Hey there,
The weather has turned chilly in Bordeaux, and winter is just around the corner. Whenever it gets like this, I feel a deep, almost instinctual urge to nest—it’s as if the season is calling me to start decorating for Christmas.
This year is special: it’s our first Christmas at La Chartreuse. The house, however, is far from ready. We’ve just finished the living room, and the dining room remains completely empty. So, I set myself a challenge: to furnish the dining room entirely with second-hand items—and to have it ready by the first week of December. Challenge accepted!
Check out this week’s video to see the treasures we discovered, and read on for tips on finding incredible antiques at bargain prices.
New video: giving our dining room a rustic makeover
Furnishing with second-hand items
Know what you like
When decorating a room from scratch, my first step is always to head to Pinterest for some inspiration. This might seem obvious, but it’s such a crucial step to clearly define what you like. When you’re bargain hunting, you won’t find the perfect piece right away. You need to know the key elements you’re looking for—materials, colors, shapes, textures—so you can spot that hidden gem in the midst of charity shop chaos.
Start early
Shopping second-hand isn’t like buying new furniture with next-day delivery. Finding the perfect piece takes time, and you’ll need to be patient. I always recommend starting your search at least a month in advance to give yourself plenty of time to track down what you need.
Where to buy
For me, half the joy of second-hand shopping is in the adventure: wandering through brocantes, car boot sales, and charity shops. There’s something magical about exploring aisles full of randomness and discovering unexpected treasures. But let’s be honest—sometimes that’s just not enough.
When you’ve exhausted the local spots, I always turn to Selency. It’s a fantastic platform where you can filter, save, and even negotiate with antique dealers from across Europe.
A bit of love and elbow grease
Some of the best bargains hide beneath layers of grime, so be ready to invest a little time in cleaning and restoring your find. My go-to method is simple but effective: a light sand followed by a coat (or two) of Libéron’s Cire Antiquaire. Trust me, it never fails to bring out the beauty of a piece!
It’s all in the details
Simple, small details can often elevate a piece of furniture to the next level. I love replacing cupboard handles or lining drawers with fabric to give an old table or buffet a fresh new look—just like I did in our living room.
I truly believe that these little touches can make or break a design. They don’t just enhance the furniture; they add so much character to the room. Plus, these are the details you interact with every single day—like door handles—so it’s worth the extra effort.
That’s exactly why I spent so much time hunting down replicas of the original door handles in our house. These handles, called Bordeaux cranks (or manivelles Bordelaises in French), are absolutely delightful. But in our home, they were all mismatched or poorly fitting, so they needed replacing.
After a long search, I found replicas from a specialized shop and then spent several days sanding, waxing, and cutting them to size. Now, they’re some of my favorite details in the house—bringing me a little spark of joy every single day.
Thanks so much for reading and we’re looking forward to next week’s newsletter, where we’ll give you all our tips for a handmade cosy Christmas.
Much love,
Romy & Hugo
