Urban Farmhouse Holiday Warmth

We just started decorating our home for the holidays. Opening boxes of our home made ornaments, table runners, grain sack stockings, and holiday napkins with the kids makes me feel like a kid again!  One of the things I do each year to bring some winter warmth to our living room and my children, Finnegan and Delphine's, bedrooms is add a red pillow or classic ivory throw.  So simple but always brings holiday cheer to the room.  Here are a few of my favorites that might work in your home. 

 

Bholu dharti wool pillow from New Zealand. 18 x 18 inch. $160

Cloud pillow from Argentina. Hand knit. 27 x 18 inch.  $265

French sack pillow. 24 x 2 inch. $285

Cloud pouf from Argentina. Hand kint by artisans. Was $585, now $385

Vintage French grain seed sack pillow. 21 x 21 inch. $185

Rouge et blanc stripe grain sack pillow. 18 x 18 inch. $180

Cozy cable knit pillow. 16 x 16 inch. $120

Grain seed sack pillow case.  Great table runner or tree skirt during holidays! $110

 

Corriedale wool stripe throw from Argentina. Hand woven.  $265

Classic corriedale wool throw in ivory from Argentina.  Hand woven.  $265

All pillows and poufs have removable covers for easy washing and the best quality down inserts. I like to keep the items we sell special so we only carry a limited number of each one.  Email us to purchase.

I hope you have as much fun as we are decorating your home for the holidays! Yasmine

A Month in a French Farmhouse.

If you really want to sever ties with the way you live now - the environment, the technology, the language, the food, the way of living - then one of the first things you have to do is give up your smartphone. With that in mind, I'll be switching mine off this Sunday for four whole weeks. It's part of a commitment to totally immerse ourselves in another culture. My husband, two kids and I are packing our bags and winging our way to France to immerse in simple French living. 

I've always wanted to show our children this lifestyle. One that I learned as a child from my French mother. And there's no better time than the present. We found this great 18th century French farmhouse in Provence.

Our gîte (an independent house typically an old farmworkers' cottage or converted barn) is on working French farm perfect for the kids. It's only a short walk into the charming town of Vaison-la-Romaine in Provence. The town is well known for having one of the best organic weekly food markets in France. 

I will be capturing the inside stories of simple French living....from life at the cafés, decorating ideas inspired by restaurants, ateliers and farmhouses we visit, recipes from the locals and much more. All will be shared here upon our return. So share with me which culture you would like to immerse yourself in and why. I would love to hear your thoughts!

Chapter Deux

This posting gives me a chance to share more details about the next Chapter of Maison Rêve. As I mentioned in a recent newsletter, our mission has always been simple -- to inspire you to create a home you love to live in.

Not a house but a home. Filled with memories and treasures that reflects your unique personality. A place where you enjoy the simple moments of life. Casual dinner parties with friends where they stop over on a Friday afternoon with a bottle of wine and you have the baguette and cheese. Cooking with your kids so they grow up loving all kinds of cuisines and become little gourmet chefs. Reading a book (with real pages!) on a rainy Sunday afternoon. Stopping to savor lunch rather than eating at your desk. Living with vintage, organic, fair trade, and locally crafted products to stay in harmony with your environment and give back to communities. 

This vision has always been a personal one. I learned this simpler lifestyle from my Suisse French mother as a child growing up in Montréal. So it has been a pleasure not only inspiring you with our products but also, hopefully, with a bit of this simpler lifestyle too. I am so grateful to each of you for being loyal to Maison Rêve these past 9 years. It has enabled us to significantly grow and expand each year - ending with our best holiday season ever. 

So with a New Year brings new change. This change has been evolving in me for more than a year now. I am a big believer in listening to our whispers. My whisper has been telling me to grow my own creativity and impact with Maison Rêve. I have learned personally the challenge of “doing it all at the same time” while still trying to enjoy the simple joyful moments of life. Really tough. So to enable true authenticity into my life, I want to announce some personal growth of my own with what might be called the next chapter for Maison Rêve. It involves closing the store on January 31st -- with many exciting new things to come in Chapter Two. 

The next year will be a real experiment of authentically living the Maison Rêve lifestyle. I will be growing our own garden. Taking cooking classes and teaching those tips to my two young children (Finnegan 5 and Delphine 2.5). I will also be looking to share these experiences with you.  Online.  Writing for a magazine. Creating a lifestyle book. And so much more. Should you want to join in and live this simpler lifestyle with me, we’ll be sharing these experiences and tips on this blog for the sheer pleasure of inspiring one another. 

