Brocante o holic


For the Love of French Antiques

For the love of French Antiques

French Husband had barely parked the car at the brocante when I jumped out.

Having the brocante bug is uncontrollable. It grabs you and pulls you wherever antiques can be found.

Is there a cure? God, I hope not. If there is I am running far from it.

As soon as my eyes fell upon the thickly painted, white-ish grey cupboard/buffet, I knew the brocante bug would begin to boil.

Why couldn’t I have the shoe bug, or the candy bug, or the magazine bug, or the makeup bug? Why do I have the furniture sized brocante bug? 

Looking over the whitish-grey cupboard/buffet piece, I knew it was a perfect fit. The height and length were ideal for the kitchen, and it would fit against the wall perfectly—like a silk glove on a hand—if only there weren’t already an armoire there, that is.

French Antique Kitchen

Have you ever done that, mentally start moving things around in your home so the something you want will work? Usually, I have an utter mental gymnastic of moving every thing right, left, up, down, inside out and backwards to make thing work. Today my mental gymnastics went like this:

I could sell my armoire. That was the only option.

I stared at the one of a kind beauty and whispered, “Bad bad brocante bug!” It didn’t even blink, that nasty broacante bug, poking at me.

To make matters worse, next to the cupboard/buffet piece were six dining room chairs. Caned seats, grayish color, late 1800s, perfect condition.

I do not need another chair.

Now here is the ticker… the chairs all six of them cost less than one chair at Ikea.

That is the biggest pain of all: When I find antiques in good condition, lovely patina, authentic, under price and DO NOT NEED THEM, nor have room.

Wait a minute… I could fix things to the ceiling?!

My name is Corey and I am a brocante o holic.

I kissed the cupboard/piece and the chairs goodbye, then wished I didn’t need to drop five pounds otherwise I would have some big salty fried delicious thing.



Comments

7 responses to “Brocante o holic”

  1. Jeannie Evans-Van Hoff

    This made me laugh out loud. My heart also skipped a couple of beats, and I was grateful that it was in France and not down the street. Last weekend was my birthday. The tradition is to go to my favorite thrift shops and antique stores. Not quite France, just an arid little town in the Washington State desert. Hubby and I walked in, Judy greeted us by name and wished me a happy birthday. You know you have a problem when the store owner not only knows your name, but your birthdate. I went one way, Carl the other. He then went out to wait in the car. Many minutes later, I came out lugging a big wardrobe suitcase and a medium-sized metal pie safe with its original weird green paint. He laughed and said, I knew when I saw that pie safe, it was coming home. I do rearrange rooms to try and fit a new find in before purchasing. Sadly, we live in a very small ranch house; every new purchase means I have to find a home for something else. You aren’t alone, Corey!

    1. You made me laugh with the dealer knows your birthdate! Happy Belated birthday! It sounds like you found the perfect gift(s)

  2. Barbara Coursey

    Sooo true! Recently had the same experience at a consignment sale! Wanted two small tables that I have no room for but loved!! My husband even tried to help me find room ..alas had to say goodbye. Hopefully they found a home that will love them

    1. Kindred « jolies »

  3. This post made me laugh too! It is so me – I’ve lived this moment so many times. And I love that gray cupboard too…the finish is great.

  4. Ann of Avondale

    That gray cupboard would have been great! Oh well, next time. I have the book O’ holic bug with spiritual books. The last church event I went to, I talked to myself and said no more books, say NO! But I went straight to the book area and came home with 6 books! I have a year to read them, then I will donate them back.

    1. Donating is the key!

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