Charming Paris Shop: Au Petit Bonheur de la Chance

About three weeks ago I took a trip to Paris for Easter. We had the most beautiful weather and all the colors seemed so saturated. The entire city was blooming. It was a perfect introduction to this lovely city for my little 10-month old, who enjoyed most the baguettes!

I found this lovely shop called Au Petit Bonheur de la Chance, (13 Rue St. Paul) with a million vintage treasures picked out over time: everything from unused 1950's school notebooks and erasers to silk ribbon and hatpins. The owner has an impressive collection of colorful vintage latte bowls from the 1940's and 1950's, kitchen tins and stacks and stacks of antique cream and red table linens. The way things are displayed is beautiful- everything is easy to find, and despite the shop's small size, pretty easy to see. You must visit if you get a chance! I discovered the shop from this lovely blog. (The gorgeous photos were taken by my husband.)

Little bird chandeliers: Mathieu Challieres

I came across these beautiful light fixtures made by French company Mathieu Challieres on the blog Famille Summerbelle. I love these bright little birds in illuminated cages. I'd love one in my study (if I had a study, that is.) And the apples! Wouldn't that be a fun fixture for a kitchen?

Delightful home of Marina Coriasco

I have been loving these photos of stylist Marina Coriasco's home, shown in Elle Interior (Norway) in December 2008. About that living room- I never have thought I could live in a loft-like open area, because unless you are a sparse decorator, it might tend to look messy. But here, I think she's achieved a good division of the space, with the areas being well-defined, yet everything blends visually without chaos. It looks livable to me.

The details in the bedroom are also lovely. I only wish there were more of these so we could further explore her home. These are taken by the talented photographer, Birgitta Wolfgang Drejer.

Vignettes

Some people have a talent for creating vignettes of things that fit together visually. I look at these and wonder what ideas went into creating the scene and how the objects were chosen- for their similarities or maybe their dissimilarities, such as the lace plastic modern basket beside an aged and worn scrapbook of lace doilies beside it. Vignettes are often a really personal collection of things that create a mood, which is why they appeal to me. I love seeing an assemblage of little favorites, sentimental objects or family photographs in the home- on a desk, bedside table or shelf. (photos: top two from stylist Katie Sellers; UK Country Living; Country Home magazine; photos 4, 5, 7, 8 and 9 from stylist Stephanie Hanes)

The comfort of a lovely bed

Don't you just love bedrooms like this? I could just fall right in to one of these beds. Simple and comfortable but not "done"- love these. (photos in order: top and fifth photo from stylist Twig Hutchinson; 2nd - 4th photos- marie claire maison; the blog absolutely beautiful things, photographer debi treloar)

Dining room chairs

I've been looking for dining room chairs for the longest time. My table is a very old weathered "farmhouse-type" table of light-colored wood. Currently I have mismatched chairs of darker wood but the look isn't working at all- probably because I don't like the chairs individually.
I love some of the classic Thonet bentwood chairs I've seen recently (those in the 2nd photo of this group are my favorite), however they are so expensive. (photos from domino and the Provence home of this blogger's grandmother)



I've just aquired a set of 4 chairs that look like Tolix chairs- kind of like these above, but with a steel finish, and I'm thinking of painting them. (this photo from coco+kelly)

living etc.

from viva terra

photo from diana vinoly interiors

living etc.

The colorful Eames chairs seem a great match for almost any dining table, but it is a look that has been done to death, I'm afraid! I'm still tempted to use black and white ones. (photos from the home of AB Chao via apartmenttherapy.com; the home of Heather Frazier on apartmenttherapy.com)




These white Bertoia chairs look lovely with this white weathered wood table, especially in such a sunny room! (photo from Jed Johnson)

I like the mismatched look here, but to make it work, I think either everything else in the room needs to be sparse and serene (like this one) or the room should be really spacious. (living etc.)

I also think that the dining chairs matter very little if the kitchen / dining space is this great. (photos: nadia tolstoy's home on apt therapy; domino magazine)