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Created in paid partnership with Etsy
Hello friends, I hope you are all doing well. I’m talking about a few of my favourite subjects in today’s newsletter - vintage items and Parisian interior style.
But before I get started, a little note - thanks to Etsy, this newsletter is free for everyone to read. I would usually place edits like this behind the paywall, as they take me a long time to research and create - and because I’m sharing quite a few of my sourcing secrets here! But Etsy is kindly sponsoring this edition, which means you can enjoy the full edit for free.
It’s also a very natural partnership for me. Etsy is an incredible marketplace to discover vintage pieces from independent sellers, and is the place I turn to most when sourcing items, both for my own home and for my clients’ interiors. It was also one of the sites I relied on when searching for unique finds for our Airbnb in Rouen, so I’m really excited to partner with them on this edit.
Buying vintage, second hand or antique is firstly - good for the environment. I personally love giving a new life to a pre-loved piece. Vintage pieces also possess something rare that new furniture simply cannot replicate: a beautiful patina earned through decades of use. The worn edges, faded finishes and subtle imperfections are what give them their character. They have a story to tell.
It’s one of the reasons I almost always encourage clients to buy a vintage dining table and chairs rather than purchasing new ones. And they only become more beautiful and interesting with age!
Parisian interior style is known for incorporating vintage items into a space. As I wrote in my book, Practising Parisienne: Lifestyle Secrets from the City of Lights, Parisian homes look like they’ve been collected rather than decorated and either lean towards the minimal, with a few thoughtfully-chosen pieces that take centre stage, or are richly layered with objects collected over time.
If you’re trying to replicate the sought after French style, buying vintage is best. Of course you don’t need to go to Paris to find beautiful unique pieces - Etsy makes that treasure hunt much easier. You can browse thousands of one-of-a-kind vintage pieces without losing the thrill of finding something special.
So here’s my selection of the 20 best vintage lights, furniture, mirrors and accessories that I’ve found on Etsy - the kind of interior items that instantly add character, personality and soul to a space. All of which I would love to purchase for my own home - in fact snap them up quickly otherwise I will!
Let me know if you’d like to see more of these edits and do tell me which piece you love the most in the comments. And one final thing: pro tip for shopping on Etsy - filter by ‘Vintage’ and don’t forget you can shop local by filtering ‘sent from’ too.
LIGHTING
I treat lighting much like artworks or jewellery to adorn walls with and one of my favourite lighting styles are vintage glass scones. They are also the pieces I would splurge on - if your budget allows. These below are magnificent. Hang either side of a large art piece over a fireplace or in the same manner on the wall behind a sofa, on opposite walls in your dining room, flanking your bed, or split them up and add to the stairwell to create continuity as you climb your stairs.
I bought an almost identical light for our Airbnb in Rouen and installed it in the hallway, but this would also work beautifully in a bathroom or kitchen - giving each space a soft glow overhead (harsh white lighting isn’t welcome here.)
Lamps like these make such a sweet and unique addition to any space. I have one at home in Leopold’s room sitting on contemporary sky blue Kartell drawers that I use as his bedside table. It creates a lovely contrast between old and new, and the light is perfect for a nursery as the shade diffuses the light. This particular light would also look great on a marble kitchen counter.
Art Deco has been enjoying a comeback in the last few years, especially in Paris. This is a softer take on the 1920s style - the rounded marbled glass in a pretty feminine pink would add subtle colour, fluidity and soft lighting to a bedroom.
I have a similar pair of lamps on the bedside tables either side of our bed at home. I love their elegant carved twists, which give them a timeless, yet unfussy charm.
FURNITURE
Historically these characterful bobbin-legged corner chairs resided in parlours and drawing rooms in the 17th and 18th century France. Today, I think they are one of the most charming pieces that you can add to your home to give it a little more personality.
This chair would look perfect in an empty corner in your living space, bedroom or even hallway if it’s big enough - you could sit on it to put your shoes on. You can also find them at very reasonable prices, like this one! Throw a cute pillow on top for extra comfort.
A furniture piece that you’ll often find in a Parisian home is a bar cart and I love the style, wheels and patina on this brass example. Style as pictured with a couple of books and a beautiful glass decanter and glasses.
