Agoura Antique Mart

It’s no secret that I’m more than slightly obsessed with shopping antique stores. On any given day of the week, you can find me wandering the isles of my favorite shops. I regularly scout out unique things for my home, my website, and my clients, and I find antique malls to be one of the best resources.

 

 

One of my favorites is The Agoura Antique Mart, in Agoura, CA. Shop owner Maria Bartolet knows all her customers by name, and greets everyone with a warm smile. She and all the gracious ladies that work there make you feel like an old friend stopping by for a visit. Any time of day, there’s always a pot of hot coffee on, as well as a plate of cookies to nibble at as you browse.

 

 

 

Over the 15 years I’ve been shopping there, there have been vendors that have come and gone, but what always remains the same is the unique, impeccable style that this shop delivers.

 

 

I love the unexpected, and here in Mark Wollman’s booth, the look is fresh and keeps you coming back to see what might be unveiled next. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve stopped to drool over that old, industrial movie studio light, seen behind the horse, to the right..

 

 

  Funky industrial lighting and old numbers, yes please..

 

 

My incredibly talented friend Lu styled this booth. The soothing color palette offers peace and gentle harmony, while with the mounted deer antlers feed my craving for the unexpected..

 

 

Shop owner, Maria Bartolet

 

 

The Agoura Antique Mart now has a blog! Please be sure and stop in for a visit. This is their new blog header, which I designed for Maria.

 

 

Thanks for stopping by to visit with me today, and I hope you enjoy your weekend. I adore all the comments you so kindly leave for me, thank you.

Guest Post at The Lettered Cottage

Boy did I need some TLC today, The Lettered Cottage that is!

 

Lucky me, my friend Layla invited me to guest post on her blog today, and I would so love it if you would join me over there. I wrote a fun post on “decorating with your flea market finds”, and documented a recent trip to the Rosebowl Flea Market with my friend Lu last month. Needless to say, we had a blast!

 

When you stop by The Lettered Cottage, you’ll find out how I transformed this ordinary vintage medical table:

 

 

Into a unique industrial side table in my living room:

 

 

There’s lots more pictures of this table, it’s transformation and our flea market trip, but I don’t want to spoil it even more, so please check out my post at TLC and leave a comment there so I know you stopped by!

 

Tracie from My Petite Maison

It is with great pleasure to introduce you to Tracie from My Petite Maison.

 

I first met Tracie through blogging a number of years ago, back when I was just a newbie blogger, still wet behind the ears. Tracie was one of the first to regularly comment on my blog, and I truly believe that’s what helped encourage me, even when there were days that I thought no one was listening. For those of you that already know Tracie, you can surely attest to her generous heart and enduring charm.

 

Tracie has a darling online shop, My Petite Maison, and I must admit I find myself gazing there often. As Tracie describes it, “We're a petite shop that simply purchases antique or vintage items we love to surround ourselves with in our own home”.

 

A girl after my own heart, Tracie is an avid flea market shopper, in search of one of a kind finds, specializing in all things unique.

 

 

I definitely have a soft spot for old religious statuaries, particularly the Infant of Prague (seen in center, below)..

 

   

A shop favorite of My Petite Maison, I love this petite Marie Antoinette vintage bottle. You can almost smell that sweet lavender through your monitor, I swear!  

 

 

Old French signage, yes please! Tracie, where ever do you find such wonderful things..

 

 

Another fabulous religious statue. Just look at that patina..

 

 

Speaking of patina, I’m simply loving the age on this set of little pétanque balls. The casual form of the game of Pétanque is played by about 17 million people in France, mostly during their summer vacations. Pétanque is seen as hip by many newcomers, old and young alike.

 

 

  If you have a moment, wouldn’t it be nice to stop by My Petite Maison today, browse her beautiful shop and say hello! She also has a delightful blog, which you can visit here.

Flea Market Style Magazine GIVEAWAY

Hey everyone, it’s “Launch Week” this week for the creators of Flea Market Style Magazine.

