A New Home

Spinet desk now at the Copper Quahog

It's been several weeks since my last blog post. Closing the shop in Black Rock has finally sunk in - both for us and many of our customer/friends. The calls and emails that I have received have been very gratifying...and touching.

There have been lots of questions and concerns about the closing of Redeux: Am I o.k.?  What will happen to the furniture from the shop. Will I continue finding and restoring vintage furniture? What will I do now? The answers to some of these questions are now known.

Yes, I am fine. When we opened the shop it was an opportunity that presented itself totally unexpected. The owners of the building, our dear friends, Joe and MaryLou Formato, gave us the opportunity to do something with Redeux that we could not have done without their encouragement. It was the right time for this to happen. Closing the shop, while somewhat bittersweet for us, was also done with the belief that it was the right time to do so. I had accomplished what I had set out to do: Find, restore and make available to many, American made vintage furniture. I did the best work I could and kept learning every day. What a joy it was!

I doubt anyone reading this has never not had the sense of when something is finished. Whether it be job situations, projects or personal relationships, when you have done all you can, it is finished. Sometimes, though, you are done when you are being called to something else. Many of you had the sense that Redeux was something more than a vintage furniture shop. I am convinced of it. I have pictures of almost every piece I worked on in order to remember them. Yet, it is the people who stopped by and conversations that took place that will be remembered most. It is with this sense of being called to something or somewhere else that I knew Redeux was finished. It is more than o.k.

The furniture in the shop has taken on new lives. Some have gone to new homes, some I cannot part with (at least yet) and some have gone to a new, temporary, home awaiting adoption. Ms Pamela DaCosta is the owner of The Copper Quahog, a lovely shop in Bristol, RI. Pamela has taken many Redeux pieces to her shop to sell along with her excellent array of glass, pottery and metal gift and functional ware. It is a very wonderful shop and is located only about a 2 hours drive from Fairfield. You may call Pamela at 401-297-7749 to inquire about what furniture pieces she has in stock or go to the Copper Quahog website click: Copper Quahog 

For those wondering if I will continue finding and restoring vintage furniture, the answer is a bit less clear. I'd like and intend to. When or where is still unclear to me.  We'll just have to wait and see.

For now, I'm just waiting for "directions".

Bill & Granddaughter working on chess table now available at Copper Quahog

As always, Tea is on. Send me an email; we'll set something up. Maybe The Redhead will bake a little something!

Bill

New Beginnings?

This past year at Redeux has seen some remarkable developments: the introduction of our Redeux chalk-painted Cottage Furniture line, the addition of more art and accessories to our inventory, the restoration of more higher-end pieces and the offering of more one-of-a-kind period pieces. The most remarkable development of all was of a personal nature, when The Red Head became, Mrs. Red Head.

But, there have been other developments as well. Redeux has been honored that a very high percentage of visitors to our shop have become customers and avid fans of what we do. Unfortunately, the number of visitors to our area (not only our shop) has decreased. When surveyed, quite a few of our customers have told us that the area does not work for them. The adage, “location, location”, is true.

After months of weighing our options, we have come to a decision. 

Redeux will be closing at our present location.  Our last official day of business will be Sunday, December 30^th.   

We will be open Friday and Saturday, December 28^th & 29^th, from 10:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. and Sunday, December 30^th, from 12:00 to 4:00 P.M.. 

We’ll be having very special pricing on the inventory pieces that are finished and are up in the shop.

Please stop by to say hello – not goodbye!

Also, I will be working in the shop during the first two weeks of January, completing work on some special pieces. Please, call the shop if you’d like to stop by. We'd also appreciate your comments or ideas.

Finally, while we are disappointed in having to make this decision, we are not sad. We know it is part of a plan, unknown at this time to us. Just as some changes that took place in our “garage days” led us to opening Redeux, the Shop, these present changes will lead to something else. Of that I am confident. Working on the furniture – touching history – has become a very important part of my life. That will continue. Where and how it will continue remains to be seen.  You will be kept informed of all developments.

Hoping to see you this weekend.

Bill

Pleasing Writers

Our recent storms, if nothing else, have shown us that getting by with less is not only possible but can lead us to discover something forgotten: living more simply.

Compared to what many of our neighbors suffered, television, texting and the internet were minor losses. But, these temporary absences were noticed – and compensated for.   

Television was temporarily replaced by radio; users of the internet went back to basics and read printed pages and the loss of texting (some may have considered it a blessing) required us to have real, face to face conversations with real people. 

Ah, the joys of being old fashioned! 

Bill Giblin working on a recent piece

Redeux revels in the old fashioned: Old fashioned furniture, workmanship and our way of doing business. Each piece of furniture that has come into our shop has a story. We learn these stories by touching them, cleaning them, restoring them. We are then honored to pass their stories onto you.

Spinet Desk

The Redeux Spa has been burning the “midnight oil” so to speak. Our back-log of special pieces have been coming upstairs and are now ready for new homes.

One of our newest pieces that should be pleasing to writers is a spinet-style desk, circa 1930’s. It has elegantly turned legs, three drawers, a center and two deep side drawers. The graining and color are rich. The original finish has been preserved.

