PETITE STORAGE BENCH

FRENCH PAINTED BED

This bed has the aura of princess fairytales.

ROMANIAN SLEEPING BENCH
41”TALL x 71”LONG

Old sleeping benches have a magical charm all of their own. This one even more so due to its extraordinary depth, rich color variation and graceful arms. There is an abundance of storage in the base. I enjoy using these in mudrooms or anchoring a fantastic, old, pine harvest table. It is quite beautiful with an assortment of either needle point or silk pillows and many now sport an overstuffed down cushion for sofa use in a garden room.

MANY POSSIBILITIES PIECE
83”TALL x 104”LONG

This is a rare and beautifully restored hardware store piece that would become the envy of any French Country kitchen or study. Not only does it offer twenty-five drawers on top, but another four long drawers on the lower half. The shelves flank both sides and would display china, glassware and a few showy lamps while the lower curved brackets would look terrific next to antique wicker fishing baskets or copper pots hung underneath from stately hooks. This piece could just as easily sport books, cd’s, files and a computer center w/ pull out desk top. Wouldn’t this look stunning in an attorney’s office?

ANTIQUE PINE COUNTERS

As you can see, these retail counters just arrived from auction and haven’t even made it off the truck. They would naturally add some warmth and intrigue to any new retail store, but I prefer to use them as sofa-tables behind a floating couch with lamps and artful pieces for height variation or as counters in a kitchen with added carved feet and marble pastry board. I have seen them used in hallways haloed by colorful artwork and even as laundry tables in rooms that otherwise offer little appeal.

RECTANGULAR BUTCHER BLOCK
36”TALL x 39”LONG x 26”WIDE

I have used these in the most modern of city kitchens and the most classic of farm kitchens. In either case, these islands feed the spirit of a kitchen and offer a casual invitation to gather around and savor the wafting aromas from the oven. Although the color is splendid as is, I prefer to give them a modern twist by adding a white, non-polished marble or black soapstone top, handsome iron pot hooks on one side for a copper collection and a beautiful towel rack on the other. This particular piece has lovely detailing on two sides and gentle curves to the legs.

CHINA CABINET

I consider pieces like this the foundation of a room. The artfulness comes into play when you fill it with your own treasures and then romantically light it from within. Your pieces glow rather than gathering dust in a closet. Why would you want to hide your favorite pieces when you could display it with style in this playful china cabinet. This piece is already lit on top and has unusual detailing as well as carved feet. Interior shelving is found in the upper and lower section. It has a working lock and key too.

SMALL CHINA CUPBOARD

Let your spices and teacups become everyday art in this quaint cabinet. It is small enough to fit in close to a stove for arm’s reach convenience not to mention pretty, sweet and storybook in character. The key and hooks are a beautiful blue/green. Could easily be used in a bathroom as well with the removal of the cup hooks and the addition of a mirror.

PULPIT DESK

These table top desks always evoke memories of a time when treasures – be it a handwritten sermon or bank notes – were secured between the hand carved pieces of wood rather than pieces of molded plastic, cold metal or computer chip. Only precious items should be kept within the lid of this magical piece.

PLATE RACKS

The open display of favorite dishes, platters, teacups and bowls is truly French Country style. It is elegant, simple and functional. In today’s kitchens, a plate rack can be a warm focal point over the cold metal of a range hood or subzero. Let the eye feast upon a plethora of patterned plates, each one with a story of its own. Kitchens should invite you in and feed your soul, your eye and your stomach.

ENGLISH DOORS

These ten foot tall, stately showstoppers would obviously regalize the entry to any humble home. However, I prefer to use their rich detail, color and height to bring some intimacy to an expansive vaulted room. Fix them aside a window or doorway and the view becomes more intimate and striking. Hardware is still attached. Sweet carving centered on each piece.

BLACK CARVED BOOKCASE

Black is not only classy and clean in its own right, but paired with other pieces of pine it becomes a show stopper. This piece can be easily lit from the interior to show off your collection of china, but it would be just as stunning in a master bath stuffed with fluffy towels, beautiful bottles of bath oil and dainty soaps.

ROUND TRIPOD BUTCHER BLOCK
27-1/2”TALL x 36”DIAMETER

This island is unusual in its shape and the use of three legs for support. I really prefer the versatility of this piece over square or rectangular islands for several reasons. First, the shape alone is an eye catcher. Secondly, it allows some visual variation from the typical rectangular kitchen filled with straight, parallel lines. Lastly, having had several types myself, this shape will save your hips as you run in and out of the kitchen day in and day out. I would recommend a non-polished marble top. White really pops against the natural caramel color and looks so clean. I would also add beautifully forged iron hooks on side for misc. articles as well as one of our affordable iron pot racks up above. Can’t you just see the wine and cheese set out?

CAMEL-BACK ROMANIAN SLEEPING BENCH

Old sleeping benches have a magical charm all of their own. This one even more so due to its extraordinary depth, rich color variation and graceful arms. There is an abundance of storage in the base. I enjoy using these in mudrooms or anchoring a fantastic, old, pine harvest table. It is quite beautiful with an assortment of either needle point or silk pillows and many now sport an overstuffed down cushion for sofa use in a garden room.

PINE HARVEST TABLE

Old harvest tables are the most difficult pieces to find now. There are many replicas available with "fat lady" legs and we certainlly do sell these as well, but the magic that comes with a truly old piece is missing. It smiles but it doesn't sing like the real thing.

BLACKENED PLATE RACK

As I have said before, black not only brings some timeless class to a room, but it also makes any other color look richer in its company. Try a collection of blue and white platters on this piece for elegance or a mixed collection of florals for a true farmhouse appeal. This piece already has cup hooks on two of its shelves which are a gorgeous verde-green in color and the dark wash is worn in just enough places to allow the undercoat of blue/green paint to show through. It is surprisingly light in weight and could easily display a photograph collection in an entry hall where the depth of a piece is limited yet somethingg of substance is needed to fill a vacant wall. I would love to try a collection of these in a loft sometime.

STAINED GLASS LIBRARY DOORS

This pair of doors came from Florida and are the perfect pair to flank the entry into a bright sunroom. It is the green of the glass that really make them a happy addition to any home. These are already hindged top and bottom and fit perfectly in a standard door opening. I have also used similiar pieces as the doors to kitchen pantries to add some character to an otherwise "prefab" room.

ARMOIRE

Armoires and old farm tables are probably the most popular French Country design elements. They are really utilitarian pieces that have now become artistic statements about one's lifestyle. This particular piece has some delicate detailing on the corners and a fantastic color both inside as well as out. I have learned to use lovely pieces such as this one in place of some built-in kitchen cabinets in order to mix the old with the new. I also love how they can magically transform a bathroom or laundry room. In either case, they can either hide a lot or display a lot in a small space not to mention that they move with you house to house. Have you ever seen a matching pair used on either side of a window seat or claw foot tub? It invites a lengthly look.

BACK HALL BOOT BENCH