What's on my bedside table changes constantly... maybe because it's not very large and it has to hold all my reading and watching material... All the beauty bits are left on my dressing table... otherwise there would be no space at all... I am a bit of a lounger in bed... and if I were to tell the truth... I could laze around all day, cozy and comfy, in my bed and read... read, read and then read some more... I have also taken up the iPad habit... I don't know if this is good or bad... but I do like watching a film or browsing the net under the covers...
We found this pair of bedside tables in L'Isle sur la Sorgue, a small town about 20 minutes away from St Rémy de Provence, when we were restoring our farmhouse... I would have preferred something more generous... but I fell in love with these consoles, their original paintwork and pretty shape... not to mention the embossed shell motif on the front...They just seemed perfect for our bedroom...
What is on this bedside table of mine?
Always a pair of reading glasses... I'm lost without them...
A notebook to jot down ideas and thoughts...
My ipad and the cute animal print case that my daughter gave me for my birthday this year... Inside my Kindle is hiding...
Tissues in a white linen envelope..
An old glass jewellery box filled with sea pearls... and a porcelain saucer with the brooch and earrings I wore the night before...
Old frames with snaps of my children at varying ages...
A pewter mug with one of my eye masks...
The books...
from Deyrolle in Paris... Leçons des Choses... for the old fashioned nature and the illustrations...
Madame Bovary's Daughter by Linda Urbach... a creative follow up to the original Madame Bovary... one of my favourite French reads and... if you liked the style of The Paris Wife... you will enjoy this...
The Kindle edition... here...
the classics... Anne of Green Gables, The Secret Garden and Alice in Wonderland... I am trying to re-visit some of my childhood reading...
and a bunch of lilac from the garden....
What's on your beside table? What are you reading? Do tell... xv
Beautiful console tables. I can see why you fell in love with them. My favourite item on my bedside table is a small photo frame with very fond memories. Enjoy seeing your photos very much.
ReplyDeleteSo happy I can file the guilt about my bedside treasures and habits, since I feel a little bit French this morning the Vicki Archer way -as I am so content at the moment, snug in bed , my afghan hound right next to me, catching up on what's out there on Ipad. - only regret is that Apple does not support blogger on Ipad, can follow but not create new post- hence my bedside table is a little more crowded to include laptop. The rest is surprisingly very much the same, sans the beautifull lilacs....getting up NOW to add a touch from the garden. Have a lovely weekend ! Hugs&X Colette - Afrique du Sud
ReplyDeleteAt the moment a bunch of lilacs is dominating my bedside table! I love them! There're also a Kartell lamp, hand- and cuticle creams and books of course, a whole pile of them.
ReplyDeleteAt the moment I'm reading "Cabin no 6" a book by Rosa Liksom, a Finnish author who won Finlandia Prize by this book. It tells a journey done by train in the former Soviet Union. The trip starts in Moscow and continues through different cities to - don't know yet where!
Next book on the line is "The Marriage Plot" by Jeffrey Eugenides.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Tibs
Hi Vicki, When I was in France in January I managed to visit many of the Provençal towns you mention, including St Remy and L'Isle sur la Sorgue. I found a gorgeous silver tea set at an antique market in Graveson.. So jealous you can ship these several kilometres rather than several thousand kilometres. L x
ReplyDeleteI loved reading this very personal description of what you find important kind of like what's in your purse. Says a lot. Love my iPad too
ReplyDeleteLove the bedside table - love L'Isle sur la Sorgue.
ReplyDeletePar hasard I have a marble art deco clock that I bought during my last visit to L'Isle sur la Sorgue is sitting on my bedside cedar chest, which my husband painstakingly restored under my watchful eye. There is a 19th century, leather bound book of the Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam, an assortment of family photos, a clay bird my daughter lovingly made at the age of 6, a pencil and note pad, a soft-back publication titled “The Flea Market of France,” 2 Royal Copenhagen figurines that have been passed down through the family for 4 generations, my daughters curls from her first hair cut sitting in a piece of Wedgewood and my current read – “French Children Don’t Get Fat'.................you ask what was sitting beside my bed.
Bonne semaine.
Dear Vicki,
ReplyDeleteYour bedside table is so pretty.
