Are you a mover around of things or a changer of furniture? For those decor, interior and furnishing junkies amongst us... I think you get my drift... I believe you know what I am talking about... I am most definitely a lover of change... in life and at home. I find it dull if I don't re-think our furniture and objects arrangement at least a couple of times a year... Mostly it's the objects because after a while furniture finds it's rightful place... and besides it is far too heavy... I have learnt through experience that when I am in 'moving mode' it is far better to do it myself or pay someone who doesn't know me... They have to listen to my just-another-inch-to-the-left talk... my darling doesn't... He is lovely but moving the house around on my decorative whim is not his idea of fun... The same could be said of hanging and re-hanging pictures... that is a sure fire way to create plenty of simmering tension... again, the whole two inches higher, one inch lower conversation is never a crowd pleaser when discussing home handy work... The problem is really all mine... because when I get these crazy ideas... I want to change or do or move asap... An impetuous perfectionist... that's me... a disastrous combination to live with if you prefer the status quo...
My latest idea concerns plates... I have a massive crush, have had for years, on the hand made white porcelain from the Astier de Villatte company in Paris. Their porcelain is delicate, entirely impractical if hand washing is not your thing... but nevertheless exquisite. Different shapes, sizes, decorative designs and glazes mean that the plates, bowls, cups and saucers can be mixed and matched together or used with other more colourful tableware if that is desired. The last time I was in Paris I snapped these photographs in their back room... I have promised myself one day that some or even many of these dishes will be mine... My count tallies at 6 cups and saucers so far...
You see my dream is this.... We have a large open breakfront armoire in our dining room... it was once part of the fixtures and fittings of a French haberdashery shop... the drawers held rolls of ribbon and trim and the open shelves, the bolts of fabric... It is without doubt one of my very favourite pieces of furniture in our home. (If you have my books you will see photographs of it in both...) At the moment it contains a collection of pewter plates... which look fine... but... when I saw this armoire in the back of the Astier de Villatte shop in Paris... well... I think you know what my immediate thoughts were... How fabulous would our black lacquered cupboard look if it were filled with a selection of these gorgeous plates? Breathtaking, dreamy, stunning.... a Roget Thesaurus full of superlative adjectives were causing an overly acquisitive urge to surface. I couldn't help but feel that that our pewter plates needed to take a break... a little holiday... or more like long service leave somewhere else in the house...
Rome wasn't built in a day and neither is a new set of china, so patience... my patience (how I hate being patient... it must be the total opposite to impetuous) is called for. Over time this porcelain will hopefully become my new collectible... and will take pride of place in our armoire... Did I mention that I have a weakness for white china? xv
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Vicki The Astier de Villatte porcelain is gorgeous, I love the mix of designs. Something else to dream about!
ReplyDeletexoxo
Karena
Art by Karena
I began collecting Astier de Vilatte many years ago and slowly add to it! We will be back to France this year after a long time. I am so happy to find something to bring back!
ReplyDeleteThank you for this lovely post!
Oh, so lovely! My dream is to have a large plate rack, but first I need a big kitchen so I can fit it in :(
ReplyDeleteTotally understand your crush on Astier de Villatte, Vicki.
I share your massive crush! I am in love and the older the better but I sprinkle in some new stuff too because I can't resist it! It might be more than a crush..it might be true love!
ReplyDeleteI sounds perfect Vicki! I love white plates too!
ReplyDeletexojoan
I think it will look lovely! Like you, my mom is always changing things around in her house. Every time I visit her (usually once a week or so), there's some new delight she's come up with, mixing around things she already has. I admire that. Once I get something in place, and I like it, it stays!
ReplyDeleteI mentioned in my comment on your last post that I'm going through my own collection of Fire King Jadeite and paring it down. I pray and hope I don't start a new collection anytime soon - there's no more cupboard space!
You can never go wrong with white...or French...beautiful...
ReplyDeleteLorraine
Heehee...I am not OCD but oooh, maybe just slightly when it comes to hanging pictures. My poor honey. This is why we now gallery hang nearly everything!
ReplyDeleteYes, good luck with your new collection. How fun would it be to weave it in with some of those gorgeous marbly pieces from Apt? Just a thought. ;)
Vicki, Retiring the pewter for the promise of Astier de Villatte sounds like the perfect look for your black haberdashery breakfront. One piece at a time... remember, slow but steady wins the race. Add their lovely porcelain to your birthday, christmas, valentines, easter, etc gift list!!!! Also, I am so happy you will be meeting with Carol G for tea, as you are both blogger favorites of mine. Looking forward to a post on your visit. ~Jen
ReplyDeleteDe tous les temps la vaisselle a eu une place d'honneur et votre publication perpétue cette fierté...
ReplyDeleteGros bisous
Yes, I do have that mover's twitch too! Every now and again it feels good to change things around and get an entirely fresh look, so I sympathise with your desire to fill that armoire with gorgeous white plates!
ReplyDeleteWhen the deed is done, please share some photos...
Ali x
A wand to magically reposition items around the home, including the heavy stuff, now that would be wonderful, and a maker of peace. As to the white porcelain, just like you collect your Christmas decorations, so too the Astier de Villatte.
