*under construction*


15 April 2009

Grey Garden Blooms and Dreams...

There is just something irresistible about old faded grandeur --
a large, aged house that is past it's days of glory cosmetically, but still has the unmistakable bones of those grand old homes of days gone by ... I don't necessarily want it for my own home, but I definitely want one in my life
in some
form
or
fashion.

All photos can be enlarged by clicking on them.
*
What's the attraction?
Maybe it's because I live in coastal Southern California and there just isn't anything like that around here. Perhaps it's because it reminds me of the big beautiful old Southern homes of my childhood. Maybe it's the family I came from - seeped heavily in Southern folklore, tradition and colorful history -- and perhaps it awakens some of what I learned in the endless years of Art History and Anthropology throughout college and grad school -- or perhaps it's the Artist or just the romantic in me ...
*
whatever it is,
the pull is most assuredly
a
strong
one.
*

One of my biggest dreams is to have a retail store set in one of these old beauties -- not a warehouse type of store where things are stacked on top of, behind, and over one another -- but rather a store that is set up exactly as a home would be ... except each piece - each original and beautiful piece - would be for sale.


Some new, some old - but everything that can be carried out, would be available for purchase - the rugs, the curtains, the furniture ...


The artwork, the candlesticks, flatware, accessories ... all would be for sale.




How fun would that be to constantly be able to rearrange and refurnish the same home whenever you felt like it -- or whenever you found that perfect piece to add to the decor?



All the linens, pillows and light fixtures would be available --




I just can't think of a more perfect setting for the store I have in mind --



You could easily imagine how something would look in your own home as you happily wandered through the old beauty of a mansion...



Lovely scented bath salts in antique glass and gorgeously wrapped handmade soaps would line the window sill, and silver hairbrushes and hand mirrors on mirrored trays would gleam in the sunlight. Gorgeous French linens would fill the antique cupboard and be draped over these brass rods for display ... Gorgeous in theory, n'est pas?


Hard to find antique books of poetry, folklore and adventure would be for sale, as well as gorgeous new design and coffee table books, dripping with delicious photos of the most beautiful places -- as would frames of all sizes and materials... waiting to be filled with your treasured artwork or photos -- cabinets and drawers would be filled with hidden treasures that would possibly take your breath away --


Room after room, beautifully appointed with ever-changing eclectic finds from all over the world - at your fingertips ...

There would be a kitchen filled with copper cookware from France - etched crystal and hodge-podge silver - all for sale -- state of the art industrial appliances for the cooking classes on those Sunday afternoons ... oh the ideas are endless...


A little table could serve as a checkout desk in the foyer, and of course there would be a fresh coffee and tea on hand and homemade treats served from silver platters which sit on one of the sideboards for those that wished to linger and visit while shopping --


A dream I've been dreaming for quite a while now - Maybe I'll start this little venture in my Guest House ... who knows. But you can say, later on when this dream becomes reality that you remember when the shop was just an idea being spun ...

and hopefully
you
will be one of those that comes to visit
my
little shop
of
dreams.
Do old homes like this speak to you? What do they say?
photos 2 - 12 via Oak Mgmt.

14 comments:

donna baker said...

It is a good dream to have. I have those dreams when I sleep sometime.

Helen said...

Yes .. old homes speak to me and have for as long as I can remember.

What I really, really want ~ all of that wide plank, ancient flooring for my own dream home!

And I will be first in line to browse your store ....

niartist said...

You know they speak to me! Mine says: FIX MY BATHROOM DAMMIT!

Linda@ Lime in the Coconut said...

Lovely post!

I LOVE old homes...sometimes they whisper.

This is really the first not so old home we have lived in. Although I love it....but differently.

I'll come visit your store...make it happen. Put it out there!

julia said...

beautiful home and lovely post... and you have me all wrapped up in your dream- what a perfect store that would be!

cathyswatercolors said...

Grey garden... I seem to like the grey days the best and as for southern homes, love them. Living in Michigan we get our fair share of weather,and I have to say I love it. I love the seasons,even winter. I admit Jan.Feb and March are tough but the rest is all good.California is for sure my favorite state and we are lucky enough to have visited it many times friends,relatives etc. I hope you don't mind, I added your blog to my blog roll. I just love your dreamy posts. I am an antique and decorator nut ,and your music is great. thanks for your work on this,oh,and I love the header.

Miss Kris said...

Hi Isa,

I love old homes!!! I am so intrigued by old southern homes, and the interesting characters who live in them. I am loving your dream. I would LOVE to come and visit your store. You will have the best goodies! Oooo...what a LOVELY DREAM!!!
~Miss Kris~

Ry @ Sotto Il Monte Vineyards said...

No doubt you would have a lovely shop - you have such great taste!

Cyndee Greene said...

Mmmm...Isa...I love getting lost in your fantasies...& then the fantasies of my own that emerge from yours....
Oh & yes I am sure that ALL of us would be rushing to see what you have created & collected.
It is something about OLD barns for me, not so much the home.
Someday.....and today is just as lovely as that someday we are creating.....

Blue Muse said...

You all are so nice - thanks for always indulging me in my dreams, fantasties, and for your wonderful and supportive company in my funky little world.

Oh Cyndee, I love old barns, too! That's another dream for another post I have planned. Stay tuned!
xo Isa

Pamela Terry and Edward said...

Old houses speak volumes to me. I much prefer them to new ones, on every level. I love their quirks and creaks, their grace and beauty. I hope you one day get your store!!

Hum. Faded glamour. Is that what I'm afraid of seeing in the mirror??!

The Antiques Diva™ said...

Faded grandeur speaks to me too.... I love peeling paint, the patina of age.

Funnily enough, my husband and I have settled into our new home in Berlin and there is a part of us that finds it lacking. Don't get me wrong, it's a beautiful "listed" preservation building in Mitte built in the 1820's, but it's been renovated to perfection. Gone are the popping radiators, the dingy water closets... and though I love the grandeur of the high ceilings, I find that it's been renovated a little too much! Perhaps it’s the Disney effect, where it looks old, but you're not quite sure if it really is. My husband laughs when I complain about the air tight windows that don't allow enough of draft in at night to keep me cool while I sleep, but I noticed, he's started sleeping with the window open. Who ever thought I'd complain about good insulation.

Your Cohort in Faded Grandeur,
Toma

jerseygirl211 said...

When we were in the planning stages of moving, I honestly thought we would be buying an old Victorian house. While still working, and not being able to resist a good sale, I bought many pairs of lace curtains and crocheted spreads, in both ivory and white, along with lots of lacy table linens. But we found a, not so old, English Tudor and I ended up giving most of it away. Very little of it looked right in this house.

I hope you get your dream some day for your shop. I had mine once, even if it was short lived I got it out of my system. It was a thriving business, but we realized it would have kept us in a town/state where we didn't want to stay, so we closed it. :(

It's always fun to visit your blog.

Hugs
'D'

Jeanne Oliver said...

I LOVE your dream.. I can't imagine a more incredible shop to walk through!!!