DESIGN A COLLECTED INTERIOR WITH ANTIQUES

 

 

Your home should tell a story,

your story.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Creating an interior surrounded by antique things you love is one of the best ways to express

who you are, where you’ve been, what you love.

 

 

In short, your rooms should reflect your own authentic self, and that of your family,

and nothing helps you tell your story better than antiques.

 

 

 

 

 

If an object speaks to you, you love it and it inspires you, it’s meant to be a part of your home. If you see an antique item that piques your interest, don’t worry if you don’t know exactly where it will go!

 

Antiques are exciting and full of surprises because each object has a history; each find is soulful

because of the beautiful stories they could tell about those who have owned them before.

 

 

 

 

Collections of antiques are not meant to be too “designed” – they are adaptable – not only do they evolve over time, they will captivate you no matter where you display them.  Your only job after you purchase an antique piece that has stolen your heart is to display it to be admired and/or used.

 

 

 

 

When I am on a buying trip for FrenchGardenHouse, I follow this same rule. Do I love it? Is it interesting? Does it tell a story?

 

 

I scour the markets for interesting, fine quality pieces to add to the collections I sell. The different sections of our inventory are filled with antiques and accessories that captivated me on every level. I unearth treasures that are of the highest quality and are packed with personality.

 

These treasured finds are conversation starters, unusual decor accents that tell a story of days in the past filled with human endeavors very much like { but at the same time so different than } the days we have now.

 

 

 

 

I offer authentic, timeless antiques, that appeal to both seasoned as well as new collectors. Timelessness may be a quality difficult to define, but we know it when we see it, don’t you agree?

 

The antiques I source are honest, authentic and have integrity, and they were made by people who put their heart and soul into their creation.

 

 

 

 

Whatever you fall in love with, collections of antiques add new layers of interest and beauty to your home.

 

 

 

 

Whatever piques your interest, and makes your heart beat faster, I encourage you to start collecting!  Creating a space at home surrounded by the things you love is one of the best ways to express yourself.

 

 

It doesn’t matter how big or small your home is, or how perfect. It’s not about perfection but about creating a place that feels authentic to you and the people you love, about designing a “canvas” for your life that evolves as you do.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Recently, the design world is embracing maximalism again {hooray!} – your beloved antiques belong anywhere and everywhere that you feel they look and feel at home.

 

 

– Eric Ross –

 

 

Out in the open, your antique collections are shared with family and friends, and their stories are once again told amongst laughter, sometimes the clinking of champagne glasses.

 

 

– Eric Ross –

 

 

I love how decorator Eric Ross combines antique silver trophies with vintage dog figures and antique toleware boxes on this wall in a client’s home.  This is exactly how antiques can tell your story in your home!

 

 

 

 

Mantles, book shelves, and dining room hutches and are amongst the best places to display a collection of antiques. Up high and in perfect view, your beloved pieces will look beautifully arranged.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A gallery wall of art is a must-have that many of my designer friends use to add personality and interest to interior spaces. A mix of vintage, antique and contemporary art evokes the look of a storied collection.

 

 

 

 

I personally love the way antique prints and paintings look when mixed with contemporary.

 

In the recent remodel of our guest bathroom, I hung an antique French gilded mirror over the sink, and two antique French pochoir prints in gilded frames over the “commode” as shown below. {thank you J. for enlightening me to the lady-like manner of describing this!}

 

 

 

 

You can build your art collection for your walls at home with vintage and antique art at FrenchGardenHouse, our antique etchings and prints are such an affordable way to curate art that you love. {I will be adding lots of framed art prints in the coming week, too – so if you are a fan, stay tuned!}

 

 

 

Another perfect space to display a collection of antiques is the kitchen. The warmth, patina and texture of antiques add just the right touch of home and cozy to your kitchen.

 

 

 

 

 

Antique bread boards, ironstone, and French Country useful culinary antiques deliver a storied look to your kitchen, making it look like it’s always been there, serving up family meals and home baked pies.

 

 

 

 

 

Whether you are starting a new collection or adding a few new rare finds, I hope you will consider one of our exceptional antiques to add to the story of your family’s home.

 

 

FrenchGardenHouse is a trusted resource for antiques from France, England, and the United States for any collector, young or old.

 

 

 

 

 

I am so passionate about the collections I curate for FrenchGardenHouse because I know you are passionate about your home!

 

 

Your home should be a welcoming sanctuary, filled with beautiful heirloom pieces that make your heart sing.  I hope that you you’ll find exactly what you’re looking for at FrenchGardenHouse.

 

 

 

 

I hope you have flowers and candles, music you love, and use your antique porcelain dinner service and silver every day!

 

 

Beauty for the sake of beauty adds pleasure and fullness to your life, because your best life begins at home.

 

 

 

You can read more about how to display your collections here>

 

à bientôt

If you want to romance your Home and Garden with antique and vintage treasures to make you smile each time you come home, visit our shop FrenchGardenHouse.

6 thoughts on “DESIGN A COLLECTED INTERIOR WITH ANTIQUES”

  1. Alice Genzlinger

    I love this post Lidy. I “allow” my sweet hubby the basement and garage to do his thing. However I am of the opinion that the foyer is not the proper place to store his boots or four wheeler. And so the house reflects my Southern heritage with antiques. I want my eye to see beauty everyplace and from every angle. To stand three rooms away and see how each room flows into the other. I especially like to do this at night with lamps turned on and observe the ambience.
    I might have picked up an idea from one of the ways you used an antiquev this morning. Thank you .

    1. Alice, thank you! I couldn’t agree more, boots and four wheelers {!!} do not belong in the house. {Unless they’re beautiful boots!} I too love to glance in our home and see that magical flow, especially in the evening. Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a comment, friend, it’s always a joy to find you here.

  2. Lidy — the way you integrate your antiques and collectibles into everyday living so so charming, not to mention inspirational. I’m constantly moving things around, freshening up vignettes, and finding new ways to use and/or display pretty things. Thanlks for a lovely post.

  3. Thankx for the wonderful inspiration.
    Love what you did with your silver items,especially the bathroom.

  4. Thank you Anja, I love moving the pieces around my house to get a fresh take on them!

  5. Jean Van

    Hi, Lidy,
    Keep sending hope, I love it. I save most of your pretties to read again. Happy Easter and stay healthy , hope you and your family are good, I am and also my family~
    Easter will be in my house, just me, but that’s ok, I have lot’s of thing’s out and will enjoy~~~~~~~~~~~
    Bonjour, Jean Van~~~~~~~

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