High Point

Last week Gwen and I attended the International Home Furnishings Show in High Point, North Carolina.  Although we have been to the show many times, this is the first time in the past three years that we have gone, so we were excited to see the changes and new trends.  We drove, dividing the trip down into two days so that we could do some antiquing on the way.   

Here is one of the antique malls that we stopped in on our first driving day. 

And here is another antique mall in West Virginia, where we each found some treasures for the shop. (We are already shopping for Portobello Road!)

The displays in High Point are always extravagant and eye-catching.  The one above portrayed a framed picture, where one of the models was actually live!  (What a tiring job that must be to stand there motionless all day!)

These chairs in every color were made of seat belt straps.

This is one of Gwen's favorite showrooms, which specializes in camp, cottage and Western decor, including lots of really great vintage accessories.

Several showrooms featured an up-and-coming color scheme of turquoise and lime green.

One of our favorite showrooms was that of Barclay Butera, a designer who specializes in the coastal look.  The rooms above utilizes red, white and blue in a cottage-y and fresh way, without looking patriotic.  In his room below, the four-poster bed sports a canopy of mosquito netting.

Here Gwen and I were fortunate to attend a book-signing by Barclay Butera for his new book Living on the Coast, which we should have in our shop by the end of next week. Using a distinctive balance of vibrant colors and sunwashed hues, he fashions cheerful, elegant, relaxed yet refined spaces that have become his signature style.  

An interesting wall display made of overlapping coat hangers covered in different colored tissue papers made an impact in this showroom.

And in the same showroom, another interesting wall display uses open, dried paint cans in every color mounted on the wall!

Tangerine Tango (2012 Color of the Year) was apparent in many showrooms, as evidenced by these pictures. Note the large artwork.  The trend seems to be very large artwork, in very simple groupings.

More Tangerine Tango mixed with grey.

A unique bed for a cottage or lodge, this twin bed is made of stacked firewood, topped with a board and mattress......a fun do-it-yourself project.

A pretty room in blue and white against emerald green walls.,...lots of white keeps it fresh and crisp.

The trends in general ----- large artwork and accessories; more color than the past couple of years, including orange, turquoise, and all shades of green; white-washed and light, grey woods; the industrial look; still lots of burlap, linen and off-white canvas fabrics; striped rugs and very worn-looking rugs.  We ordered lots of new things, which should start arriving as soon as next week.  Stop in soon and often to see all the latest!

More Paris Flea Market

More images from Paris Flea Market today.....a good time was had by all! Thanks to all of our wonderful, loyal customers who came and enjoyed the day with us. (The antiques will stay until May 12.)

Countdown to Paris Flea Market ---- Bigger and Better than Ever

It's almost here: the event we've planned for months ----- Paris Flea Market! Your favorite dealers, or as we like to call ourselves, the PFM Girls, have outdone themselves this year. We have searched far and wide for treasures that we hope will speak to you, add to your collections, inspire you, or just say "I gotta have that!"

Behind the scenes: on Friday (today) at noon, the shop will close for the transformation. Organized chaos ensues, and the end results are displays featuring various themes such as garden, cottage, industrial, traditional, etc. This year, the antiques will also be showing up in adjacent rooms, particularly the front room and the room behind the atrium. (Some will be tucked in every room.) You will want to scour the entire shop so you don't miss a thing.


What's trending: we've noticed a strong Industrial presence. Sturdy metal furniture, mechanical accents, signs of use and rust encouraged! No, your house doesn't have to look like a factory, in fact; mixing is the key here. I have a friend with a traditional home who purchased a very rusty hardware shelving unit and filled it with her collection of crystal in her dining room. The contrast of rustic and elegant makes a real statement.

Burlap is still everywhere.......as upholstery on chair seats, old feed bags used as pillows or table runners, covering boxes or books. Again, mixing is the key. (Check out our collection of old burlap coffee bags at $5.00 each for your own projects.)

Silver is strong: "unpolished" silver, that is. The design element here is not so much that it's tarnished, but it has a wonderful patina. This type of silver mixes well with more rustic accents such as ironstone, baskets, and primitive pieces. Of course, we will always have a spot for the more traditional, elegant silver. It's a classic.


We will look forward to seeing you this Saturday ---- don't forget the shop opens at 9 a.m. for this special event. And the antiques will stay through May 12. Come early and often, look high and low.....enjoy the thrill of the hunt!




Copy written by Gwen Oldfield

Happy Easter; Happy Spring!

We are usually anxiously waiting for the daffodils and tulips to bloom when Easter arrives; so it's hard to believe that the daffodils will be almost finished when we celebrate an early Easter this Sunday! It's been a beautiful spring so far, with lots more to look forward to. Here are some cute ideas for your Easter table this coming weekend.

Above you'll see some wheat grass planted in a glass compote, surrounded with moss, and tied with a ribbon making a fresh and pretty nest for your Easter eggs (real or artificial!) If you start your wheat grass today, you should have a nice little crop of it by Easter.



How cute is this? ---- marshmallow peeps and jelly beans lining the space between two graduated sized vases ----holding the spring flowers for your centerpiece!


Simple and easy ----Ball or Mason jars, banded with a piece of burlap tied with a satin ribbon, with limes or lemons sliced in the bottom before inserting your tulips or daffodils. In the shop, we have some great burlap ribbon with a green stripe that would be just the right width to complete this simple, but effective, floral arrangement.


More elaborate --- but oh, so gorgeous! An egg tree in blue and white, with an all blue-and-white table setting.


Why not make your deviled eggs the hit of the day, by slicing them crosswise, and making these darling little chicks?


Try your hand at watermelon-sculpting, making this cute bunny to hold your fresh fruit for the holiday.



Here is another layered container, with colored jelly beans in between the glass. Simply put a smaller glass vase inside the large one, and fill the space in between with jelly beans for a special Easter bouquet.

The week after Easter we will be busy getting ready for our favorite event of the year ---- Paris Flea Market! Our dealers have been shopping all over for special vintage and antique finds for this special day (we can count at lease 8 states they have been to in their hunts!) We also have some new merchandise arriving especially for the Paris Flea Market. I think we have more treasures than ever before, and we can't wait to show them all to you. We will close Friday, April 13 at noon in order to display all of the antiques. And we will re-open at 9:00 on Saturday, April 14 for all of the festivities. (The antiques and vintage treasures will stay in the shop through May 12.)



We will also be closing this Friday, April 6, at noon in observance of Good Friday. We will be open Saturday our regular hours of 10:00 till 5:00.

We hope all of you have a blessed Easter holiday, and we look forward to seeing you in the shop soon!