Trunks

I have always liked a nice trunk....two things I LOVE ...History and romance!  I think it's from all those old movies I watched when I was young where someone was creeping upstairs to the attic to open an old trunk full of intriguing heirlooms.  It's the history that fascinates, of course, as traces of generations have often been passed down in an old trunk that no one can part with.  Whether it was packed to cross the Atlantic with dreams of prosperity or as a "hope chest" collecting future heirlooms by a romantic young lady, antique trunks hold special stories.   Who doesn't love the site of all those precious gems dripping out of a pirates treasure chest?  Remember Aunt Pitty Pat throwing the silver in her trunk when they were rushing out of Atlanta in Gone With the Wind?? I wonder where that trunk is?   I know the silver is all dented.  Anyway, I really wanted to mention using them in today's home.....they add wonderful interest and, definitely, a conversation piece.... A good size trunk can stand alone or anchor a nice piece of art as in the picture above.   Many nice white accent pieces are also available for bookcases, as mentioned in several blogs and pictured here.  I "borrowed " this favorite picture from Brooke Giannetti.  Her beautiful blog Velvet And Linen very often seems to make my point. Please check my favorite blog list further down on the left.  It's an easy way to gain inspiration.  Cote de Texas always has valuable info and a pleasure to read. An interesting trunk works as a charming bedside table. The curve of a dome top trunk  adds a nice dimension to this modern bedroom. This dome top dark wood and iron trunk adds needed warmth in this all white bedroom. This wicker trunk tones down all the bright colors while adding texture...the old and new contrast in this picture is really appealing. Mostly all white room again...love the dark trunk and floors and, of course, the brick fireplace. GREAT leather chair, love a round mirror (available), interesting wall color,  nice geometric rug and, of course...the trunk! The ultimate trunk...an antique Louis Vuitton, monogrammed no less. evoking exotic travels aboard a luxury steamliner across the globe.... If they only could talk and tell the tale... This botanical art looks more important with the distressed trunk underneath.....great storage too! A modern room.  With the look of all neutrals an antique trunk adds needed contrast.  If a new dark piece were chosen here instead of the trunk, the room would appear cold.  It still appears a little cold for me....I would replace the floor lamp with an antique one and add a throw to the left sofa. Available ... Dome Top 19th Century Trunk with iron mounts BELGIUM Inv. 83, h 24 w 48.5 d 21.25 $1,795.00 Large Antique Wicker Basket with leather straps FRANCE $525.00 Inv. 103, H 19.75 w 38 d 25 Vintage Trunk in Layered Wood adding wonderful interest with its unique color and pattern Inv. 28, h 11.75 w. 30 d 13.5 $295.00 19th Century Grain Painted Blanket Chest, American Inv. 43, h 19 w 36 d 18 $585.00 SUNDAY NIGHT SALE  It sort of looks like a trunk.  A nice antique distressed hand tooled leather stationery box. This Italian piece originally had a lid but there is enough detail at the top that you will never miss it. h-6  1/2, w 9  3/4,  d 5  retail $285.00. SUNDAY NIGHT SALE $85.00 You can see it is decorated with hand painted panels and a touch up to the back top border First person to email me, gets it!  Good luck and buyer pays shipping.  Also a few announcements.  The month of May will be VERY busy for me as I will be away on 2 buying trips including a special trip to Belgium and France sooooo, put your orders in for what you are wishing for. Many thanks to Stacy for including me in her latest post and also mentioning me in her feature in Better Homes and Garden (not yet released) Please stop by the Red Door Home blog and check out Stacy's blog and online store. Really beautiful things and also other nice blogs she lists will inspire and give you a stress break as the pictures are gorgeous! Come see  our new window display and the many new additions to the shop.  We would love to see you and give you our usual "royal treatment"!   Delivery available everywhere....... Warmest regards, Bonny    Bonny Neiman Antiques & Artisan  p.973-714-4541 www.bonnyneiman.com    Trouvaille 12 Beechwood Road  Summit, NJ Monday-Saturday 10-5:30

NEW WEB POSTINGS AND SUNDAY NIGHT SALE!!

