Thursday, April 25, 2013

Style by Coco


I am not afraid to admit that I find 
Coco Chanel fascinating.
Hers is a story that is both tragic and inspiring at the 
same time and reading her biography brings a better understanding of how childhood events 
can shape a child's future.  
That being said, Coco's life also proves 
that hard work, belief in self and 
a refusal to compromise your 
convictions can be keys to success regardless 
of one's beginnings. 
So, since I just finished another biography on 
the only fashion designer to make Time magazine's 
100 most influential people of the 20th century
I thought it time to give a nod to Coco Chanel, 
a woman whose name alone evokes 
images of a style that remains timeless.

31 Rue Cambon Staircase ~ Maggie & Reese Mirror Box
One of the simplest of all design elements - mirrors
"Simplicity is the keynote of all true elegance."
 ~Coco Chanel




31 Rue Cambon East Meets West Decor ~ Maggie & Reese Vintage Red Chinese  Elements

Asian antiquities never go out of style
"Fashion changes, but style endures."
~Coco Chanel

1950 Chanel Anglo Indian Gripoix Bib ~ Maggie & Reese Sybal Necklace

Celebrate 2013 Color of the Year Chanel Style!
"It's disgusting to walk around with millions around the 
neck because one happens to be rich.  I only like fake jewelry ... because it's provocative."
~ Coco Chanel



One of Coco's symbols for luck at 31 Rue Cambon ~ Maggie & Reese Amphibian Prince

Everyone needs a little luck now and then...
"Luck is a way of being..."
~Coco Chanel


For information on shopping for our Coco-inspired items 
click the link below each item or just visit us at:
www.maggieandreese.com

~Maggie





Friday, April 12, 2013

Spring Madness




A little Madness in the Spring 
Is wholesome even for the King.   
~  Emily Dickinson

Okay, like a lot of people here in the South, we thought winter was over, then came another front!  
But spring is finally here and spring madness at my house has begun so I decided to post a few more 
thoughts on spring rituals ...

Spring madness at my house means putting away 
winter accents, rearranging furniture and adding 
touches of spring to every room.

Here are some tips to help get you started:

  • Select a fresh paint color from nature, maybe a soft blue/green, to bring the outdoors inside. It makes a great neutral backdrop for everything from pink to burgundy, green, blue, yellow and orange
  • Mirrors are great reflectors of light and make the whole space glow so add mirror accents to your walls or tabletops
  • Playing up metallic finishes is another way to reflect light into your space.  Be it cool silver or warm gold, metal will lighten the feel of your home
  • If you have crystal, USE IT!  Nothing says spring quite like crystal sparkling in the sunlight
  • Change up your patterns, clean, colorful stripes or a fresh damask.  Textures such as raw silk and sheers bring a soft ethereal atmosphere to a room, especially one with an eastern exposure.
  • And what is spring without flowers?  You don't need expensive bouquets, many grocery stores carry inexpensive daffodils, daisies and tulips this time of year so take advantage of their availability.  I love roses but do not have a garden so this year I have planted one bush of my favorite variety, Queen Elizabeth, on my 3rd floor patio.  This will allow me to have at least one bud on my bedside table each week, so think out of the box and find a way to enjoy your favorite blooms every day.

Visit us at 


for more spring ideas for your home. 

~ Maggie





Wednesday, April 10, 2013

Round Top, Texas



The Round Top Texas Antiques Fair
has been operating for 45 years.  
There are 4 shows throughout the year
that feature everything from early Americana, 
Texan primitive, and a wide variety of antiques 
from the European continent.
So after schedule and route planning, Reese
and I packed our bags and headed
for South Texas!
Of course, being the roadies that we are, the 
first order of business was where would we eat
on our way south?  Reese has a favorite BBQ 
stop not too far off the path 
(less than the required 1" on the map)
so after 3 hours on the road and only 1 stop, 
we pulled into Salt Lick Bar-B-Que


Nothing like a 2 meat combination plate 
to keep the antique hounds going!

Happily satisfied, we headed back to the truck 
(compliments of Maggie's husband for all of our finds).
In spite of the fact the weather forecast had called
for sunny mild days, dark, ominous clouds were looming overhead and by the time we rolled into our Bastrop hotel,  the rain was steadily falling and the temperature had dropped to what we here in Texas call cold, low 50's.
But we were not going to let a little rain stop us so 
after fighting an actual traffic jam over the river, we arrived in downtown Bastrop.
The town of Bastrop sits on the banks of the Colorado River 
and although a settlement had been here since 1804, 
it was officially named in June of 1832.

Bastrop Courthouse
Downtown Bastrop

Our late arrival meant not too many shops were open
but we did manage to find a beverage shop. So as they locked up the town for the evening,
Reese and I headed back to our room for a
night cap and Baylor Basketball!

We believe in the old saying "when in Rome", so a little Texas wine tonight!

The next morning we got up to a cold, brisk wind 
but after a Texas shaped waffle and
biscuits and gravy, we headed out to the fair!



We arrived about an hour after opening
but quickly found a spot to park.
Once we made it through the mud and
slightly trampled bluebonnets
into the Big Red Barn, the hunt began!
There were wooden bread bowls, English china,
buttons, chandeliers, Majolica,
brass sconces, furniture, glassware.
Our first purchase came thirty minutes into the hunt,
a pretty chocolate set from England.

Cocoa Set
Not too long after that we scored a
beautifully etched pitcher of Emerald green
(seems 2013 Color of the Year is haunting us!)

Green Etched Pitcher
After a quick lunch break we found a few more items uniquely suited to our boutique
before it was time to head out.
On the way back, we took a quick side trip
to the actual town of Round Top,
which is really just a wide spot in the road...



Of course once back to Bastrop it was time to eat again.
The previous evening while we were checking out the town we came across a quaint little steakhouse so we headed over to warm up with a big glass of red wine.  Dinner was great and dessert sounded so tempting we could not pass it by, Brulee Cheesecake...



No basketball tonight, just exhaustion setting in 
so it was early to bed in preparation for tomorrow's hunt.
Reese decided to join Maggie in a Texas waffle 
before we headed to the Carmine Dance Hall.
We were a little earlier and the venue a little smaller so with our last few purchases done 
we decided it was time to 
wrap up the road trip and head back to the big city,
after we stopped for a coal fired pizza for the road!
All in all, we feel the trip was a fabulous success and we are so excited to have some unique items to 
offer under our new tab:

Vintage Finds

So check it out and keep checking back for new items!

And if you are lucky enough to have the opportunity to come to Texas, you might try to schedule a trip to
the Round Top Antique Fair,
it is an experience you don't want to miss!

~Maggie