Dear Diva Readers,

Many of you know I lost my home in a fire last year on Thanksgiving.  It’s taken 4 months of living in temporary housing before we found a new home which we moved in last month on April 1^st.   Now, our new house sits near empty as we one piece at a time buy purchases to make our house a home.  It was an air mattress  at first, then they delivered the mattress for our bed – but we have to wait another 2 months before the bed itself is delivered.  It’s not been easy and these 6 months since the fire have felt like an eternity.  Perhaps it’s for this reason that my visit to New Orleans last month hit home more than I expected.  It’s been 8, nearly 9 years since Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast in August 2005 and yet many residents in New Orleans still do not have homes and/or are still living in unrenovated homes.  One of the couples we meet in New Orleans on #BlogTourNola who particularly touched my heart was Joe and Gloria Robert of New Orleans.

~ Photo Credits:  Linda Merrill of Surroundings ~

They were newlyweds looking forward to a bright future together when Hurricane Katrina hit.  They had lived in their new home only one month before Katrina slammed the city and they lost everything when the levee behind their house was destroyed – one of 53 levees in the city breached by the storm surge – and canal water swallowed the home. The Roberts evacuated the city, staying with various friends and relatives.  When the flood waters receded weeks later, Joe and Gloria moved into a pop-up camper in their driveway for a while, but they’ve also been staying with a family member as well.

Nearly eight years later, Joe and Gloria’s house is still uninhabitable. While a new house has been framed out, the building lacks essentials including electrical, drywall, flooring and plumbing.  Because Joe is a contractor by trade, he has the skills to work on his house, but he has generously donated much of his free time to volunteering with St. Paul’s Homecoming Center , helping to rebuild other people’s houses.  You’ve heard the expression about the cobbler’s children having no shoes?  Well that’s Joe.  He’s spending all his time and resources helping others.

Joe works on his home little by little, but is often derailed by setbacks such as having his house broken into and his tools stolen. Even though Joe was forced to save up until he could replenish his tool supply, he has not lost his faith in humanity and happens to be one of the most gracious, humble human beings you’ll find.

Fortunately, Joe and Gloria received some good news recently when Storehouse of World Vision selected the couple and their house for a rehab project. A few weeks ago Storehouse joined forces with the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) and St. Paul’s Homecoming Center to help rehab kitchens and baths in three houses as a lead-in to NKBA’s Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS) which I had the opportunity to attend with #BlogTourNola on  April 19-21 in New Orleans.

The Fund Raiser for Joe & Gloria is affectionately being called “Joe to the World”!

While Storehouse and NKBA partners have donated materials, appliances and labor for a new kitchen and bath in the Robert’s house, the rest of the unfinished home still needs lots of TLC.   And that’s why  World Vision has agreed to dedicate a page to Joe Robert and his story as well as a link to a fundraiser just for Joe.   This donation page is coded so that all funds received on this link by May 15 will go to Joe Robert and the folks at St.Paul’s Homecoming Center.

Dear Readers, I ask you to join me in helping give Joe & his wife Gloria a home.  You can make a difference in one person’s life – a person who has dedicated the last 8 years to making a difference in other people’s lives.    Having lost my own home through a fire I can tell you recreating a home is healing – please join #BlogtourNola, NKBA, KBIS, Storehouse World Vision, and St Pauls Homecoming Center in helping to provide the basic necessity of helping to provide a roof over one’s head

More About Storehouse of World Vision

World Vision’s Storehouse network is comprised of six warehouses across the U.S. that receive corporate donations of new, top-quality goods made available to local community partners for distribution. Goods that are distributed include building materials, school supplies, personal care items, and clothing to over 2.2 million people in low-income communities annually.

More About the National Kitchen & Bath Association

Now celebrating its 50th Anniversary, the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA) is a not-for-profit trade association that owns the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS®). With nearly 60,000 members, the NKBA has educated and led the kitchen and bath industry since the association’s founding in 1963. The mission of the NKBA is to enhance member success and excellence, promote professionalism and ethical business practices, and provide leadership and direction for the kitchen and bath industry worldwide. For more information, visit the NKBA Press Room or

call 1-800-THE-NKBA (843-6522). KBIS and NKBA are registered trademarks of the National Kitchen and Bath Association.

