Shabby French & Vintage.. finally opens

So it has been 2 weeks already since I opened my store. I have had good days and a few quiet days but it has been such an experience! Meeting new people and seeing their different personalities when it comes to shopping is quite interesting. I am still getting a feel for what is generally wanted around my area. I have located my shop near a few antique stores and in a country town where visitors from the city come for the day so I may have to diversify a little along the way! Here are some pics of my store so far...

I am always tweaking and yet to good professional signage put up and a few chandeliers too but it's coming along nicely. I love going there everyday and am still deciding which is the best day to have off, but today I am off to a trade show.

So take care ladies!

Maryann xx

Buffet & Hutch make-over finished

Well I finally finished painting the buffet and hutch I purchased a while ago. I painted it using Annie Sloans' Old White and gave it a light distress and then a coat of clear wax.

I also chose a pretty damask design wallpaper in duck egg blue. Love the statement this wallpaper made!

This was a bigger job than I thought it would be. Mainly because of the 2 side glass panels on the hutch. They do not open making it harder to get in and paint and to remove and reinstall the glass!

Above: in my store ready for sale.

Before.

take care, Maryann xx

hutch inspiration....

In a previous post I mentioned I was working on making over a buffet and hutch. I did paint the bottom section but came to a halt because I wanted to back the hutch section with wall paper. Since there are no great wall paper shops where I live and the ones at the hardware stores are very limited I decided to look online and found a website where I could get some samples which I am waiting on as we speak. There were quite a few that I liked and couldn't decide which is so typically me. So in the meantime here are some inspiration photos I found on pinterest...

This one is painted a different colour has the same effect.

I hope my project will turn out as nice as these!

take care, Maryann

A couple of little make overs..

I thought I would show you all a couple of small make overs I did just recently. One of a gorgeous brass cherub bowl and the other of a candelabra.

I did them both with Annie Sloan chalk paint and am very happy with the results.

I'm also in the process of purging and trying to declutter some of my stuff with a bit of rearranging as well in an effort to make life easier once I open my store but it's proving harder than anticipated!

 take care ladies,

Maryann 

Buffet & Hutch make over in progress....

At the moment I am working on making over this lovely buffet & hutch that I picked up not long ago. I absolutely loved the details on the drawers so it came home with me. I am also using using Annie Sloan's chalk paint for the first time and I am happy with the result and the creamy texture of the paint it leaves. I did water it down just a little though as it is very thick.

I still need to wax it and paint the hutch section but I'm thinking of wall paper for the back of the hutch since it's such a large expanse and very plain. Something very subtle and neutral perhaps with a fine design or pattern.

So once it's all done I'll post some more pics.  I am also doing the happy dance at the moment as I finally get the keys to my store today. So I will be very busy getting all that ready as well and hopefully won't be long before I can open my doors.
                                                                So take care ladies...
                                                                   Maryann.

pink shaggy rug...

It's funny how just one new (or not so new) element can make a difference to a room.  One of my most favourite rooms in my house would have to be my bedroom because I have tried to give it that shabby vintage feel that I love so much.

So when my sister offered me a pink rug that she used to have in her prior home I was quite happy to take it off her hands.

I knew that it would look good in my bedroom but it ended up looking much nicer than I expected and the fact that it was used and a little worn was a bonus and added to the feel of the room.

My room is nearly finished but I need to add more details to the wall behind my bed and I need to paint the chest of drawers but it's getting there.

                                                      take care, Maryann xx

Dreams do come true...

I suppose if you hold on to a dream long enough never losing the passion or desire to do this one thing that for some reason you feel you must do.. then some how the universe makes things happen that eventually it's inevitable.

So after many years of wanting to have my very own brick and mortar shop.... it's finally going to happen.

I am so excited and to say it feels surreal would be an understatement. I am also petrified that I may fail in my endeavour but as my son so eloquently put it.. better to die trying and fail than to die never trying at all but I am hopeful that it will succeed beyond my expectations ( a little positive thinking there).

So I have found a spot not far from my home which is ideal but won't be open for a few weeks yet as I am learning  as I go how to get it all up and running and the owner is fixing a few things up first also.

A few new arrivals going in soon..

 Loving this last lot of shabby items...

So that's it ...just goes to show you though you never know when or how a dream of yours will come true and that you are never too old to follow your dreams!

Stay tuned.

Take care, Maryann xx