SELLING AND REORGANIZING--AND A LITTLE BIT OF BUYING

The best thing about selling inventory is the space to reorganize and showcase inventory that was in hiding without being able to stretch and show off.

This week was one of those weeks......I didn't win the little Italian chest that I coveted, but the shadow side is that I had extra space to reorganize. Best of all, Roberto had 4 extra hours and we hustled.......

I had wanted to get to the back wall of my main space for months....

 I was finally able to move out the large (it seats 8 as it is quite wide at 42") French farm table and take photos of it to load to my websites

Then it was on to redoing the side wall

Although the chairs are Art Deco Iron patio chairs, I think they would work well in a casual family room with very cool cushions..... My 19th c. French marble top butcher's table would make a stunning kitchen island--even an entry table.

Then it was on to the front section (still not quite happy with this section)

Next came a little vignette in front of my desk (see the farm table in the background?)

Here's a little table scape on the French table

The Louis XVI-style chairs look pretty good with the French table, but not as good as these guys (bought them on Thursday). Pairs of antique wood benches 

are not easily found. And these guys are either mid-19th century English or French oak benches in very good condition and just an inch longer than the table--so perfect. Roberto will give them a few coats of hard paste wax and they will look amazing.
And finally, this sweet carved and gilt Italian little sofa.......

I am not a frou-frou person and usually wouldn't buy a little carved gilt sofa, but I love things with just a bit of twist in them--Italian is more unusual than French and adds a bit more energy than the expected French examples. Plus, I don't need to reupholster--but I will--as the pink?? velvet is in super acceptable condition. I'm going to upholster it in this Clarence House Linen (it's pricey, but worth it) with a single black welt--sexy. Plus animal print anything is very popular right now.

I have Scalamandre "Le Tigre" and "Il Leopardo" silk velvet pillows in the works...

that will replace the Fortuny pillows. I know it seems a little tacky to mix disparate animal prints--but I think it will work and add that bit of a clash that draws in the eye.

So many wild fires are burning in nearby LA County. We are almost to November and desperately need for the weather pattern to shift to our winter rainy season. Prayers are needed for our Firefighters and those who have lost their homes.

Sending blessing for the week--Happy Halloween!!

Mary & Cole

PILLOWS AND NEW HAUNT

I went to see Pam (my amazing pillow fabricator) yesterday to take her a length of Scalamandre "Il Leopardo" silk velvet for a pair of large 24" square pillows. I had forgotten that I had purchased 2 yards of gorgeous gold very high end Italian silk velvet a few months ago. So this gold silk velvet will be the backing for the Il Leopardo silk velvet pillows. Because of their large size and gorgeous gold silk velvet backing, and because my cost for the Scalamandre velvet has gone up a lot, these pillows will be pricey--but what a statement they will make. I had already ordered a pair of smaller Le Tigre pillows when I visited Pam a few weeks ago.

  

I also took a few selections of gold silk to back the vintage Fortuny fabric shown above, but none of the various golds were quite right for this particular piece of Fortuny. There are innumerable shades of gold from green based to orange based.......so getting just the right shade can be very tricky. I've just ordered another length in what is called "old gold"--we'll see if  it works. The gold on this particular piece of Fortuny is pretty strong (the photo is not true) and rich which is why it is more difficult to match.  Wish me luck.

I thought I would show you another of my favorite hunting/buying haunts. This dealer is located in tiny Fullerton (where I live) and has a large following of top LA based 20th c. dealers. I spotted this Milo Baughman petit sofa or love seat in its original late '70s/early '80s upholstery.

  

The piece was in great condition, and very desirable, but the price point was a little too high for me to make a profit. (I would need to professionally clean and make new pillows for the sofa before putting in up for sale). 

But sitting beside the love seat was the N-I-C-E Milo Baughman sky scraper table

in booked olive wood veneer and sky scraper chrome legs. This piece went directly into my trusty Explorer.

Roberto will be coming in tomorrow and we'll polish the chrome and wax the top. The table is in overall excellent original condition, with only one minor scratch to the top. The table measures about 34" x 34" and would make a great coffee/cocktail table, side table or corner table.

(Just before I walked in the door of this great shop, a famous LA dealer had purchased one the the most gorgeous mid-century chairs (+ ottoman) that I have ever seen--the early bird catches the worm.)

I am immensely grateful that "Sandy" has passed with limited loss of life--the property and economic damage is immense. We are an extremely resourceful and generous country; the best of our national character comes forth during times of need. I have many friends in the affected area--all seem to have weathered the storm well.

Jones is well--tomorrow is a super busy day. Roberto and I are rearranging everything to get ready for the Christmas season--can't believe that it is already here!!

Be well

Mary and Jones (& Cole)