I hope you all had a wonderful Easter, Passover or just a happy start to Spring! We had a delicious beautiful brunch at my sister's.  She and my brother in law put together a mouth watering menu. My sister Nicole is so very creative, her table looked like Mr. McGregor's garden decorated with multi-layered mosses and lettuce plants she will plant in her own garden.    Bunnies and eggs trailed the extended table and I think I did see Peter Rabbit behind the napkins she folded into bunnies. We ended the day playing capture the flag and the adults were still limping two days later. The weather is just glorious today in the east and I have finally gotten a chance to sit outside and enjoy.    Sweet lamb carrot cake with edible grass.... I thought you would enjoy some pictures of the shop which has been buzzing.  We have been placing many upholstery orders mostly for those lucky folks with weekend homes. I think Nantucket must have cleared out with all the new residents we have been helping.  We have been planning neutral fabric combinations, with some blues and I am happy the line has many choices in tans and cream linens with different textures and tone on tone patterns to add interest.  The sofas come with pillows where we have been adding prints for pops of color in citrus and sherbet hues. Please note we discount 25% off retail prices. Offerings include upholstered headboards in every imaginable fabric, this one a tone on tone cream with a tawny gold nailhead.  The artisan iron bench at the foot, $895.00, will be featured at the Mansion in May Showhouse in Morristown and more are available.  The artisan orb chandelier comes in 2 sizes and gold or silver finish. I found this Swedish Mora clock in Belgium and just brought it to the shop. In Sweden in the 19th century many homes were not considered complete without the graceful form of one of these beauties.  Whenever their rooms were painted they painted all the furniture too in the same color which is why Swedish furniture often has many layers of paint in a beautiful crusty patina we love. First the homeowner would go to the clockmaker in town to have the works made, then they would take the clockworks to the cabinetmaker to have the case crafted to their specifications.  The face on this clock is signed by the clockmaker and sometimes the case is signed too. The marble top console, pictured is available for $810.00. I am in love with these 19th century lithograph portraits of French generals on thick arches paper I found in France.  I have about 12 more...they are priced $375.00 each and would look terrific  in groupings. These conversation pillows are fun gifts priced $28.00, $38.00 and $48.00. The Belgian dome top trunk is a great piece with iron mountings. Our Mary sofa has just been reduced for quick sale from $5330.00 to $2880.00. It is not only attractive but will stay that way as the slipcovers are washable linen....right in the washing machine! Everyone has been commenting on the beauty of this artisan cocktail table.  I have added it to my collection of artisan pieces for a couple of reasons....the light distressed finish of the iron base adds warmth and compliments a room of fresh upholstery and sisal.  The sphere form is current, softens the lines of modern furnishings and the marble is nice and thick and affordably priced at $1,350.00. For added interest and importance I brought in original antique maps including maps from Martha's Vineyard,  Cape Cod, Nantucket, Block Island, East Hampton and Long Island. I have an original aerial black and white framed photo of Loveladies showing how sparsely populated the area was at the time. Love this seating area with the oldest piece in the shop....a French table from the 17th century....$2,220.00 You can see the bottom of a vintage vertical Italian mirror on the wall, sold as a pair and an Italian Greek key side table. The light slipcovered loveseat in the back above has been marked down from $3810.00 to $1995.00. This multi sectioned art deco mirror is a new addition to the shop. Okay, I have this wonderful set of silk covered period Gustavian dining chairs....a set of 10!! They haven't sold and many of you have asked for 2 or 4.  The stripe is actually more grey than blue.  Well I have decided to split the set...eeeek, don't call the antiques police.  These were sold originally by Florian Papp in Manhattan for $45,000.00.  I can let them go for $1,700.00 pair. Chair close up SUNDAY NIGHT SALE !!!  This is a hotel silver food dome from the Hotel Taft in midtown Manhattan from its origin in 1926. I use my food domes, LOVE the drama of them!!  The dome is pitted and marked on the inside "Hotel Taft".  It retails for $275.00 and it's on sale for $55.00.  First person to EMAIL ME gets it.....buyer pays shipping. I am also really excited about the latest addition to my ready made window panels shown behind the dome.  This is natural linen with a dove white embroidery, fully lined.  Isn't it dreamy?  Pricing is for 50 inch wide by 96 $235.00 each and 50 wide by 108 for $265.00 Please email me if you have any questions or thoughts or need delivery information.  I am currently trying to put a truckload together for Texas so if you are an interested Texan, let me know.   Enjoy Springtime....xoxo Warmest regards, Bonny    Bonny Neiman Antiques & Artisan  p.973-714-4541 www.bonnyneiman.com    Trouvaille 12 Beechwood Road  Summit, NJ Monday-Saturday 10-5:30

