French Primitives

Our last container from France brought in an abundance of antiques from all walks of life.  From the rustic to the refined, Vicky chose an eclectic blend of “something for everyone”.

FRENCH PRIMITIVES is our featured post this week.

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It doesn’t get more primitive than this.  An authentic, LARGE feed trough.  All hand hewn wood and very, very unique, this trough is actually multi-functional.  One customer used it as a sideboard.  During the holidays she filled the trough with greenery and pinecones and topped it with a piece of glass.  You could line it with zinc, fill it with ice and use as a beverage station.  Great on the porch or lanai.  Great as a planter.  In short, it’s just pretty great!

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How about some wagon wheels.  As you can see we have all shapes and sizes.  Some are wood, some are iron.  Some are painted, some are natural.  We have them suspended in our window and nestled in our trough.  Wonderful for architectural interest on walls, windows, or even turned into small tables.

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Speaking of tables, this beauty combines casual with elegant.  The table and matching chairs have a simple, solid design accented with a dry-brush paint application on table legs and chair frame.  Belgian linen in a deep, rich grey was used to cover the back and seat.  A natural wood top creates a nice contrast and completes the look.

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Another example of casual elegance.  Beautiful antique French chairs are covered in a muted taupe linen.  We sanded the arms and legs just enough to give it that “exposed wood” look.  The animal hide stool adds some interest and fun and the antique barrel “vase” continues the theme of rustically refined.

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More animal print?  Absolutely.  This antique arm chair combines primitive with POW!  Vicky selected a gorgeous animal print to cover the arms and seat.  The original leather back has aged to a soft, worn patina.  Incredibly compatible with many decors, this one needs to be seen in person to fully appreciate.

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A study in simple beauty.  This rustic workbench is a rare find.  Handmade with original vises, peg holes and tool tray, these benches are now being used as buffets, media centers, bars and kitchen islands.  We’ve used ours as a display piece and topped it with an exquisite antique French cross, large handmade twig basket and vintage wood bottle carrier.  If you’re looking for primitive, it doesn’t get any more authentic than this.

As always, this is just a small sample of the vast selection we have in our shop and warehouse.  You can view more items on our PURCHASE NOW page or simply stop by and browse through our store.  We’d be happy to help you make your house your home.

Last Minute Christmas Shopping? Go Local!

With another holiday season approaching, some of you may be hard-pressed to comb the malls and department stores for yet another sweater for Dad and perfume for Mom.  Here’s a solution that not only answers the problem of uninspired gift-giving but helps support your local business and community, too.

GIFT IDEA 1

Everyone — yes, everyone — gets their hair cut.  How about a gift certificate from your local hair salon or barber?

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GIFT IDEA 2

Gym membership.  It’s a gift appropriate for all ages and anyone thinking about improving their health. It’s also a great way to get the new year started on the right foot.

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GIFT IDEA 3

Who wouldn’t appreciate getting their car detailed?  Small detail shops and car washes would love to sell you a gift certificate or book of certificates.

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GIFT IDEA 4

There are a bazillion locally-owned restaurants — all offering gift certificates.  And if your intended isn’t the fancy-eatery sort, what about a half-dozen certificates at the mom and pop breakfast joint down the street.  Remember, this isn’t about big national chains — this is about supporting your hometown businesses who rely directly on the community to keep their doors open.

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GIFT IDEA 5

Thinking about a heartfelt gift for mom?  Mom would LOVE the services of a local cleaning lady for a day.

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GIFT IDEA 6

My computer could use a tune-up and I KNOW I can find some young guy who is struggling to get his repair business up and running.

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GIFT IDEA 7

How about tickets to see a play or ballet at your hometown theater?

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GIFT IDEA 8

OK, you were looking for something more personal.  Local craftspeople spin their own wool and knit them into scarves.  They make jewelry and pottery and beautiful wooden boxes.

AND FOR THAT MATTER:

You can buy gift certificates at local gift shops, specialty shops, clothing shops and antique shops.

At VICTORIA’S ANTIQUE WAREHOUSE, we not only have a dazzling selection of antique furniture and home decor, but we also paint and custom-make furniture for our customer’s specific needs.

AND  We offer gift certificates as well.

In short, Christmas shopping doesn’t have to be about draining our pockets to give some generic gift from a corporate franchise.  Christmas can now be about US.  Encouraging and patronizing small businesses in turn support our communities.  When we support our communities, we support ourselves.  And when you care and support yourself and others, you maintain the Christmas spirit all year long.

We at Victoria’s Antique Warehouse wish you a very merry Christmas and a  healthy and happy New Year.

Our Long-Awaited Container Is In!

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Santa has arrived a little early this year.

In the wee hours of the morning, before light, a huge semi pulled up to the back of our store.  Our crew began unloading all of the incredible antiques Vicky found on her last buying trip to France and Belgium.

We have a dazzling mix of rustic, refined, primitive, industrial, statement pieces, novelty pieces, funky, bohemian, traditional and classic.

