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17.5.14

Story of a fancy lady: Antique French Cabinet

Do you believe in serendipity? Love at first sight?  I am a firm believer in those two.  That is kind of how I met the fanciest girl I know.  I hope you know I am not talking about a real person...she is, of course, this beauty.




Late 1800s-early 1900s French cabinet.  Lets all take a moment and soak in its beauty.  I found her in the most unexpected place at the most perfect time.  Aurora and I were driving around town going from flea market to flea market trying to find a small cabinet that would fit in my tiny hallway to be used as a linen closet.  Of course we couldn't find any that I love.  So on my way home, I decided to stop by Fancy That Antiques near my house.  I have driven past by it thousands of time but never thought to go in.  The moment I walked into this place, I almost died.  Imagine me...but as a shop.  Beautiful antiques, architecture salvages, paintings, costume jewelries...you name it, they have it.  I told the owner, Christian, I would totally move into the store. I literally walked around the place with my hand over my heart because I thought I was going to have a heart attack. Then I found her...hidden behind boxes of antique light fixtures.


Just breathtakingly beautiful...a little piece of forgotten history waiting to be loved and adored despite all of her delicious imperfections.


You know how I love my chippy and time worn pieces.





And look at those legs.  I can't even...





Beautiful details on the glass.




This is probably the first time I have brought home a piece and love it so wholeheartedly the way it is.  Right now I have all of my shabby vintage china in it.  What do you think?  Fluffy white towels or vintage china?  After I brought it home, the girls decided to make it into their shoe closet.  Those are some fancy chicks.  I am in trouble with those two.




I can't wait to go back to the shop and take lots of picture for you ladies.  The whole place is just filled with so many amazing things.  Check out Fancy That Antiques's facebook page for some pictures.  I am hoping to go to Brimfield Antique show tomorrow.  Of course there will be a post about it with lots of delicious inspirations if I end up going.  Wish me luck.  It is a dangerous place.  : )


Love,
Victoria


Linking up with:
http://modvintagelife.blogspot.com/
http://shabbyartboutique.com/
http://boogieboardcottage.blogspot.com/
http://www.savvysouthernstyle.net/
http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com/
http://rootedinthyme.blogspot.com/
http://elizabethandco.blogspot.com/
http://ivyandelephants.blogspot.com/
http://www.findingsilverpennies.com/
http://missmustardseed.com/

32 comments:

  1. Victoria, it's perfectly beautiful! I fall in love with furniture too. xoxo

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    1. Thank you, Su. It was very hard not to fall for this one.

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  2. It's beautiful and I totally think it should be the girlies shoe closet:) Or, since you're the mom, fill it with towels and linens!

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    1. Isn't it? Right now it has all of my vases but I think it will probably be a linen closet.

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  3. An incredible beautiful piece...I would keep your beautiful china in!!!
    hugs

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    1. Thank you, Maria. I know you have the most beautiful collections of shabby china.

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  4. I love it too, Victoria! I believe that fancy girls need fancy things, we don't want to stop the decor diva within! LOL The piece is fab however you decide to use it. Please share it with us at WIW.
    Hugs,
    Patti

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    1. Thank you, Patti. I shared it with you ladies at WIW. There are too many fancy things going on in our household...though there really is no such things as too much fancy, is there?

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  5. THAT is beautiful. I laughed out loud when I read that you found it behind stuff. My normal thrift store haunts swear that I can spot a leg, a corner, a detail of something buried in 10 years of crap they then have to move to get it out. Every time. Even once in a Chinese import warehouse. I found a Mandarin piece under all kinds of .. ehhhh... stuff. Evidently you and I have "The Eye."

    Enjoy this piece. It it's age, it's now absolutely one of a kind!

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    1. Christine, I am the queen of finding craps behind craps. lol. I think it is easy for me because I have a very specific taste and I spot things from miles away.

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  6. Hi Victoria, oh yes as is it should be. Your so smart to leave it alone, I may not tell someone else this advice but as for the look of your home it has to stay as it is for a time or two until it inspires something else from you.

    I am not sure it's a great linen cabinet due to the opening and closing of it often and it's wear to it...but as a china closet I would drill from the outside frame added secure shelving in it and support it with trims of wood, putty those wholes on the outside next to the class it really won't hurt the piece only stabilize it and add more room for more beauty.

    The china looks great in it, also you could fill it with a collection of floral vases and bud vases, in the girls room filled with dance wear, and framed photos, or a cabinet with books, who cares what's in it?.....
    It looks fabulous empty! and a piece you just want to let it tell you what it wants to be and what it wants to hold.

    Cannot wait to see it in its place, finished with its arranged pieces, standing alone demanding full attention with the beauty it gives off.