Travertine and brass table coffee table
Travertine stone comes from Tivoli in Italy, but I always think of it as a very French material - used either for flooring, kitchen countertops or for furniture. This beautiful piece stopped my scrolling - it would add elegance, texture and certain daintiness sat in a lounge, in front of a big comfy sofa. Just look at the patina on those legs!
This bar cart might look a little out of place against the other pieces in this edit, but that’s the point. I love adding an item of furniture, light or accessory that jars the eye a little and offers a contrast in colour or material - so I’m particularly enamoured with this lucite piece. Style with a few magazines, books and a bottle of your favourite drink.
TABLEWARE & DINING
Christofle Gallia silver-plated serving dish
A beautiful serving platter is an essential in a Parisian home and you’ll usually find one tucked away in their kitchen cupboard. A silver tray in particular will instantly make even the simplest spread feel special.
Another beautiful silver piece that will immediately elevate your table (and your breakfast). How gorgeous is this shell butter dish?!
I collect vintage dinner plates and would happily snap these up. I particularly like the scalloped edges and they would look incredibly elegant on a striped or brightly colourful tablecloth.
BOOKS & ACCESSORIES
Vintage Van Gogh and Degas books
One thing you’ll often find in Parisian apartments are a lot of books. Whether they’re carefully strewn on the floor, stacked on shelves, piled up on bedside tables or styled nicely on a rattan bench, (as we have at home), books are a staple in Parisian homes.
Henri de Toulouse Lautrec Vintage Coffee Table Book
This is a beautifully-bound hardback book about the French post-impressionist painter and caricaturist, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec who is probably best known for the posters he created for the Moulin Rouge. It would look great styled on a coffee table with a candle on top.
These would look just as good on their own on a shelf as beautiful objects, as they would holding books up.
MIRRORS
A vintage mirror is another piece I treat much like a work of art to adorn my walls with and I’m particularly drawn to Venetian mirrors for their craftsmanship and timeless appeal. Their faceted edges and often gilded detailing catch and reflect the light beautifully, adding a bit of glamour to a room, just like this one!
This is another of my favourite vintage mirror styles - we have a beautifully-carved mirror on the wall in our hallway at home and another in the hallway in between the living space and bathroom in our Rouen Airbnb. I particularly like the curved corners on this style - hang in a hallway or above a chest of drawers in a bedroom will add personality and softness to a bedroom for example.
When I talk about adding jewellery to a wall this is exactly what I mean. This mirror will as a touch of understated glamour to your space, without feeling too over the top.
TAPESTRIES
Tapestries have been experiencing a revival in recent years - popping up in more and more beautifully-curated interiors in France and around the world. Although they’re currently considered of the moment, they have never gone out of style in France. They have been adding texture, warmth and colour to the walls of Parisian apartments, chateaux and French country homes for centuries.
Many of the most recognisable tapestries come from Aubusson, a small town in the centre of France that has been renowned for its sheep-farming and weaving since the 15th century. I recommend hanging one behind a sofa, above a bed or in a dining room to add history and personality to a space. Here are two of my favourite finds:
French Vintage Aubusson Tapestry: deer hunting scene
French Vintage Aubusson Tapestry: Verdure Scene, Le Cavalier
Thanks for reading Rue Rodier - this post is public so feel free to share it with a friend who might enjoy it too!
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In case you missed it…
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Hello from Paris and my new (newsletter) home! I’m still finding my feet here, so please be patient with me - it is likely to change in the coming weeks as I get settled into this new platform and figure out its workings, but for now I’m going to continue sharing news and my favourite finds for your home and wardrobe on a Thursday.
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Just a quick note to say that this diary will be available exclusively for paid members, as I’ll be revealing confidential information about our finances. BUT being a paid member means you’ll also have access to all of my exclusive content (Paris travel guides, as well as style & homeware edits), be able to ask questions, join the conversation and community, AND you’ll be the first to get the details of all of my Rouen apartment sources (fixtures, furniture and accessories) once they’re installed! I’ll also be sharing apartment updates in the private chat from now on. (A feature new to Substack that I’m excited to use!) Anyway it really does mean the world to me that you’re here and supporting my content, so thank you! Do let me know if there’s anything else you’d like to see. Marissa xx
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