the beauty of vintage patina

The rich dignity of decayed splendor with that perfect imperfection.  The total epitome of old world French and shabby elegance, addding tension to the decor with the unexpected.  You know what I am talking about...the beauty of that gorgeous aged patina that only time can give.  An essence that we try but cannot repeat. It's the fine pattern of cracks formed in old paintings and leather, the alligatoring in that beautiful old worn cottage gate green paint, and the appeal of the chippiness on that old white bench that only weather and the elements can render being left in the garden for decades. Finding these pieces is what keeps drawing 
The Vintage Nest back in, over and over again, hitting the road every week on my treasure hunts, for that perfect piece that will grace your home and mine with style and refinement. 

xoxo Lynn @ TheVintageNest blog

The Simple Things In Life

Enjoying life is as simple as sitting in my neighbor's shabby pink swing.  Don't you just love it?  Have a wonderful day!   xoxo

Lynn @ The Vintage Nest.com

Vintage Children's Story Books

Vintage and antique children's story books make such fabulous display pieces, the more worn and tattered, to me, the better. At Christmas I displayed an antique Christmas Story book, along with old keys, and fresh holly for a charming and much commented on vignette.


When decorating a room for a new baby nursery, look around for old books on your treasure hunts with a theme, such as bears, or circus, or clowns, a jungle theme or seaside theme or maybe something just as simple as a pink or blue theme.


Just last Thursday I ran across the most sweetest and charming 1942 copyright book about a bunny.....Fluffy the Pink Bunny. I thought the old story book was one of the sweetest I had ever seen for its fabulous double page old beautifully illustrated lithos and it wasn't it until I got it home that I realized the pink bunnies were all flocked through out the book. Again, a wonderful display piece with an Easter theme.


So keep your eyes open when you are scavenging the GW's, Sally stores, yard sales and flea markets. You never know what sweet little treasure book you might find. Thank you for visiting the French Cupboard. And if you have time to hop on down the bunny trail, I would love for you to visit me at The Vintage Nest blog. xoxo Lynn

Poor Man's Silver

I started collecting pewter when we were first married....poor man's silver as it's sometimes called. I have supper plates, napkin rings, goblets, saucers, mugs, platters, bowls, candlesticks, Jefferson cups and other small accessories. Most all of it was new when I bought it but now it's vintage...ack! But some of the really old pieces I found at yard sales. The really old pieces are a soft pewter and easily dented. The photo shows one shelf of my kitchen French cabinet they are housed in. Also in that photo is an antique papier mache pig that I have had for years and spent way more money on him than I should have but he has brought much joy and lots of grins to our lives so I think he was worth it. And the sweet little bird nest painting, a talented blogging friend painted. That little nest painting represents a part of my life that is near and dear to my heart....my little on line boutique...The Vintage Nest. Come for a visit and I hope your day is the sweetest. xo Lynn

Treasure Hunting

So many of us love vintage, sell vintage and dream vintage. :) The warm patina, character, uniqueness, sentimentality, history and charm all contribute to that special piece. One week cannot go by without me spending at least one day on a treasure hunt, seeking the perfect vintage or antique item for you. I have been looking for a couple of years for the perfect bench to place in my entry way. A place to throw a purse or those packages waiting to be picked up by my mail lady or carried out by my trusty shipping assistant (Bobby G.). A place to plop down and put on my boots or a place to slide the flip flops under. Well...I finally found it this past Saturday at our tiny little local flea market. Usually I don't find much there, with the dealers there having way too much cheap new stuff. But boy did I luck out this time. Maybe it was that extra little prayer I said as I drove out the drive way Saturday morning. :) This absolutely charming church pew was sitting there under a mass of new blankets and socks. I peeked and peeked, moved the blankets over and peeked some more. Finally I asked the vendor if his display piece was for sale. "Yes m'am", he said, "if you want that ol' thing." Ha! Did I want that ol' thing? You betcha! Without measuring I knew it would be the perfect size and it has white cottage paint with just a little chippiness. And I love the curvy sides and cut out bottom and the extra added detail work on the side boards. The seat is one whole plank of wood and so are the sides. The antique church pew came out of a little church off of Jeter Rd. out here in the country. A new church was built with new factory pews but in my opinion nothing as sweet and charming as this dear piece, that now will be loved and cherished for years to come. Don't you just love it? You could never find a piece like that in a furniture store? Oui? Have a super great week everyone and I wish you all happy treasure hunting! Oh Yeah, I forgot to tell you it was..............$40.00 :)

xo Lynn @ The Vintage Nest.

Le Coq

Good Monday Morning to you. Since the name of this blog is The French Cupboard I thought it would be fun to talk about roosters, since the rooster or Le Coq is the French National Emblem. A poetic quotation from the late French comedian Coluche, goes something like this: "It is the country's national emblem because it's the only bird that manages to sing with its feet deep in s%*$." :) And with that, I would love to show you the roosters in my home. I love roosters and always have. I don't have a big collection of roosters....just enough to give that French country feel.


This big fella' was adopted about 10 years ago. I think I got him at Pier One. I do know I got him at 1/2 price or I would not have bought him because he was expensive. He's hand carved solid wood and is about 3 feet tall.



I just love this little red rooster. He is my paper towel holder. The black and white toile plate behind him sits above the sink and features a rooster scene. My sweet daughter-in-law give me that when they were visiting Fourth of July.




This is my rooster pillow that I gave to myself one year for Christmas. (Incidentally, the leopard print pillow is one I made from washcloths..... of all things). :)



And lastly, I think this little guy is probably my favorite rooster. I bought him at a craft fair about 25 years ago. He had a stand but that went missing many years ago. He's scruffy and beat up and now rest in a basket hanging from the beams in the kitchen ceiling.

Do you have a rooster? :) Cock a Doodle Doo from Lynn @ The Vintage Nest.

Vintage in My Garden

Mary Mary quite contrary,
How does your garden grow?
With old clock faces and hiding places
And vintage birdhouses all in a row.

(that's pretty bad, I know, but it rhymes! LOL )












Decorating your garden with old found objects makes for a very charming setting. An old bed frame planted with flowers is so sweet or even make it into a raised vegetable garden. Use an old iron headboard stuck right in the middle of a stand of Black Eyed Susans...how divine. Use old forks as markers in your garden. And don't forget to bring the garden in. And old 'strawberry pot' makes a fabulous utensil holder in the kitchen. Place an old metal garden rake by the backdoor to hang totes and mittens from. Have the children outgrown their old rubber boots? Fill them with flowers or your hand gardening tools and set on the front porch. The ideas are endless. :) Enjoy your garden!

Presented by Lynn @ The Vintage Nest.