valentine's day Local Color: Three Women

Three Women and an Armoire

When we first moved to Sacramento as a young couple and bought our first home, we had next to no funds for furniture. Tim luckily came across a shop that had pieces in our price range and came home one day with two teak patio benches (which we still have!) and a coffee table. This was about 14 years ago now, but we never forgot the shop. It seemed that it had closed.....it had at least fallen off of my own radar.

Lo and behold, some friends of mine clued me in that it was still in existence but had moved to a new and larger location. Where had I been anyway?!

The store in question? Three Women and an Armoire. (Um...really fun website BTW!) They still import teak furniture from the South Pacific at great prices, and have a large antique inventory from all over the world.

Here's a little peek ...

Fun teak birdhouse. Eye catching accessory!

Antique Octagonal Table

This table almost made it to my house.....but I had no specific place to put it. I still think about it.... a lot.

Outdoor Garden Area

This bench is just like the two we still have on our front porch. Prices are not much higher than they were 14 years ago! We painted ours a sort of a dark brown-black. (Here's a peek at one on the porch)...

Our Front Porch

valentine's day New Wing Back Chair

A friend of mine got two of these new leather wing back chairs to put in front of her fireplace. We are painting her paneling and brick fireplace white for a dramatic backdrop!

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Large warehouse full to the brim.

Three Women and an Armoire. A little bit of Sacramento shopping....a little bit of this....a little bit of that....and a lot of fun.

valentine's day Local Color: Fleuri

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Linen covered chair, garden statue and flowers make for a very pretty arrangement.

valentine's day is fast approaching, and visions of cherubs, hearts and flowers are dancing in the heads of romantics everywhere.

There is a shop in Sacramento (technically, Carmichael) called Fleuri that embodies the idea of romantic living. Antiques, and new things, furniture and gifts, vintage linen and burlap ribbons, beautiful accessories and whimsical table settings...they all are put together with a European flair.

I was shopping there last week, and thought you might like a glimpse.

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Wicker may be making a big comeback! Lovely wicker and glass vase.

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Trophies and Tartan Plaid, and a very nice armoire!

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Such a handsome collection. Old silver, leather bound books...

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White on White, always pretty and fresh!

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Lots of flour sack pillows. Lovely tea table with mirrored top.

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Such a romantic bed!

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Tea....or sherry?

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Custom made table with reclaimed lumber and Galvanized top. I may have to do this for my patio table!

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More pillows and accessories, pretty linen lamp shade "slip".

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Beautiful settee.

(A side note....the floors look like real wood, but were in fact some sort of sheet goods! I didn't even notice until I walked on it and it was sort of spongy! Interesting idea for a retail space floor!)

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Wonderful vintage linens.

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More nice Linen covered chairs and small treasures.

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Garden Party Table. I loved the marble table! And the old ironstone mixed with new pieces.

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Hotel Silver....who can resist?

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A garden vignette with wicker and antlers.

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Old work table topped with tole lamps with linen shades.

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Burlap ribbon ....wonderful!

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Showstopping Victorian styled birdcage.

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Velvet tufted settee.

Anyone looking for a little romance just might want to stop into Fleuri.

Ask to be put on their mailing list for upcoming Flea Market sales in the parking lot with many other vendors as well!

Fleuri

7301 Fair Oaks Blvd.

Carmichael, CA

916-973-9848

valentine's day Deck the Halls with.....FRINGE!

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Front Window Display at Fringe

One of the most festive and inspiring things about the Holidays for me is to see the magic that small shop owners create in their windows and throughout their stores. I get my decor "fix" window shopping and gathering ideas for my own home. I also fill in the blanks on my list for Santa (aka my husband!).

One of my favorite haunts is so close to my house that I pass it almost every day. Fringe is a sort of curiosity shop with a little something for everyone. Owner and local imagineer, Audry Wells delights in vintage (and new!) clothing and shoes, antiques and one-of-a-kind furniture, interesting gifts and accessories, unique jewelry and vintage art. Oh...and let's not forget the Cowboy boots!

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I was charmed by the front window display last weekend and stopped in to say hello. I found not only the Holiday Spirit I was hoping for , but quite a few things that will making their way to my house. These topiaries were sweet, and the decanters, pretty and well priced. The whole vignette with it's pine cone mantle, vintage pillows, and cut crystal on the twig tray fired up my imagination.

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There was a pair of mercury glass lamps that I am mad for that would make an impact in any interior. Um...they may not be there for too much longer. I'm just sayin'. The combination of elements in this display, the crowns and tangerines, the black and white photo of the tree, and the lamps was perfection.

