Vintage – Francois et Moi

How to Turn Vintage Furniture into a Vanity

francoisetmoiblog@gmail.com — Sun, 04 Dec 2022 12:45:00 +0000

From thrifted desk to functional bathroom sink console! Here’s an in-depth look at how we turned an old, $40 piece of furniture into a vanity. Dreams really do come true! I’ve been fantasizing about turning a vintage piece of furniture into a vanity for over a year, and we finally made it happen! Not only is repurposing vintage furniture as bathroom vanities more cost effective than buying new, it’s also gentler on the planet. What was in this bathroom was a cookie cutter vanity, that I’m assuming was a quick band-aid for putting the house on the market. It’s served its purpose ok over the last 7+ years. However, the drain doesn’t work, the melamine wrap is coming off, and the back of the cabinet had been cut away inside, exposing the water lines, so as I mentioned in my bathroom progress post, every morning I’d wrestle with the pipes when reaching for my hair dryer. Last Fall I found this desk on Facebook Marketplace for $40. I love the classical details, the wood knobs and the shelf below. For the preservationists among us, don’t worry. This isn’t a precious antique. The drawer boxes (though dovetailed) are constructed of soft-ish […]

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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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Designer Tips for Mixing Interior Styles

francoisetmoiblog@gmail.com — Mon, 15 Aug 2016 17:51:37 +0000

When it comes to interior design, incorporating a mix of styles often leads a more interesting, soulful, and evergreen space that helps to reflect our true personalities, more so than say, a space outfitted with a matching set of furniture. I think we can all agree that the matchy-matchy look has long worn out its welcome, but mixing interior styles can be hard to pull off. Luckily, Claire Staszak, my designer/blogger friend behind Centered by Design, is back (Remember when she stopped by this Spring?) to help de-mystify things a bit and show us three distinctly different spaces where she’s created a successful mix of styles, why it works, and where to source the key pieces. Oooh, this is going to be fun! Shall we get started? Claire’s Design Approach: “There is no perfect formula to creating a beautiful space, because what everyone enjoys and feels comfortable with is different, but I have found in my design work, that mixing three key elements helps me achieve the eclectic and “just can’t put your figure on it” wonderful that I’m usually striving for.” Those three elements are a mixture of: Modern (New) Vintage (Found) Handmade (Commissioned) Boho Glam Mélange […]

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How to Make a Felt Message Board

francoisetmoiblog@gmail.com — Wed, 10 Aug 2016 12:45:23 +0000

You know those super cool vintage message boards you’re seeing across Instagram right now? I REEEALLY wanted one for my place, but the trouble was I couldn’t find one thrifting, and I couldn’t afford the price tag of a new one, so I decided to pitch a DIY version to Apartment Therapy for my monthly tutorial. They were on board with the idea, so I got to work right away, because (to be honest) I pitched the project without any idea how I was actually going to make it. Yikes! That’s not how I normally roll, but something told me I could figure this one out. Plus, I wanted one so bad, I’d make sure I figured it out. There was only one tutorial out there on the subject, and it was by an engineering student who very precisely CNC routed a wood slotted skeleton frame to tuck the felt fabric in to + he built his own finished frame. Though it was a great tutorial, it involved far too much math and industrial equipment for my liking, and I knew there had to be a way to make one without all the industrial equipment. So here’s the skinny on […]

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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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Thrift & Vintage Shop Favorites in Minneapolis

francoisetmoiblog@gmail.com — Wed, 16 Mar 2016 16:26:03 +0000

I’m all about mixing in vintage with handmade, as I think together they add depth and personality to our homes. And when I’m feeling extra inspired, I even use thrift store finds in my DIY projects because pourquoi pas, n’est pas? When we lived in the North Loop, I’d drive by the Salvation Army every day on my way home from work and would stop in (maybe a little too) often to check out their new arrivals. What’s great about the North Loop’s Salvation Army is they essentially have two stores wrapped into one. The main floor is the donation thrift shop that they sell “Buy the Pound.” The lower level is all of Target Corp’s prototypes, props, strike-offs, and (I’m guessing) over runs, so it’s all new pieces that didn’t necessarily make it to market. We’re lucky to have so many awesome thrift and vintage resources at our fingertips in Minneapolis, and since I talk a lot about mixing vintage with handmade here on Francois et Moi, I thought I’d share a few of my favorite spots to shop (or dig) for vintage home goods in Minneapolis, so in no particular order: Salvation Army – North Loop Hunt & […]