You can make a difference!

The Antiques Diva®
(seen here with BlogTour Friends)

Yesterday we were in one of my favorite villages in the world with a group from Texas, helping Red Shed Tours as their on-the-ground step-on guides for their Tuscan Group Tour… and I couldn’t help but to share with you our insider Antiques Diva tips from San Gimignano on how to make your own Tuscan Tour!

Our Tuscan Antiques Diva Guide Susan Pennington writes in today sharing with you all the Diva Details for an afternoon in the “Manhattan of Tuscany”!  Okay – this place is a far cry from NYC – but believe it or not it was once shadowed by over 70 towers surrounding the village!

Susan explains….

San Gimignano was built by powerful sparring families vying for importance and status, built during the medieval period and massive economic boom for the city, which sat on the pilgrim’s trail from Rome to Canterbury.  It was also famed for its spices, in particular saffron.  Today only 9 of those towers still stand but it is still as impressive as it was 900 years ago!

If you’ve got an afternoon on your own in San Gimignano you’ll have a ball!  From Porta S. Giovanni runs the main street.  Initially overwhelming, the town is actually a great place to shop for ceramics, baskets and leather ware, the prices are surprisingly competitive with other towns and considerably cheaper than Siena.  There are lots of art galleries,  contemporary jewelers, ceramic shops as well as all sorts of wonderful things made from olive wood…perfect Tuscan  things to take home.

But make sure you make it all the way up to the duomo.  Not least for the mouth watering ‘gelateria’ in the corner of the square.  From the duomo take Via S. Matteo which leads down to the gate.

About two thirds of the way down is ‘Le Antich Essenze’ at n° 61. Here they make and sell their own hand-made soaps; totally natural with locally grown herbs, fruits and flowers, wheat, sage, olive oil and lavender.

Almost opposite at n° 70 is ‘Ieri & Oggi’, run by two sisters, Silvia & Roberta.  They have beautiful linens, towels and fabrics, many of which are hand worked by themselves with croqueted borders and embroidered designs in typical Tuscan style.  A little further down on the right is a small alley (via San Martino), almost  immediately on the right as you enter is a tiny little studio ‘Barceloneta’  where Lucia decorates furniture.  As you might imagine from the name of the shop, she’s Spanish, not Italian, but has great style and that’s what counts!

Just a little further down Via San Matteo at n° 81 is Mario Curini, a cavernous antiques shop with all sorts of things from repurposed pieces to delicate blown glass,  medieval chests to wrought iron torchieres.

Thankfully here not everything closes at lunch time but you might like a little snack attack.    Here are a few of our favorite Antiques Diva dines:

Trattoria Chiribiri.  Pass thru’ the main archway S. Giovanni, go up the steps immediately to the left just thru’ the main arch.  Piazza della Madonna, 1  A tiny place but with big food!

‘Ristorante Dorando  just off the main square in vicolo dell’ Oro, 2 is set in an old cellar and quite charming.  Tel: 0577 941 862 closed Monday

Le Terrazze  just beside the hotel ‘La Cisterna’ in the square by the same name is a little more formal, set on the first floor it commands magnificent views over the surrounding countryside… the food is good too!

There are also lots of bars where you can find a great sandwich and ‘Enoteca’s’ which offer not just wine for tasting and purchasing but also light traditional fare such as wild boar salami, ‘pecorino’ sheep cheese, cold cuts and conserved vegetables, such as grilled bell peppers, olives and porcini mushrooms.

While in San Gimignano make sure to also stock up on your Tuscan food-finds!  There are so many pastas, dried herbs, sausages and wines for sale at the various gourmet shops in town that this an ideal place to stock your cupboard.

Buon Appetito!

The Antiques Diva & Your Tuscan Antiques Diva Susan

Dear Diva Readers,

Mamma Mia, I rarely blog while I’m in the midst of doing a tour, preferring usually to wait til I’m home afterwards.  But we’ve got a white-label tour in Italy with Red Shed Tours this week where we’re acting as step-on guides for another tour company who specialize in group travel, and yesterday we were in Arezzo. Arezzo inspires me and has me spinning around in circles…. LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL.

