Yes.
I'll be back a little later this week! Hint: I spent the last few days in New Orleans......
xoxo,
Andrea
Monday, April 18, 2011
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
The Antiquarian's Antiquarian • A Lovely Spring Visit With Robert E. Smith of Au Vieux Paris Antiques
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A 10 minute jaunt from my home exists a paradise undiscovered by many, yet treasured by the legions fortunate to have stumbled upon it. Although stumbled upon may not be the appropriate term; this idyllic gem and antique lover's dream has not a sign in front, nor a flashing marquis, ne'er a tattered flag exclaiming "ANTIQUES." Quite simply, that is not Robert E. Smith's style, and he likes it that way.
A windy two lane road either coming into, or leaving Breaux Bridge, La––depending which direction you are driving--is filled with offshoots of small gravel roads, simple rural architecture, a bit of industrial and, of course, a "Vegas Style Casino" for good measure. (every rural two lane road has one, right?)
But this gravel road is different. It's special. It's home to Au Vieux Paris Antiques, one of the most carefully selected inventories of 17th, 18th and 19th century French antiques found anywhere. And it's here, in the middle of, well, nowhere. Close enough to the darling town of Breaux Bridge, Louisiana, yet certainly not considered 'in the city.' Take a walk with me, sweet readers, to this, the true South Louisiana that I love with all of my heart and am so excited to share with you. As I always say, I do hope you can visit once in your lifetime. It's truly a majestic (and magical!) area of the USA.
What lurks around the corner?
Hundreds year old live oaks with Spanish Moss pepper the property and greet you on the way in.
The structure featured here is called a pigeonnier {pronounced: Pee-jawn-air}. Original pigeonniers are extremely rare to find these days, but used to be a fixture on many plantations and smaller homes. The structures served as nesting areas for doves and pigeons; they are (or were) typically two levels, the top for nesting birds and the bottom for (!!!) dung. Yes, dung which makes for a wonderful plant fertilizer. I think that in other areas they are called dovecotes––but in France and Louisiana, they are known as pigeonniere's.
As if the oaks weren't breathtaking enough; a perfectly manicured formal french garden envelops the front lawn, outfitted with a symmetrical arrangement of Anduze pots (or Vase Anduze as Robert educated me today) and a striking bronze obelisk sculpture to balance it all. Spring is starting to bloom in Louisiana, but the crepe myrtles come much later. I can only imagine how decadent this space must be with the crepe myrtles exploding in color––surely just gorgeous.
Roses are coming in nicely.
And the main house, the Henri Penne house, an early 19th century Acadian style cottage that Robert restored himself over many years. He moved it to this site from its original provenance.
In speaking with Robert today, I learned so much more about this fascinating man. He is educated with a degree in architecture and for many years he completed major restoration and preservation projects for many historic Louisiana structures while also procuring antiques for himself, clients and jobs he worked on.
Robert told of a time in architecture school when his professors––lovers of Bauhaus, International Style and more minimalistic approaches––scoffed at anything with a nod to the past. But Robert's love and obsession with all things old gave him the fuel he and his pal needed to sneak in at night and redesign the university architecture studio complete with chandeliers, Rococo art frames and, to his best recollection, "a candelabra or two––all very over the top." The next day, they waltzed in as if nothing had changed only to be met by sheer disgust from their peers and professors who swore they "brought in the tools of the devil"
{Personally, I think the devil has fine taste if he/she fancies chandies and candelabras, don't you?}
A phenomenal commode from the early 1700s. In person, the patina is truly, truly extraordinary. Do the math––that is 300 years old, folks.
Robert's inventory is as broad as the range of years he provides for. These candlesticks range, left to right, from Louis XIV through Regency, Directoire, and up to Charles X.
This flame mahogany daybed has original ormolu mounts with detailing so fine that the metalsmith would have used a tip much like a stippling brush to achieve the minute details.
Robert has amassed a fairly exhaustive inventory of true Louis XIII furnishings––a rarity in this day due to the age.
In almost every armoire, there is a treasure trove of either antique linens, china or silver.
Gorgeous drapery tie-backs. He has quite a collection going - about 6,000 pieces of drapery accouterments from what he told me. Unbelievable!
Stacks and stacks of beautiful antique french linens.
A chandy that Robert referred to as 'humorous'––which I found a humorous observation, myself.
The neoclassical detail on these candelabras made my heart leap! And the chair as well.
I asked Robert about how he began to collect and where. He gently explained to me, in his very delicate way, that he began by saving every dime he had when he was younger, while on a strict budget from his income working at the local Natural History Museum. He competed with people of much more substantial means for the finds he so desired. With diligence, he bought only the best, the real and the rare. For him at the time, that meant true Louisiana antiques––extremely valuable castaways found in old barns, rural houses and with not a glimmer of their former beauty shining through.
