Estate Sale: When Glamour Stands Still

Often times an estate sale is the result of an unfortunate death of an elderly person, or due to the fact that they’ve had to give up the home they’ve always known to be taken care of elsewhere. I feel very privileged for the opportunity to enter somebody’s home and go on a treasure hunt through their belongings, although something about it makes me also feel guilty, as though I’m invading their privacy and taking away part of their memories. They can rest assured though that anything I purchase will be treasured.

On a recent weekend bargain hunt, my family and I came across an estate sale in a home where time stood still. It was very clear that the woman of this home was very stylish and probably a meticulous homemaker in her day. Unfortunately she passed away about 15 years prior to her husband. Gosh, it makes me so sad thinking about it. Anyhow, it appeared that he was probably not too mobile and didn’t do much, if any, cleaning during the years since her passing. Nor had there been any renovations (notice the shag carpet and mirrored walls). This woman had great taste though. I can just imagine the finest of cocktail parties taking place in  her home. I was told that she made all of the window treatments, had her bedroom dressers custom made and decorated the house herself.

In the kitchen: yellow, black and white (are you thinking Kelly Wearstler?). Her style: Hollywood Regency meets French Provincial with a kiss of Chinoiserie.

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I love the yellow cabinets with the black scalloped trim at the top and the French trim detail on the doors. Surely they could use a fresh coat of paint and new fixtures, but the color combo was fab. And what about those window treatments…aren’t the darling? Notice the hardware with the fleur-de-lis.

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You may not be able to tell in the photos, but the wallpaper needs to be replaced. However, it would be beautiful if replaced with another black & white damask or trellis print.

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Here is an example of the detail that she put into her work. This is the pull on the shade in the kitchen (not sure what the metal piece hanging from it is). A kiss of chinoiserie.

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Here are another set of window treatments that she made. There was this set in the dining room and another in the living room. They were probably too yellowed and old to come out good in a cleaning, but they sure would be great to duplicate.

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Some French Provincial furniture in the second bedroom. I’m guessing it might have belonged to her daughter at one time perhaps. I think it would be so darling to update with some paint (and rearrange the dresser drawers, of course). In fact, shortly before we visited this estate sale, I bought my daughter a very similar desk, which I am in the process of upcycling (more to come on this). I also bought two mirrors from this room (more to come on those, too).

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I really liked this painting that they had (sorry about taking out your eye with that bright flash). I’m kicking myself now for not buying it.

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Last, but not least, my favorite piece. I just love this dresser/bedside table. There were two of these and one low wide one (would have been a perfect place to store shoes because it was really low to the ground). I was told that she had these custom made. I almost went back and bought them for my dream boudoir, but I wasn’t sure I would be able to get the yellow out of the laminate. When the time comes though, and I do have my dream boudoir, I do intend to replicate these.

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