In fact if you’ve seen the movie Life is Beautiful, you’ve already got the town of Arezzo in mind. It was filmed here. This ancient Tuscan city with its Roman ruins, medieval walls and Renaissance architecture has always been a magnet for art lovers and it’s home to many famous artists. In fact have you heard of the Vasari passage in Florence? Well you can visit its designer’s home in Arezzo! Giorgio Vasari, who conferred with the Medici family in Florence, designed the famed but exclusive corridor that runs through the Medici’s original residence at the Uffizi, now the renowned picture gallery to their new residence at the Palazzo Pitti. It was built just above the Ponte Vecchio bridge which at the same time was filled with Butcher’s shops so they could walk above the rif raf of the city and avoid any unpleasantries. Also in Arezzo you can visit Piero della Francesce’s magnificent frescos at the Basilica of San Francisco.

Normally Arezzo is a quiet and tranquil city…. Except for the first weekend of the month when The Antiques Diva & Co storms into town all a gaggle!!!  500 vendors take over the Piazza Grande, sprawling into the surrounding streets and alleys from north to south, east to west. A quirky cast of characters set up shop and fill your ear with elaborate stories about their treasures.

Arezzo really is an Aladdin’s cave where you can find antique and vintage furniture, fine and costume jewelry, wonderful paintings at a steal, religious artifacts, crockery, glass, kitchen and cooking items, silver, ceramics and books. In short at the Arezzo Flea Market you can find anything and everything from the serious antiques to fun collectibles. It’s practically impossible to go home empty handed.

In Italian, though, when it comes to bargaining you need to remember the Italian method is not aggressive… it’s more sympathetic in tone. As it is in most things in Italy it’s based upon a rapport, so patience is needed. First you ask the price. Then you pause to think. If you feel the price is fair – you pay it. No bargaining for sport. Then if you really do want it, ask for a better price, and if you’re buying more than 1 item you’ll increase your odds of getting a discount. Vendors will always give you a receipt at the Tuscan flea markets as there are controls in place by the government to ensure they do. Because the items are classified as “used” there will be nothing to claim back at the Tax Refund office when leaving Italy as used items in Italy are VAT exempt.

Cash is king in the flea market scene… but some vendors will take credit cards. These are minority and cash will always get you the best price. All over Arezzo on the main roads you’ll find ATM’s dotting the side of the street so getting money from the machines wont be a problem. But come prepared. Did you know in Italy there is a legal limit to how much you can withdraw per day? The maximum limit in Italy to withdrawal from your bank (regardless what your bank tells you your daily limit is) is 250 Euro – so you’ll want to plan ahead to make sure you have the cash needed to shop the Arezzo Flea Market.

Happy shopping!

Ciao Bella,
The Antiques Diva®

This is my month for attending awards shows! In my last blog post I was telling you about the Young Guns competition, today it’s NKBA – The National Kitchen and Bath Association’s annual award ceremony.  While in New Orleans (in my mind you’re reading that with the appropriate southern drawl) as part of #BlogTourNOLA, my interior designer and design blog friends and I were lucky enough to be invited to attend the KBIS (Kitchen and Bath Industry Show) when NKBA announces the winners for the Best Kitchen and the Best Bath during their annual NKBA Design Competition.

Given this was an event for interior designers DESIGNED by interior designers, you can imagine the venue was simply to die for – the coup de grace of the raw warehouse space of Republic was the clustering of crystal chandeliers hanging above center stage and just opposite our dedicated #BlogTourNOLA table in the gallery overlooking the stage.  We moved & shook with other design professionals and when the winner for the 2013 Best Kitchen design was announced to be Wendy F. Johnson our #BlogTourNOLA crowd erupted into a roar of applause.  A few days later some #BLogTourNOLA friends and I found ourselves dancing at the Spotted Cat with Wendy and I must tell you this girl dances with as much passion as she designs!  

