Patina Green Home & Market

Belgium Brickmaker's Pallets

 

On our last trip to Europe, we were thrilled to stumble across these brick maker's pallet boards from Belgium.  We had seen them laid as gorgeous flooring at one of our favorite design stores in Dallas, Vintage Living by Lisa Luby Ryan.  After seeing her unique use of these planked wood, grey washed boards, we have been keeping our eye out for some of our own.

We currently have 22 boards in stock, which would cover approximately 375 square feet.  Each board measures 45" x 55", or 17sf. 

 

 

 

 

 

We are selling the boards individually, so they could be made into furniture like these dining tables, coffee tables, and planters.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Farther questions about the boards can be answered through my email at patina.green@yahoo.com or by calling the store at 972-548-9141.

 

Our Day with Rachel

 Okay, okay!  Everyone keeps asking for photos and stories from our special day spent with Rachel Ashwell.  Sorry to keep you waiting so long!

 

Rachel Ashwell, founder of Shabby Chic Couture, designer, author, tv host, and retail professional can now add innkeeper to her many titles.  She recently purchased and refurbished a bed-and-breakfast, The Prairie by Rachel Ashwell, in my favorite little TX town of Round Top.  

Last fall, mom and I were among 35 other lucky bloggers (thanks to the Hidden List) to join Rachel at her B&B for a luncheon (provided by the fabulous Bud Royer of Royer's Cafe).  Rachel lead us on a tour of the property including inside her house and private quarters.  We were also among the first to shop in her new on site boutique.

It was a day to always remember, filled with beauty and inspiration.  Luann took great notes, which has allowed me to include Quotes from the Prairie Girl.

 

Quotes from a Prairie Girl:

On her 22 years of designing . . . “Life has been my school and my inspiration.”

Regarding Texas Primitive Style . . . “One must remember, life has a practical side as well as a creative side."

 

 

The Prairie is composed of multiple historic outbuildings, cabins, barns, and preserved cottages.  The setting is in the beautiful  hill country of Washington county with rolling green hills and fields of wildflowers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The on site shop sold enticing beds made with layers of dreamy bedding.  We were surrounded by a soft palette of colors, peely paint furniture, faded floral patterns (found on vintage wallpaper , TX flag pillows, sheets & pillow cases)  Gorgeous, sparkly chandeliers hung from the bead board ceiling of the historic cottage. 

 

Quotes from a Prairie Girl:  

Why she opened a store in Round Top, TX (population 31) . . . “I wanted to walk my talk . . . I love this place.  Sure it would have looked better on my bags to have a store in Rome or Paris or San Francisco or Chicago . . . maybe this store won’t be busy 365 days a year but it serves a purpose.  I remember when we were all sitting here talking about wanting a store and how to make that happen, and the next thing I knew, Danny (her “everything guy”) sends me a picture of a wide bed truck with a house on it!  He says, “I’m going to drop off a house on your property for the store”  That’s how it works in Texas!  In New York, you can’t hang a sign without a committee!  I love Texas people.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rachel gave us a tour of her private quarters, where she stays when living on the Prairie.  It was not only an honor but also a wonderful peek into her life to show how truly simple and down to earth she really is.

 

Quotes from a Prairie Girl:  

Regarding her wagon wheel chandelier (not something she would have chosen, but was in the B&B when she purchased it). The chandelier reminds her of a certain time of her life when things weren’t going well, “I broke down and burst into tears and looked up and said and I have a wagon wheel for a chandelier!  One of her workers replied . . . oh Rachel, it will be all right, tell me what you want, we will put flowers and ribbons on it!  So now it serves as a reminder of that period of time and how we can get past obstacles in our life."  

And, her favorite place on all the property….”the laundry room!”  (Just imagine the softest, fluffiest clouds of beautiful cotton and linen all swirled together, heavenly indeed!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My favorite part of the day was getting personal insight of Rachel and her business as a designer.  I enjoyed studying her inspiration boards and seeing her picks of shabby furniture from Texas flea markets.  On the front porch of her own house, I was pleasantly surprised to find a collection of gilded antique furniture and accessories.

 

Quotes from a Prairie Girl:  

Her finds from Round Top shopping this year . . . “We bring all our things here and get to see them, enjoy them, and live with them a few weeks before sending them to the other stores.”

How does Italian Florentine pieces work with Texas Primitives??  “Every room (and every person) needs a little unexpected sparkle!”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What I loved the most?

Rachel Ashwell, Shabby Chic Texas Prairie Girl . . . 

She’s real, she has an authentic style, she has a story, she’s beautiful . . . that’s exactly what we look for when we are shopping for vintage pieces . . . something real, with our authentic style, with a story to tell, and aesthetically beautiful!

Those things remain forever cherished  . . .  

