French Antiques: Vintage Papers and Kitchen Design

French-postage-swirl French-Script French-post-card 

Photographs and Text by:

Corey Amaro

French Antique Post cards.

French-letter-with-hand

French Antiques,or should I say antiques. I love antiques and, anywhere where I can find them, French or otherwise.

Antiques that share history,

that show worn texture,

that speak of craftsmanship and beauty, that are stained with time.

French-card French-stamps-for-post French-old-post-card French-Post-stamp-25c 

Antique anything:

Postcards, stamps, letters, letter openers,

ribbons… furniture, dishes, linen, pottery, silver…urn, buckets, chairs, mirrors…

Antiques that speak of daily life.

Daily habits, the everyday, run in the mill antiques, that have turned golden with time.

Antiques that remind me of who I am, and where I have been, and lead the way to tomorrow will bring.

Life that is shared, in more ways than one. Antiques have weathered the test of time.

French-Paris-stamp French-postmark
French-postage-stamp-1900 French-post-card 

I would rather have antiques, than something new.

I would rather have antiques than a new dress, or jewelry.

I would rather use old materials, than use new materials.

I would rather live in an old house, drive an old car, buy second hand clothing, shop at the open market, use things that have not been produce industrially…

But that doesn't always happen…

I like antiques.

But, I desired a practical, functional, new kitchen.

So I bought IKEA's cabinets for our kitchen, the simple wooden ones.

I did!!!

My family took my temperature.

I told them I was fine, but they thought otherwise.

"Mom, Corey, Coco Puff… You bought IKEA?" They asked.

"Yeah, and the world is still going around." I said.

French-letter-opener French-post-mark-1903 Frenh-pink-postage
French-postage-stamp-fFrench-post-mark-p  

Maybe I'll cover the walls with old papers, postage stamps, postcards, and attach the pots and pans with ribbons from the ceiling.

Maybe I won't.

Maybe, I am turning a new leaf?

Maybe I will let my fake blond hair go grey?

Maybe I will remain me: Unpredictable and curious.

Maybe.

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Comments

38 responses to “French Antiques: Vintage Papers and Kitchen Design”

  1. Jend’isère

    In defense of IKEA, they sell great basics, which you can personalize. You will no doubt. Boring to enter a home with feeling you are on page 23 of a catalogue. With my Swedish husband and kids, I am biased, but since IKEA came to town last year, we can eat as if we had not left.

  2. Julie Ann Evins

    I do not think your love of antiques and items with a story is in the least diminished by your IKEA units. It is more a case that you have battled with an impractical kitchen for a long time and now crave ease and practicality. Difficult to create a practical useful and well designed kitchen from antiques and you are clearly a proper cook who requires a proper space. Get the modern units in I say and we will then watch with interest along with your currently mystified family as you add your own personal style stamp. My guess is there will be antiques in that kitchen yet ! Jx

  3. Corey
    You are full of surprises! Your interior decorating style for your kitchen reminds of me of well – being practical for one, and two you are somewhat of a romantic
    The wedding poem comes to mind
    Something old, something new
    Something borrowed, something blue
    And a silver sixpence in her shoe.
    Each item in this poem represents a good-luck token for the bride. If she carries all of them on her wedding day, her marriage will be happy. A cook needs a good kitchen.
    “Something old” symbolizes continuity with the bride’s family and the past. Your love of antiques
    “Something new” means optimism and hope for the bride’s new life ahead. Your new kitchen cabinets
    “Something borrowed” is usually an item from a happily married friend or family member, whose good fortune in marriage is supposed to carry over to the new bride. The borrowed item also reminds the bride that she can depend on her friends and family. A cup of sugar borrowed from Annie
    As for the colorful item, blue has been connected to weddings for centuries. In ancient Rome, brides wore blue to symbolize love, modesty, and fidelity. Blue find in some dish towels or fine table cloth & napkins
    And finally, a silver sixpence in the bride’s shoe represents wealth and financial security. Your beautiful silver ware and candle sticks, tea & coffee sets.
    the perfect blend,
    Joanny
    the dowser daughter

  4. forego remaining you – there are core parts I believe never change, those immortal parts that you can’t change anyway – but go on creating you. that’s an ever-changing, ever evolving and exciting process!

  5. Patricia

    I have ikea cabinets in my kitchen and I love them. My house is also full of antiques. I like to mix and match modern and antiques.

  6. Can’t wait to see the final results of your kitchen…sometimes old and new work perfectly together!!!

  7. I love old papers, the handwriting then is amazing! not always very legible but beautiful nontheless.

  8. I enjoy the juxtaposition of antiques and modern. What better way to have both pieces stand out.
    Plus, there is a lot to be said for doors and drawers that open and close smoothly and are fitted for storage etc.
    Bonne!

  9. With your new clean and practical IKEA kitchen you will have a wonderful blank canvas on which to stamp your own little bit of Corey magic! Looking forward to seeing photos of the finished result…

  10. I have some things that belonged to my great-grandparents – from back in the 19th century, most of it. One is a letter he wrote to her during the Civil War – such beautiful handwriting! I can’t imagine anyone wanting to keep anything I have.
    (I think I like the postage stamps on the walls thing!)