As a newbie to the world of Kitchen & Bath Design, I quizzed my friends about the NKBA. While I work with a lot of interior designers in my profession leading antiquing buying tours and offering buying services for interior designers and antique dealers (as well as non-trade, mere shopping mortals) I don’t know much about how the Kitchen and Bath Industry works.  While sitting at our table at the awards, I asked my friends (many of whom are NKBA certified as well as interior designers), “When you’re ready to remodel your kitchen or bath, don’t a lot of people just hire a contractor and hope for the best?”   My friends nodded, “Yep – and that explains a lot of the poor kitchen design we see.  What you should do is have your builder work together with a NKBA designer – the result will be the most beautiful and functional kitchen or bath for your home!”

When doing a kitchen or bath, always consult an expert. Choosing the right design professional is an important decision for your project’s success. By selecting an NKBA-certified designer, you will be working with a professional who has demonstrated comprehensive knowledge in kitchen and bath design, as well as construction, mechanical, plumbing and electrical systems.  These are designers who adheres to a strict code of professional conduct.  NKBA designers recognizes the importance of consumer health, safety, and welfare in kitchen and bath design – and best of all the NKBA provides training and tools specifically for their members so their designers can meet their clients needs and wants and creating designs that meet and exceed these requirements.

In fact the NKBA website has a great video which highlights why one should work with an NKBA designer.

I love pouring through Pinterest and getting inspiration – but for Kitchens & Baths I’ve discovered something better than Pinterest or Houzz!!  The NKBA website has a slew of kitchen p*rn!!  Hundreds of photos of dream kitchens designed by their own NKBA professionals.

If you’re considering a Kitchen or Bath Remodel, why don’t you reach out to the NKBA using their online resource for finding an NKBA professional near you.

Ta Ta For Now,
The Antiques Diva®

I was delighted that after this last month – which has literally found me on 3 continents in a months time (India, America & Europe) – that I was able to take time out of my busy travel schedule to attend the Awards for National Antiques Week at The Decorative Fair in London.   Gail Mcleod -  The Antiques Diva & Co’s English Agent who manages our antique buying tours for the UK and our buying services – just so happens to be founder of National Antiques Week and she finagled me an invite to this prestigious invite.  This meant I was able to rub shoulders with the movers and shakers of the England antiques trade such as Spencer Swaffer, Martin Johnson and the Fontaine boys and even shared a glass of bubbly with famous interior designer Nicky Haslam!!  My friend Ronda Carman of All the Best blog (and author of the fabulous new book Designers at Home) must have had burning ears for we chatted about her fabulousness over our coupe de champagne!

 Publisher Homes & Antiques, Judith Miller and Winners Debbe Perry & Jim Broomfield of Brackley Antiques Cellar  

The awards being presented at the event were two fold – first there was the Homes & Antiques Magazine award for Best Shop of the Year.  Drum roll please… and the winner of  Antiques Centre of the Year for the UK is  Debbe Perry & Jim Broomfield of Brackley Antiques Cellar!

Brackley Antique Cellar is the largest purpose-built antiques centre in the Midlands of England with  over  160 independent dealers, 30,000 sq ft of antiques and collectables, under one roof and all on one level!  It has Diva-Divine written all over it.  The presenter for this competition was Judith Miller -  Miller is THE Goddess of Antiques. Moreover, she is a delight – she’s a fountain of information – and quite simply as friendly as she is informative.  NEWS FLASH for my American Readers – Judith will be in NYC and Houston this November and is making special bookings for talks, book signings, etc.  Stay tuned for more details.

Nickey Haslam and Mark Hill

For the Young Guns competition the presenters were also equally high profile!   In order to be eligible for the Young Guns award you had to be an antiques vendor under the age of 39.  I was thrilled that by a hair I was still in the age bracket categorized as YOUNG!  The award presenters were Nicky Haslam, Mark Hill and George Johnson.

AND THE WINNER OF THE YOUNG GUNS AWARD IS…. TIMOTHY MEDHURST!
Photo:  George Johnson, Nickey Haslam, Timothy Medhurst of Reeman Dansie Auctioneers and Mark Hill

The Winner of the 2013 Antiques Young Gun was the 21 year old Timothy Medhurst of Reeman Dansie Auctioneers whom the judges all agreed was an outstanding ambassador for the trade based on his enthusiasm and energetic support for the campaign, his willingness to promote his fellow dealers and his absolute commitment to his profession. Well done Tim!!

