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Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Tall, Dark & Handsome

Talldark & handsome.
What girl doesn't like a little something 
(or maybe someone ;)
that is tall, dark and handsome?


I love old antique armoires and cupboards that are stately and charming
Covered in oodles of elegant carvings and finished
 in old dark stains with hand rubbed wax adding the perfect patina...
so delicious.


I have long drooled over the gorgeous buffets and armoires in Charles Faudree's rooms.
In French Country design 
a stately armoire is a staple piece.
They are a focal point with their intricate detailed carvings 
and rustic finishes

 A French buffet deux corps is a piece of furniture that is simply 
a buffet with 2 parts.
The top is thinner and taller than the bottom
They have short cabriole legs and wear a simple but elegant crown

An antique buffet deux corps 
can cost all the way up into the tens of thousands of dollars (yikes!)
 but reproductions can be found for much less.


I found this antique buffet deux corps about 6 years ago on craigslist
while looking for a piece to put a television in
(media out in your face bothers me- it's a pet peeve of mine)
I didn't realize that this was a buffet deux corps or a pricey antique one
when I emailed about it-
 it just looked like a large armoire in the  tiny blurry picture in the ad.

When we looked at it something seemed so familiar about it..but I hesitated.
She had several other pieces of beautiful painted french furniture and I bought them
so I didn't have much more room in my car and
it was so tall and maybe too dark for a little old painted cottage...
so I told her I needed to take some measurements and think about it.

Just a couple days later we were on the way to Disneyland
when I had one of those moments.


You know those moments- 
the ones where you saw something at the flea market and hemmed and hawed and then passed on it 
and five rows later you start completely obsessing about it?
 Your heart races as you turn around and you start sweating
 worrying  that someone else will buy YOUR piece before you do
since now you have decided you 
HAVE to HAVE it.

Yep.
 I had one of those moments.
In the car. 
On the way to Disneyland
Somewhere near Bakersfield and no where near MY buffet deux corps.

 I emailed the lady when we got there and waited and waited keeping my fingers crossed 
that I hadn't just missed the opportunity to buy such an incredible antique  piece like this
 for only a few hundred dollars.
Luckily,
she emailed me back that evening and told me she hadn't shown it to anyone else yet
 and she would save it for me until I got back to pick it up.


I know it was big time lucky to find this piece.
It is probably from around the mid 1800's from the Normandy region of France
It is held together by chunky old wood pegs and the wood has the most beautiful perfect patina.
I love it.


It is gorgeous to display china or books inside
 and leave the top doors open.
I reversed the doors here to show the carvings when they are open.


Though I actually prefer it with the doors closed- 
there is something so elegant about it just all by itself.


Yep. 
Tall, dark, handsome & perfectly charming...
I'll take it.
:)


I have been a crazy woman painting over here but the good news is-
I am almost done with all.that.painting and am finally getting onto re-designing!
:D

So I have a little room reveal coming your way next week...
AND 
 a couple of giveaways that I know you will love!
So stay tuned!

See you tonight for Feathered Nest Friday!



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