'Nuff Said...

Paint It White

Radiant colors and busy patterns may charm and dazzle, but nothing looks fresher than a crisp, all-white room.  View a slide show of Elle Decor's brightest spaces, from a classic country home to an ultramodern minimalist apartment.  Discover how clean white walls and matching furnishings can make a surprisingly strong statement.  Visit Elle Decor to see the show.  

P.S. - Join Ann and me for our next Design Class, Decorating Outdoor Spaces, on Sunday, July 11th.  The class starts at 11am and is complimentary, but please, email or call to reserve your space.

Au Revoir! Rachel

Brocante Home
804-438-6404
Summer Hours:  Wednesday - Saturday: 10-4; Sunday: 12 - 4
To join my blog, click Brocanteurs Blog
For more information on the shop or directions, go to Brocante Home

Three Little Kittens...

June is Adopt - A - Cat - Month!

Approximately 4 million cats end up in shelters every year, including thousands born every spring and summer during “kitten season.” To help promote adoptions of these fun, affectionate animals, American Humane Society celebrates Adopt-A-Cat Month each June.

Our local shelter (Northumberland Animal Shelter) is brimming with cats of every breed, age and personality just waiting for a loving home. This week alone we received nine kittens, three of which you see above.  Whether you prefer young and frisky or mature and mellow, you’re sure to find the perfect cat companion during Adopt-A-Cat Month!

To see more of these wonderful cats and kittens, please visit the Northumberland Animal Shelter in Burgess, VA.  The adoption hours are Wednesday and Saturday from 10:00am to 2:00pm.  The shelter phone is 804-580-6156 or call Fran at 804-435-2597.   Remember, you do not have to live in Northumberland Co. to adopt!  To see other pets available at the Shelter, click Northumberland Animal Shelter.

P.S. - If you decide to adopt a cat from the Northumberland Shelter, please let me know and Brocante Home will make a donation in your honor to the Shelter.

P.S.S.  - We will talk about design next week!

Au Revoir!  Rachel

Brocante Home
804-438-6404
Summer Hours:  Wednesday - Saturday: 10-4; Sunday: 12 - 4
To join my blog, click Brocanteurs Blog
For more information on the shop or directions to it, go to Brocante Home

Paris Glam....

We recently received a new shipment of furniture and it is magnifique!  You will love these new items!  Everything from love seats to chandeliers to coffee tables to slip covered chairs.  Just take a look at how Ann has "rearranged" the  shop with our new furniture.

Don't you just love the black contrast with the white upholstery?  The ribbons on the dining room chairs?  And those pillows!  Doesn't this just make you feel like you are in your Paris pied à terre?  Some of the new items at the shop:

Cream Slipcovered Armless Chairs: Bows on back add glam touch - $250 each

Black Wood w/ Cream Upholstered Loveseat: Slightly distressed finish - $1195

Metal and Crystal Chandelier:  Hand strung crystal and rusted flower form arms - $390

Iron and Re-claimed Wood Coffee Table w/ Storage: $765

Math Sticks Chandelier:  Made with vintage style "math" sticks - $480

Bruges Lamp: Comes with two shades, "summer" and "winter" - $375

  

Ceramic Jar Collection:  Three sizes in "French White" - $39 to $79

Other items available at Brocante Home include: Black and Jute Striped Window Panels, Cream Distressed Mirrors, Chandelier Candle Holders, Ceramic Pedestal Dish and Crackle Finish Doves, Eiffel Tower and Vintage Post Card Framed Photos, Down Filled Pillows and more!

To see more of this room come to the shop!!


Gimme Shelter!

                            "Mr. T"

This months Northumberland Co. Shelter Cat is "Mr. T".  What a lover!  If  you are interested in Mr. T or any of the other cats or dogs needing homes, please contact the Shelter in Burgess, VA.  Adoption hours are Wednesdays and Saturdays from 9:30 to 2pm.  The shelter phone is 804-580-6156.  Remember, you do not have to live in Northumberland Co. to adopt!

P.S. - Good News!  Since posting this blog, "Mr. T" has been adopted!

Au Revoir!  Rachel
Brocante Home
804-438-6404
Summer Hours:  Wednesday - Saturday: 10-4; Sunday: 12 - 4
To join my blog, click Brocanteurs Blog
For more information on the shop or directions to it, go to http://www.brocante-home.com/

Rachel's Home Makeover..Part 2

I bet you thought we forgot!  Au contraire!  Ann and I have been quite busy working on the makeover of my living room/sunroom/dining room.  Here are just a few of the things we have been up to:

 - ordered new sofa for the new LR/Sunroom
 - had slipcovers made for the DR chairs
 - installed new wooden blinds in the LR/Sunroom and DR
 - new chest in the entry foyer
 - ordered new accent pillows for sofa
 - ordered new lamps for the sofa table
 - ordered new chandelier for foyer
 - ordered extra large lantern chandelier for the former DR, now library

If you recall, we made the original LR the DR (shown here), moved the LR to the sunroom (decorating that comes next), and made the old DR a library.  Here is a photo of the new slipcovers and new shades in the DR:

I just love the way the white linen slipcovers look.  They are so sheer (I used the linen curtain panels that I sell at the shop) that the light gives the chairs an ethereal look.  (Great job on the covers Karen!) The new blinds are a greyish wood tone as opposed to the brownish color of the old bamboo ones, which looks good with the grey curtains (again linen panels from the shop).  You can also glimpse the new chest in the foyer at the right of the photo.  And, best of all, most all of the items we used are available at Brocante Home!  The chairs are one-of-a-kind vintage from the shop.

The room looked like this before:

For more information on the makeover so far, click on Ann's Blog.

P.S. - Merci Beaucoup! to all who attended Sunday's Design Class, Furniture Painting.  We had a great attendance and I look forward to seeing some of their finished projects!

Au Revoir!  Rachel

Brocante Home

804-438-6404

Summer Hours: Wednesday - Saturday, 10- 4; Sunday 12-4

To subscribe to my blog, click here Brocanteur's Blog.

For directions to the shop or additional information, please visit our website at Brocante Home.

Marché aux Puces and Design Class - this weekend!

Get your paint brushes ready!!  Learn all you need to know to turn that cast off piece of furniture into the star of your home.  We will experiment on a table of Ann's that she was getting ready to discard anyway (just kidding Ann - it will be beautiful!).  Along with basic techniques I will discuss two color painting, distressing techniques, waxing for an antiqued look and so much more.  The class starts at 11am on Sunday, June 6th at the shop.  Please call or email for a reservation.

Also, as promised, here is my husband Frank's finished credenza:

In the before photo on the left, you can see the contrast of the old finish with the new.  On the right, you can see how the new finish really brightens the piece.  I painted one coat of Benjamin Moore's French Canvas over the existing painted finish (after a light sanding), then distressed it down to the cream and further to the mahogany wood.  The final finish shows just a little of the cream through the French Canvas.  I left the back panel in the original cream for contrast.  It looks great - n'est-ce pas?

P.S. - Don't forget that this Saturday is our Annual Marché aux Puces.  It will start at 9am at the shop - lots of bargains, so come early!

Au Revoir!  Rachel
Brocante Home
804-438-6404
Summer Hours: Wednesday - Saturday, 10- 4; Sunday 12-4
To subscribe to my blog, click here Brocanteur's Blog.
For directions to the shop or additional information, please visit our website at Brocante Home.