OLD STONE PLANTERS!

I have a strong affinity for old stone pieces.  Architectural fragments look wonderful hung as art, thick slabs for walkways or steps and planters especially this time of year.  Not that these old pieces need it but the bright green of spring plants make the old grey stone come alive... I can't even speak this picture above is so breathtaking..the old brick steps, stucco, stone entry, the shutters above, their painted door, the fantastic lamps and the antique stone pots.  (side note..the plants in the pots resemble my hairdo on any given day so if you would like to recreate this look I could oblige) dreamy.... My sister is putting simple Boston ferns outside the beach house this summer....love the lantern too... If you need height in a large area adding a shrub or small tree  with flowers and ivy cascading is just beautiful.  I like the calming look of boxwood ... I also love using outdoor planters inside the home...I do believe Brooke from Velvet and Linen is building wonderful windows and doors as the ones above into her new west coast home .... A stone planter as centerpiece.....you don't have to be concerned about the tabletop as hardware stores sell selfstick felt discs in every size. I always like things a little off center....notice the shutters in the corner Paper whites with chartreuse reindeer moss ..... A beautiful vignette using books instead of plants...I love the contrast of a little gold with crusty old white .... More reindeer moss...... Found this on pinterest....what to do with those old jeans??? Now you know.... A VERY unusual planter....I beg you not to reproduce this on your front lawn.... Keep it in the back!  I think that sofa could have been saved and recovered, what do you think?  I DO think I would have used larger plants, though.  It just doesn't scream succulents to me... My front porch above with my frost proof flower choices du jour. The planter on the right is my favorite. And now to show you a wonderful collection of available old planters... Click here  for more details Keeping with the floral theme the SUNDAY NIGHT SALE is for this beautiful oil on board still life painting of a rose in water, by Connecticut artist Charles Logan, custom framed.  It measures  11.5 inches tall by 9 .75 inches wide.  It retails for $525.00 and it is on sale for $175.00.  First person to email me gets to take it home (buyer pays shipping) Good luck! The Sunday night sale has been a great success, thank you to everyone for participating and for your nice comments. I really enjoy hearing from you and seeing your pictures of rooms where antiques are used.  There will not be a sale next week as I will be hunting for Easter eggs.  My favorite blog list is growing, please visit these talented designers for wonderful inspiration for your own interiors. There has been a small price increase on the window panels but I am honoring the current pricing until April 15th if you were thinking of placing an order now is a good time. The site has been updated with new finds, email me with any questions.  Once again, I use a terrific independent delivery service for pieces traveling across the country and I can easily get a price quote for you. Happy Easter , Happy Spring! Warmest regards, Bonny    Bonny Neiman Antiques & Artisan  p.973-714-4541 www.bonnyneiman.com    Trouvaille 12 Beechwood Road  Summit, NJ Monday-Saturday 10-5:30