They are celebrating the release of their very first issue, which is arriving on newsstands this week, and the buzz is already starting to spread. While I haven’t seen the issue yet myself (c’mon mr. post man) I’ve heard it’s positively phenomenal, and I can’t wait to get my hot little hands on it. With a mad list of talent behind it, such as Linda MacDonald, Editor-at-Large, and Matthew Mead and Ki Nassauer, both Co-Editors. Not to mention one of my personal favorites, Heather Bullard, stylist and photographer. You just know this issue is going to pack one great big punch. And If you have any questions about this issue, like where you can find this magazine or what shade of blue they used on the walls, please read Linda’s latest post.

 

To help celebrate the launch, I’ll be giving away to one of my lucky readers one issue of Flea Market Style Magazine. All you have to do is comment on this post. I’ll announce the winners name here on my blog on Monday, March 1st.

 

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  Speaking of giveaways, my very sweet friend Aimee of Garden Adornments is hosting a giveaway, and we’re proud to be one of the gift contributors. Please stop by there for details and a chance to win $150 worth of prizes!

Grain Sack Pillow from 3 Fine Grains

Quite a few of you have asked about the grain sack pillow on my white slip covered sofa, so I

thought I’d share with you a little bit about it and its interesting history.

 

 

This pillow came from my friend Kymberley of 3 Fine Grains, where she uses old grain sacks that were once used by farmers, merchants and soldiers from all over Germany, dating back to the early 1800’s. They are made from pure organic hemp linen; which is not only chemical and pesticide free, but stronger than any cotton ever made.

 

 

Each one of the sacks Kymberley uses for her pillows is uniquely identified by the farmer’s name and or crest. They were individually marked using a tar based stenciling with last and first names of the owner, his title, the town they lived or worked in and usually the year that they were used. As you can see, mine is dated circa 1893.

 

The history on my pillow is: The grain sack belonged to Gotthilf Braun Bauer in Dettenhausen. Dettenhausen is a village in Baden-Wuerttemberg in Germany, about 25km south of Stuttgart. Dettenhausen was first mentioned in official documents in 1100, but it is estimated that first settlers arrived in the year 700. The city’s crest still contains to this date a deer and an ear of grains.

 

 

Can I share something funny with you? When I brought this pillow home and plopped it down on our sofa, the first words out of Adam’s mouth was “Oh how perfect babe, you picked one that has No. 8 on it”. My response was “Huh? It has a number 8 on it? Where?” I kid you not.

 

I must have been so blind in love with my new pillow, I somehow completely missed the fact that it has No. 8 on it. (For readers new to my blog, since the day we moved into our home, we’ve referred to it as our “Cottage8”, and little 8’s can be found all over our home). Looking back now, it must have been fate that brought this pillow and I together. Yep, this pillow needed me.

 

 

Kymberley’s authentic grain sack pillows can be purchased at:

• Bungalow Antiques, Design and Salvage •

28859 W. Agoura Road  • Agoura Hills, CA 91301 • (818) 879-8698

This is for you.

I made this for you, with my own two hands. This is my heart. It may look look small, but it’s big enough and wide enough to hold you inside, safe and tight. It contains blue skies and rainbows, big dreams and great strength, a shoulder to lean on and a helping hand for guidance. It knows no judgment, only friendship and understanding.

 

I hope you will accept this gift I made just for you. Happy Valentines Day.

Living Room: Industrial Factory Cart Table

The next step in our living room re-do was to find a fabulous coffee table and rug that better suited the direction I’m heading towards in my decorating style. That’s when I laid eyes on Z Gallerie’s version of the Factory Cart Table. I had been seeing these all over, including Restoration Hardware’s version. Before making our investment, we went to both stores to inspect both versions in person. We found Z Gallerie’s to be far superior in quality, and was better priced.

  

  

The old wood planks and heavy iron detail speaks volumes to me. Made from reclaimed wood from old abandoned buildings, there are quirks and imperfections throughout this table, making it all the more perfect to me. If you would like to learn a little more about the amazing company who actually hand crafts these tables, you can visit them here.