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Granny Tash [ A Giveaway ]

francoisetmoiblog@gmail.com — Wed, 03 Jun 2015 23:09:12 +0000

Interior designer, Tasha Tyler, and I first bonded several years ago over a shared love of antiquing, thrifting and pretty much all things vintage. Tasha, who is affectionately nicknamed Granny Tash because of the long list of things she has in common with grandmothers everywhere, including a total love affair with vintage curiosities, is a retro-curating veteran. She’s been collecting and selling vintage treasures through various outlets for years, long before it was considered chic or “on trend”. And has recently opened her own smartly curated vintage home shop, Granny Tash. I was so excited when I heard what Tasha was up to because I absolutely LOVE her style. I’d say it’s 2 parts mid-century to 1 part classic modern with a dash of quirk in there somewhere. Exhibit A: Her Instagram Account. She’s got a discerning eye for spotting those diamond-in-the-rough, statement pieces that possess the effortless ability to add soul and a “collected over time” sensibility to your space. My favorite pieces in her shop are the Vintage Embroidered Pillow Covers. Colorful. Handmade. Heaven. (There’s only one set available, so make sure to snag them!) And now for the fun part! As a way to spread the vintage […]

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DIY Bike Basket

francoisetmoiblog@gmail.com — Wed, 08 Apr 2015 12:17:29 +0000

I love a good bike basket. There’s just something nostalgic and downright picture-perfect about them–don’t you think? I’d been wanting to get one last summer for trips to the farmer’s market and carting picnic fixing to the park, but I never quite found the right one. So this year, I wasn’t going to let another summer pass without one and got to work turning my leftover Easter basket into bike caddy. I mean, why not?! I love how it turned out–bring it on picnic season! Materials: Oval or rectangle shaped basket. I used the Easter basket I had on hand from this year, but thrift stores usually have tons this time of year. Painter’s tape Outdoor craft paint Paint brush For the Buckle Straps: A scrap of faux leather or leather at least 8.5″ long. Two – 1/2″ buckles Rotary cutter Ruler Pen 1/8″ hole punch Waxed thread Sewing needle 1. Remove the basket handle (if applicable) by cutting the rattan straps that hold it in place. 2. Apply painter’s tape to create a design. I taped 4 horizontal rows, so that I’d end up with 3 painted stripes. 3. Paint in between tape lines with outdoor craft paint. Allow […]

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Leather + Teak Clock

francoisetmoiblog@gmail.com — Mon, 24 Mar 2014 12:52:41 +0000

Hello there! Hope you had a fab weekend. This morning I’m excited to share this simple clock Ken and I made using materials we found thrifting: a Thai teak wood plate and a leather belt. Once we came up with our design, it came together pretty easily, and since we were able to find most of the materials at thrift shops, the total cost was under $7! Here’s the how-to: Materials Needed: Thrifted 12″ Wood plate, tray or wood disc Thrifted Men’s large leather belt Clock kit Gorilla glue Electric drill Measuring tape Pencil AA Battery Step 1. On the front of the plate or wood disc, measure and mark the center with a pencil. Step 2. Using electric drill, drill through wood plate using your pencil mark as a guide. Step 3. Add the clock kit: Place the wood plate on top of the battery piece, so that the white protruding part of the mechanism fits into the drilled hole, and is poking up on the face of the clock. Place metal washer onto the protruding white mechanism.Then screw on the nut. Peel back the film on the clock hands. Place clock hands over top of the nut and […]

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Mandy + Louie’s Road Trip Engagement Photos

francoisetmoiblog@gmail.com — Mon, 18 Nov 2013 13:50:17 +0000

I’m so delighted to share with you a collection of road trip inspired engagement photos by Jamieson Dean Photography featuring the simply stunning affianced couple, Mandy and Louie. Their story began with an instant connection and a cross-continent courtship, so a road trip engagement shoot seemed like the perfect way to not only capture, but also celebrate their story. I hope you enjoy the glamorous vintage styling, detailed vision, and pure happiness beaming from this couple’s shoot as much as I do! From Mandy: “Lu and I met a little over two years ago while I was living in Los Angeles (he in Toronto). We both were working for the same company. Lu was speaking at our Regional Meeting in Palm Springs where we first met and we instantly hit it off! From there our instant connection and friendship quickly blossomed into a long distance relationship. We always say “we just knew” from the very beginning. It was just a short matter of time before I was packing up my things to begin my new journey and life in Canada with the man of my dreams. Since our relationship began long distance and naturally we did a lot of travelling to see […]

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