Joint runners up were:  Keeley Harris who owns Discover Vintage and runs multiple events across the UK including Festival of Vintage. The judges agreed that Keeley’s achievements and hard work together with her ability to include and work with her peers has really put her on the map and we felt that her success will be an encouragement for other young dealers in the vintage trade.

Chris Oxley of the family firm P A Oxley Antique Clocks has been a pivotal member of the Antiques Young Guns group on Twitter and has been a fantastic supporter of the campaign and his fellow Young Guns. Chris has displayed a heartfelt commitment to the family business since his teenage years and has taken the business – a traditional and highly respected business – into the 21st Century with gusto.

Special Award:  George Johnson, Alys Dobbie of Nana Dobbie, Nickey Haslam and Mark Hill

The judges were delighted to be able to award one extra prize on the night, having struggled to select just three winners from such a starry line-up! One of my favorite London haunts – Alfies Antique Market - generously offered a free stand at this famous and iconic London landmark antiques, vintage and Mid C Retro emporium for two months in the summer of 2013 and this award went to Alys Dobbie of Nana Dobbie who the judges agreed was the ideal person to make the very best of this opportunity. Alys has established a destination vintage and Mid C shop in Brighton and works with her father to manage another Nana Dobbie shop in Cornwall. She is perfectly poised to take London by storm and what better place than Alfies? Alys has a great sense of personal style and her shops reflect this and at Alfies she will have the chance to meet and interact with seasoned and experienced dealers – a true Young Gun experience.

All the Young Gun shortlist will benefit from a fantastic package of prizes from the generous sponsors including:  Hotel Una Brighton; Cooper Antiques Fairs; Penman Antique Fairs; On-Line Galleries and Antiques are Green.

Congrats to all who received the awards and a special shout out to our Antiques Diva English Agent Gail McLeod for her tremendous work she does promoting the antiques trade in the UK.  I’ve said it for years that Gail is the most connected woman in antiques in England…. And seeing her in action at the awards Thursday night had me brimming with pride that she was part of our team.  Gail is not only a member of the Diva Team, but she’s a dear friend and business mentor.  We love you Gail!!  Congrats on another successful National Antiques Week.

Gail McLeod – Founder of National Antiques Week and the English Agent for The Antiques Diva & Co

Warm Regards,
The Antiques Diva®

Dear Diva Readers,

As I write this post, it’s late at night – the night before The Decorative Antiques & Textiles Fair 23-28 April 2013 Battersea Park, London SW11. My heart is pounding, I can’t sleep. All I can think about are ANTIQUES – tomorrow I’ll be arriving the pearly gates of great decorative antique pieces.  I’ll be bringing a VIP Aussie client with me to shop – but I must confess – I might have to break my cardinal rule not to shop on tour with this client.  The fair is just going to be that good! Bloody H-E-Double Hockey Sticks, my purchases just might break the bank.

This fair will host more that 140 of the top decorative antiques trade.  Anyone who has watched Million Dollar Decorators knows this fair is a 1^st port of call for decorators worldwide –  I particularly loved the episode in season 1 when Kathryn Ireland went to the show to decorate an old flame’s English country house.  And Martin Lawrence Bullard is famous for haunting the affairs.  But it’s not just Big Names in Lights that shop here… many of the American trade buyers who have built a name for having the best inventory in stock come over specifically for the event three times a year to see wonderful objects, furniture and works of art of all periods to tempt every aficionado of fine interiors. Traditional accessories from kitchenalia to wine glasses, textiles and quirky decorations such as antique shoes alongside ‘Grand Tour’ intaglios displayed under domes and taxidermy also under glass domes on a grand scale. The fair is also a serious source for good antique furniture from early English oak to Georgian walnut and Regency mahogany with Arts and Crafts and Art Deco pieces appearing more and more frequently.

Anyone who has followed the  publicity surrounding Antiques Young Guns will have noticed that the main event will be hosted at this venue which is the ultimate source for discerning homemakers, designers and trade.  The event, still known in the trade inner circles as “the Decorators’ Fair” is indeed an event for the Young Guns of the trade to aspire to and thanks to the generosity of the organiser David Juran they will have a bird’s eye view of this storming event from the complimentary stand in the foyer where a very varied selection of contributions from The Young Guns will be on display and for sale. The chance to submit stock to be showcased at what is an elite event for the more experienced members of the trade – The Heavy Artillery – was a driving force behind so many entries in the competition.