 

Thank you Rachel for a lovely day on the Prairie, from two authentic Texas born girls!

Historic Holiday Tablescape

 

The first weekend of December has been The Heritage Guild of Collin County Holiday Tour of Homes since 1973.  Every year five or six homes are decorated for Christmas and opened for the annual holiday home tour.   This year, we were asked to decorate the formal spaces of one of the homes on tour, a gorgeous historic Victorian mansion.  

The home had been updated and restored while preserving the original hardwood floors, the detailed woodwork throughout, and the multiple fireplace surrounds.  The home-owner's personal collection of antique furniture acted as a wonderful backdrop for our decor.  

To fit the home's historic interior, we decided to only use classic holiday colors of green, gold, and cream.  We used crystal and mirrors to add sparkle and magic.  We incorporated natural elements like fresh greenery, preserved hydrangeas and blooming winter bulbs to give warmth.  We used vintage found pieces to add character to the formal spaces.  A collection of old brass bugles and french horns hung from the doors as unique swags.  The mantles were decorated with antique gold mirrors, vintage ornaments, addressed postcards, gold tinsel and glass beads.  

We dressed the walls with the home-owner's art collection and mixed in our own antique gold mirrors adorned with glass ornaments hung with citrus seam binding ribbon.

On the dining room table we use gold vanity mirrors as "chargers"under the home-owner's classic holiday dishes.  The center piece was made of a collection of brass "vases" full of fresh greenery, cotton phylica and vintage holiday picks.  On either side of the centerpiece lay a pair of Victorian chandeliers with crystal drops to add some whimsy.  Silvered pine cones, bright green apples and pears reminded us of the season.  

Hope your holidays are filled with merriness, joy, and peace.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All Pictures Taken by Wendolin Mercado Photography.

Season's Greetings!

 

 

Where have I been, you ask?  

Why haven't I posted since October?!

I have only one answer.

Retail.

 

This fourth quarter has been crazy busy, running a retail store and preparing for the holiday season.  In November, we made some rather large store moves, flipping the front half with the back.  This created additional seating for the lunch diners, and allowed for more shopping opportunities throughout.  We have been ordering and reordering, as well as scouring flea markets for holiday decor and unique gifts to fill the shelves.   We have been designing & working on a client's master suite remodel, while accessorizing another client's first home.  We decorated the formal rooms of a McKinney house for the holiday home tour, and we have assisted Robert with his holiday catering events almost every weekend in November and December!  We had an amazing day spent with Rachel Ashwell, we have had three farm to table dinners set up in fields all over Texas, Robert and I played foodie tourist in Chicago, I attended an inspiring business seminar, and I have made our business goals for 2012.  Needless to say, it has been busy!

Keeping up with the maintenance of running a retail store during the holiday season has not only been a lot of work, but also a lot of fun!  The store has been a magical place to spend our days with holiday decor around every corner.   I wanted to start my first post back with store photos taken by local photographer, Wendolin who has captured the spirit.

 

 

I am obsessed with vintage Christmas ornaments and we started the season with a huge collection!  Our vintage cream tree was a perfect display for the unique glass ornaments.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Everyday, I have loved this garden art sculpture (made from an old street lamp post) full of sparkling, handmade, beaded snowflake ornaments.

 

 

 

 

These little wire trees just make me smile . . . I would keep them out year long!

 

 

Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells  . . . Rock!

 

 

These frames are handmade using reclaimed barn salvage (like the metal roof and wood side paneling), they make great holiday gifts!  We have a fantastic collection of scented soy candles that are made in our friend Renee's kitchen . . . they too are popular gifts this season!

 

 

This year, I fell in love with the classic colors of gold and brass mixed with natural holiday green . . .  

 

 

It is said that if you put a bird on your Christmas tree, it will bring you good luck and prosperity for the new year.  I have been doing this for years, my mother started it as an early tradition in our household.  So, this year we sold lots of bird ornaments to our clients to start their own traditions.  Carved wood birds, metal birds, glass birds, hand painted birds, mercury birds, and hand sewn felted birds adorned the limbs of our real tree . . .  

 

 

 

 

 

Wishing you the very best holiday season to you and your family.

 

Unloading the Container Sale!

 

It's Here!  It's Here!

Our European Container full of Antique Treasures is Here!

Please join us, and be the first to shop our finds on Tuesday October 11 from 9am -9pm.  We will open the store early and stay late, in hope that we will see you!

      English . . . French  . . . Flemish. . . Swedish . . . Shabby . . . Industrial . . . Garden . . . Chic 

 

Patina Green Home & Market 
 
116 N. Tennessee, Suite 102

McKinney, TX 75069

972-548-9141

*** FYI - The store will be closed on Sunday and Monday, October 9 and 1o to get ready for the sale.  See you soon!