ReplyDeleteHow pretty though your existing cups and saucers will be set out in your beautiful garden this coming spring. Sylvia
I love white dinner plates and a different set of dessert plates. I can add color depending on the seasons. China happens to be a lot of my friends weeknesss'. It has been snuck into the house on many an occasion. One of my friends has it under her bed LOL she has run out of room elsewhere!!!
ReplyDeleteKaren
Oh, I have the twitch, also! And the judgement to know that you are correct in doing it yourself or hiring...why provoke when you don't have to? I am living in the smallest home of mu adult life and there is not much moving around but I do lay awake conjuring up how to change...everything!
ReplyDeleteLove the white china that you must have more of...
Well Vicki,
ReplyDeleteYour family will have no trouble in thinking of birthday and Christmas presents now, will they ?!! I adore the china. I have only white china, similar to the above but a cheaper look a like !! haha XXXX
All white porcelain in a large open breakfront armoire is striking. I have also seen a collection of coloured antique porcelain with intricate patterns, to varying degrees, in an open breakfront armoire which was charming. Actually, you have the ability to style any room so it is appealing, regardless of the items on hand!
ReplyDeleteBonne semaine.
Love the bowl with the chaise on it!!
ReplyDeleteI need a breakfront too..
I'm a nut for white china, too. I have part of my collection displayed on a large antique pine hutch. It makes me happy every time I look at it. I'm also a bit obsessive about all-white bed and bath linens, as well. Kind of a "thing" with me. :-)
ReplyDeleteVicki,
ReplyDeleteAs I sat reading your post this morning I kept thinking, wait, how does Vicki know I'm guilty of the same thing? :-) Especially this line..."The problem is really all mine... because when I get these crazy ideas... I want to change or do or move asap"
I know your plate rack will be spectacular...can't wait to see it complete with your collection of white dishes.
Karen
Hi Vicki, There is only one way to deal with passions: go for them!!! Have a great day searching for more Astier de Villalette--the pieces will certainly appear when you search. xoxox Mary
ReplyDeleteOK busted! I adore to move things around too- thus the shop gives me that chance + so blessed am I to have found my calling -interiors. Divine,the white china. xxpeggybraswelldesign.com
ReplyDeleteThink of your dishes like clothes for the home. We need changes now and then.You work hard.....I say go for it.
ReplyDeleteI was delighted to see your books in the Ballard Design store in Atlanta. They fit in beautifully with their quality displays. I was surprised they did not allow photography in their retail store.
Getting out your books to see your armoire. Have a great day.
Oh my what timing you have in writing.
ReplyDeleteOver the weekend I mentioned a great idea to my darling husband, it was to move a large gilt framed mirror into the dining room opposite another gilt frame, they don't match in style but do in finish. He was horrified. The thing is, it was hung too high, by 3 or 4 inches (at my insistence) so now I found the solution. What a great idea to hire somebody, this way he won't fret and go on...or put it off.
My French aunt (who is 90 now) used to change her curtains and china every season! It was always lovely visiting her and seeing what she had done in her old Tutor house outside of NYC. Sadly she can't do much anymore, but I have those lovely memories.
Your white china is beautiful! My heart skipped a beat when I first saw this as I carried 2 plates and 2 cups of the same maker home from Italy with me -- sadly I broke the cups after several enjoyable years and gave away the plates--now wishing I'd kept them! Oh well, all the more reason to go back and keep collecting, right? I hope to see how your haberdashery piece looks filled with this stunning china!
ReplyDeletexo Mary Jo
Oh yes, and for the half of us who are constantly plotting & planning the next whim, the other half stand there scratching their heads, thinking, can't it just stay as it is?
ReplyDeleteMy cat has become so used to me moving furniture about that he now "furniture surfs" as my kids call it. When he sees me with a measuring tape, he leaps on the furniture being measured, with a "can we surf now" look. And woe betide anybody who removes him from said vehicle - as he learnt it is great fun to travel by furniture.
Vicki, that is just wonderful. I'd love to have one myself. I too am moving things around, it must be spring, slip covers also. I need help now, going to have surgery in a bit. I had an A heavy Armoire in my bedroom in Florida, Took 2 men to move it. Don't you try to do it. Love the porcelian. yvonne
ReplyDeleteDefinitely on my list of places to visit very, very soon!
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness.. Astier de Villatte is just one of my many weaknesses in the dish department of my life. When I first visited the store years ago I promised myself I would bring home something wonderful on each trip from them. A few years back I was able to tour their factory while picking up an order. It is an amazing thing to see how they hand make each piece and it made me appreciate them that much more. I have an ever growing collection that I am afraid to use with my little ones. I know I should not fear as they are replaceable, but they are so so beautiful. They look fantastic against the black cabinet in our dining room. I highly recommend it as a collection!
ReplyDeleteAll the best,
Christina
greige
Lucky me. My husband has the same madness for moving things around. That means I get to satisfy my desire to change things up as well as how someone to move pictures or furniture that extra inch without fear of marital discord.
ReplyDeleteThe collecting mania, well that is another things. Guess I will just need to sell in order to make room for more collections.
Best,
Lisa
Nice furniture.
ReplyDelete