Keil and Stuart, the Fontaine boys, are now in their sixth year at The Decorative Antiques and Textiles Spring Fair and they seem to be on a gilded path with one successful fair after another, not forgetting their debut at Olympia International Art & Antiques Fair last year which was a sell out.   Their prominent stand just inside the main arena at Battersea is always a buzzy hive of activity and a quick check on their web site this week confirms that they have been on yet another buying frenzy in France. The boys seem to have a policy of keeping the stock fresh at all times in the former town laundry which they have artfully transformed in Margate, Kent. They have regular sales of existing stock when prices really are slashed together with their annual boozy and lively “deballage” where they also showcase new stock, and then off they go to France to replenish it all with fresh delights. They have an extremely sharp eye for trifles and baubles you did not realize you simply could not live without but they are also very clever at structuring all of this with sleek usable furniture – each piece with an arresting little detail to give it that little flick.

Somebody who is heading along his own gilded path is Young Gun George Johnson, aged 35, who owns Lady Kentmores in Callander up the picturesque Trossachs region of Scotland. George has in a very short space of time made a name for himself in his role as one of the four hosts on Channel 4′s Secret Removers and since this appearance has been offered a new role in another nationwide show still under embargo! George writes regularly for my colleague Gail McLeod’s website Antiques News and Fairs and a number of other trade press and has recently been snapped up to write a column for Money Maker Magazine, giving tips on how to make a profit from collectibles. You might recall that I described his shop as “a cocktail stirred but not shaken!” – a confection of curios, collectibles and the macabre.

As a key member of the crack team of judges for Antiques Young Guns, George was not eligible to enter the awards but he is able to display some of his stock on the Young Guns stand at Battersea. He has chosen two of his favorite pieces of taxidermy which he acquired after a lengthy and circuitous journey to a remote castle in the North of Scotland where the Laird had invited him to come and buy a few pieces. George found the journey home a lot more enjoyable with some prize examples of pre-war taxidermy in tow!

SO… on Thursday of this week – April 25^th,2013 – I’m lucky enough to be returning back to Battersea (after shopping the Cotswolds and Sussex) to attend the Antiques Young Gun Competition!!  The contenders for winning the award of brightest light shining in the trade – in the under 39 category include:

Profiles of the shortlisted entrants for the 2013 National Antiques Week Young Guns award:

Robbie Timms (30), Bedfordshire

www.timmsantiques.com

S&S Timms Antiques from Ampthill, Bedfordshire, one of the founding members of the original #AntiquesYoungGuns. He brings a new outlook to the traditional furniture side of the trade. Robbie launched the world’s first antiques shop iPhone/iPad App. Joined the family antiques business aged 16, and has ‘upped the ante’ by exhibiting at the UK’s top fairs.

Natalie Smith (32), Woodbridge

www.woodbridgeantiquescentre.co.uk

Opened her own antique centre at only 26 years old and proves that antique centres are not just an old person’s game. Got the antiques bug while visiting car boot fairs with her dad, took a degree in Italian, worked for a jewellers in Venice but really got into dealing when she helped sell some of her father’s collections.

Keeley Harris (36), York

www.discovervintage.co.uk

Runs Discover Vintage & Vintage Emporium, has been making waves from her shop in York and from the various fairs she runs throughout the country. Fell in love with a Victorian doll’s house aged eight, and spent her teens buying at car boots and charity shops to sell on at antiques fairs. Interim jobs in events have helped her create very interactive vintage shows.

Kieran Mathewson (26), Herefordshire

www.kieranmathewson.com

Dealer in tribal art, architectural reclamation and country furniture. Has carved out a career through determination and a love for objects. First struck aged eight by a pewter tankard in a South African antiques shop that looked like one he had seen in a pirate movie -”I remember my heart racing, wondering about its history. That feeling is a high I have been chasing ever since!”