  

  

Weighing in at 200 lbs, this table is extremely sturdy.  The number sequence detail above the iron wheel grabs my eye every time I walk by it. Like the new jute rug? A recent Home Goods find. I love the contrast of the smooth texture of the cool black iron against the thick, nubby jute.

  

  

A recent flea market find, this old portable typewriter was a definite keeper. I love placing curious objects within arms reach of my seating areas. Great conversation starter.

  

  

To make it a little more interesting, I found a thank you letter, written by Marilyn Monroe, to the German Consulate General which read “Dear Mr. von Fuehlsdorff, Thank you for your champagne. It arrived, I drank it, and I was gayer.  My best, Marilyn Monroe.” I printed it out from my computer, using an old style typewriter font called “typical writer”, and rolled it inside my typewriter.

  

  

So here’s a recap of our living room progress..

BEFORE {old coffee table and old rug}:

  

  

 AFTER {new coffee table & new rug}:

  

  

As a side note, while I was on Z Gallerie’s website, I noticed they carry my New York wall art that so many of you have inquired about.

  

  

For those new to my blog, you can see our entire before and after renovating journey here, and faq’s here.

  

A Facelift, an Interview, and a New Cottage

There’s been a lot of excitement swirling about this week, here at Cottage8.  For starters, unless this is your first time visiting my blog, than you’ve probably noticed my new look, including my brand new header.  But we didn’t stop there, oh no!  Not only did my blog get a facelift, we completely redesigned my entire website too {as shown above}.  I say “we” but all due credit goes directly to my very favorite web designer, Cathy at Avalon Rose Design. 

  

To say Cathy is beyond brilliant would be an understatement.  This gal is a complete creative genius.  If you have ever contemplated starting your own website, I can’t recommend her strongly enough.  Not only did she simplify the navigation of each page of my website for easier browsing, she also re-designed my entire Cottage of the Month feature and my Archives.  She felt that my website and blog should reflect my new direction and current decorating style, and that an upgrade after four years was desperately due.  I couldn’t agree more.  And fortunately, most of you agree as well. Cathy documented the entire re-design on her blog, complete with before and after screenshots.  {If you’re coming here for the first time from Cathy’s blog, welcome!} 

  

The feedback I’ve been getting on the new design has been overwhelmingly positive.  {Thank you for your supportive emails}.  I have always felt the need to keep pushing my direction forward, and go outside of my own comfort box.  Just like when I decided to completely change my decorating style after 10 years of doing the same old thing.  It was both terrifying and exciting all at once, but once it was done, I was glad I did it.

  

A few of you have asked where my squeaky gate went.  To be completely frank, that squeaky gate was more of pain than a joy.  I, for one, could not enter my own gate. I kid you not!  When you are dealing with flash (animation and sound files) it tends to freeze up more than it actually works.  Believe me, I have the emails from frustrated viewers to prove it;  including one email from a woman who unknowingly had her speakers cranked all the way up, and when she went through the squeaky gate, the cat that had been napping on her lap dug its claws deep into her legs, then shot straight up in the air and nearly gave them both a heart attack.  After that, I decided that was the last straw for the beloved squeaky gate, may it rest in peace.

  

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In other news, I was interviewed by the very lovely Aimee of Garden Adornments.  She’s an extremely talented woman with so much zest and energy.  She has a beautiful blog, on which she’s hosting a really generous giveaway, and she also has a really cool etsy shop.  I am flattered to be featured on her blog.  Thank you, Aimee!  {And if you’re coming here for the first time from Aimee’s blog, thank you for your visit!}

  

  

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And last but not least, I know I usually drop a reminder bomb on you mid-month, but I couldn’t wait another second to tell you to check out this month’s Cottage of the Month.  I’ve featured Cindy’s house from My Romantic Home.  She was the perfect choice for February, the most romantic month of the year.  {And if you’re coming here for the first time from Cindy’s blog, thank you for stopping by!} 

  

  

Thank you for all your support you guys!