    I hope it was a great price, it makes a find like this that much more exciting next to free or an alley find.
    It's a piece to love, and you keep inspiring us with the best of what you find and how you design.

    Xx
    Dore

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    1. Thank you, Dore. I think I will put another shelve in there. Right now it is in my hallway that has no natural light and nothing going on. I do enjoy walking past by it and just enjoy its beauty. I got it for an amazing price. Now onto more treasure hunting!

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  7. What a great find Victoria! I understand why you fell in love with it and I am glad it is going toy our home were it will be appreciated and loved!

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    1. It truly is one of my favorite finds. I am hoping it will last at least one month in my home with my two monkeys who think peeling off old appliques is a fun project.

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  8. Its perfect the way it is! I see linens being stored in it, more simple whites to show off the beautiful moldings that have seen better days.

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    1. I agree, Amy. I am thinking white towels and linens...maybe sachets of lavender and pretty soaps.

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  9. She's enchanting, Victoria. And absolute perfection in your home. Love your papered wall behind her as well!
    Hugs & happiness,
    Lin

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    1. Thank you, Lin. The vintage book paper wall is one of my favorite projects. I used dictionary pages so I like to cook and memorize words. : )

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  10. I absolutely ADORE this cabinet, Victoria!!! I would never have been able to leave it behind. What a fabulous find that is perfect for your lovely home!!! The details are gorgeous!
    Mary Alice

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    1. It is the details that got me, Mary Alice. The whole place was filled with such interesting pieces.

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  11. Victoria - It is such a great piece, and totally your style. I would keep the china in it. It deserves to be displayed in your home where it will get the most attention. I heard so much about Brimfield Antique Show. You are so lucky to be close by, but I know what you mean that it could be dangerous!!!!

    Mary @ Orphans With Makeup

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    1. I swear this piece totally represents everything I love, Mary. Though I need to figure out how to keep all the appliques from falling off. A hundred years old cabinet+two toddlers=disaster. I live 20 mins from Brimfield and I go two to three times a year. I didn't go last weekend but I will definitely make it there at least once this summer. It is a great eye candy place but everything is very expensive.

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  12. She's incredibly beautiful - love!!

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  13. Victoria, I came back for another look! And to share with a visiting friend of mine who does not blog... She loves it as well...I noticed your comment on keeping the icing on the cake intact (trim work, embellishments etc.) well I use Gorilla WOOD Glue on everything and it will hold for another 100-200 years plus, it's a big enough bottle to last and about $3.99 at Walmart! (Cheaper there)
    If a piece loosens up or falls off just glue back on and hold the piece in place with some masking tape, you will never get if off again unless you chip it away breaking it for good :)

    I love that is looks as if the trim was all taken off and someone pieced pieces of it back in place :)
    Have fun with it, and maybe place it in less of a foot traffic area so not to get bumped into, I bang and bump into all my stuff Yikes!!

    See you soon.
    Xoxo
    Dore

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  14. Victoria, I came back for another look! And to share with a visiting friend of mine who does not blog... She loves it as well...I noticed your comment on keeping the icing on the cake intact (trim work, embellishments etc.) well I use Gorilla WOOD Glue on everything and it will hold for another 100-200 years plus, it's a big enough bottle to last and about $3.99 at Walmart! (Cheaper there)
    If a piece loosens up or falls off just glue back on and hold the piece in place with some masking tape, you will never get if off again unless you chip it away breaking it for good :)

    I love that is looks as if the trim was all taken off and someone pieced pieces of it back in place :)
    Have fun with it, and maybe place it in less of a foot traffic area so not to get bumped into, I bang and bump into all my stuff Yikes!!

    See you soon.
    Xoxo
    Dore

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  15. Oh your new cabinet is breath taking and don't let the girls use it as a shoe cabinet unless they are all Louis Vuitton shoes LOL
    You should put your vintage china pieces in it for a while then use for towels

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    1. haha. They were very quick about it. I brought the cabinet in and went outside to let the dogs out and they have all of their shoes in by the time I came back in.

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  16. This is beautiful. Do you plan on fixing it up? Great find!

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    1. Oh Brittany, I don't know what to do with it. It is so beautiful and fragile. Every time a little piece falls off, I just glue it back on.

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  17. What a gorgeous golden piece. Isn't it funny how these things turn up just when we need them? This piece looks like it has a whole story to tell. The chippy textures are really wonderful.

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    1. Rhissanna, I have this funny thing where every time I think of something I really want and I find it. It only happens with furniture though. This piece definitely have a lot of story to tell.

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  18. Oh Victoria, she is more than divine and SO you! I can just imagine the palpitations you had when you saw her waiting there for you. It's the adrenaline rush that we all get when we know we have found true treasure.

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