Below is just a sampling of our latest treasures:

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Stop by soon — there’s so much more to see!

Victoria’s at Renninger’s First-Of-Season Extravaganza this Weekend

An aerial photo of Renninger’s Antique Extravaganza, looking north with US-441 to the left of the picture. The approximate location of Vicky’s booths are indicated with the arrow.

Renninger’s Antiques & Collectors Extravaganza begins it’s season this weekend, Friday-Sunday, November 18-20, and Victoria’s Antique Warehouse will be there with more unusual, wonderfully crafted items.

Vicky’s booth will be located in spaces 527 and 528 in the covered “New Pavillion.”  (See photo above).

Weather should be fabulous this weekend, sunny and with temps all three days around 80 degrees. Nothing like autumn in Florida while perusing items on display from 1,000 dealers spread over 117 acres of countryside!

General admission is $10 on Friday, $8 on Saturday and $4 on Sunday. A three-day pass is $15. Parking is free.

For driving directions to the Extravaganza, click here.

Be sure to stop by our booth!

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Design YOUR media center

One of the biggest changes (and challenges) in the home is all the technology available for our personal use. From Flat-screen TV’s to Surround Sound, CD’s, DVD’s, DVR’s, Xbox, GameCube, PlayStation, Wii and the list goes on. Needless to say, storage and access can become quite a problem. Not to mention, keeping your living room from looking like you just walked into a Best Buy.

But at Victoria’s Antique Warehouse we custom-build media centers tailor-made to your own needs and taste.

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This customer brought in two bookcases to flank either side of his flat-screen TV. Jason (our master carpenter) and Vicky (store owner) worked with him to come up with this stunning result. An antique mantle (from the shop) was used as the central piece to incorporate the bookcases as well as the flat-screen TV. With vintage tin added to the mantle and a beautiful application of our signature paint, the look was complete.

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This couple brought in their fireplace and asked us to build an entertainment center around it. Ample shelving and storage was a priority along with easy access to their components. Jason and Vicky worked with them to create a media center that not only met those needs, but also blended with the overall decor of their home.

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It started with one of Vicky’s clients looking for a piece of furniture to house her TV, electronics and personal art collection. She loved one of our custom bookcases in the shop. With that as a design launching point, Jason and Vicky worked with her to come up with this fantastic piece. Antique French windows were used for the cabinet doors. Ambient lighting was installed in the bookcases. The front was accented with vintage tin and hardware. The inside was lined with bead board. All of it was hand-painted and distressed by Chrissy and Timmy (our master artisans).

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From two antique cabinet doors, Jason created this media center. A flat-screen TV would fit perfectly above it. Shelving, storage and size is all there along with easy access to cables and wiring. Bead board sides, antique-style hardware and an expert application of color and distressing completes this functional yet beautiful piece.

These are just a few examples of our many custom designs.

Bring in your ideas and drawings or even a piece of furniture or personal collection you want incorporated in the overall piece. We’ll be happy to work with you to achieve that special look you always wanted for your home.

The Container Is In!

Vicky Murphy (center) advises Beth Cohea on pricing of items now being unpacked from the latest container of furniture, glassware, pottery and other goodies purchased on her last trip to France.

Our container from France arrived early this morning.

Staff and crew have been busy unloading, sorting, pricing, tagging and generally getting everything out for our customers to see.  There are some really beautiful and interesting pieces from this container. A real eclectic mix.

Here’s a sampling:

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Vicky’s Top Three Picks of the Month

When you work at Victoria’s Antique Warehouse you get the unique opportunity to be surrounded by some of the most interesting and beautiful antiques from France, Belgium and the states.  There isn’t a week that goes by that one of our staff doesn’t point out an item and comment on it’s history and originality.  For that reason, we decided a monthly Top Three List would be an interesting and helpful post for our readers.  By highlighting selected merchandise each month, we can give you a more personal and focused view of what we have and why we like it.

This month it’s Vicky’s Top Three Picks:

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1. Italian Wedding Cart

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This is actually the axle housing of an antique Italian wedding cart.  The center ironwork is hand-crafted in a delicate scrolled design.  The solid wood frame still retains its original paint.  It is a substantial piece and could be used for a variety of architectural accents.

Vicky thought it would be stunning as a light fixture over a dining room table.  Wiring for electricity would be no problem and with the incredible selection of lights we have available today, you could become very creative illuminating it. We also thought it would make a great pot rack in a kitchen. Maybe over a kitchen island.  How spectacular would that be?

Or a plant rack for your flowers and greenery.

Or just simply hanging over a door or entryway would look fantastic.

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2.  Antique Screens

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These lovelies are very old and in remarkably good shape.

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Depicting an English hunting scene, this screen is part of a matched pair.  Both are two-paneled in a beautiful pastoral tapestry.  The size and proportions of the screens create instant impact while still being versatile enough to fit into almost any room.