I'm currently reading everything I can about the 19th century in Paris, including a selection of novels by Emile Zola like The Ladies Paradise.
I've linked you in my post today.
Best wishes for a happy weekend!
I don't think there is a bed side table large enough to house all my bits!
ReplyDeleteSame goes for the handbag scenario; everything is in there but the kitchen sink.
I do love your table and the lilac completes the vignette beautifully.
Joasia
Love the console but what are THOSE books...the red & white one and the pink one?
ReplyDeleteDo tell
Hi Vicki - I'm afraid my bedside table is a bit more utilitarian than yours. What's on mine? Reading glasses (of course), the latest book or two, cream for my dry heels which I'm supposed to apply every night but rarely do, a phone, a lamp and a collection of Tinkerbell figurines (don't ask).
ReplyDeleteI will spare you the endless list of things that are crammed on, into and under my tiny, tiny table but every single thing means something specific to me. Your console is so lovely and I too am taken with the shell motive. You most likely already know this but just in case...as with the shell motive on our dining chairs and our former fireplace, the choice of the shell was to honor the pilgrimage to Compostella. Certainly we see a bit of it in Provence as one of the main roads for the pilgrimage starts in Arles!
ReplyDeleteDear Vicki,
ReplyDeleteSuch fun to have a glimpse of your bedside table! Right now, my bedside table is a small bookcase (always stocked with my favorites) and a small lamp, a shadowbox I made, a flashlight that looks like a black cat, some tiny ceramic figurines including a frozen charlotte, a vase from the table of our wedding reception and my favorite lip gloss, Sweet Cream by Tokyo Milk (kept in its box so I can see the glittery cupcake on the side) live there. Oh, and of course, room for my glasses to rest at night! I just finished two interesting books, one an old novel by Dauphne du Maurier called "The Scapegoat" and a novel from last year called "13 rue Thérèse" by Elena Mauli Shapiro. How fun that you are revisiting some classics from childhood! I see you have a beautiful volume of "Alice"! I am in love with my edgier version illustrated by Camille Rose Garcia!
Wishing you a lovely day,
Betty
I m with you Vicki on larger bedside table. I use a 52" chest and pretty much have the identical things on mine. The drawers used to be filled with books I had read but gave the all away since I am now on e-reader. Lounging in bed reading and watching movies on my laptop...............I like it too much! Daisy and I Watched EatPrayLove (again) last night while it rained outside and since the boys are away. I love my bed! But I think I need better pajamas since I am taking to this habit so well. It is my cosy spot. Much love XO
ReplyDeleteBon jour Vicki. I have just taken out The Tale of the Rose (The Love Story Behind the LIttle Prince) by Consuelo de Saint-Exupery (wife of Antoine) from the Library. I have not yet succumbed to the iPad or Kindle, and am a huge Library devotee. I'm sure I would be instantly seduced by them if given the change. Allors. I have never read The Little Prince, but will certainly pick it up after I devour this beautifully written memoir by the author's wife. My best, Lisa
ReplyDeleteGorgeous consoles Vicki and I love all you books (can't live without my glasses either)
ReplyDeleteLeslie
Hi Vicki
ReplyDeleteI love your table and holds all you need. I have about 8 books on my table and I must reduce the number. Some are for colour and the others are my reading. Lavender hand cream
Pen and paper
Have a glorious weekend
Love your table, of course. I have a pile of books including "Let the Great World Spin," "The Tiger's Wife" and "A Visit from the Goon Squad." I decided it was time to catch up on modern authors and I love all three of them. This summer I intend to return to Flaubert and some others. I also have Newsweek which has become truly excellent. It's short and very smart.
ReplyDeleteThen I have rose cream in a jar, and a spray bottle of Melvita's eau de toilette for homme which is a little mysterious and lovely. I'm going to redo my bedroom. My house is new but I painted the room a gray that looks horrible at night, more like a military gray-drab green. Ugh! In the meantime I'll spray away and read away!
Have a lovely weekend.
lovely note ... gray is very difficult to pick, I went through 8 tests before I found a "warm" one, but not too warm ... good luck.
DeleteLinen envelope, I will do this! I have just started writing in a small journal I keep by my bed. My problem is the tv and dvd changers, lol.
ReplyDeleteYou table is stunning as always, and thank you for sharing.
