
- 24 Hours in The Dutch Kitchen – Your 24.com
- Best Capital Boutiques (Edinburgh) – Planet Eye
- Out and About Day Trips Near London – Europe Up Close
Realizing for the first time the consequences he faced as a result of not sharing in the coordination of our international move, he was given an answer that would define nearly a decade of expatriate life, “As an expat, Europe is now my playground. A person’s home should reflect not only who they are, but where they’ve been and where they’re going.” By bringing only our favorite possessions, I gave us room to grow into the people we’d become through living abroad.
Needing a table on which to dine, as well as the china to set on it, we began searching the flea markets of Europe, letting our travel choices dictate our décor. “Darling,” I rang my husband’s office one day, “We need a buffet and I’ve just read an article on the selection of antique side boards available in the Costa Blanca. Shall we go to Spain this Easter to see the procession and to stop by an excellent source for richly carved chestnut chests?” Weekends were passed flea marketing in the French countryside as we filled our home and stomachs while sampling the specialties of the regions. As our waistlines expanded, we’d return to 6eme Parisian apartment with a shabby chateau canapé that would groan when sat upon and Napoleon III side tables lacquered and adorned with mother of pearl embellishments.
When we moved to Holland, Belgium became our favorite getaway as it brought back memories of France with its abundance of French antiques, but better Belgium prices. Trips across Germany have filled our home with the type of knick knacks we never knew we needed until they completed a tableau. While visits to see friends living in Switzerland resulted in us starting a new collection of antique globes found at their many brocantes and led us to purchasing a politically incorrect vintage fur throw straight from a chalet at a bargain bin price.
Guests visiting us in The Netherlands nearly a decade after our expat journey began tour our home and comment on the eclectic international décor and when I point out a pile of plates that I peddled home in a box tied with a bungee cord to the back of my bike, they exclaim, “It’s just so you!”
PS: To read the country overviews I wrote for Expatica, simply click on the links below!
top:2px;padding-right:5px;font-family:times;”>It seems a Diva’s work is never done and these last three weeks have nearly ran me into the ground! I’m in serious need of some R & R for all the champagne & caviar of this past month has me in desperate need of a detox program with my health guru Vardit Kohn! After hosting two sets of guests back to back these last two weeks (as well as making 2 trips to Antwerp leading The Antiques Diva™ Shopping Tours), I woke Tuesday morning, hopped in my car & drove to Rotterdam where I took to/pickwick” target=”_blank”>The Pickwick Women’s Club on a “tourframe.html” target=”_blank”>Grand Tour” – figuratively speaking that is! In case you didn’t realize it, The Antiques Diva™ makes public appearances, sharing all her diva-licious European shopping tips & giving enough Grand Tour addresses to fill two little black books.
toinette.bmp”>toinette.bmp” border=”0″ />No sooner than The Pickwick Ladies closed the meeting in a round of applause, the Volvo was thrown into high gear and I raced four hours south to Paris where I was meeting two of my friends, The Belgian Beauty & Ms Holland, for an overnight excursion to Sotheby’s Paris for the Important Meuble & Silver Sale and a date with Marie Antoinette in the Grand Palais.
We’d planned the trip ages ago, but I had to cut it short when a diva-licious opportunity popped up – fortunately my friends forgave me for departing a day earlier than planned. One of my favorite antiquaries in Amsterdam, Robert Schreuder, delighted me with an invitation for a Fashion Show and Pre-Preview for Art & Antiques Fair ‘s-Hertogenbosch. Fashion Designer Frans Hoogendoorn presented an amazing collection of gowns fit for a diva, while the pre-preview at AF’sH left me drooling for more – and with a shopping list a mile long!
Luckily for you & me both, the Art & Antiques Fair ‘s-Hertogenbosch has just gotten underway. It runs from April 11 – 20, 2008 which means I’ve another week to convince my husband to return with me to close a few Antiques Diva sales! But you’ll be reading about that later this week as I list my 10 favorite dealers at AF’s-H! In the meantime, make time to attend this sensational antiques show held at the Brabanthallen in Den Bosch!
By the way, you’ll also get to benefit from my presentation to The Pickwick Ladies as they’ve given me a list of questions they’d like me to answer this month in a short blog series called “Pickwick Express”.
Stay tuned for more Diva Details,
The Antiques Diva™