Nestled into the relaxed hillside of Los Feliz in Los Angeles, California, this colorful French style cottage fits perfectly within the neighborhood of established and aspiring creative types. Homeowner and designer Kaari Zabala took an innovative approach to the design of her home, combining old and new pieces, along with French and Native American-inspired décor.
“There are lots of primitive pieces used to soften the atmosphere,” she says. “We have a mix of old and new in our home—but mostly old!” Kaari is the owner of the popular craft-workshop store, French General. Her store promotes a French-inspired lifestyle and sells items like textiles, ephemera collections and household décor found only in France. Her affinity for French things are directly seen in her own home as well.
Kaari keeps the store and her inspiration thriving with her trips to the South of France every summer, utilizing the items from her store and inspiration from her trips in the design of her home. With a twist on traditional provincial style, she takes advantage of unique décor, combinations of old and new, rustic elements and a vibrant color palette to bring the essence of French style to her home.
Built in 1936, Kaari’s home is 1,500 square feet of cozy space that channels classic aspects of provincial style. Throughout the home, Kaari creates feelings of grace and comfort that are highly valued by the French.
In the main bedroom, pieces such as a hanging chandelier, bedside lamp and chair boast feminine curves and gilded accents that add fanciful flourishes to the space. A lovely French sliding glass door opens up to the exquisite backyard, bringing the outdoors into the elegant design of the bedroom.
The kitchen boasts a mix of fine antiques and rustic patinas. While kitchens used to simply be a place to cook, Kaari turned her kitchen space into a display for her favorite collectibles. A country-inspired armoire has open shelving to display her delicate chinaware and, inspired by French vintage, Kaari turned one of the walls into a display of old-fashioned scissors, framed butterflies and other household items.
The main table, on the other hand, speaks to the relaxing atmosphere of a French marketplace with bright sunflowers, croissants and fresh jam. The chandelier adds a touch of elegance to the space, while a gilded painting brings in a rural element. These décor items blend the rustic and the refined in the space, creating a comfortable and inviting atmosphere.
In the living room, Kaari combines her passion for textiles with a classic French theme. She loves to collect antique Navajo rugs and uses them to cover the floors of her home. Their colorful presence prompted her to use their color schemes as inspiration for her color palette, resulting in reds, creams and earthy browns. To help balance the boldness of the bright reds, she created a contrast with soft yellow accent walls and creamy linen décor.
Kaari takes advantage of her own collection of fabrics from French General to create lovely patterned pillows in plaid and striped designs, as well as for upholstering most of the homes daybeds, sofas and chairs. She uses Old World sensibility paired with cheerful colors and patterns to channel French provincial style throughout her home. To help others achieve the style, Kaari suggests repurposing old textiles. Try reinforcing old quilts with a layer of linen on the back or use old tablecloths to make pillow covers. Kaari says, “Every scrap of fabric can be used to add personality to your home.”
This story originally appeared in the Summer 2018 issue of French Style Magazine. Pick up your copy today for more elegant French country inspiration!
The biggest challenge of collecting antique pieces is figuring out how to display it all in a thoughtfully curated way. Alys Geertsen, owner of Paris Couture Antiques, collects and sells French-style antiques, and stages her home with pretty pieces that also control clutter. Here’s how to create organized spaces with romantic character.
Since her home doubles as an office space, her formal front room has to impress, and Alys does so with a collected, romantic touch. In her front room, a mix of French antique and new furnishings and a select few vintage accessories set the mood.
Hidden behind antique barn doors, Alys’ office is equally functional and full of vintage charm. A late-1800s hutch from France conceals her art supplies inside drawers and behind doors. The small wooden carrier on top of her desk is full of shipping supplies for her business, including twine, scissors, labels, envelopes and pretty ribbons to wrap packages.
“It’s very important to me for my office to be both a space of visual inspiration and beauty, and be functional,” Alys says.