Teresa
xoxo
It looks beautiful!
ReplyDeleteStunning tables. Any table with a marble top is divine. I need a 4 drawer chest. I try to keep the clutter down but it tends to accumulate on its own. Like wire hangers. I have a lovely Victorian style frosted pink lamp with crystals, Meyda Tiffany. Two photo's, one of a stunning sunset over Lake Ontario where we vacationed some time ago and a very special photo of my second son's First Holy Communion. He is standing with his Older Brother, who was the alter boy at the service, and they are standing at the little May alter. An alabaster heart shaped box with a Vatican Rosary inside. One of my most cherished items. My clock radio is an essential, a glass of water with an antique handkerchief on top, and the current read 1Q84.
ReplyDeleteAdored at peek at your bedside console(which is beautiful). What do I have on mine-my reading glasses,night cream,fabulous lamp + latest book-The Invisible Way!xxpeggybraswelldesign.com
ReplyDeleteOn my sidetable sits a copy of Flaubert's Madame Bovary, a parisien bookmark, a notebook and pen for any ideas that might jump out, a l'Occitane candle "provencal landscape" and a half empty delicate noritake tea cup...I love Sunday mornings....
ReplyDeleteVicki, you're so talented in bringing forth your readers ... I enjoyed reading every comment, and always get ideas. Lovely bedside table, mine is a smallish antique chest. Just a reading lamp, alarm clock, eyeglasses, framed photo of my neice and nephew, a battery lantern, and always a couple summary books about classical music and classical fiction. Always "The Book That Changed My Life", great short blips from famous authors. Oh, and the current very simple crossword puzzle. (shamefully the white noise machine, it's freaky quiet here). Best, Karen
ReplyDeletei have complete bedside envy - mine consists of a phone and an alarm clock! i think that is telling me that work plays too big a role in my life!! xx
ReplyDeleteIf you are a lover of Anne then you're a kindred spirit. :)
ReplyDeleteVicki love your bedside console. You have the most wonderful taste in decorating a home. I need you here.
ReplyDeleteYour bedside table is beautiful! (May I add so is the lovely chair beside it!) My bedside table remains pretty uncluttered (my dressing table less so.:) On my nightstand there is a glass lamp with long prisms, a vase of flowers, my little brass clock, and a dish with two little pieces of jewelry. This was a lovely post!
ReplyDeleteJennelise
Votre bouquet de lilas semble bien se plaire sur ce charmant chevet...
ReplyDeleteUne très jolie photo.
gros bisous
I love the shell motif on your bedside table, Vicki! And those lilacs--my favorite spring scent. My bedside is always changing, too, depending on what I'm reading. I LOVE that you are rereading The Secret Garden and Alice in Wonderland. They are two of my favorites, and I've taught them many times in children's literature classes. Now I've just added Madame Bovary's Daughter to my must-read list! Beautiful post. xoxo Gigi
ReplyDeleteL'Isle sur la Sorgue is a fun place to visit...and you discovered a gem, and beautifully adorned it...
ReplyDeleteLove this bedside table and the amazing treasures on it. And Anne of green gables - made me cry as a kid (and now I guess ;O)
ReplyDeleteHappy weekend
Ax
Beautiful and feels so loved!! I have a commode in our bedroom from L'Isle sur la Sorgue!! Sweet shopping memories!
ReplyDeleteIt's a lounge in bed kind of day here.... so that's exactly what I'm doing!
happy Sunday!
joan
Vicki,
ReplyDeleteMy bedside table is very small, so I don't have much":
a small lamp
a mirror leaning against the wall
a small framed photo of my sister and me against said mirror
then an even smaller very old wedding photo of a family member from 1930 (it's just so romantic!)
my leather sketch book, a gift from friends who went to Italy last year
current book that I am reading, The Hunger Games (sitting under the leatehr sketch book)
small pitcher of lilacs from my garden
thats it!
xx
callie
An intimate look into your life. Kudos to your bedside reading, My bed side table is littered with journals, note books, pages ripped from magazines and books, books, books.
ReplyDeleteRight now The Hare With Amber Eyes by Edmund de Wall, Bonne Femme Cookbook by Wini Maranville, and The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern. What's under my bed is probably twenty more books waiting to be read. Security is having an unread book close by.