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Cowboy boots galore my friends. They buy, sell and trade for all you boot stomping aficionados. (And don't they make a great image all together like that?)

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Just so you don't think that Fringe is all about the ghosts of Christmas past, Audrey throws a little 150 into our Christmas punch with this hot fuchsia vanity by Sacramento artist Catherine Greenup. Audrey says this piece draws in as many men as women....they are fascinated by the quality of the Hot Rod paint job!

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Another piece by Catherine Greenup is the Faux Deer head Trophy made from natural plant materials like pine cone, elk horn fern and seeds. A stylish alternative to be sure.

All of the festive plants and topiaries in the shop are provided by Tom Kurth of "Rooting Around". He hunts down specialty plants and brings them to all of us. (For more info on Tom, inquire at Fringe).

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Audrey has access to industrial and mid century furniture like this stainless dresser. All of the crowns and crosses with the aubergine silk on the chair....scrumptious!

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Fringe has a wonderful collection of candles all over the store. I just picked up a Mandarin Orange and Meyer Lemon scented candle...Mmmm! The rectangle shaped boxwood wreath is also from Tom Kurth. (A little bird told me plants will go on sale a little closer to Christmas....ssshhh!)

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I loved this vignette in the front window with the contrast of the ornate gilt table and the mid century white leather chair (one of a pair). The Moroccan tea glasses almost came home with me right then and there, but "Santa" says I should wait.

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Fringe has a little something for everyone. Vintage French all the way to 60's Psychedelic, Art glass, industrial metal furniture, Art Deco Decor, and glittering Green Deer Heads (another Catherine Greenup piece). Owner, Audrey describes her shop as "Indie Anthropologie" in style and approach.

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More of Tom's beautiful Holiday foliage next to an elephant garden stool. You can see here the shop is full of little surprises.

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I have always loved the idea of a large farm table filled with cloches covering Holiday treats. This one seems all ready for a party to start.

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Vintage and new glassware next to these pretty mercury glass candle holders.....just a few more things to add to my list. (Santa are you reading this?)

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New and vintage hats and jewelry can be found throughout the shop. I loved the pink beaded folk art cross.

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Such pretty things! Shoes, fine vintage clothing...I could spend a lot more time here...and will before this season is through I'm sure. I mean, I have two teenage daughters.

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These shoes were so beautiful, I had to take another look. And the velvet pumpkins bridge the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays don't they?

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I had to show you these necklaces by designer Tamara Berg. She collects vintage fobs from all over the globe to make into these one-of-a-kind necklaces. I particularly liked the Eiffel Tower necklace which opens up to reveal miniature postcard replicas showing architectural monuments. Santa....pay attention now.

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So here is the scoop on

FRINGE

Location at: 2409 21st St., Sacramento,CA 95818-2409
Phone: (916) 832-4466

The website is a work in progress, but you can find out much more about Fringe and the services they offer HERE.

And you can reach owner Audrey Wells here: audrey@fringe21.com. She invites any and all inquiries.

Happy Shopping!!

valentine's day Local Color: Le Jardin

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Le Jardin....what better place to find local color? A garden is filled with all of the colors of the rainbow, and this Sacramento shop is no different. I am very lucky to live so close to this jewel of a shop. I drive by almost daily and peer into the windows to see what new treasures the ladies who own this shop have found.

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Mother and daughter team Linda Fairley and Janice Fairley Winn have a way with putting things together: vintage French style furniture and leather bound books....topiaries and leopard print pillows.....

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all mixed in with industrial tables and architectural remnants. I love it all! And isn't the floor brilliant? They painted the yellow and white checkerboard right on top of the concrete. It looks just like handmade glazed pavers.

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The ladies always seem to have beautiful alabaster lamps on hand.

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I almost took home these gilt banded glasses the other day.

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This white wire cage would make the perfect table base!

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The green window frames....perhaps a headboard for a twin bed in a little girl's room? And that gilt mirror!

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Dashes of mercury glass, some vintage, some new add a bit of sparkle. And there are pieces of coral, and antlers and vintage paintings....

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These chairs were particularly nice covered in an icy blue velvet.

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I spotted the interesting wicker table up above, and thought of countless possibilities....and then there was the Bergere...

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What a beautifully scaled mirror this was! And hiding below it , the green headboard....so pretty!

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So.....if you are in the neighborhood....or even if you are not....Le Jardin can be found at:

2598 21st Street

Sacramento, California 95818

And since there is no website quite yet....if you see anything you like, you can call:

916-739-6726

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Stop in a pick a few flowers!