Paul Jones (29), N. Wales& Chester

www.pjonesantiques.co.uk

Runs Morgan Fairs in Wales and has his own shop in Cheshire specialising in Victorian pine and country furniture, and smaller items including books, folk art and kitchenalia. His parents are in the trade (specialist Welsh and vernacular furniture dealers).

Paul was a mechanic until he realised his heart was really in antiques. Dealt at fairs for two years before opening his own shop.

Timothy Medhurst (21), Chelmsford

www.ReemanDansie.co.uk

Turned a childhood love of coins in to a career as an auctioneer specialising in the numismatic world. Determined to bring a youthful edge to a field sometimes seen as old and stuffy. The youngest of our short-list, Timothy aged 10 was first amazed by a Victorian crown coin shown him by his grandmother. That sparked a collecting craze he developed into an online dealing business whilst still at school.

Matthew Nunn (37), Reading

www.fleaglass.com

Runs Apsley Antiques Ltd & Fleaglass Ltd and has been bringing the scientific antiques market to a whole new generation.
Spent years working in engineering but was hooked on antiques as a child, and started dealing when eBay launched.

Adam Partridge (39), Macclesfield

www.adampartridge.co.uk

Adam is still a young gun, but has achieved so much in auctioneering after some major early set-backs. Well known from TV (Flog It! et al). His first purchase: a small oil painting, bought with pocket money aged eight, which he still has. Read classics at Oxford but spent more time haunting fairs and auctions.

Sam Loxton (33), London

www.lucasrarities.com

Travels the world sourcing the finest jewellery for Lucas Rarities Ltd and has a love for the finest items. In his words: “I consider myself a champion of antique jewellery…” He adored old books and antiques; soon after school he was offered two jobs at once – with the National Art Library and with Christie’s as a porter in the jewellery department. He took the latter and has been utterly dedicated to jewels ever since.

Chris Oxley (36), Wiltshire

www.british-antiqueclocks.com

Another founding member of the #AntiquesYoungGuns, busy rejuvenating the timeless world of fine clocks. His parents established P.A.Oxley Antique Clocks, and Chris started going on buying trips with them from the age of 10. He joined the business after leaving school, and now runs it with his mother.

Alys Dobbie (29), Cornwall& E. Sussex

www.nanadobbie.com

Owns two vintage shops under the Nana Dobbie brand, one in Brighton and one in Lostwithiel, Cornwall; causing a stir in the 20th century collectables and vintage worlds. Another who fell in love with ‘retro’ whilst car-booting with her dad. Tried art college but couldn’t resist temptation to deal. Studied in order to do her own modern furniture restoration, and says her business has only ever used recycled packaging!

James Gooch (30), Bedfordshire

www.doeandhope.com

Another founding member of the #AntiquesYoungGuns, runs Doe & Hope, a web-based antiques and curios shop that aims to bring a bit of fun and showmanship to the trade. Early obsession with antiques television programmes. With a BA in film & video, he first worked as a runner and researcher in TV production. A small legacy from his grandmother was what prompted him to set up shop.

For full exhibitor list and times see The Decorative Antiques & Textiles Fair website!   In the meantime – I cannot wait to see you in London!!!

Let the shopping commence!
The Antiques Diva®

NATIONAL ANTIQUES WEEK – THE MAIN EVENTS!

Please visit National Antiques Week Main Events feature with images and full details of all events and promotions.

We are delighted to report on the main events for National Antiques Week which in addition to the Antiques Young Guns campaign culminating in a sparkling evening to celebrate National Antiques Week with an awards ceremony followed by a party at The Decorative Antiques & Textiles Fair.

Dear Diva Readers,

I’ve got the #BlogTourNola Blues… while I had the time of my life, I’m utterly depressed the trip is over.  I didn’t want to leave Crescent City – such were the food, the fun, the friends and the fantastic designs.  The trip was – AMAZING – and – down-right exhausting.  After all that fun, my #BlogTour amies and I decided we definitely needed a SPA BREAK! And where better to go than my favorite chain hotel – The Ritz Carlton?

Located on the edge of the French Quarter, this hotel features a destination spa – with over the 25,000-square-feet of award-winning spa facilities and fitness centre with  full range of therapies and treatments.

