antique inspiration in Sydney

On a recent trip to Sydney, and with only a few days to spend, I couldn't resist a hunt in a few antiques stores.

This lamp has been made from an 18th century shoe. Isn't it exquisite?

And even more stylish is this lamp made from an plaster corbel. In this case, it can double as a bookend.

These light shades are actually 19th century French glass garden cloches. We have sold out of such cloches in our store, but I will be on the hunt for some more on my next overseas buying trip.

The pair of mirrors above are made from from original zinc window pediments from French châteaux which are known as oeil de boeuf or "bull's eye". These are highly sort after. I didn't check the price but they would have been pretty expensive.

I fell in love with these gorgeous marble topped side tables. They appear to be Italian and early 19th century . Wouldn't they be great as bedside tables? Or perhaps in a very decadent bathroom or dressing room...

And this little antique shop guard dog found a friend in this tiger. Hmmm. Whilst I was watching the dog sniffed around the tiger's head and then jumped back in surprise and fright as one of the tiger's whiskers happened to tickle his face. Too cute.

And we were fortunate enough to catch the wonderful Picasso exhibition at the Art Gallery NSW. It runs until March 2012. For more information visit here. A perfect way to finish a little break in Sydney.

a white (and silver) christmas countdown

Image: The Laurel Hedge

I am very in love with this gorgeous knitted stocking with little crystal embellishments. It (almost) makes me want to start knitting! But I think I will leave that to the experts and try and source a ready-made version...if anyone knows of where to find, please let me know. Doesn't the colour of the wool look lovely against the white boards? It makes me feel excited about Christmas and the chance to decorate.

Image: The Laurel Hedge

I adore silvered glass baubles such as these. I can't get enough! I have seen them for sale in a store in Hobart, Store and co. I think I will have to go shopping... I am picturing them hanging from white painted branches in a galvanised tin tub. With a bit of linen thrown into the mix. Somewhere.

Image: Château de Moissac

And candles. Of course.

As my countdown to Christmas begins I contemplate how fortunate I am. I have wonderful family and friends to share the time with and can't wait to cook together, laugh together, and to give more of myself. Well, that is the plan, anyway...

new in store...French stool, baby shoe lasts, chic Eastern table, printer's blocks and French linen cushions

This French limed oak stool is the most gorgeous piece in our store at the moment. It has been reupholstered in antique Belgium linen. I think I am drawn to furniture with cross frames such as this. Oh, and limed wood it seems. But then again, who isn't? These baby shoe lasts are also new into the store. I pictured them here with an adults sized last so that you may get an idea of just how small they are. I cannot see these lasting long in the shop! I love the patina on each and every piece of this antique printer's alphabet. The set includes some punctuation and also numbers. One would not need be too creative to make Christmas greeting cards with a set such as this. The unusual font would suit the French greeting Joyeux Noël. But then again, any writing in French looks good, I think. This Indian folding table is the epitome of Eastern chic. I recently took home an inlaid Indian folding table for my lounge room and I can't stop admiring it. I have placed a piece of coral on it with an Eastern lamp and it looks great. The detail in the tray top is amazing, it appears to be silver inlaid into copper and all hand engraved.

Our stocks of cushions made from handwoven grain sack linen has been replenished and are in the garden room at the moment.

And here is our version of Zoe Hoare's Hamptons style cushions (see previous post). These have been made from French harvest linen, used during wine harvests to cover the outside tables. Cushions with history, now that is what I like!

find Vogue living & Zoe Hoare Hamptons style in our store!

Zoe Hoare, Australian expat and daughter of renowned London antique dealer Appley Hoare now lives in this gorgeous cottage in the Hamptons. She found this pair of 1950s bikes at a local antiques fair in the Hamptons, just one example of her keen eye for unique treasures!

She displays her antiques with flair. These are French milliner's heads, similar to ones that I showed in a previous post, on an antique dresser.

She has an amazing arched window mirror in her dining room. The chandelier is wonderful, too. What a light and airy space, the peaked ceiling painted white is stunning.

This is a rare French iron arched window mirror that we have in the store at the moment. It is currently in the garden room as I can imagine it on a courtyard wall. But it would look equally as good in a dining room as Zoe has shown.

Zoe outside with her potting bench. Note the French flower jug and watering cans, and the flower bucket...

...all available in our store!

And her Gustavian settee?

Again, available in our store! The only difference is our settee is an 18th century version, Zoe's is a reproduction available from her partner, Chris Mead's store, English Country Antiques. To visit his store, click here. Well, in actual fact, our settee is still in storage. We bought it on our buying trip earlier in the year but we have not had room for it in our store as yet. It is soon to take prime position, however!