Adopting this approach has served him well, and he quickly reiterated to me something that I often say myself: "Good gets better; mediocre stays just that." Robert and I are of a similar mindset; we both will patiently wait to acquire an exquisite piece and happily stare at an empty room until the time comes {which explains why there are not too many blog posts about my house yet ;)} **I'll freely admit that from time to time I'm seduced by the cheap––inevitably, a few years later, I regret it.
In the summer of 1981, Robert traveled to France for six weeks. Familiarizing himself with the plethora of antique shops France had to offer, he began to acquire pieces to bring home. He repeated the voyage in 1983 and by 1985 had officially hung his shingle and Au Vieux Paris Antiques was open for business.
Over the years, Robert has been able to position himself six months out of the year in France and six months in the states. Imagine the handpicking he's able to do while there for that long! I'd think I had died and gone to heaven.
Robert mentioned to me that the oldest pieces that he carries are from the time period of around c.1680 and the 'newest' are from around c.1835. The majority are 18th century French antiques.
The structure below was also moved onto the property from another location and is what we know as a traditional Creole cottage. However, Robert pointed out to me that at the time this home was
built (c.1831) the details employed made it very unusual since many of the nuances were a throwback from what he considers to be c.1800 architectural aesthetics.
All three homes on the property are listed on the National Register of Historic Places as they are such prime examples of classic Louisiana architecture.
I am continually impressed with the breadth of merchandise that Robert carries. He has everything from boiseries to art and architectural elements, down to the fine details like drapery rings. And all from so many differing time periods! It's such a treat for me to spend a few hours here and I feel honored to be in the presence of so much history, knowledge and beauty. This was the escape I needed on a ho-hum Tuesday, indeed.
The man himself. THE Robert E. Smith. Antiquaire, historian, preservationist.
I hope one day you can experience Au Vieux Paris, as it is truly a treasure. Robert is a fine gentleman and wonderful host, not to mention an extraordinary conversationalist. His diction and calm manner of speaking left me wanting to stay for hours more just to hear what he had to say. I walked in "thinking" I possessed a fairly vast knowledge of antiques, and left realizing that I have merely scratched the surface. Robert taught me quite a bit yesterday and now I am enthralled with finding out more and more of the details that make a piece such a rare and unique find.
xoxo,
Andrea
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Sounds Good To Me Music Series • Mardi Gras, Y'all!
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I'm not out of the woods juuuuuust yet, but I promise we will return to our regularly scheduled programming as soon as I am! I wanted to pop in and share a few songs with you to celebrate the holiday on Tuesday.
•••••••••••••
For the rest of the world, this upcoming Tuesday is just a regular old Tuesday. But for South Louisiana, it's
M A R D I G R A S !!
M A R D I G R A S !!
M A R D I G R A S !!
In the city {Lafayette, New Orleans and towns in between}, we celebrate like this:
In the country {Mamou, Church Point, Eunice, Basile}, we celebrate like this:
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In which tradition do you think I will be celebrating this year?
I will mail this:
to the 1st person to guess correctly!!
xoxo,
Andrea
Monday, February 21, 2011
Tah Tah {For Now}
Friday, February 18, 2011
Circle of Influence • My Favorite Designers
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Earlier this week, I was reading Jan Showers' blog––a MUST read if you're a Jan-fan. This week she chronicled 10 of her design influences, which many of her choices are designers that I admire myself. It got me to thinking about who I love design-wise and as Ty Larkins says "Can do no wrong."
Of course, Jan and Ty are high on the list! But today, I'd like to start with a designer that I think we'll be hearing and seeing tons more about: Amy D. Morris. of Atlanta. I identify with her refined, sophisticated and fresh approach––I'd call it southern-forward. I admire her restraint and ability to liven up the classic bones of the familiar while incorporating nuances of the unexpected.
Photo Courtesy of amydmorris.com
Photo Courtesy of amydmorris.com
Photo Courtesy of amydmorris.com
If there is anything that supersedes perfection, this living room is it in my book.
Photo Courtesy of amydmorris.com
So refined. So classic.
Photo Courtesy of amydmorris.com
Amy has a love for intaglios just like myself.
I've had this file for years upon years now, and this image is how I became aware of Amy. I'm not sure if there is a bathroom out there that I love more than this one! That tub!!! Gorgeous!
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Every now and then, I come across a design-soulmate and I'd say that Amy is most definitely one of them. I think her career is just going upupup and I can't wait to see more of her talent unfold, don't you?
Stay tuned for more of my favorite designers––believe me, I have so many I could likely fill a month's worth of blog posts!
