Beloved Pieces of Furniture

As I pondered what to write for this post I decided to stick with another home theme to tie in nicely with The Decorating Forum (my little blog is featured this week).

The last four years has been tumultuous with selling an acreage property after renovating the old Queenslander house over two decades, the home in which we raised our family.
Then renovating a brick and tile house to live in all while searching for our present home which involved a relentless eighteen month search, then toil over this major renovation and redecoration spanning five months to revitalise this 1990's design, then sell the interim brick house, then move into this piece of paradise and we are still transforming this house.
Phew are you tired from reading that...you can imagine why it's taken me a year to come up for air and I still get myself confused trying to explain the sequence of events!

The old farmhouse we lovingly filled with antique pieces only to decide on a fresh start in a modern architecturally designed build. Hence this style of furniture did not blend at all with the modern aesthetic. Big decisions ensued and so we sold most of our furniture. Except for certain pieces which  hold sentimental value. The big old dining table is made from recycled baltic pine and I discovered her after a long search, when I was pregnant with our first child twenty-six years ago. Countless happy memories emanate from her scratched, chipped service..family gatherings, children's homework, painting and play dough extravaganzas. In the old house antique spindle back chairs encircled this table but now a modern and comfortable padded chair surrounds her.
In fact the kitchen we designed was purposely planned around this dining table. While entertaining I like to have my family or guests seated within close range to be part of the action.

The teak console was my parents and this created quite the dilemma. It included an additional top piece with glass doors and shelves which sat on top. In total it just didn't blend but the decision was made during the move when the glass shelves shattered (our fault not the moving company) and so the top was donated to charity. I procrastinated about this inclusion but am now comfortable with the aesthetic it casts over the predominately white decor of my favourite room.

 The rocking chair. Sourced for the birth of our first baby for moi to sit and feed and rock the babes to sleep. You know I nearly lost this chair and one day I will share the story. Never again will I let this piece escape my clutches. Mr red roses restored her as a surprise for my 50th birthday. I cried with joy.
Now I sit in the sun in my pretty room and ponder life and all it's mysteries.

Last but not least the duchess I saved my pennies to buy when the children were little. She was in a sad state when we bought her at auction but after being lovingly restored she has been a constant in our bedroom. An old piece in a modern room but it works.
My mother's beloved bedroom chair. Need I say more, this chair is cherished because it was my mum's and she adored it, not to sit in mind, purely for show!

I have enjoyed sharing this trip down memory lane. At the time of selling our prized furniture and my parents inherited bits and bobs (an old rambling farmhouse always has room for just another acquisition) I felt sad but comes a time in our lives when we need to let go of the past and downsize. As much as we wish to hold onto everything accumulated over many years it's not feasible.

Except for those rare pieces which grab hold of our hearts and won't let go.

Annie xx

Morning Tea and a Pretty Chair

Today a friend and I enjoyed a lovely morning at the WAC.

Coffee, tea and cakes in the retro cafe were consumed after wandering through the myriad of shops looking for treasures.

 I purchased a sweet chair from Sandy's shop 'Paint me White'. 

I spied this telephone on my wanderings through the antique centre and remember when my parents bought one of these trendy (at the time) telephones when I was a child. I thought I had the grooviest parents!

And here is the quaint fold-up chair in the shade I'm loving right now. I placed it in my living room for now but do feel it is the perfect size and design to be situated anywhere in my home.

Much fun was had playing around with cushions and books and best of all it will be a versatile addition to my home.
Thanks Sandy, your wares are lovely and so very reasonably priced.

Isn't it fun bringing a new furniture addition into one's abode?

Annie xx

My Secret Little Man

Introducing the new addition in my home. A secret little man that my family have yet to discover.

I found him waiting for me at the antique centre. I spied him on one of my visits a week ago and knew just where he would fit in my house.

But I wasn't convinced so did about six laps of the centre to make up my mind. He was reasonably priced so I figured I had nothing to lose. 

He fits brilliantly in the wall cut out near the entry. I believe we will be very happy co-habitating

A secret little nook to display pretties

Lately I'm drawn to subtle blue hues for calm and serenity

He does look wise

I suppose I'm easily amused because I'm filled with mirth that my family haven't discovered my little man who stands in his little nook.
How long I wonder before the cat is out of the bag?

Annie xx

Retro Treasures hiding in the Study

Last weekend Mr red roses and I attacked the study for a major over haul of files and paraphernalia which had accumulated. Everyone knows you keep important information for X amount of years and yes we had certainly done this. I cannot emphasis enough how the Mr and I loathe anything to do with paperwork, sorting and filing. I enjoyed having a good whinge on twitter!

The weekend in question was raining and so was the ideal opportunity to get this wretched job done.

A few sentimental treasures I rediscovered amongst the depths was my mother's first powder compact and the little case for her engagement ring. Now proudly displayed on my dressing table.