This thrift market vanity was refurbished with black chalk paint and crystal knobs. A stool found at yard sale reupholstered with a silk floral pillow was an extra feminine touch. The vanity drawers easily store all of her makeup and she displays some antique perfume bottles on top. A Hollywood regency wall mirror and a smaller 1940s Venetian mirror complete the glamorous ensemble.“I try to make all of my spaces functional yet beautiful. I believe you can have both,” Alys says.
Your ability to create your dream home has more to do with perseverance than the money in your bank account. For homeowner Larissa Jenkins, her next antique find is only a click away. “Most of my antiques are from Craigslist,” she says. “People must not know what they have, because they are almost giving their stuff away.” With a little paint and some stunning steals, Larissa has created a home filled with Old World elegance on a reasonable budget.
Fated Folly
In 2013, Larissa and her husband Michael were on their way to Shenandoah, Iowa, to look at a promising home, but it was sold by the time they got there. Disappointed, they decided to take a drive around the area and spotted another home for sale that they instantly fell in love with. “We talked to the owner, and she had put up her for sale sign only an hour before we got there,” says Larissa. It was fate.
They loved what the house had to offer, but it needed some love. “There was a hole in the foyer when you walked in and scary ceiling fans in every room,” says Larissa.
By replacing the ceiling fans with chandeliers, putting up wallpaper and filling the home with her antique treasures, she integrated her style into the older foundation of the home.
Magic of Memories
Larissa kept her changes minimal to maintain the integrity of the early 20th century home. “This house felt old worldly, and I started buying French antiques to add a European feel to it,” she says. Living between two cities, there aren’t a lot of options in the way of antiques stores. That leaves thrift stores, garage sales and Craigslist, which can turn up some surprising quality pieces.
She has found several French chairs on Craigslist—most of them for around $50. What she loves most about these antique pieces are the stories behind them and the character they bring to her home. “Almost every piece I’ve bought has a story behind it,” she says. “They’ll tell me the history and what it means to them.” But don’t get discouraged if your home doesn’t come together right away. It takes time and patience to find the good ones. “It’s hard when you really want something and you’ve been looking for years, but you just have to wait for the right piece. It will eventually come to you,” she says.
Old Character
To bring her own character into the home, Larissa relies on the basics. “Adding candles and fresh flowers to a room makes it feel beautiful and elegant,” she says. These small additions go a long way in making her home beautiful and period appropriate. Larissa sticks to greens, browns and pinks in the home, choosing popular colors during the time the home was built. “I love pink, so I try to bring pink in whenever possible,” she says. Whether in flowers, blankets or furniture, Larissa has found a way to incorporate this romantic hue in every room of the house.
With an older aesthetic comes the need to think ahead. Larissa had to keep organization in mind when purchasing her pieces. “Our bathrooms all have pedestal sinks, so we lack storage, but that’s where our china cabinets come into play,” she says. “Not only are they beautiful, but they really do keep me organized.” She got the best of both worlds.
Most of us have warm memories of cooking and baking; the kitchen is often our very favorite room in the house. Because of renewed interest in cooking and entertaining at home, culinary antiques are becoming some of the most sought-after by collectors. French country culinary antiques appeal to younger collectors in particular, who love how 19th-century artifacts complement their farmhouse-style kitchens.
These simple country antiques connect us to a time when we all allowed for leisurely food preparation, and dining was an event. Many collectors fill their homes with French country kitchen antiques to remind them to sit and enjoy lovingly prepared meals with their family and friends, treasuring their company.
There are French country culinary antiques available for both the casual collector and the serious connoisseur. Whether they come from the “below stairs” kitchen of an elegant chateau or a quaint country village bistro, culinary antiques are the perfect complement to your grand pursuits
There are many different types of French country kitchen antiques, and collectors generally fall into three groups. Some collect only one thing, striving to find better or rarer pieces. Others collect a category of objects, such as everything made of copper. Yet other collectors look for a little bit of everything, either to recreate a country kitchen from the late 1800s or early 1900s, or to decorate their home with pottery, enamelware and other kitchen items from France.
Basically, what you collect will depend on what you can’t resist! There is a wide range of French country antiques: enamelware, pottery, dishes, baskets, copper pans and pots, to name just a few.
