Adding Age

I adore antiques.  I love the weight and quality of English silver, the rich patina of French case goods, and the craftsmanship of Japanese folk art (my beckoning cats), to mention a few.  I admire the unique and original designs that make many antiques one of a kind.  I'm drawn to items that have survived the years, to still be appreciated today.  And I'm fascinated by the history we can only imagine--of all the previous owners who've used, handled and cared for these items.  They're ready-made heirlooms, and I get to be their caretaker for a short time.  But mostly, I love the hunt and the serendipitous discoveries.

So, many of my furnishings and accessories are vintage and antique.  But I also wanted to integrate some pieces with age into the structure of the house.

The first antique you'll come upon is the French front door.  It has a decorative iron grate, an opening glass window and a complicated handle mechanism--with no actual indoor handle.  

Remedying this will take some ingenuity.  

I have a picture of a kitchen where old leaded-glass windows were used for the cabinet doors--it's stunning.  I bought these two old leaded windows that will be used for cabinets in the bar--with exterior windows behind them--so they can be seen through.  

I also had this small leaded window made by an artist for an accent in the cottage.

                   

I've purchased several antique pieces to have made into vanities in the bathrooms.  

This old dough bin will be a sink in a powder room. 

I've bought a couple old fire surrounds--which have proved difficult to use, 

due to code restrictions.  This copper and Portuguese tile one is for the master bedroom.

I'm collecting quite a few vintage and antique light fixtures to use in the house.  

These are French, nickel-plated Andre Arbus sconces from the 1930s.

I bought a number of antique fire backs that I'll have affixed in some of my fireplaces.  

But I'm having one set into the stucco on the chimney of my covered patio.

I have a couple limestone fountains and very old stone troughs 

I plan to incorporate into the garden.  

And I have a couple antique wrought iron items for the outside of the house.  

The first is a semi-circle ornament that will be attached to one of the chimneys.

And finally, I couldn't resist this small iron gate with my initials on it.  

I don't know how I'll use it, but it was obviously meant for me.