buying brocante for a home renovation

by Sharon Santoni

loot shoot in the garden with gibson and ghetto

I host a good many wonderful brocante buyers here.  There are the group tours where my guests are looking for an introduction to buying French antiques,  and the professional buying tours where experienced buyers work fast to fill a container of goodies to take home for their store.

details from brocante buying tour

But this week I am having a new and rather lovely experience as I host Sarah and Tom who are looking for furnishings for their home renovation.

Sarah writes the blog European Farmhouse Charm, where she shares her pleasure in decorating her home, along with a little help from her husband!

 

details from brocante buying tour

I first met Sarah and Tom as guests on one of my September tours a couple of years ago.  Then they were furnishing and renovating a small house in Pebble Beach, which has since been sold  complete with fixtures and fittings!

barn in trees

Their current project is even more exciting as they have bought a barn house with enough land to grow grapes and produce their own wine.   Renovations on the barn house have begun, and they have plans to create a winery venue that may become a family business.   If you love renovation projects you should check out Sarah’s blog and watch the progress.

They are looking for furniture and accent pieces for the home and the garden.  I thought you may like to see where we go and what they buy.    This is what they bought today – a pretty cool haul I’d say…..  The pup was on special offer.

loot shoot in the garden with ghetto

Tomorrow will see us at dawn in a huge fair, and everyday until Friday we’ll be buying non-stop at fairs and at dealers.

You can keep up with us on instagram, and I’ll try to post some more loot shoots before their trip is done.

fox terrier ghetto in bathtub

27 comments

Barbara July 11, 2015 - 7:44 pm

I love looking at the china and other dishes. And also your big Golden, who reminds me so much of my old Golden, Shasta. Amazing look-alike.

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Joie Lynn July 11, 2015 - 7:50 pm

How much fun will this be.! Interesting they did their place in Pebble Beach. I live in a 1000 sq. ft. cottage in Carmel. My place is 108 years old and I have done some work keeping the integrity of the place and it is filled with many things French. Most were items found here and I think the only things I got in France were several wooden shoe inserts,worm holes and all, heavy wire candle holders and some linens. This will be fun for me to watch.

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mary S July 11, 2015 - 8:08 pm

There’s Ghetto… MADE MY DAY !!!! Love that little fellow.. 🙂 🙂 🙂

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Madeline July 11, 2015 - 8:09 pm

What did Gheto go for?

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Sally July 11, 2015 - 8:29 pm

I love the green place settings! My favorite color…Your photos are just delicious. I SO enjoy them!

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Robin sheldon July 11, 2015 - 8:58 pm

Hi Sharon,
The chairs are especially fabulous!!!

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Lori July 11, 2015 - 9:02 pm

Such fun. You mentioned her blog, did you post the link?

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Sharon Santoni July 11, 2015 - 10:33 pm

Hi Lori, just hover over the words ‘Sarah’s blog’ or the title of her blog and the link will light up 🙂

x

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Jane Casnellie July 11, 2015 - 10:48 pm

Sharon,

Love today’s post! Like you, I am English, but live in the U.S. I am an artist and own an art gallery in Pinehurst, NC. I paint many pet portraits and would love permission to use your photos today to paint the pup, such a cutie! I look forward to receiving your blog posts, they are truly beautiful and remind me of time spent on France and my life in England…I hope you will respond with a yes!!

Jane Casnellie

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Lyn July 11, 2015 - 11:40 pm

what a wonderful way to furnish a house. Love the pup, I love the way both are into everything you do. Lyn

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May July 12, 2015 - 12:42 am

Nice loot!
The looks on Ghetto and Gibson’s faces are priceless. I’ll be dreaming about those tall doors.

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Donna July 12, 2015 - 2:18 am

I will take the pup! How much for Ghetto? Love that pup, though I’ve never met him! His face speaks volumes of his personality I’m sure!

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Donna July 12, 2015 - 2:22 am

Tell Gibson I’ll take him too!

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Cheri Hansen July 12, 2015 - 3:31 am

My greetings to Sarah and Tom ( and you ) . My favorite tour of all time. Cheri Hansen

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Emm July 12, 2015 - 3:32 am

These brocante posts are fun, with so many good ideas and possibilities. Looking forward to more.

Are those silver napkin rings? Would love to add some to my collection.

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Colleen Taylor July 12, 2015 - 4:37 am

Those pups tend to steal the show here don’t they & they are a cute pair! Lovely photos, lucky couple where I’m off to check out their blog. X

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Pamela July 12, 2015 - 5:05 am

The photos are great love seeing all the goodies. Your last photo is just too cute.
Thank you for sharing .

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Elvie July 12, 2015 - 5:14 am

Love your emails ,to see what new things you have doing .How exciting looking for interesting things for the new home ,love the chairs ,so pretty.

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Chollet Céline July 12, 2015 - 7:36 am

BonJour Sharon,
Bravo pour toutes ces trouvailles, tes chiens sont vraiment des vedettes ! On dirait qu’il aiment aussi la brocante…
Bon week-end,
Céline.

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Marie Ballon July 12, 2015 - 1:23 pm

Dear Sharon,
This is Marie from Belgium. Just to say how much I admire your creativity in all fields. Astonishing. In fact, nothing to be astonished about, because the really talented are always talented in different fields. But what is truly astonishing is that you pair all these talents with all possible ‘qualités de coeur’ like family sense, love for animals, love for humanity, making beauty and poetry out of the most trivial things… I’ve tried 2 of your recipes: simple, but perfection. How do you manage all this? And all that without any bitterness of ‘The wife that stays at home with the children and the household chores’ You are the living antithese of any ‘Desperate housewives’…. You’re good in your role. Really good . Very comforting for all women: Homemaker, mother, artist and manager. Writing these lines I realise that your achievements can only be realised wihin the borders of the higher middle and upper classes. I’m normal middle class and in the ‘Zeitgeist’ of my youth and adult life, all sane women have struggled to discover their role and their dignity and sometimes it was frustrating and hard (I’m slightly over 70!) but when I read you, I must tell you: You are one of my role models!!!!

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Karena July 12, 2015 - 5:48 pm

Sharon you are the best at what you do to help other find such gorgeous and unique pieces in France. That pic of the pupster in the zinc bathtub is priceless!!

xoxo
Karena
The Arts by Karena
Stems Soiree

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Marian from UK July 12, 2015 - 8:11 pm

Apart from the fun of buying lots of brocante, I think spending time watching Gibson and Ghetto must be even more fun! Ghetto has such an expressive face! Sharon, what breed is he? I’m not too up on doggie breeds, but if we ever do go ahead and get a small dog, a Ghetto flavoured one would be perfect!!

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Vicky from Athens July 13, 2015 - 1:45 am

Sharon –
What a great time you all must have had!! I look forward to following their progress on their blog. And the dogs, as always, are priceless! Such hams for the camera!

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Susie Craig July 13, 2015 - 1:16 pm

Sharon, what a great success you are making of your life and how cleverly you are merging business and family to have fun with what you are doing.
I do admire your style.
Susie

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Ellie July 14, 2015 - 9:26 am

What fun! What fun! Can’t wait to see the progress of their house!

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kitty May 29, 2023 - 6:40 pm

I recently bought an apartment and it turns out there’s a lot of work that requires cleaning pipes, drains and all that. I myself can not cope with it, maybe you have faced and know how to help me?

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