thrifting – Francois et Moi

How to Shop for Vintage like a Pro

francoisetmoiblog@gmail.com — Thu, 03 Nov 2016 13:15:47 +0000

When scouting vintage and thrifted pieces for the home, it’s all about finding that right, one-of-a-kind piece for the space, but “the hunt” can often be super time consuming. Wading through a hundred uninteresting pieces to (hopefully!) stumble upon the perfect gem isn’t exactly an efficient process, but it’s what we love about thrifting, right? It’s the thrill of the hunt, never quite knowing what you’re going to find. I don’t plan on giving up on one of my favorite downtime activities anytime soon, so I called in one of my favorite Chicagoan designers and vintage scouting pro, Claire Staszak, to offer up a few tips on how she scores vintage pieces for both her own home and for clients without spending every waking moment at the flea market. Read on below! In tandem with today’s post, Claire and I are also teaming up to host a little Instagram contest and giveaway. Today through Sunday, tag your favorite vintage home decor with #LivingVintage and make sure to follow both Claire @centered_by_design & myself @francoisetmoiblog. The winner will be featured on both our accounts on Monday and receive a vintage trinket box from Claire! Open to US only. How to Shop […]

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Where to Shop for Vintage in Chicago

francoisetmoiblog@gmail.com — Tue, 10 May 2016 14:32:40 +0000

Earlier this Spring, I counted down my favorite spots to hunt for vintage home treasures here in Minneapolis, and today I’m back on the topic, but this time in Chicago, my 2nd favorite Midwest City! #winkwink Summer is practically here, and you know what that means: ROADTRIP! Fellow Midwestern designer/blogger, Claire Staszak, of Centered by Design is here to give us the inside scoop on the best spots to shop for thrift and vintage pieces in her City (A.K.A. Her personal favorites for hunting vintage gems for both herself & clients.) Claire and I met on Instagram, and bonded over renovating our 1930’s era homes + our mutual love for all things vintage, so I was all-in when she suggested we collaborate. Take one look at her site or Instagram, and it’s not hard to see Claire has impeccable style and a love for good design. I knew she’d have the skinny on where to go. If you’re planning a Chicago roadtrip this summer, make sure to pin this map, so you know where to go when you’re there! The South Loop Loft / Canary Lane North Avenue Collective Modern Cooperative / Lost Girls Vintage Divine Consign Coyle and […]

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Hand-Painted Blue & White Plates + HouseBeautiful.com Feature!

francoisetmoiblog@gmail.com — Thu, 05 Feb 2015 17:22:11 +0000

I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw the email from HouseBeautiful.com come through asking if I was interested in participating in their new series, The Inspiration Files, highlighting some of their favorite DIY bloggers. I mean, what an opportunity! After doing a spirited (Carlton-style) happy dance, I got to work on a DIY plate wall project that I’ve had dancing around in my head for awhile involving thrift shop plates and blue paint. Inspired by Japanese ceramics, I used a combination of 3 “painting” techniques (detailed below) to create a cohesive plate grouping that conjures the look of a curated vintage plate collection. Check out the project’s sneak peak and a little Q & A over on HouseBeautiful.com (!!!), as well as the full tutorial below. Thank you to HouseBeautiful.com for such an amazing opportunity! Materials: 10-12 white, round mix-and-match plates in various sizes. I picked up mine up at a local thrift store for a total of $7! Adhesive stencils + fine tip oil-based paint pen in blue Cardstock roughly 3″ x 10″ in size Adhesive silk screens + high gloss acrylic paint in indigo + foam block or pouncer 10-12 gold plate hangers + nails for hanging Adorn the Plates. Decorate the plates […]

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