystown, chartreuse, chartreuse and co, tag sale, vintage on July 15, 2012| 2 Comments »

Here’s a few items I just photographed today. Enjoy!

I’ll be posting more in a few days.

Thanks for reading,
Virginia

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Barnstormers and Yard Sales

Posted in Musings, Tag Sale Updates, tagged barn, barn sale, chartreuse & co, french chair, home decor, vintage, yard sale on June 13, 2012| 1 Comment »

‘Tis the season for yard saling. And for barnstorming. And this month I’ve been up to both.

Artists, history and architecture enthusiasts toured barns throughout the Buckeystown area last weekend.

Our barns were included on the tour, and our visitors embraced the opportunity to learn and enjoy.

Barns are beautiful.

At the reception afterwards, we were able to purchase this delightful oil painting, by Courtney Lee, of our beautiful barns.

And then on to this weekend’s fun: Yard saling! Chartreuse & co’s annual Yard Sale is this weekend, and we’ve all been rummaging through all our treasures, projects, and finds, marking them at irresistible yard sale prices.

Plus, we’re always bringing in fabulous new finds. Here’s a look at my favorites this month:

Silverware chimes. So simple and pretty.

This pretty french chair is one of a pair.

There’s a number of exceptional vintage cameras in the barn now. This one has to be my favorite.

Aren’t these just the cutest little owls, ever?

I just had to include this one. After years of struggling and coaxing, my hydrangea is finally not just surviving, but flourishing! I’m sooo happy!!!

That just-right shade of tangerine. And a matching pair, too!

If I had a beach house, this arrangement would be there.

I love everything about this console table. The bow-front. The carved details. The spot-on color. It’s just perfect.

These lamps (there’s a pair of them) are that perfect bottle green. And I love that the bottoms are open, so you can create vignettes inside them, and change them so easily.

And I’ve finally gotten some serious work done on my laundry room. Result? Tons of yard sale-priced vintage linens that I just can’t fit in my newly organized space.

I’ll be posting pictures -before and after – when the room is finally complete (I ran out of paint part way through . . .)

Thanks for reading,
Virginia

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Barnstormers Preview

Posted in Tag Sale Updates, tagged americana, barn sale, chartreuse, entertaining, tag sale, vintage on June 8, 2012| Leave a Comment »

We’ve been working hard getting ready for the big Barnstormers Tour this Saturday. The Americana and vintage pieces throughout the barn are great, as always. Here’s a few of my favorites.

I love flower frogs as paper weights, or just as sculpture. They even work nicely holding flowers in place in my vases. . .

These sparkling stars create a festive bouquet.

Add pretty napkin rings to your festive table. They bring elegance and order.

Collect these clever napkins and observe the improvement in dinnertime behavior.

Love the details and unusual design of this vintage occasional table.

I stopped dead in my tracks when I passed by this perfect set of transferware pitchers. Aren’t they festive paired with the flags?

There are so many great little pieces of jewelry throughout the barn right now, but I particularly liked the cheeky illustration on this one.

I’m just a sucker for flowers. Especially such a simple and happy presentation.

Check out our website for pictures of all the great cubbies we have right now. I especially like the numbering on this one.

Scarves are such a chic and easy fashion accessory. This flag-inspired one is a go-to for Independence Day.

Perfect summer seating. Just add lemonade.

The chest in this photo has great lines and is such a nice size. There’s a pair of the chairs pictured with it.

LOVE this old camera.

And this light meter.

You’ve got so see and feel this settee to fully appreciate the extraordinary fabric on it. It’s stunning.

Here’s just a little detail.

This undersea linen runner brings the ocean to your table. Add the marine-colored goblets and you’re set.

Fabulous chalkboard. Love the lettering used here.

Don’t really plan on making an army’s-worth of coffee? Use the cool canister as a centerpiece for your buffet table instead. Love the flags (and the twinkling string of lights isn’t too bad either).

Would any list of favorites be complete without a French chair? I think not.

The lettering makes this pail.

I don’t water ski. I’ll probably never water ski in my life. But I love them on the wall, propped against a cabinet. They’re just such a perfect summer-time icon.

For even more pictures check our website: http://www.chartreuseandco.com/tagsale.

Hope to see you Saturday for the Barnstormers Tour, June 9, 9am-4pm.

Thanks for reading,
Virginia

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A few of my favorite things . . .

Posted in Musings, Tag Sale Updates, tagged antique, books, chair, day bed, decor, design, oil painting, vintage on May 8, 2012| 2 Comments »

It’s raining today, and painting furniture is just not in the cards. So I came up to the house to do my price tags. This entry is evidence of two things:
1. my rather awesome procrastination skills, and
2. why half my stuff never gets priced.

That said, I really do have something worth telling you about, namely a few of my favorite things in the barn this month.

Typically, I like a cubby on top of a larger piece, giving height and bringing all the nooks up to eye level. But this cubby was placed on the floor, and before I knew what I was doing, I was filling it with plants, wood boxes, ironstone. It’s cubbies are deep and capacious, and I loved decorating its top as almost a mantlepiece. $179.

I just love vintage oil paintings. They not only have the beauty of age, but are the intimate perception of the artist. This little rural scene is lovely, peaceful. Not yet priced.

This radio flyer scooter sings of a time when children flew through their neighborhoods on such vehicles, carefree, without any notion of ‘virtual’ play. These toys are iconic, and now a charming piece of nostalgic sculpture (but I bet it still works just fine). Not yet priced.

Detail of the shapely radio flyer wheels

I think it’s just part of my DNA that a comfortable, beautiful, upholstered chair is a must on any favorites list I may create. This pair is updated with burlap backing and nailhead trim. $550, each. $895, pair.