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French, old and gorgeous.  It actually has four connecting panels (we just folded one in to fit the space).  Done in a lovely silk botanical with beautiful hardware accents.  This is a perfect example of the ubiquitous dressing screen found in so many Victorian boudoirs.  We opted for a different take on an old theme and positioned it behind a bookcase.  It creates an interesting backdrop to the furniture and allows both pieces to stand out.

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3. Five Board Chest

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The epitome of primitive.  Handmade, rustic and dating back to the 1800′s, we believe this piece originated in Pennsylvania.  Look at the hinges on top.  It just doesn’t get any better than that.  And the paint color.  It’s original and is actually milk paint.  That was a technique very popular in primitive and folk art.

The interior is divided into compartments of various sizes.  Possibly for grain or seeds.

To get a piece like this unaltered and in good condition is a rare find.  We love it for it’s simplicity.  We love it for it’s beauty.  We love it for it’s functionality.  We just love it and we think you will too.

Needless to say, there are many, many more candidates that qualify. The good news is that our monthly “top picks” will allow us to continually present a few more of our favorite finds for your consideration.

If you’d like to know more about our featured pieces, stop by or call:

352-728-8668
or email at:
victoriasantiquewarehouse@gmail.com

French Bohemian Dorm Room

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We were rethinking our shop display and this set-up fell into place perfectly. We call it our French Bohemian Dorm Room and it truly is outfitted with all French furnishings.

Our charming model is Vicky’s granddaughter Chloe. She’s a little young for college life, but feels quite at home in this decor.

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The bright blue (very French) shutters are a great backdrop to the comfortable, functional (very Anthropologie-style) daybed. It’s topped with a comfy feather mattress covered in a vibrant burgundy rose fabric and finished off with a mix of toss pillows all made from old burlap grainsacks.

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The rustic coffee table is made from 4″ pine beams and sits on a beautiful scrolled iron base. The lovely stool is upholstered in antique French linen. We even have a vintage wood office cabinet as an end table. How multi-purpose is that! The look is fun, fresh and a nice twist to familiar pieces.

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For a quick-fix to your summer doldrums, stop in and let us help you rethink and reinvent any room in your home (or dorm).

Our Urban Primitive Collection Is In!

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We just got a new shipment of old pieces which we like to call our “Urban Primitive Collection.” They arrived last week and already several have sold. They’re enormously popular, unique and super versatile.

Here’s a sampling of what we have:

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Look at these carts! What beautiful lines. What a great synthesis of primitive and modern. We have a variety of sizes and styles. They are multi-functional and work so well in so many decors.

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This one makes a great buffet …

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 … Or it could be an entertainment center.

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The smaller ones make great kitchen islands or mini bars.

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Looking for a fantastic coffee table? Here it is. These beauties are turned upside-down but it gives you a good view of the incredible wheels each one has. They were originally used as luggage carts in train stations. Others were used in garment factories to transport textiles. They come in a variety of sizes and truly sell almost as soon as we get them in.

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This farmhouse table is “to die for.” A classic blend of primitive, rustic and industrial.  The pine top is made from old barnwood. The base is solid forged steel.  It is a standout piece and definitely one-of-a-kind.

Come by and check out our large, eclectic inventory.  We’ll be happy to help you mix and match some of these wonderful pieces to suit your home decor.

Do You Care Where Your Furniture Comes From?

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We all are aware of the environmental concerns presented to us on a daily basis. Global warming, contamination of our water and food supply and diminishing natural resources are problems that affect everyone.  That in turn affects what we buy and who we buy it from.

Do You Care Where Your Furniture Comes From?

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• 50% of all wood logged goes to China.

• In some countries, 90% of today’s imported furniture is illegally harvested.

• China has taken over 1/3 of the world trade in furniture in the past 8 years.

• There has been a 40% decline in furniture production in the United States since 2006.

• Toxic fumes (“out-gassing”) are emitted in 5-10 years from new furniture.

• Experts estimate that a new piece of furniture ends up in a landfill in 2-5 years.

Source: Forest Trends, non-profit based in Washington, D.C.; and Audubon Magazine.

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Ultimate responsibility lies with the consumer and consumer markets.  Our buying decisions directly affect the environment and by making informed, responsible choices we can play a role in stopping these destructive practices.

Buying antiques is a wonderful way to participate in this solution.  At Victoria’s Antique Warehouse we not only sell antiques, we recycle wood, iron, windows, doors, architectural corbels and pediments and turn them into beautiful, useful pieces of furniture.

To illustrate, here are a couple of recent additions to the shop:

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This elegantly rustic armoire was custom-made from two antique window shutters. Our expert team re-purposed them into doors and constructed a wonderful armoire to complete the look. Old hardware and an expert application of paint and distress creates the final authentic effect.

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This antique chest was from the New England area.  The main body of the piece was in perfect distressed condition, but the top was in bad disrepair. Once again, our expert team made a top to replace the damaged one and then matched the existing paint to create a seamless look that doesn’t detract from its original beauty.

These are just a couple of examples of the capabilities and resources of our shop. So the next time you’re out furniture shopping keep this in mind:

• Buy Recycled

• Buy Sustainable

• Buy Antiques!