Can you guess what items I acquired for the apartment in Cassis?
Was it a pair of this armchair with its layered black and cream velvet?
Have I flipped?
Turned a new leaf?
Skipped the light fantastic?
Joined the Fruit Cakes?
Or simply taking a dip in Mid Century Modern and freaking out every step of the way?
First and only needed hint… Yes, but just for Cassis.
French Husband and I went to the antique markets to readjust our eyes as to see "new old things". It took awhile to adapt, in fact it was like being reborn into a new world.
I rarely notice mid century modern, I notice pottery, linens, paper, gilded wood, French 18th century anything, but mid century modern… rarely.
Who is Eero Saarinen and the tulip table?
I spent the day trying to see things differently, most of the morning I was flat out distracted.
Color? Was I blinded by the light? Am I going colorful too? Hey, let's not push me over the edge. One thing at a time. First I am going to try to see things differently, or see different things.
Maybe seafoam, or lightest blue…
French Husband fell hard for this piece.
Early 1800s, original paint – faded blue.
My eyes declared this could marry well with mid century modern.
I keep saying mid century MODERN thinking it might take the bite out of the BROCANTE BUG.
"Well just this once couldn't hurt," is what I keep telling myself.
Cassis needs to be light… that is my reasoning, as I dare myself to take the plunge into "MCM" if you know what I mean.
Glass, silver, straight lines…
Adarn Inc. x style chairs?
I was thinking of a large painting, and stumbled upon:
"Dorothy Draper was an American interior decorator. Stylistically very anti-minimalist, she would use bright, exuberant colors and large prints that would encompass whole walls"
Dorothy loved color like I favor brocante.
"We need stairs."
"True but not these."
"But these are amazing, look at the craftsmanship."
"What I see are those narrow, tiny, impractical steps."
"Why do you have to burst my bubble."
"To bring you down to Earth?"
A pair of sconces with long straw like crystals, hanging from a chunky long golden chain.
"They use to hang in the Aix les Bain casino," the antique dealer told me, "It was renovated you know?"
I thought of "Le Train Bleu" in Paris…
Before I uttered, "Renovation doesn't always mean better," I thought about what we are doing in Cassis. Each person has their taste, their ascetic, their idea of beauty. I wanted to run back and hug the brocante bug, but it shook its head, maybe out of jealousy or frustration or feelings of betrayal.
With Cassis I am daring myself, it is an exhilarating fortunate challenge.
When I walked into my friend Odile's antique shop the hat box, black with bright yellow lemons straight back from 1920s or so or mid century modern, was calling my name, "Hey look at me, I match those black velvet chairs."
As much as I wanted to grab the hat box, my new friend MCM tapped me on the shoulder, "Restrain yourself. Then added, as if it was trying to be funny, "Hold on to your hat. You know smalls come last."
Baby steps.
Baby tulip.
Chairs are my downfall. Everyone has their weak spot. Some people like shoes, or candles, or bath products, or pillows, or jewelry —
No I did not buy it, though it is pretty cool. I guess this MCM thing that I am aiming at makes me often think out loud, "Can I live with this really?"
Oh those big, important, all meaningful questions:
"Can I live with this really?"
The wonder of it all.
Not gold, or shiny, or metal.
Plus there were only three, and one had a sad state of a seat.
If only this were nine hours north in a land called Paris. Like I said, decisions of utter importance.
10,000 steps in a new direction, just this once.
What do you prefer in interior design?
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