And don't worry about products. We will have plenty of our signature vintage and organic products on www.maisonreve.com to purchase. Remember we ship everywhere! For our local San Francisco Bay area customers, we will be hosting Maison Rêve Living events that combine our popular workshops and flea market finds at inspiring locations each season. My husband and I recently restored our 1893 Victorian home in Old Town Sausalito and that will be one of the venues for our Maison Rêve Living weekend events. Imagine experiencing urban farmhouse workshops throughout the property – organic gardening, simple French cooking, urban farmhouse decorating, feng shui, life coaching and more taught by local experts all while buying one-of-a-kind French flea market items right off the walls. Then maybe another event will be at a restored barn in Point Reyes. Who knows!  

If you want to keep up with these events, sign our guest book at the store this month or online at www.maisonreve.com.

If you want to benefit from our Moving On Sale come by the store soon or shop online.  Everything is 30% off! Includes: Vintage Flea Market Finds. Sofas and Rugs. Lovely Throws and Pillows. Libeco and Coyuchi Bed Sheets. Coyuchi Organic Towels. Hunter Boots. Locally Hand-made Jewelry.  Reclaimed Barn Wood Shelving. Store Fixtures and MUCH more! Sale starts January 3rd at 10 am.

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to email me.

Thank you very much for your support. It has given me the courage to take my dream to the next level.

Yasmine
Inspirer and Founder
Maison Rêve

because some people dream in french

108 Throckmorton Avenue

Mill Valley, CA  94941

415.383.9700

www.maisonreve.com

Flea Market this Saturday, November 5 at 8AM

Text your friends.  Call your neighbors.  The truck of goodies have arrived. It's time for our once-a-season Maison Reve Flea Market. This Saturday, November 5, 8am to 5pm in the back garden of our store.

Come early.  There is usually a line outside our front door at 8am!  And this market has a twist.  We will have racks of women's clothes, shoes, purses, and accessories donated by the fashionista Moms of Sausalito Nursery School (where our owner Yasmine's children attend).  All these items are just $5 dollars each with the money going directly to support the school.  So get ready to shop until you drop.  See you at the Flea!

Wednesday's One-of-a-Kind Deal

Every Wednesday we post one of my team's favorite vintage items at a ridiculously low price. This Wednesday's one-of-a-kind deal is is our green vintage sun umbrella.

Above: Classic hunter green with wide white stripe, wood handle, 80 inch diameter. These umbrellas are rare finds and collector items. Perfect for summer fun. Retail price $260, Wednesday's deal of the day $160!

Only one available. Sold to the first person that emails shop@maisonreve.com wanting to purchase. Remember we ship. Happy Wednesday!

Wednesday's Won-of-a-Kind

Every week we will feature a one-of-a-kind vintage item exclusively on our blog that you can purchase for a ridiculously low price. How fun! There is only ONE of the featured item so the FIRST person to email wanting to purchase wins.

Above: This Wednesday's Won-of-a-Kind treasure -- our Industrial Rolling Shipyard Trolley Cart. An original vintage item with breathtaking character. Imagine as your new coffee table. Or in the garden holding pots of fresh herbs. Even in your kids playroom as a fun art table. 

Above: Original detailing. Weathered wood plank top. Industrial rolling wheels. Measures 45 by 30 inches.

THE DEAL: Original price $850. Wednesday's deal $300!  

To purchase, email shop@maisonreve.com  with "Wednesday Won-of-a-Kind Winner" in subject line. Include your preferred means of contact. We will respond immediately answering any questions. Remember we ship across the country and can provide a quote before purchase.  

Will you be this Wednesdays Won-of-a-Kind Winner? 

Behind the Scenes at our French Flea Market



With so many vintage objects to prepare, there is a lot of cleaning, pricing and decorating involved in hosting this once-a-season event. But its our team's favorite thing to do. Here Tracey and Nikki compare a vintage potato rice masher to its modern counterpart. Yes, we are obsessed with all things vintage!

 

Our handyman, Acsel, and his guys built a magical see through tented structure to keep the rain out. It poured during the flea but shoppers stayed warm and dry.