Virginia
On my bedside table: lilacs, reading glasses, books, books, more books and magazines... I also just love lounging in bed. A little jet lagged, I have been waling up at 4am and enjoying every minute.
ReplyDeleteHi Vicki,
ReplyDeleteBeautiful console tables much more elegant than my bedsides.On my bedside my ipad of course and a few books, The Road by Cormac McCarthy, Stasiland by Anna Funder and Paris , a guide to the city's creative heart ( I'm off there in May) plus some jewells in a pot and a bowl of Iceburg roses.
What a great idea to share Vicky! such a beautiful upholstery fabric on your chair too, the side table is stunning, always love marble tops and really cute how yours is crowded(: I am a freak for organizing things and putting them away...read on Ipad a few things at a time... and so mine is kind of empty...is that bad? should I change that? hmmm, i would love small frames of my son on it...thanks for giving me ideas, will figure someting out!
ReplyDeletehugs Zaneta
HI Vick, and what a beautiful bedside table you have. I love this pic, such a beautiful colour palette.. Carla xx
ReplyDeleteLovely Vicki, You would find my kindle with both classics and current book, especially French inspired and recommended by YOU! Reading glasses, hand creme, A lovely lamp, a pretty notepad and pen!
ReplyDeleteI am featuring Designer and Paper Artist Anita Rivera on my site!
xoxo
Karena
Art by Karena
I adore Deyrolle's Lecons des Choses, and can clearly recall "Le The" for instance, which hung on the wall of our French school in Texas.
ReplyDeleteAlso, Anne of Green Gables was my heroine as a child -- still is, as a matter of fact.
What a beautiful space Vicki.
Bisous, Alcira
nerochronicles.com
What a gorgeous bedside table you have! My bedside tables: I was out walking one night and saw some people cleaning out their garage - they put two old curvy bedside tables with deep drawers on the curb. I RAN home, got my truck and drove back to load those things up! I have all my necessities in the drawers. On the top, I have reading glasses too, a wooden lamp, a Fire King Jadeite cup that held the pumpkin seeds I ate while reading yesterday, a couple of rocks I picked up in Ireland, a candle from Notre Dame in Paris...
ReplyDeleteand books, books, books! Right now I'm obsessed with Marilyn Monroe (delicate, tragic figure) and am 150 pages into her 600+ page biography (by Donald Spoto). I'm also reading "Fragments" - collected writings of Marilyn's.
Vicki,
ReplyDeleteLove your list of essentials but really, really love the lamp. So pretty.
Karen
Love the photograph. Quelles belles couleurs. Et vous avez bon goût en ce qui concerne la littérature...
ReplyDeleteScribere Est Agere
Le temps qui passe
Love your ideas!! I would love if you link something to the French party on Mondays!
ReplyDeleteXo
Isabelle
http://lechateaudesfleurs.blogspot.com
Vicki, I didn't realize Isle Sur la Sorgue (spelling?) is in St. Remy! I've never been and am feeling quite remiss knowing I spent a whole day there and missed the best flea market in the world. I am pleased to see lilacs on your desk. I just did up the most luscious bouquet of multi colored lilacs in my entry. The smell has kept me in a good mood for three days! Shiree'
ReplyDeleteOh I do envy you your glorious lilacs!
ReplyDeleteFor me, it is some favourite books, favourite photos, reading glasses and roses just bloomed.
My bedside table is from IKEA: it is a lovely white garden table. On it I have my bedside lamp/alarm clock, tissues, body lotion (need to buy a pretty bottle to decant it into) and a stack of books that includes: STYLE EVOLUTION by Kendall Farr, 40 OVER 40 by Brenda Kinsel, ACTIVE DREAMING by Robert Moss. And my reading glasses, a pen and Moleskine soft notebook, lip balm and my phone. Minimal: because the table itself is only about 18" round. I have a jar full of white carnations on my dresser, across from the foot of my bed.
ReplyDeleteLove your beautiful bedside table Vicki, the photos and trinkets are so pretty--I love to surround myself with those things too. Wishing I had some pretty bright books like yours--I keep mine hidden in the mirrored cupboard below because my pile can get a bit high!
ReplyDeletexo Mary Jo