Come Flea with Me!

Our customers had beaucoup fun at last month's Brocante! The sun was shiny just like the hot flea market days in Provence.
We shared our tradition of treasure hunting in France with a "pain au chocolat" in one hand -- always brings us good luck. We served them fresh from the oven to our customers. They were all gone in the first hour!
Pretty little mixed matched vintage teacups were very popular. We got these from a local estate sale.Our imported milk bottle crates from Provence were scooped up for their repurposed function as unique storage containers. We have a few left for this month's market.More people came early this time -- there was even a little line at 8am if you can believe it! Lots of customers took home these french jars and perfume bottles. They make a lovely vase in your bedroom paired with a simple bloom for your daily inspiration.

We've already found some fabulous treasures for this month's market. So save the date and spread the word to your friends -- August 29th, 8am - noon. Why not make it easy on yourself and just go ahead and mark the LAST SATURDAY of every month on your calendar for the Maison Rêve Flea Market. As I always say, "Come flea with me!" Yasmine

Paris je t'aime

We just finished watching this fabulous french movie and had to share. Its called Paris je t'aime (check sundance channel for times). It has 18 seperate short stories each one by a different international director -- but all filmed in Paris. Very witting and entertaining. Great cast...juliette binoche, gerard depardieu, steve buscemi, natalie portman... It made me want to book a flight and fly to Paris tonight. Paris je t'aime aussi!

July Flea Market This Saturday

It's that time of the month! Our July Flea Market is this Saturday, July 25th 8am-noon in the back garden of our store. Come early -- we had a line at 8 am last month.

Our "Maison Reve Inspirers" (left to right Courtney, Yasmine, Lisa and Michelle) loaded a 14 ft truck of fun finds for the brocante and store. Rummage through French foosball sets, a vintage cocktail shaker, crock pots, enamel containers, sap buckets and fishing baskets (great storage) and even a 10 ft sailboat with colorful oars --now wouldn't that be nautical in a kids playroom!

We'll have lots of pretty boxes and creative storage containers too!

After picking the perfect Find, slow your life down and relax for a leisurely brunch at a local cafe in charming Mill Valley. We recommend Small Shed Flatbread or The Depot across from our store if the weather is nice. Live like the French. See you at the Flea!

OOBA - The Power of the Flower!

Our new friends, Janet DiGiovanna and Danny Rubenstein, pictured here with Stan Williams, made a very generous donation of OOBA to "The Find" book signing party. OOBA is the world's first sparkling hibiscus beverage and is rich in the ancient healing power of hibiscus - a powerhouse of antioxidants. As guests nibbled on organic goodies from the local farmers market, they were treated to this delicious hibiscus drink.

Janet and Danny are the founders of dash - Advisors to Innovative Food and Beverage - they are strategists, business builders and entrepreneurs. Danny was one of the original partners of "Naked" Juice, the COO at Odwalla and together with Janet has advised many companies such as Whole Foods, Pom Wonderful and Tazo.

After meeting Stan and learning more about Housing Works Thrift Shops, dash Advisors made a large donation of OOBA for the next Housing Works benefit in NYC. Housing Works is the largest community-based AIDS service organization in the United States. Here at Maison Reve, we feel so blessed by the generosity of our new friends. Cheers to Janet, Danny and of course, Stan!

Maison Reve and "The Find" Book Signing Party!

A farmhouse table filled with local organic cheeses, figs, grapes and breads, hand-picked from the local farmer's market that morning. Even the plates are compostable, helping to make great soil for our garden!

Re-purpose vintage items, like this scale, as a serving platter.
Serve your guest with pieces that are unexpected.

Stan Williams talks about his passion for vintage pieces and what led him to write "The Find". He says " love what you have in your home; don't feel obligated to keep anything that doesn't feel good to you".

Yasmine speaks to our guests about how she was inspired to create her style of
Urban Farmhouse Living.

The audience participates in the lively discussions.

We love this farm trolley that was repurposed as a coffee table for the evening.

We made the cover! July 9th Book Signing Event!

Come and be inspired by Stan Williams, author of “The Find”.
Thursday July 9th, 2009
Time: 6:00 – 8:00pm
Maison Rêve
108 Throckmorton Ave
Mill Valley, CA 94941
415.383.9700

The Find by Stan Williams is sub-titled ‘The Housing Works Book of Decorating with Thrift Shop Treasures, Flea Market Objects, and Vintage Details’ - that just about sums it up. It’s been said that this beautiful book “will make you wish you had an empty house that you could decorate from scratch - or at least an empty room.” Stan will let you in on secrets about what to look for, and how to identify a great piece. Followed by Yasmine McGrane, owner of Maison Rêve and inspiration for the cover of The Find, speaking about Urban Farmhouse Lifestyle.

Flea Market Brocante - This Saturday June 27

Mark your calendars! Our Flea Market Brocante is this Saturday, June 27th 8am to noon. Come early for the best finds.

May Brocante

Our second Maison Réve brocante or French flea market was a hit!  The last Saturday of every month we hold this unique sale in the garden behind the store. There are vintage treasures abound and great buys for every budget. Starting at 8am, people line up to be the first to discover a hidden special something. Be sure to visit us next month on Saturday, June 27th at 8 am.  For more images of the last brocante visit our flickr page. Merci!

Maison Réve Brocante Weekend

Our Brocante or French Flea Market was a tremendous success! Inspired patrons lined up at 8 am to be the first to find special treasures and one-of-a-kinds early in the morning. Our accordioniste played French music while people sipped hot coffee and tasted our new organic biscuits and biscotti. Maison Réve inpirers laid out vintage tea sets and kitchen ware for the taking...
Our festive bunting alerted passersby to the hub bub of activity in our Urban Farmhouse garden at the back of the store.




We bid bienvenue to all who entered.

A treasure trove of vintage goodies, discounted garden decor and one of a kind items are to be found at our Brocante the last Saturday of every month. Don't forget we open at 8am for those who want the best deals and discoveries! We hope to see you all there next month on Saturday May 30th!

We're on the Cover!

We are happy to announce that we made the cover of a great new vintage home decor book called The Find: The Housing Works Book of Decorating With Thrift Shop Treasures, Flea Market Objects, and Vintage Details by Stan Williams. A photographer came to shoot at Maison Réve's owner, Yasmine McGrane's home about a year ago. Yasmine took the photographer on a day of antique shopping to scout out and shoot new vintage trends in decorating. For the cover, they chose a photo shot in Yasmine's master bedroom.....the Y was a wedding gift a friend gave her along with an & and D for Yasmine & David. We are so happy to see our photo selected for the cover of the book, a first for Maison Rêve!

The Find hits our shelves on May 5th. Check back for info about our book signing and kick off event that week!