Something to Crow About!

Back from our “very special vacation”, Redeux starts a new year. Yes, Redeux Vintage Furniture is celebrating our One Year Anniversary! And that is something to crow about!

Our celebration will start this coming Saturday, May 5^th from noon until 5:00 P.M. We’ll have refreshments and lots of fun. We’ll also be unveiling some pieces that will be ready for the big event, including a ladies writing desk with inlay and matching chair and several floor lamps. And, depending upon the weather, perhaps an outdoor demonstration.We'll have some "specials" too!

We’ll also be introducing two new items at Redeux. We’ve located a very nice 100% beeswax taper style candle - made by hand – available in both natural and in an array of colors.  Great for gifts or for your dining table!

Our second new addition to our offerings is something we are especially excited about. For some time we have been looking for some note / greeting cards that would be a good fit for Redeux. Well, we have finally found them. These are hand-made linoleum block print cards created by American print artist, Rachel Wallis. These cards will turn your thoughtful notes into wonderful keepsakes …and you'll want to have them framed. They are really that good! 

Hope to see you Saturday! And, of course, The Redhead will be here.

Bill

Come Fly with Us!

Have you ever just wanted to get away from it all? Well, our Adirondack lamps will make you feel like you’ve taken a trip - both in time and away to your own hidden lodge by a lake. 

We have a matching set of table lamps and a standing floor lamp that have hand-painted shades and frosted glass lamp covers. The scenes depict a goose flying home to a pine covered lake island. All original paint. The table lamps are available as a pair; the floor lamp may be bought separately. I’m feeling refreshed just looking  at them now!

 

Paint, Varnish and Gesso. Three mediums or finishes, each having different looks and uses.

Our Cottage Furniture selection has a new addition with a turn of the century writing desk. Made of oak this compact piece has the original drawer and drop lid hardware, nicely turned legs and convenient storage shelf. It has been painted a soft green/blue, hand waxed and detailed. A nice little wood applique adds a bit of flourish.

Varnish is often my go to finish of choice when refinishing a piece that has suffered damage to its original shellac finish. Usually this damage is from alcohol or water and sometimes just plain hard use. In the case of our newest compact server/buffet, dating from the 1930’s – 1940’s, it had all three problems on its top. After some time in the Redeux Spa the damage has been corrected and the new varnish and hand wax finish should provide many years of beautiful use.  It measures 34” in length so will fit in many areas of a home.

Gesso is an old formula mixture of plaster and glue often used to coat carved wood pieces before painting them. The Victorians often used gesso before gilding an intricate carved piece. Our newly found Victorian carved mirror is a good example of this type of artistry. Carved leaves, flowers and other details adorn this piece.

What a Crock!

An interesting pottery find is a covered crock. Made by the New York Stoneware Company of Port Edward, NY, this piece dates from about 1859-1885. It’s in very good condition and has very nice coloring. The company graphics and other little details are visible on the crock’s exterior.

We’re coming up on our One Year Anniversary! We’ll have lots to celebrate. And, you’ll be invited! More details to come soon.

Stop by. Hope to see you again, soon.

Bill

Laura

Laura is the face in the misty light

Footsteps that you hear down the hall

The LAUGH that floats on a summer night

That you can never quite recall…but she’s only a dream.

Yes, she is a dream. But, she is also very real. Born about 60 years ago, Laura had been the center of attraction for many years. She was most at home in the cozy dining room, standing in the corner – seeing everything. She often was adorned with little niceties – nothing too flashy, mind you – she was at heart a country girl. As the years passed Laura just wouldn’t change with the times. People who once admired her looks as being simple, yet elegant, began to look at her as “cute’ and then, finally, just tired. That’s when she met The Redhead.

The Redhead loves to shop. Or, better put, she loves to poke around looking for little treasures. In the oddest places, sometimes.  Often, we meet very interesting folks in these out of the way places. Laura was one of them.

Laura explained to The Redhead that she was there not so much to shop as she had nowhere else to go.  That’s all The Redhead had to hear. She is such a softie.

Fast forward a year or so. Laura has been with us since that first meeting. We took her in and cared for - and about- her. She told us some of her past.  And, some of her dreams. She wanted to again be the center of attraction. Could we help?

We asked our new Redeux Spa Cosmetologist, Marion, to perform the makeover. A country girl never looked so beautiful! 

Our Laura is the realization of our research and Marion’s efforts to give new life to some very interesting, yet vintage, gals. Stop by and see Laura. Maybe you’ll take her home with you. She’s a lot of fun!

These past few weeks have been busy at Redeux. The Redeux Spa has been working mostly on our new line of cottage furniture and readying some smaller accent pieces. A small, painted drop front desk should be ready for this weekend. An interesting wall shelf with drawers and acorn style pulls is ready now.

Pottery, newly arrived and of various kinds, both functional and decorative, is now on display in the shop. 

Stained glass. We have an exquisite stained glass window. Dating from about the late 1800's, this beauty would look great hanging in a window or against a wall. The colors and design are fantastic!

Our large (5x3) carved mahogany mirror is ready for your special spot. It can be seen in our front window.

Speaking of large, our oak office-style desk needs a new home and we need the room. It has a file drawer, lots of hand detailing and is available for a very special price!