Have a great weekend, everyone.
xoxo,
Andrea
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Sounds Good To Me Music Series: Happy Vday • Are You As UnSappy as Moi?
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But first! A lil' pretty from me to you :) My camellias are in full bloom! So beautiful :)
Some Kind of Love by the Velvet Underground (je taime le Velvet Underground)
Be Mine by R.E.M from the album New Adventures in Hi-fi (excellent album that I've had for forever!!!)
True Love Waits.... a rare one from my favorite band, Radiohead. This is supposedly the 1st time they ever played this in public. I have this version on some raggedy bootlegged CD from 1998 with an obvious home-computer created label. They have other versions, but this one is hands down my favorite.
Happy Valentine's Day, everyone! Eat a ton of chocolate! Drink some champagne! And whatever you do: don't give a rats a** if you're "in" love or not, just know that you ARE loved. Because really, that's all that matters in the end anyway.
XOXO,
Andrea
Monday, February 7, 2011
Atelier-Magasin • A Louisiana Artists' Collective in New Orleans
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My pal, the fantastic artist, George Marks is not a man to rest on his laurels. George is always creating, always sinking his teeth into a new project, always working on something exciting in his world. A few months ago, he mentioned that his dream of having a studio in New Orleans was closer to becoming a reality. At the time we spoke, he was conceptualizing, dreaming and working the details out for this new endeavor, and I just knew it was going to be top-notch. George dreams big and has the energy and enthusiasm to go after it all. So admirable!
He set out to create an artists' collective; a place where Louisiana artists––whether they be painters, sculptors or designers of custom home accouterments––could showcase their brilliant efforts. Securing an adorable space on Magazine St. in New Orleans with great bones and tall ceilings, George quickly banded together with like-minded folks and Atelier-Magasin was born!
So far, the collective features some of the most sought after names buzzing around today. Check out all of the fabulous talent housed under one roof!
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JULIE SILVERS
I'm in lovelovelove!!!!! With both the plaster sculptures and the painting by Julie Silvers.
I'm just discovering Julie and I must say, I have to meet this lady!!!!
These vessels are to die for. I'm already plotting the perfect space for them in my home. Absolutely gorgeous.
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KATHY SLATER
These spectacular custom cocktail tables from Kathy Slater Interiors are the cat's pajamas. Kathy is an incredibly talented interior designer who has harnessed her great taste and keen eye by designing a line of furniture that I am quite smitten with. Atelier-Magasin is housed in one half of a double-shotgun with Kathy being the neighbor in the other half. Smart combo, if you ask me.
photos courtesy of kathyslater.com
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KELLY GUIDRY
Kelly Guidry (I realize that some of you won't know how to pronounce his last name, so I'll help you: {Gidj-Ree}) is a very well-known artist in South Louisiana. For as long as I can remember, he has been a part of the buzz here in Lafayette. Using chainsaws and other power tools, he sculpts in such fine detail, as if it were by hand. Just imagine that for a minute! I'd love to watch his process one day.
Photos courtesy of kellyguidry.com
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FIFI B. LAUGHLIN
Fifi's lighting has graced the pages of Southern Accents (sniff. I still cry); the tables of Emeril Lagasse; and the halls of the Ritz-Carlton among other generous nods. Her hand-blown creations are so representative of the "New, New Orleans" aesthetic––fresh, breezy, crisp. Beautiful!
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CLAY JUDICE
Clay's works in charcoal have such depth and realism within them. He captures the human spirit beautifully and in such great detail––according to his website, watching his children grow has become his biggest inspiration. Clay is a native of Lafayette, and I am so thrilled for him to be a part of such a great cadre of artists.
•••••••••••••
GEORGE MARKS
The brainchild behind it all. George has always been one of my favorite local artists, not to mention favorite people! A true breath of fresh air, he is. As I stated earlier, he is one that never stops moving, never stops generating ideas and is always forging new alliances with other artists. I admire his zeal!
I've used George's artwork in a recent post on Pantone's Color of the Year 2011. See it here.
George has this wonderful combination of primitive sophistication that I just adore. His use of color is especially interesting––pairing soft pastel hues with moody and dramatic tones. The results are so striking. His layered approach and play of positive and negative space within his paintings makes me want to just dive into them.
Photo courtesy of annconnelly.com
Photo courtesy of annconnelly.com
Photo courtesy of annconnelly.com
Want to stop in? Stroll over to 3954 Magazine Street in New Orleans when you have a chance! I know that I'm dying to go, and it better be soon.
You can also find Atelier-Magasin on Facebook here.
"Like" them to make sure that you stay abreast of all that is going on. Just last weekend they had the 1st of many gallery openings, which sadly I was not able to attend. George did let me know that he has great things planned coming up soon, so to stay tuned.
xoxo,
Andrea
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