Country culinary antiques were useful objects and are often collected for sentimental or decorative reasons, so they don’t have to be pristine. Nothing evokes the Provençal countryside more than things that have lost some of their paint and polish. A little chip here and there, a crack; these features show that country kitchen antiques have been used. Many collectors actually prefer pieces with well-worn patina and visible wear.
Using French country antiques in your home and kitchen creates a link to a culture and time when every was created with care, by artisans who cared about each detail. Eye-catching, culinary antiques connect the dots of that past to the present.
French pottery from the Provence and Alsace regions makes every kitchen speak French. You can use these old treasures to brighten up your kitchen, but they look just as stunning displayed as a piece of art amid a collection of antique books (cooking or not) or as a centerpiece holding a handful of flowers or herbs from your garden.
Antique kitchen or tableware is meant to be enjoyed, used and shared. These pieces are precious but were made to be hardworking and sturdy. They are not just relics of the past, so please don’t be afraid to use them!
Collecting kitchen antiques is based partly on knowledge, but mostly on love. These antiques represent a lifestyle in the past that we long for, one that embraces time spent in warm kitchens creating special foods to feed those we love and taking the time to enjoy meals with treasured family and friends.
For more on Lidy Baars and French country collectibles, visit French Garden House Antiques.
Welcoming, unpretentious and very livable, farmhouse style is an alluring way to decorate your home with antiques that have history, stories and meaning. Gaining momentum as a favorite design style, the farmhouse aesthetic is a charming mix of rustic, country and traditional, and proves that simple style can be quite sophisticated.
Baskets
Simple baskets are not only practical, but also strikingly decorative. Look for quality of workmanship, paying special attention to the detail and the weave. An older basket will bear witness to its age and have the rich color of patina and normal wear in the expected places. Antique baskets will often be heavier than their newer counterparts and have wood handles. Avoid brittle baskets and check for repairs; the best investments are baskets in original condition.
Natural Textiles
Spun from linen and flax, simple linen tablecloths, napkins, grain sacks and sheets made up every farmer’s wife household linens.With an appealing texture and handmade quality, original antique linens are highly collectible. Look for fabric that has a smooth, soft feel that only decades of washing can attain. Search out unstained, nearly pristine pieces, although a few small spots are to be expected. As history is part of the appeal of antique textiles, mends and patches are considered appealing; they tell the story that someone long ago loved and used the linens with care and pride.
Ironstone
The simplicity and utility of gleaming white ironstone make it a favorite for the farmhouse aesthetic. Thick and heavy, ironstone is not only decorative to display, but also it is a dynamic part of any farm style table setting. Look for pieces without cracks or chips around the rims. Ironstone pieces are survivors. Their resilience tells their story, so minor discoloration is acceptable, adding patina to their beauty. Most true antique ironstone will be marked on the bottom.
Enamelware
Sturdy enamelware, sometimes called graniteware when it comes with a speckled pattern, was a staple in every farmhouse a century ago. Humble coffeepots, canister sets, kettles and pitchers in soothing neutral colors predominate in farmhouse-style kitchens. Look for heavy and substantial pieces that have a thick and glossy finish. Most antique pieces will have tiny lines called craquelure in the finish. Missing pieces of enamel are expected on knobs and handles, but avoid pieces with huge chunks missing or a lot of rust.
Farmhouse style combines well with most other décor styles. Baskets, ironstone, quilts, enamelware, wooden bowls and antique silver are all accessories that help your home embrace the country charm of farmhouse style. The soothing colors, honest natural materials and age-worn finishes of farm antiques will help bring this rustic lived-in look to your home.
For more on Lidy, visit frenchgardenhouse.com.
A romantic scavenging experience awaits at the Three French Hens
market.
“We sell a mixture of handcrafted vintage and antique
items,” says Traci Tessone, market owner. While you shop through
their unique selection of romantic décor, you can enjoy fresh produce
options as well. “Some popular items are our jewelry made out of
vintage repurposed items, our handmade candles and our local
honey. We like to keep everything affordable.”