Also, Redeux is exploring ideas for expanding what we offer in the shop. Our criteria is it must be made in the USA. If you would like to see us carry something, especially gift-giving items, just let us know.

Looking forward to seeing you soon. Stop by!

Bill

Cottage Furniture

At long last the Redeux spa has begun the Redeux American Cottage Furniture line of vintage furniture. It was no easy task, but the results and response have been worth the effort.

Our first task was the research: when and how painted furniture was introduced to America and what types of paint and colors were used. Several trips to  

Old Sturbridge Village in Massachusetts, the Florence Griswold Museum and mansion and lots of reading helped to form the basis for how we wanted to proceed with our painted furniture. Next, came the selection of paints. Many types were tried. Most had several good features, but all left something to be desired. More research and testing were needed. Finally, the only paint that was found to be satisfactory to Redeux was…our own formulation! 

So far, two pieces using this special paint formula have been completed – a night stand painted a cottage white and a small side chest painted green with wax highlights. Both have that special "cottage look" that so many of you have been asking for. A comparison of Redeux Cottage Furniture with some of the painted furniture pieces available both online and in some of the local “home furnishing” specialty shops will, I think, astound you – in several ways. I look forward to your comments on our Redeux Cottage Furniture.

 

In addition to painting furniture, the Redeux Spa has also been busy readying several very interesting pieces being finished naturally. Included is a stunning, art-deco matching set of a china cabinet and sideboard/server. The detailing is exquisite – these pieces are a great find!

Also, a smaller sized drop-leaf dining table with saber legs and claw feet is just in and now available. This beauty can seat 6 – 8 people nicely.

Lamps. Our selection is now the best it has ever been. We’ve found some great table and floor lamps, including a pair of hand –painted glass table lamps and matching floor lamp. These vintage lamps have Adirondack style scenes hand painted on the glass and shades. There are also some lovely pottery table lamps and glass, converted to electric, oil lamps.

Our travels bring us to many interesting spots throughout New England and it is in some of the most out-of-the-way spots that we find items that make very interesting decorating accessories. Two different sets of candle sconces are just such items.

Mirrors. We have many sizes and styles now in stock. One in particular is a mahogany beauty that is quite large with carved detailing – just waiting for the right home!

Redeux is celebrating Teachers and Librarians – those folks who are forming the future America. Who knows, maybe a student of one of our local teachers will be the one that figures a way for the American furniture manufacturing and design industry to be restored. Let’s hope!

So, all teachers and librarians are invited to an afternoon get-together at Redeux, Thursday, March 1st, 4:00 -7:00 P.M.  We’ll have refreshments and some “specials”, of course.  Teachers / Librarians: If possible, please RSVP the shop by February 28th.  Call 203-522-5588         

Looking forward to seeing you again, soon

Bill         

A Star is Born

January, 2012. It’s the start of a new year and at Redeux a star has been born. But, first things first.

Folks that have visited the shop within the past two weeks have seen our new front end counter and display layout. This arrangement actually gives us a bit more display area, especially in the front end of the shop by the window.

Readers of past Redeux blogs may remember my mention of Gary Wood, furniture builder, restorer and wood worker extraordinaire. Gary stopped by Redeux this past Friday to take a first-hand look at the shop. Gary viewed the pieces up in the shop and then we toured the downstairs “spa and holding area”. Gary provided some tips and insights about the various furniture pieces. Gary’s attitude toward antique and vintage furniture is to preserve. When restoration is required, take no shortcuts. He loves the “old wood”.  The Victorian writing desk, the Empire bookcase and several other pieces we looked at will benefit from his suggestions. Gary also gave me a sample of a new varnish that he is formulating and I can’t wait to use it on just the right piece. Gary gives classes every few months at the Woodworkers Club in Norwalk. You can view his website at:  http://www.garyrwood.com/.

 

In addition to having built the new counter and reorganizing the downstairs “spa” these past couple of weeks, I actually did finish some pieces. Just done is a simple, yet attractive, wood bookcase. It is 48” tall and made of pine. It has a warm walnut stain and a special topcoat that will give it many years of beautiful durability. Some nice iron  floor lamps are also ready.

Work begins in earnest this coming week. You’re always welcome to stop by, request a special piece be moved to the head of the line for getting the Redeux Spa treatment, chat or share a cup of coffee (tea in the afternoon!).

And, now for how a star was born at Redeux. 

Some of you may have heard The Redhead singing here in the shop. Her voice is, I think, angelic. Well, this Friday afternoon (at the time Gary Wood was also visiting the shop), two Broadway scouts came into Redeux. This could be the Redhead's big chance, I thought. But, alas, The Redhead wasn’t here. What did attract these two property scouts were several pieces of Redeux furniture – a couple of chairs and the painted farm table, pictured at the top. So, while The Redhead may have missed her chance, these pieces will be "acting" along with Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Linda Emond and Andrew Garfield in the new Broadway production of Death of a Salesman at the Barrymore Theatre. Thus, a star is born at Redeux. You can see these Redeux pieces and the rest of the cast of Death of a Salesman at the Barrymore starting in February. You might be able to hear The Redhead at Redeux next week.

Stop by soon – or see you on Broadway!

Bill