  11. christine

    We have IKEA kitchen cabinets in our bathrooms, and 17 years on they are as good looking, practical and hard wearing as the day we installed them under the unbelieving eye of the plumber ( who also declared that we were the only people he had ever met who wanted the taps in the middle of the bath so that we could take baths together ).We have changed the cupboard door handles from time to time – found some fab ones in L’Isle sur Sorgue. Just do it, and never say “never ” ! xxx

  12. sandra blanks

    What a beautiful post! I love all the old postcards, especially that first one, all the stamps, that gorgeous fleur-de-lis letter opener, and oh, that beautiful penmanship ( a lost art)!

  13. I can’t wait to see how you use the old with the new, of course with your style it will be beautiful. Are y’all still going to go across our country on the motorcycle this year?

  14. Niki Weippert

    I love vintage French postcards! I just completed a piece with them and put it on my blog. http://www.nikisfragments.blogspot.com

  15. Carry on being unpredictable, Corey! It’s just about making the best choices in life, isn’t it? Sometimes the best choice will be IKEA, why not? But I do love your choice of photos too, and your words about the little things of life which have become golden with time.

  16. Diogenes

    Once again you made me smile.
    Corey, where do you think you got your design abilities from? Your mom? Or have you been that way since you were a kid?

  17. I like IKEA!…even though I love antiques…I like a mixture of things…maybe not a good thing when trying to decorate…but I am who I am!…to late in life to change now! 🙂

  18. Good for you, it keeps them guessing.
    I love old ephemera too! I can’t get enough.
    So hard to find here though. My favorite is the first one that says Paris in large lettering.
    Have a wonderful day!
    Rosemary

  19. Nice deep cupboards? The cupboards that came with this 1945 house are nice but not very deep. Are you going to whitewash the cabinets? Good idea to keep the family guessing about what you will do next.. blonde hair, Ikea cabinets..in a few months a Harley ride!

  20. I think the secret to staying young is to continually seek out and absorb new things. To do that you must have an open mind. I see nothing unusual with loving both antiques and modern style furnishings. Why trap or restrict yourself to one or the other? Love what you love, unashamedly, and be proud that you possess an open mind that continually grows.
    Marilyn (in Dallas)

  21. I love antiques and vintage furniture but that doesn’t mean IKEA is no good.. I love IKEA too.. I bought few stuff from them. why not? practical items, affordable and i love their restaurant too! sweedish meatballs and sweedish desserts are yumm! have a nice day!

  22. Corey, I love how you share what you love here, and your photos are so beautiful I enjoy how you ‘see’. Hey, on your bike trip through the states are you going to ride near the ocean on the Oregon Coast? Very pretty. We go there once a year or so. Went last week for my birthday … photos on my blog. Enjoy your eclectic kitchen! ~ Violet

  23. One day your Ikea kitchen will also be an antique – you are just paving the way for future antique collectors, as I’m sure after a few years with you the Ikea kitchen cabinets will have their own unique patina of charm.

  24. You hit the nail on the head. I too love antiques and agree with each of your statements in preference of them. But Ikea and antiques share the same framework of industriousness (sp) that you seem to have. You extend the “life” of your antiques by making the most of them as artwork or for uses other than made for and IKEA makes furnishings and such to make the most of use and space, period. So, enjoy away without feeling any contradiction about it.

  25. Count me in, I feel exactly the same way. Thanks for sharing such lovely photos. Now I have the burning desire to go treasure hunting.

  26. I love it Corey. Remaining true to one’s predictably unpredictable self!!!
    How lovely to know it is okay to be…
    When you have a minute come over and visit so I can enter you into my Give Away.
    I have been gone from Bloglandia so long no one is coming to my Give Away. I keep trying : )
    peace
    carole

  27. Ditto ditto… the older – the better. I read this quote by Sister Teresa today:
    “The more you have,
    the more you’re occupied;
    the less you have,
    the more free you are.”
    – Mother Teresa
    My new moto~ Vicki

  28. Always a surprise !!!!!!!!!!!! I have to admit I would not have pegged you for Ikea….
    I’m so anxious to see the photos !!!

  29. Kathleen

    Tried to post earlier but it wouldn’t take…
    There are a few things from IKEA I’d like but I’m waiting until we finish remodeling our house (phase 1). Looking forward to personalizing them. Somehow the day to day reality of remodeling isn’t nearly so romantic as the stories you write of your projects.
    What happened with the antique chaise your friend gave you while in Calif?

  30. Cant wait to see your new kitchen and how you put it all together. I bet its going to be amazing. I also cant wait for some new recipes…

  31. Hi, sometimes you just need a blank canvas, I’m sure whatever you do it will look fab. Your plan to cover the wall in old stamps took me back to a cloakroom I had in another house..I had stuffed old magazine pages that i couldn’t bare to be without in a file, then decided if I loved them that much I should display them, so I stuck them all over the walls, it looked fab..my american stepmother did the same thing with wine labels..but thats a lot of wine!!!
    Oh and Corey…fight the grey!! Blonde is much better!!
    xx

  32. What I wouldn’t give to meet you in Paris and tour the antique stores, markets, and cafes with you!
    So very nice to meet you~

  33. I share your sentiments about preferring old to new, but hey, IKEA does have its uses! Your post made me smile! Just think of all the well organised space you will now have for lots of useful thrifted, antique kitchen bowls, plates etc Enjoy your new kitchen..

  34. It’s the handwriting that I love! And the stamps….the stamps, of course.

  35. That was fantastic. I have learned through that.

  36. I think, we share the same passion, for the last couple of years i have become very interested in antique, no matter in what forms, collectibles, furniture, cabinets.

  37. I like this blog, i check it almost everyday, it’s great to see someone how shares my passion for antiques.

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