Visit
Three French Hens
Morris, Illinois
2nd Saturday May through October.
Holiday market: November 10 and 11
3frenchhensmarket.blogspot.com
Get our Flea Market Guide in the June 2017 issue
If you love one-of-a-kind custom finished furniture and the thrill of hunting for unique vintage goods, then you have to stop by the Vintage Flamingo flea market in Gulfport, Mississippi for an amazing assortment of curated treasures from decades past. The market is only open for one weekend out of every month, so if you see something you can’t live without you’d better not think twice!
“We have classic romantic style with a flair, whimsical and vintage,” says Sharon Ladner, co-owner with Michelle Jacobs. “The store is overflowing with home décor to suit any style and price range. Our market specializes in vintage, recycled and repurposed items. It is extremely rare to leave empty-handed. We specialize in seating for anywhere from two or eight, dressers, entertainment centers, patio furniture and all kinds of vintage wall décor.”
Next time you’re in the neighborhood, check your calendar and you just might be lucky enough to see what kind of deals the Vintage Flamingo vendors have to offer!
Visit
Vintage Flamingo
Romantic Gulf Coast in Gulfport
2nd Thursday–Sunday of every month
vintageflamingoms.com
Get our Flea Market Guide in the June 2017 issue
Lovingly polished to a lustrous shine, antique silver teapots are a living record of the skill and devotion with which craftsmen decades ago designed and made functional objects for serving tea. A collection of silver teapots imbues a home with timeless grace and lends a sense of tradition to contemporary interiors. Join the thrill of the hunt, and begin (or add to) your collection.
FASCINATING HISTORYAntique silver teapots are not only beautiful to look at, but they are still very usable and have a fascinating history. Tea was brought to Europe by Dutch and Portuguese traders in the 17th century, a beverage only the very well‐todo could afford.
Some scholars believe the design source for early teapots came from Islamic coffee pots used in the popular coffee houses in Europe, as for quite a few years teapots were in that same tall shape. Others believe teapot design was influenced by Chinese wine vessels, round in shape, which were shipped along with the teas from China.
Pots were initially made of clay or porcelain. It wasn’t until the reign of George II in the mid‐ 1700s that silver teapots began to appear. Silver was durable, retained heat and could be embellished with engraved designs, embossed floral patterns and exquisite monograms, making each one a small work of original art. A silver teapot was among the most cherished possession of its owner; it sparkled in the light when used and was a symbol of the owner’s prosperity and social standing. The pots were also a form of cash reserve: the silver could be melted down and used as currency should the need arise.
DESIGN TRENDSDesigns changed from simple round shapes to straight‐sided shapes, which were then replaced by oval shaped teapots in the late 1700s.
In the 19th century, Queen Victoria popularized taking afternoon tea for every class. Industrialization allowed less expensive, silver‐plated teapots to be produced for the middle class, so they could serve afternoon tea in as gracious a manner as they could afford.
Every major trend in style was reflected in the silver teapots produced during the 1800s and early 1900s including Renaissance, Gothic, Chinese, Arts and Crafts, Art Nouveau with its fluid floral motifs and Art Deco. Whether you collect one style or all of them, a beautiful pot added to your collection will never lose its luster!
A collection of antique silver teapots keeps its value, will bring you great joy and is something you can pass down to your children and grandchildren. As a bonus, your collection will bring inherent beauty to life’s most meaningful occasions.
CONDITION: Depending on your budget, look for the best sterling or silver-plated pots. Buy pots with glowing patina, a beautiful shape, and pieces that are largely undamaged. Some wear is to be expected on plated pieces that have aged.
IDENTIFICATION: Most antique pots will have a hallmark, or be marked sterling or quadruple plate.
BUY WHAT YOU LOVE: Monograms, floral designs and elegant shapes all make a pot desirable. But it is the “love at first sight” phenomenon that should help you decide to add a piece to your collection.
Lidy Baars not only writes about antiques, but she collects and sells them as well. Visit her blog FrenchGardenHouse.com to see what’s new!
