Antiquities
73Vintage and Shabby Chic
Vintage or shabby chic is a form of interior design where furniture and furnishings are either chosen for their age and signs of wear and tear or new items are distressed to achieve the appearance of being old.
The style started in Great Britain. In truth, it evokes the type of decoration found in large old country houses where there are worn and faded old chintz sofas and curtains, old paintwork which was considered unassuming 'good' taste. The end result of shabby chic is to achieve an elegant overall effect, as opposed to kitsch. Modern Bohemians and artisans were responsible for making the style popular as a kind of counter reaction during the 1980s, when highly styled interior design became popular with the upper middle classes. The original shabby chic or vintage interiors were usually considered in themselves works of art.
I guess one of the reasons I like old things is because each item has a story to tell--maybe many stories. These items also have a presence, often, that new things do not have; they often take on the weight or feel of art, even if they were initially produced to be functional.
Many of these photos were taken inside my partners' architectural studio. He seems to love old things--I realized this when I took my camera in there to really take a good look. To follow on this theme, perhaps, he's well known in the area for his hand-drawn renderings and elevations (representative drawings of buildings), which is unusual for a designer or architect to do these days, as mostly everything can be done on the computer.
Digital drawings just don't have the same presence or feel, though. I believe this is because art is a physical and visceral endeavor, and no tool is yet as direct and as expressive for a draughtsmen than a pencil.
Some of the other photos are of thrift store items, items I've collected (I keep things I find beautiful forever), or are just small hidden corners of places I've discovered.
Illuminated Manuscript
Dreams of Africa
Shades of Durer
Crimson & Cross
Scrolls
Loose Leaf
Indian Screen
Raising Arizona
Vintage Electric
Old Stove
Drawing Board
Sinew
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All things vintage:
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The Vintage Caper
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Vintage Jesus: Timeless Answers to Timely Questions (Relit Theology)
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Vintage Hairstyling: Retro Styles with Step-by-Step Techniques
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Vintage Church: Timeless Truths and Timely Methods (Re:Lit: Vintage Jesus)
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2010 Official Vintage Guitar Magazine Price Guide
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Vintage Spirits and Forgotten Cocktails: From the Alamagoozlum to the Zombie 100 Rediscovered Recipes and the Stories Behind Them
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The Vintage Table: Personal Treasures and Standout Settings
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Vintage Cisneros
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Vintage Cocktails
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Vintage in the news:
- St. Helena falls to Vintage after returning homeThe St. Helena Star1 second ago
The St. Helena High girls basketball team is normally at its best when pounding teams into submission, with defense leading to fast break points. The Saints had the defensive effort present but transition buckets were nonexistent in a 33-30 loss to the Vintage Crushers on Monday night in Napa.
- Vacaville wrestlers shut out VintageThe Vacaville Reporter1 second ago
Vacaville High School's wrestling team overpowered visiting Vintage in the Monticello Empire League opener Wednesday night with an emphatic 74-0 victory.
- Another fine VintageAlbany and Great Southern Weekender1 second ago
SOME of Australia’s top blues performers will be at Albany’s 14th annual Vintage Blues Festival at Wignalls Winery this Saturday. Organiser Rob Wignall said having Diesel as the headline act should be enough to attract the most avid blues enthusiasts.
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Comments
I might, TK, :) I'll take a look and post them when I have them processed. Thanks for coming by.
You make a wonderful docent for your partner's office tour! Although some of the items are "commonplace" your descriptions make them stars. I would NOT have wondered about the cross on a crimson background unless you so cleverly mentioned it!
BTW, my Hubby is also an architect and also works at a drafting table. Just can't seem to make the switch over to autocad or whatever program they're using these days. All hand drawn and hand noted! Fancy that!! MM
Thanks, MM. How funny you also have one of those guys! Yeah--Matt does Autocad, he just doesn't like it. And sometimes they just pay him for the elevations/illustrations.
Well, those crosses are just everywhere here. Matt had that one cast off a design of his. And I have cultural Catholic affiliations, so I think about these things, I guess. Also the colors of the Southwest can be soooo--crimson! Thank you for stopping..
Hey Lita
I totally can relate to your love for old things. Anything nostalgic, melancholic, sentimental, bring it on to me! I'm a sucker for the past and lonely and broken things. I guess that's why letting go, for me, is a difficult thing do. Thanks for sharing. Such wonderful pictures :D
Thanks, Cris, as always. Yeah, lonely or broken things. Or things from foreign cultures. (What is that about?) There are a few of us!
Lita
Nice question. You made me think! Hmmm I think it's our love and passion for the arts. An art object stands the time, they're virtually timeless. So we hold onto them as proof of their existence. Now what do I mean by that? LOL you figure it out and maybe hub about? :D
:) Yes. I would have to think about that much more. lol Thanks...
You are really good at this photography thing. These are lovely. Thank you for sharing them. (We have a bunch of deer skulls, left by the previous owner.)
Wow, reminds me of some of my things lying around. haha, another man's junk huh? great pictures. Cowboy boots are wonderful works of art too. gee thanks for this one
Pam--Yeah, I'm trying to be good at this photography thing... Not taking it as seriously as I should, though. Is that what that skull is--a deer skull? I dunno. It's a 'studio skull' to me. Thanks, Pam.
CC--Well, yeah, you know, it is old junk kinda laying about, ;). No bones about it. I like to really try and look at things tho, with a camera. If'n you like boots, you'd like AZ, lol (I prefer my stilettos.) Thanks for stopping by and becoming a fan, :)
Oooo, she has stilettos, oh no, that means toes. here I go> haha
Yah, those usually comes on a foot--even if you wear cowboy boots, lol, ;)..I'll be checking out your hubs soon, Mr. Blake.
I really liked that framed print.
Thanks, Sweetie. Yes, it's a cool drawing. Glad you liked something, lol! (That's all right--hey, freedom of expression! ;) )
Cool stuff. =)
I collect obsolete technology. I have like a 10 pound hard drive that has DOS 1.x something on it, except it can't be connected to any computer in production today because it uses an old weird interface.
I love antiques, but I'm also weary. Especially those made from Wood.
But this comes from my hillbilly heritage and in the belief that spirits may inhabit things they love.
Sincerely,
G|M
That's some heritage, GM...not sure Matthew doesn't have a bit of that same heritage, literally--he's from Texas.
10 lb hard drive, huh? Heavy!!
TKIMWRSVC says:
9 months ago
I want that colorful architectural plans for myself, lovely. Do you have more shots of it?