My father's typewriter. I have no connection or love of this machine but for some reason my husband does so it received another reprieve and sits majestically on a book shelf.

Of course sorting through stuff one finds lots to distract from the task at hand. I had kept some favoured programs from theatrical events and looking through these was like stepping back in time, the pages were yellowed, not unusual for paper that's 30+ years old.
Among the stash was my old lettering manuals from a evening trade course I did back in the day, when advertising posters and art work was done by hand using inks and nibs, paints and sable hair brushes. Computer graphics were still in their infancy but not long after I graduated, technology came along in leaps and bounds and ticket writing/poster art and calligraphy skills faded into oblivion. Thankfully this was only a hobby and not my main source of employment.

The following three photos I snapped from the pages of a 1972 Jesus Christ Superstar program. To this day I view it as the best stage production I've had the pleasure of attending.

Do you remember Brush-o-matics? My dad bought one and thought it was brilliant, he used to brush-o-matic everything in sight.

Arpege was the very first grown up perfume I bought when I started my working career at the age of sixteen. French fragrances and I have enjoyed a love affair ever since.

Here is a foxy looking young Andrew Lloyd Webber (wrote the music for JCS) rocking a long hair 'do'. Who knew he would be worth mega millions and a superstar in his own right?

This dictionary has been in my family since I was a tot and I still refer to it on the odd occasion purely because I adore a good dictionary. I lament that many children nowadays are not being taught how to use them and instead fall back on computer spell check. I don't hold with the argument that dictionaries are antiquated, learning to navigate them is a great scaffold to further learning and I made sure my own kids appreciated their value.

Nooo, I don't have furs hanging in my wardrobe. These vintage garments (fake and real) were part of a borrowed collection my daughter amassed for a photo shoot.
Just thought I'd throw this pic in for retro good measure!

So I'm very happy to say our study is now tidy with room to move and files refiled or put through the shredder. Speaking of which...the pile of paperwork to be shred was massive and I still have a small mound to dispose of but in true diva style the paper shredder was having a hissy fit due to overwork so I gave her a rest this past week.
Mark my words...We are never letting paperwork breed like that ever again!

xx

Retro and Fabulous

While cleaning out my pantry the other day I snapped some pics of these retro treasures which belonged to my parents. To be honest I don't use these pieces but upon reflection I might just give them a new lease of life. 

Especially after seeing the green and white Bessemer cocktail/dip server in the collectables shop recently with a price tag of $38.00

As a child in the sixties I thought my parents were very trendy owning these orange mugs. Who doesn't love an orange mug?

The bamboo tumblers were a favourite of my father's. He would collapse in a chair after working a long day and enjoy a beer from his favoured vessel 

My mother loved to entertain and a desert (or 'sweets' as the term was back then) would always follow the meal. Usually a parfait of some description was in order

I recall my father concocting cocktails and he loved using this soda fountain for refreshing beverages

The Mexican lady and her donkey was a constant on our kitchen bench and every day mum would place a fresh flower in the cart

I really have no idea of the vintage of this set other than it is old! Here it sits proudly in my cabinet and I admit I'm too scared to use any piece as it is extremely delicate

Aha the infamous Bessemer

All that remains of a Noritake dinner set circa 1970's (?)

I have a feeling this lovely tray belonged to my grandmother

Now I can be extremely ruthless with decluttering but there are some treasures that I simply cannot part with. Maybe it's the sentimentality and memories...but I need to hold onto some of these precious links to my up bringing.

I bet you are holding onto precious memories in the form of collectables you never utilize? But you know what, if they bring you peace and joy, well, that's not such a bad thing is it!

Annie xx

Discovering Quaint Collectables

After a spot of business recently near the Woolloongabba Antique Centre we popped in for a sticky beak. This was my first visit and I found the set-up enchanting with retro music playing and a nice little cafe to replenish one's system after trawling through the bits and bobs.

Here is a quick tour 

Tea being my poison of choice I appreciate a dainty tea cup but I certainly do not require anymore in the hacienda.

A very colourful and eclectic chandelier

Crystal...somebody stop me!!!!

Cowboy boots anyone?

Trolls. Not the awful cyber type who live to create havoc but the cute as a button only a mother could love variety. Check out the belly button bling. Cute.
I remember owning several back in the day..did you?
Come on, you're allowed to confess in blog land

Well hello I'm hooked. Pretty tea pot, cup and saucer with accompanying tiny milk bottle and a delish mini cheesecake. All the while perched in a booth reminiscent of my 60's childhood kitchen and many an Australian milk bar.
Vinyl bench seats and a laminex table top...oh the memories

Here are my cranberry coloured toes and retro-ish Laura Ashley print frock which was befitting the venue.
Do you ever get a surprise and find photos on your camera that miraculously appear? The camera gremlins snapped this one!

After living in this city for two decades it's fascinating to discover new places.

Annie xx