But who wants to sleep while in Paris?

 

Last Sunday I went to St Ouen, the largest antique flea market in the world, to find some things for the apartment. I had my list:

Two or three doors.

A chandelier, or sconces for the bathroom, bedroom, and kitchen.

A low round table.

A base for the bathroom sink.

A bed head.

And as the saying goes when you want something you cannot find it, and when you aren't looking for it, it licks your face. I tried a reverse finding method and pretended I wasn't looking for the things I had listed. But all that did was distract my attention as I started looking at other things. I am easily distracted when it comes to antiques.

A day bed in worn-greenish-grey velvet and a gilded frame. The day bed would make an unpractical, uncomfortable sofa. Since the apartment has one bedroom I have been told that I should have a couch that makes into a bed for extra guests. I agreed with the sayers of such an idea. BUT to myself, I silently yelled, "Yuck! Sofas are not old, nor unpractical or uncomfortable." 

I think an old sofa is a way to go. 

Air mattress to the rescue when need be.

 

 

The decoy ducks in the iron urn caught my eye. Loved the originality of the decoys instead of flowers. I snapped a photo with my iphone. Later when I was on the bus coming back to the hotel I looked through my photos, and noticed the door behind the urn... Quack! Those decoys really fooled me. 

Mid day I abandoned the idea that I should pretend not to pay attention to my list.

 

 

 

The most lovely hand carved wooden clock face stared at me. Reminding me that time is ticking and I better get a move on to finding the needed things otherwise I will have to resort to NEW things. 

The kitchen is new, the bathroom in new, the floors are new... those things I agreed on for practicality, fuctionality, user friendly-ness... more so for cost and labor. Choices. It is all about choices. 

Today we unwrapped the tiles for the bathroom. Rough black marble is what it said on the box, and what we thought we ordered. Though inside the box was grey marble tiles.

We bought them months ago, when we thought the project would start in April. Too late to take them back, and too late to order new ones.

Choices. Grey is fine. Not perfect, but neither is my weight. Not something to be upset over... but if they had been yellow well I would have screamed, thrown up and I don't know what!

 

 

 

An antique armchair and stool covered in old rough linen, nail studded around the edges. I have seen this for the last ten years and I never grow tired of the look.

 

 

 

A plaster fragment from the top of a mirror.

Loved it. 

Walked on.

When you live in France and have as many brocantes around as there are, you learn to walk on or start a business.

I do a little of both. Mostly walk on. If I bought everything I saw I would have to have an orchard of money growing trees in my pocket and shirtless men driving trucks following me. Shirtless men or forget it!

 

 

 

Not on my list.

Not.

Walked on. 

Taking photos help.

 

A pair of iron statues holding lanterns. I am not sure of their age. But they sure were dandy.

So very decorative.

 

 

 

But this was my favorite, a potter's table with a column head.

It would have filled the bedroom. Who needs a bed!

It would have filled the kitchen! It is a table! Who needs a place to eat, err dine?

It would have filled the living room! But who wants to sleep while in Paris?

Choices are such a thrill kill!

I came home empty handed, and surprisingly very pleased that I didn't succumb to buying what wasn't on my list. 

Comments

[Ulla]

Oh Corey, How I want to go 'photo - fleaing' with you!!!

[Diogenes]

"...you learn to walk on or start a business." LOL I know what you mean. Love the sofa in the first photo. I'm sure I would have had a great time wandering the alleyways of St. Ouen with you!

[WR]

You are being such a good girl resisting all that beautiful old bounty. Keep up the mind set, you'll find that other stuff, the stuff you need, you'll see.

[Merisi in Vienna]

I vote against air mattresses! They remind me of church camp, where I was either rolling off them in my sleep or felt dizzy when I woke up. Since I am already in the confessional, I also admit that I like "old" sofas only when they have been stripped down to their bare bones and then rebuilt from the bottom up. No old horsehair for me. ;-)

And now I'll turn to the sinners corner and shall remain there until I feel my soul has been cleansed from sin or I hear a voice calling me. Whichever comes first.

[Rhonda]

That was the MOST satisfying photo fleaing trip EVER.
Sigh, I too have to walk past gorgeous pieces...never to be seen again, or will they? Makes life so much more interesting wondering, doesn't it?

[Julie Schaefer]

Corey, in France are antiques popular other than as an eclectic accent? Is the rest of France crazy for antiques or is new merchandise preferred?

[Ana]

I want to take the first train over to you and walk with you. I am a good window shopper, financial restraints are good for discipline. Please just say the word, are there any cheap hotels near you?'!!!!

[Debra]

Wow, wish I was there with you, so much eye candy . . . gotta get back.

[Marilyn]

I am proud of you for bringing pictures to share with us. Next time I am sure you will start finding things on the list.

[Mary]

Corey, I suspect that you could pass up the beauties of the premiere Marché aux Puces because the prices were just too high in comparison to your brocantes in the South of France, non?

And a "bed head?" Do you mean a "headboard?" I remember those days of living in France and speaking Franglais.

Write on!

[French la Vie]

Bo,jour Mary!
Oh la la, Bed head! Lol! Thanks for catching it. My Franglais is excellent, and my accent is divine. I am so blessed, some have only a verbal accent, where I have a written one too.

As for prices being more in Paris. I haven't found that to be true. Though they deliver and that is rare in the South!

Corey

[24/7 in France]

For once, I'll be on the other side of the flea market table this weekend - should be interesting from a different perspective!

[Clare]

I suggest you decide how many people your apartment can comfortably accommodate. Do you really want your cute little place strewn with strangers? (Friends are another matter of course.) Every extra person adds wear and tear over time. Maybe 2 people is perfect!

[Jody]

Corey,

The photos {and the objects in them} are pure eye candy...and not a shirtless worker in sight! Thank you for sharing your trip!

[jeanne stone]

What a wonderful place to go shopping in... all except for the lack of a MONEY ORCHARD. I have been only twice to paris, and just loved looking around like this. What fun, and hope that you find just the perfect items for your wonderfully evolving Paris Apartment. Looking forward to seeing this happening. Keeping my fingers crossed for you for the "right place, the right time, and the right price!"

[Teresa Young]

I am with you...sofas that make into beds are usually bulky and ugly. I think something like that would take away from the appeal of the place.

[labergerebasque]

Some things are less here (furniture), but others are more in abundance and less there (paintings and artwork)

[Peggy Braswell]

Stuff happens when you least expect it + You will find the items you are looking for. xxpeggybraswelldesign.com

[jeanie]

Oh, Corey, I feel like I've been there with you! My friend Jerry, who lives in Paris, is a great brocante-goer and is at the point where his wee apartment won't hold much more! Oh, to have unlimited space! Yes, I know what you mean about learning to walk or starting a business... I'm like that over here. How fun!

[La Contessa]

YOU DONE GOOD GIRLFRIEND!Everything you snapped at spoke to me!!!!!!!!