Mission style library/school desk/table

Another good writer’s desk is a Mission style oak library / school table that is painted black.  The names of students that wrote their names in the center- drawer bottom have been left intact. This desk has lots of character with authentic “distressed, chippy paint” and some “battle scars”. It is, however, very sturdy and ready for a writer’s use or as an interesting hall piece. 

Art-deco Andirons

Our art-deco andirons are ready for work in your fireplace. They are a useful gift idea, too! 

Pair of Mahogany End Tables

An exceptionally beautiful pair of mahogany end tables await the right home. Fantastic graining!

1948 Halton Table Radio

The restored 1948 Halton table radio is a beauty and sounds great - you may not be able to listen to The Great Gildersleeve on it anymore (unless you can channel a few old spirits!) but The Prairie Home Companion and Car Talk will come alive!

For smaller goodies, we have several wood boxes, an assortment of wood type-setting letters and numbers, candles and… 

So many treasures from the past!

Looking forward to seeing you soon,

Bill

Durable Good

Don’t read the papers. Turn off the news - at least for the next month. We are entering a very special season... one of continuing hope, joy and light.

Working on pieces of furniture in the Redeux Spa workshop, one gets a better sense of what is real: A wise use of natural resources, pride of craftsmanship, the dignity of labor.

There is not one piece in the shop that has not witnessed at least one war. Many have seen several. Economic depressions, good times and times not so good have come and gone. They have survived. They continue to serve. At the end of the day that’s all we need do – use what we have been given wisely, as best we can and help one another. 

Spend some time in the Redeux workshop and you may give your therapist a vacation!

Speaking of therapy, several pieces of furniture here have just been given a little TLC Therapy. 

The off-white makeup vanity (that had been up on the floor) has been given a whole new look with a great shade of custom green Redeux chalk paint. This piece might also look good as a hallway table - plenty of room for keys and mail!

This same color paint has also been used on the really charming night table, pictured above, that still retains its natural maple wood top.

There are several new painted pieces – a red child’s rocking chair with a hand-drawn design. Absolutely one of a kind! 

Also, recently up from “The Spa” is a Lane cedar chest with an artist- painted floral design on a black background. It's stunning and perfect as a blanket chest or coffee table.

The Empire-period server that has been at the back of the shop awaiting “The Redeux Treatment” for some time is now ready for a new home. It is a great piece for a dining room, large hallway and perhaps even a living room. The top section is detachable, so this period - piece is very versatile. It has the original glass mirror – “character” and all.

We have several new lamps available, including a pair of cut glass bedside lamps and a black iron floor lamp.

For those looking for extra seating for holiday guests, we have an assortment of side and dining chairs.

Our assortment of vintage glass jars and containers are very versatile as gifts… and affordable! Fill them with potpourri, shells, sea glass and other collectibles or just as they are. Most have the labels from the original tobacconist shop from whence they came.

As the holidays and Holy Days fast approach it is easy to get caught up in all the hectic activity. For too many of us, because of dire economic and social reports, it will be a season of uncertainty and concern. Not to worry. By the kindness we show one another – family, friends and strangers – we can make our own report – that of truly "Durable Goods".

Please stop by, tea/coffee is always on!

Wishing you a very happy Hanukkah (December 8 - 16) and Advent & Christmas season (December 2- 25). 

Bill

Mission Style

Kiss Furniture.

Now, before you think I want you to run to the living room and hug and kiss your sofa like The Redhead smooches every shaggy-haired mongrel she comes across – stop!

In this case, Kiss means, “Keep it simple, silly”, the philosophy behind the Arts and Crafts, Mission and Craftsman styles of furniture. While there are some differences between the styles, there are more similarities, thus blurring the lines and causing a bit of uncertainty in labeling a particular piece of furniture as belonging to one style or another.

Starting in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s, furniture buyers, designers and makers had grown weary of many of the excesses of the Victorian style. Ornamentation of furniture with carvings, reliefs and turnings had become easier and less expensive with the machinery of The Industrial Age. Too often, these elements were added simply because they could be.

Gustav Stickley, Joseph McHugh and other furniture designer/builders began creating furniture that emphasized quality craftsmanship and materials, simple lines - often exposing joints and other construction techniques – and the pieces’ function greatly dictating its form.

So, what’s the difference between the styles? Using the KISS principal, here is my take.  

Mission style is almost always constructed of oak. It is a bit chunky, has straight lines, often has exposed joinery and lacks ornamentation. See the desk above and chairs below for an example.

Arts and Crafts furniture has much of the Mission style but is a bit less chunky, utilizes various woods, has a bit more of a “refined, yet rustic” look and very often has some decorative elements – cut outs, carvings – often inspired by nature. Leaf and flower cutouts on the furniture sides, clover patterned tops, some animal figuring are indicative of Arts and Crafts style. See the following pieces.

Craftsman Style is very closely related to Mission. Interestingly, Stickley strongly disliked the term although his pieces are often referred to as being of the Mission style. Simple lines, less bulky, excellent construction and utilizing various woods, Craftsman style was the American version of Arts and Crafts that had originated in England.  This style, too, emphasized form determined by function.

So, when viewing an Arts and Crafts, Mission or Craftsman style piece of furniture think of The Redhead and a stray dog – just give it a KISS!

Hope to see you soon,

Bill