Our biggest line ever extended past our store waiting for doors to open at 8am. 



This season's market was filled with lots of entertaining treasures to inspire Spring dinner parties. Fondue pots. Cafe late bowls. Ceramic pitchers. Cupcake tins. French white plates were huge hits.

 

Serious shoppers turned every object over to find the perfect treasures.

 

Nikki has fallen in love with our new Blackbird Bakery Gluten-Free cookbook. She baked yummy brownies for our customers. Thank you Chef Nikki!



Katie Kennedy was our first person in line and won this Milk Bottle Flower Vase from Holland. "It was such a lovely surprise. I came with my Mom, Eileen Kennedy, because she loves this store.  And this gift is serendipitous because I move into my new apartment today. It will look fabulous filled with Spring flowers or fresh herbs on a small table in my new kitchen!"

Our next French Flea Market is in 3 months. Date and time will be announced on our blog. 



Flea Market this Saturday Rain or Shine

Time to text your girlfriends. Call the husband to watch the kids (or bring them along!). The truck has been unloaded for our once-a-season Maison Reve Flea Market this Saturday. Rain or shine - its on!  Wait until you see what we have planned if it does rain.  A magical candlelit experience under tarps.  My team is busy as a bee pricing and shining all our treasures for your hunting indulgence. I just have to stop myself from sneaking a few home every day. I left yesterday with this fabulous onion chopper that had the most adorable Maison Reve orange push top on it - how can a girl resist?!  So 1) COME EARLY 2) wear your Hunter wellie boots (or buy some at our store), and 3) bring a friend as its the perfect escape to start the weekend. See you this Saturday, March 19, 8am - 5pm.  

Sneak a Peak into our Flea this Saturday

One of my memorable moments travelling with my husband through Provence is eating at a farmhouse restaurant we stumble onto off a windy French road. It's not just for the predictably delicious coq au vin or smattering of oh-so-fattening cheese plates. Mais non. It's for the architectural inspiration found in their secret dining patios. Every place never fails to deliver its inspiration. An old french baby crib with a cluster of pots overflowing with fresh herbs.  A grand entry chateaux gate leaning against a wall with overgrown seedlings hugging its retired posts. I always leave inspired. 

As we start sowing our seeds for Spring, now is the best time to bring a piece of Europe into our homes and gardens. For our beloved blog followers, you get a sneak preview into our Flea Market before the doors open this Saturday at 8am. And receive an additional 10% off the already ridiculously slashed sale prices on any of these four previewed items below!  The catch - you must purchase them this Thursday or Friday ONLY. So if you can't make it to our Flea Market or don't want to wait in line at 8am, you just got the coveted early bird ticket.  

A gorgeous gate from an inn in Tuscany, originally $950, sale $385.

A fabulous French baby crib, originally $950, sale $350 and a pair of fleur de lys urns, originally $550, sale $365 each.

An entry gate from a French chateaux in Avignon, originally $1200, sale $450. Imagine in a garden with tomatoes growing up it, or as a headboard or just leaning against a wall in your home as architectural art.

See more photos, prices and dimensions of these 4 previewed items online www.maisonreve.com/shop Garden and Baby sections. Then email shop@maisonreve.com or call 415.383.9700 to purchase. Mention "10% sneak peak" when purchasing. Remember there is only one of each item and must be purchased this Thursday or Friday to receive the additional discount.

Favorite Find of the Week

One of the girls on my team, Nikki, says her favorite day is when we unload our truck full of vintage treasures after a hunting binge. She loves to see the hidden gems spill out. As fate would have it, we both unquestionably fall in love with many, helping one another resist the urge to take them all home. But there is always that one stand out piece that captivates my heart. This week's Favorite Find is our Industrial Rolling Drawer Cabinet.

Stripped down to the original galvanized finish.  Fabulous variety of drawer sizes.

Reclaimed wood plank top was added making it the perfect Urban Farmhouse cabinet.

Imagine it in your office as stylish storage, living room with a TV on top, or kitchen as an rolling bar (did I mention it has to die for large caster wheels). I think its brilliant in a mudroom to stash away the smattering of hats, mittens and dog leashes.

It's vintage so only one of its kind. If your heart is going pitter patter give us a ring 415.383.9700. shop@maisonreve.com  Measures 48.5 x 24.5 x 44. $1,620.  See more treasures in our online shop at www.maisonreve.com