Chic in New York: Maison 24

One of the best parts of blogging has been all the creative people I've been able to meet.  Even more exciting is watching them achieve their dreams or reach new goals.  I wrote about the chic store Maison 24 three years ago when I discovered them off season during an installation in the Hamptons. Co-owner Allison Julius mentioned wanting to open a boutique in the city and I am happy to announce that Maison 24 is now open in Manhattan.  I know this style will not appeal to everyone and I'm not saying that you are going to want to decorate your home completely like Maison 24, although some of you might.  However, the furniture, accessories, and gift items do make the perfect add on to any decor.  Why not place a Lucite contemporary table next to an antique French chair or add the shiny gold lamps to a traditional living room?   I honestly think that graffiti telephone book would look just as cool in the entry of a Park Avenue apartment as it would in a downtown loft.  The backgammon games are reason enough to visit and would make a great hostess or holiday gift.  Happy Shopping!

Maison 24

470 Park Avenue

New York, NY 10022

212-355-2414

info@maison24.com

Maison 24

2424 Main Street

Bridgehampton, NY 11932

631-537-2488

Photos by Heather Clawson for Habitually Chic

Chic Flea Market Finds

The heat abated slightly on Sunday so I ventured to the flea market.  I was hoping others would stay away so I would have my pick of the good stuff and I did manage to find a few treasures.  My rule of thumb for the flea market is to buy what I love and always have a price in mind before I approach a dealer. 

The first thing I bought was at the parking lot flea market on 25th Street.  The powder box on the right was very dirty but I could see it's beauty underneath.  The dealer dropped it as he was trying to decide how much to charge so I got it for $1. It has hairline cracks on the top but at least you can't see them.  The box on the left caught my eye the minute I saw it because I love that robin's egg blue color. 

It's marked on the bottom T&V France.  It stands for Tressemanes & Vogt which was a porcelain factory in Limoges, France. I loved the color so much that I didn't even turn it over.  According to the mark, it was probably produced 1892-1907.

My pièce de résistance purchase is this Marie Antoinette print.  It was the robin's egg colored mat that caught my eye and I thought it was so beautiful that I had to buy it.  The dealer had a tag on it marked $58 but I talked her down to $45. 

The dealer told me that it was probably from the time of Marie Antoinette which I of course took with a grain of salt. 

A little internet research yielded that the engraver was Jean Charles Levasseur (1734-1816) and it might actually be from the 18th-century.   I found another example online here, which alerted me to the fact that there is also has a companion Louis XVI engraving. 

I think an appraisal is in order soon.  But first I have to drop it off at the framer so I can hang it on the wall.

I also love the tag on the back of the picture.  I am wondering if it was reframed at some point so I can't wait to find out.  I wasn't going to buy anything else but on my way out of the Garage flea market, I noticed the cane bench in the top photo.  I was thinking that a bench would be nice in front of my entry bookcase so I could sit my bag down when I entered.  The $25 price was right so I took it home too.  It was very dusty and when I turned it over to clean it, I noticed a tag from Heywood Bros. and Wakefield Co. San Francisco, Cal. Turns out the company is very well known which means that I probably won't paint it as was my first instinct. The bonus of buying what you love is that it might actually be worth more than you paid.  Bonne chance!

Chic in New York: Etos

I've written about Etos before but they have recently renovated their space and it's definitely worth another look.  The store is owned by Mercedes Desios and Alberto Villalobos who met while they were students at the New York School of Interior Design.  They share not only a store but an interior design business and the chicest sense of style.  Mercedes is Italian and Alberto is Colombian and it seems like they are always flying off somewhere exotic to source for the shop and holiday.  They are not only talented but honestly two of the nicest people I've ever met.  Their travels mean the shop is an eclectic mix of antiques, accessories and new pieces.  I especially love the pre-Colombian bowls that Alberto brings back from visiting his family.  I hope you'll stop by the next time you're downtown. 

Etos

67 East 11th Street

New York, NY 10003

212-673-3056

www.etosnyc.com

Mercedes Desios and Alberto Villalobos

Photos by Heather Clawson for Habitually Chic