object d'or on ebay

Suzy at Studio Annetta just posted un reve d'or inspired by the latest Architectural Digest (French edition). She writes "...how stunning is that marble! The bronze ... the gold spheres - one resin, the other gold leaf ...".

And look what I have been up to! My husband just convinced me to put another object d'or on ebay:


This beautiful shapely chicken, golden bronze on black marble, which shape is almost reduced to an egg or is it the other way round? A unique gift for modern art lovers.

We got it from Thailand. It will be on ebay.de tomorrow - I will update the post with the link when the auction has started, in case someone is interested.

Door Doors Doors - part II

Maybe you remember my 1st doors doors doors post when we started to think about how our (three!) entrance doors should look like.


Meanwhile Angelo, my father-in-law (grazie!), has collected impressions of doors. See above or my flickr door set for details. They are all from the area, especially Pizzo and Vibo Valentia with a few exceptions, maybe from Vibo Marina and Tropea.

We are spoilt for choice!

... but here it is:

Our choice: two 'sections' of wood per door wing. While the main door has two wings, the other two side entrances have one door (one wing) only.

The lower part of the main door should have 'nails' (chiodi) like this one:


However the door grip or handle (maniglia) is not decided yet. It will NOT be the one in the 3rd picture.

About a Fellow Builder in Tuscany

Too late for Tuscany? is a new blog and it's about renovating a chicken house in Tuscany.


The posts read very interesting to me. The author is a fellow builder with same thoughts about plumbing and loos! Of course the house is not a chicken house, this is only the nickname and it is quiet big and also around 200 years old.


The blogger says about himself that he is 'a 40-something professional currently posted to Central Europe, now owner of a 'project' in Tuscany.

It changes a bit to read a 'male' blog about house renovation and probably soon also about decoration. The posts are full of useful and entertaining information. I can suggest this blog for everybody who wants to renovate or build in Italy (or elsewhere).

Before and After: Facade

before (2006) main facade

after (2008)

 

before (2006) from the side

after (2008)

Didn't our architetto deliver a nice job ? Complimenti !
I am very happy with the result. It looks great. Not overdone, in my opinion. Just appropriate and very well matching the main facade.

But, ssh, can you believe that we have a neighbour who wants us to move the rain drain ?! (It is facing his ground.) Maybe there is an old South Italian superstition behind his wish?

Mmm ... it should not disturb us to enjoy the overall result.
We are almost done ! ... from the outside.

--------------------------------

More Facade Before & After posts:

 

before and after facade from above

before and after facade from seaside

 

See all renovation posts BEFORE and AFTER.

Vintage Furniture designed for Kids

When a kids magazine (Beijing Kids) asked me earlier this year to compile an article about vintage furniture for kids I had to google about 'vintage furniture' as I only was familiar with 'vintage cars' - so far.

That's why the article goes like this:
"A car is considered a vintage car when it is at least 20 years old. The same goes with furniture. Vintage furniture may have the aesthetics of the colorful and playful ’70s or arouse a serene feeling from another time – one that was simpler ..."

The article with a list of addresses can be found online:
Classically Chic - Vintage Furniture designed for kids

It was not easy to find good addresses for kids' vintage furniture. Most finds were French shops - and my favorite address in France is Bianca & Family

Since I was in contact with them for the article I receive their newsletter about 'nouveautés' ...

I always wanted to make a small post about them. They not only sell their finds, they also restore old kids furniture, mainly old school desks and chairs (see first pic above), and they have vintage toys. I am really tempted to get one desk set for my son, although the desk space seems a bit small. Maybe a double desk. It reminds me of my childhood at school.

Bianca & Family
268 rue des Ecoles
35800 Saint Lunaire, France
Phone: +33 (0) 688 790238
info@bianca-and-family.com
www.bianca-and-family.com
Shipment worldwide upon request.

Two more cute French shops with vintage stuff for kids:
Petit Blanc d'Ivoire
Serendipity

Another good address not only for kids:
Maison du Monde

Alternatively register with ebay and define some long term queries and get finds by email - e.g. from Ebay (France)

Further more:
The German Architectural Digest (AD) magazine features in its November issue a 6 pages long article about the 'First four walls', stylish children rooms (Kinderzimmer).
The following brands are mentioned:
Bianca & Family, Richard Lampert, Habitat, Petite Boutique, Ralph Lauren Home, Petitcollin and Oliver Furniture.

More vintage kids stuff in blog land (with further links):

Harry's (New) Room by Anna Spiro


Vintage Kids Room for Pink by Di Overton


vintage furniture for kids by Danielle de Lange