But I saved THE favorite for last. This spectacular, curvy day bed just about brought me to my knees. I’ve never seen one quite like it and CANNOT believe that Sue (of The Treasured Hunt) is going to part with it. Since this picture was taken she’s added a tufted, single, long seat cushion. Honestly, I haven’t gone back upstairs to look at it because I fear I just could not resist. A steal at $1099.

So that’s my list. You can see over 100 pictures of what’s in the barn now on our website, but now you know what I have my eye on.

Thanks for reading,
Virginia

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Getting ready for April’s sale

Posted in Uncategorized, tagged barn sale, chartreuse & co, chartreuse and co, tag sale, vintage on April 15, 2012| Leave a Comment »

Wow! I can hardly believe that it, but April’s nearly over! Between Market Days, Easter, and Spring Break with the girls, it’s flown by.

But I’ve also been busy in the barn and here are some pictures of what’s going on there:

: Spring is here at the farm, and our lilacs are blooming. Right now, my favorite flower.

: Just plain happy. And I love the flowers spilling over the primitive bench, and against the stone wall.

: Don’t you love that the 7th garden chair is orange. So cute!

: Perfect for hanging on your porch – candle lanterns.

: Can you ever have too much coffee on hand? I think not.

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Market Days Redux

Posted in Inspiration, Tag Sale Updates, tagged antique, barn sale, chartreuse, chartreuse and co, flea market, home decor, market days, tag sale, vintage on April 3, 2012| 2 Comments »

Wow, what a great weekend we had! The weather was perfect (if a little chilly on Saturday when the wind blew . . .), the offerings we sooo great, and everyone had such a good time.

In case you couldn’t make (or in case you want to relive it a little), here’s some pictures of what went on:

Here’s Hunt & Gather’s eclectic take on vintage.

Asia meets Europe, right here in Buckeystown.

The Green Cottage filled the yard with bright color and stunning original artwork.

Love this vignette of vintage bottles.

Bella Villa was here with bells on! Mixed with Favorite German Antiques, the space was stunning.

So many great finds – original and vintage – that everyone found that perfect something.

Yup, I scored that fabulous french settee! I promise that I waited till Sunday evening – I always give you dibs on the finds.

Carly Simonds of Peanut & Scoot enjoying Market Days!

Gatehouse Designs brought some stunning finds. This matching pair of twin headboards were that perfect shade of almost green, almost blue, very french gray.

And so many beautiful things . . .

These darling bunnies are real, and were so tame that Monica’s daughter sat with them and pet them through the day. Adorable!

Robin, of The Robin’s Nest, was loving the opportunity to shop right here on the grounds!

And Bella Villa was rocking the surroundings. I just love the way Rosanna intermingled her European antiques with the natural surroundings.

I loved this vessel nested into the mulberry tree. If it weren’t for my passion for the French settee, this wonderful vignette would have stayed right where it was.

The bracelets are even prettier nestled into these shells.

The paint inside this European antique desk is original. (And those little brown books are now mine!)

Emma Jean’s General Store was here, and look how great this earthy table looks against the white-painted stone of our bank barn.

Jackie and Sheree of Seasons brought a yummy mix of textures, and put them together so well.

And here they are musing over their space.

Judy and Meghan of HarMonia brought organic lavender, a huge hit!

Plus they brought some finds from their recent trip to Italy.

Oh, yeah, our grounds never looked so good!

And we’re doing it all again in September! So much fun!!!

Thanks for reading,

Virginia

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A Market in My Backyard – SO COOL!

Posted in Uncategorized, tagged antique, barn sale, chartreuse & co, decor, flea market, vintage on March 31, 2012| Leave a Comment »

It really is the ultimate for someone like me (addicted to all things home and decorating): I currently have a tent city of spectacular finds nestled throughout the grounds of my home. It is, truly, AWESOME!

As the trucks rolled in today, I was like a kid in a candy shop!

Yes, today I believe that happiness can be bought. And I’m lookin’ right at it.

I figured if I could peak under the truck tarp, I could peak into the tents. Here’s some of what I found:

All that, and Annie Sloane dropped in to see us (more about that later . . .)

Thanks for reading,

Virginia

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Getting Giddy about Market Days!

Posted in Uncategorized, tagged barn sale, buckeystown, chartreuse, chartreuse and co, flea market, market days, vintage on March 29, 2012| Leave a Comment »

We’ve been pruning and mowing, hauling and decorating, all in anticipation of the 20+ dealers who are arriving over the next 2 days as we prepare for Market Days – our first ever – this Saturday and Sunday.

I have to admit I’m a little nervous. We’re all so excited to see what they bring. Can you imagine anything more thrilling than a flea market coming to your home for the weekend? Talk about shopping heaven!! I know I’ll have to control myself. . .

A little order goes a long way, so here’s what we’re doing (you’re getting the early scoop) –

The shopping starts at 9AM on Saturday, noon on Sunday.

Wear your flea market attire; bring your big ole bag (and the truck!).

Bring cash (everyone accepts it). Only some of the outdoor dealers will accept checks.

We’ll have a special outdoor (in the corn crib) credit-card-only check out, just in case you come upon that amazing piece that breaks your cash budget. But be prepared for lines and waiting for this service.

Outside items must be picked up by Sunday at 4pm.

Overflow parking is available next door at St Thomas More Academy.

Here’s some images of the great stuff that’s in the Chartreuse & co barn, which will be chuck full, by the way. I’ll be shooting pictures of what the outdoor dealers bring as they set up over Thursday and Friday. Stay tuned!