There is a shop… and within this shop there is another shop… a place where treasure abounds… that is, if your idea of treasure is vintage everything… linens, laces, buttons, quilts, trims, tassels and bows…
A non-descript little enclave in the non-busy part of town…. but at the same time an Aladdin’s cave and a destination for many buyers from all around the world… The owner Francine, is charming and with the help of her daughter-in-law and husband she oversees this incredible emporium.
Yesterday I had the pleasure of visiting La Boutique de Francine on my search for some vintage linens. Finally after what seems a thousand aeons I am re-upholstering some chairs for our dining room. They are simple round backed chairs with black matt legs… comfortable enough for long lazy lunches and dinners in Provence… and I had the idea to cover each chair in a different vintage linen… all in shades of greige… There are a pair of French fauteuils for either end of the table and those I want to upholster in similar fabrics.
Francine managed to find me the most beautiful, aged linens in the tones I wanted… Her back room is overwhelming with choice and she recognised that I needed help to find what I was searching for… Francine knows every last bolt of fabric, every monogrammed sheet and whether there is a seam or a mark on a particular piece… Francine knows how wide and how long each piece of linen is… she is the font of all linen lore… She opened armoires, she sorted through piles and she managed to put together nine fabulous pieces for me…
Now I have the fabric… The only question remaining is how to upholster them… Do I have slip covers made or would fitted upholstery be better? Would they look pretty with a skirt… or not? The room is large and very simple… a fireplace one end and a large painted cupboard at the other end… The table is wooden and seats ten… it’s country not city… What about the trim… nails or piping? Or buttoned backs…
So many decisions to make… What do you think? I would love to hear your ideas? xv
For Your Address Book
La Boutique de Francine
1 Avenue Julian Guigue
84800 L’Isle sur la Sorgue
+33 4 90 38 55 81
( open Saturday and Sunday)