Barnacles and simple cushions are very relaxed Hamptons style, I think.

We only have two barnacle clumps left in store, they make great decorator items.

We will be adding checked linen cushions to our range shortly, in addition to our grainsack striped pillows (above). We have acquired some lovely antique French linen of a similar design to Zoe's cushions. Watch this space!

And the decoy duck on Zoe's shelf above the Gustavian settee?

A very similar model is currently in our garden room. These decoy ducks ooze with character and charm. Do you like Zoe Hoare's relaxed style? We certainly do. (For the full article on Zoe Hoare's Hamptons cottage, see Vogue Living Australia, Nov/Dec pages 142 - 151).

new in store...spools, twine, wooden skis and shoe lasts for little people!

There is just something about balls of twine, isn't there? Well I think so, anyway. Especially when you can get your hands on some quality twine like these hemp balls that have just arrived into the store. I have some similar twine on my kitchen bench at home (and some in the laundry, too) with some scissors propped inside the ball. Whilst I do use it from twine to twine (sorry, bad pun), it really is just there for looks. Take a look through your latest Country Style or similar magazine, I am sure you will see balls of twine throughout...

Hemp twine is so smooth yet textural...don't you just want to reach through your screen and touch it?

These antique rachet ended spools have only just come into store, too. We have put some jute twine around them so that they are ready to be used for the garden.

These spools are cute. They have old coloured yarn on them. And I like the brass ends. I would think these would date to around c.1900.

And these were the find of the week! Original old timber skis, they are 6 foot long!

Finally, size 8 and 10 shoe lasts for children. It is great to be back in the store working and waxing away. I have returned from our buying trip with loads of new ideas and fresh energy. I have many more photos to show you from my trip but I thought I had better first catch you up on what has been happening in store. After all, home is where the heart is and mine is firmly fixed in Tasmania.

trend alert! antique tin and copper tubs as planters

I have only just arrived home from my overseas buying trip and as I was going through my pictures I noticed I was drawn to plants and trees in antique tin or copper tubs. The above olive tree has been planted into a large copper tub which has a fantastic verdigris patination. What a statement piece!

Outside a trendy antiques store in the Cotswold's are these tin tubs with numbers painted on them. They hold a bay tree and lavender but would also work well with herbs.

I saw several of these unusual slatted tubs at the trade fairs but was unsure what they could be used for. I am now kicking myself as I later saw them planted with buxus, above, to great effect. I have since learned that these are original olive buckets and that they also work well upside down as light shades! I will secure some of these on my next buying trip, don't worry.

The two larger tubs above are actually dolly tubs, used for washing clothes. They look great with buxus but I have seen them planted with olive trees and this looks amazing. We have one of these dolly tubs in store at the moment and have one on the way in our next shipment. They will hopefully make a nice pair?

fair finds...santos doll and petite French mannequin!

After a full day at a large antique trade fair I managed to find some wonderful antiques including this wooden Santos doll and a French mannequin of small proportions. Santos dolls are very hard to find, I was quite giddy when I saw it being unloaded from a stall holder's van. My favourite wicker trolley was crucial for carting my finds. Actually, I had fellow antique dealers wanting to buy my trolley from me, but somethings are just not for sale! I selected some garden antiques at the fair, including garden urns and tables. I can't wait to get them home to the store. I also happened upon some French vendage or wine harvesting tables. I bought one that has the most beautiful apple wood top, it is large and oval and flips up for storage.

The BBC were filming for an upcoming program of Bargain Hunt, featuring none other than the charismatic Tim Wonnacott. Quite an eventful and satisfying day, I must say!

French antique finds at a gorgeous showroom

I have been very busy here in the UK visiting my favourite trade showrooms and thought I should show you some of my finds so far. Look at how everything is so carefully displayed, above, it all looks so interesting.

These are possibly the best stools I have ever seen! They are so tall, strong, and masculine. I have only ever seen such stools within the pages of interior magazines. They would make great breakfast stools at a kitchen bench.

I had a wonderful collection of French white porcelain to choose from. I particularly like the sauce boats and chose several of these.

These are antique French milliner's heads, used for making hats. They are very rare indeed.

Look at these painted and gilded stools - not one but a pair! The table has a lovely decorated top as well...

I bought this French long stool with a removable antique French ticking cover. It would be perfect at the end of a bed.

Polished steel shoe lasts converted to door stops, very clever!

I bought the mercurised glass jars next to the lasts as I think they would make a great pair of bedside lamps. I have been to quite a few trade fairs here too and have found some truly great pieces. More photos to come!