The Ritz-Carlton Spa, New Orleans features 22 treatment rooms, over 100 therapies, a Spa Café, a fitness center, retail store, complimentary valet parking and more.  Even more The Spa was selected as a Top Hotel Spa in the United States and Canada by Travel + Leisure magazine and selected by Elle magazine as one of the Top Ten Spas in the United States.  What makes The Ritz-Carlton Spa, New Orleans stand above the rest is not only its physical decor but the fact that they only use the best products and brands in their spa – that’s why it’s no surprise that they have included a steam room from  #BlogTourNola sponsor Mr. Steam to help their clients relax diva-style in Nola.

A visit to a Mr Steam steam room is guaranteed to relax every muscle in your core .  Steam rooms provide many therapeutic services – they help you relax, relieve stress and sore muscles, improve blood circulation, rejuvenate skin and reduce sinus congestion… not to mention steam hydrates skin pores and opens them up so that toxins can be flushed out.

I love nothing more than taking time out of my busy travel schedule (did I mention I was on 3 continents this month?) to pamper myself – diva style – and for me steaming is a regular part of my health and beauty routine.  But I usually do it at my esthetician or spa… until meeting Martha Orellana, Vice President of Mr. Steam – a woman I like to call Mrs Steam – I didn’t know it was possible to have the spa experience at home!!

Martha Orellana, Vice President of Mr. Steam, one of the country’s’ largest manufacturers of steam generators

Forget the Ritz baby, I’m bringing Mr Steam home for my next spa date!  If there is a face to Mr Steam – it’s Martha’s.  When a VP could be the model for their own companies media campaign you know the product she’s using is spot on!  Having the chance to tour New Orleans with Martha this week I was able to see how she pours her heart and soul into her company and as a result of her dedication to her product, she is a picture perfect vision of good health – great skin and a gorgeous glow.   Of course, Martha doesn’t just hit the steam room once a month at the spa – she has incorporated it into her regular life.

The Mr Steam motto is “Making Wellness a Way of Life”.  For over 50 years, informed architects, builders, remodelers, and consumers have chosen Mr Steam as the premier source of upscale, and high quality steam products including towel warmers, shower speakers, shower seats, aromasteam and chromasteam™ systems.    Should you be thinking about creating your own home spa –  Consider Mr Steam!

Happy Spa-ing,
The Antiques Diva®

Dear Diva Readers,

It’s all about KBIS today -  The Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS) being held in New Orleans this April 19-21, 2013 (Friday thru Sunday) at the Convention Center.  Because #BlogTourNola never does anything without creating a buzz, we’ll be kick starting the day with Beignets & Bubbly, a media get-together of epic proportions where over 200+ top designers, design writers and editors mingle while attempting NOT to get sprinkled with delicious white powdered sugar from the doughnuts!   We’ll also be taking a series of VIP media tours into some of our favorite vendors at the fair.

We’ll start the day with a media event at Wilsonart – one of America’s leading brands for countertops before meeting Danny Seo who will be talking about eco-friendly home remodeling.

Through his best-selling books, television programs, products, magazine columns and his how-to lifestyle lectures, Danny Seo continues to share the creative ideas that have made him America’s leading lifestyle authority on modern, eco-friendly living.

Next up we get more time with Silestone after spending yesterday afternoon with their reps as we toured houses in the Make It Right foundation where Silestone is a key sponsor in donating materials for these incredible innovative rebuilds.  It is incredibly moving to see how this company gives back – truly investing in the future of New Orleans as they help residents rebuild their homes.  For those of you who aren’t familiar with Silestone, they are the world leader in natural quartz surfaces for kitchens and  baths.

For this next media tour with Kalamazoo Outdoor Gourmet I’m praying they will be giving samples….  Kalamazoo is bringing the pizzeria home with their Artisan Fire Pizza Oven. Then we’ll be heading over to Toto… TOTO is the world’s largest plumbing products manufacturer. They offer a complete line of commercial and decorative plumbing fixtures and fittings, faucets, accessories, shower and flush valves, as well as lavatories, toilets, Air Baths and urinals

After all this media buzz at KBIS we’ll have worked up an appetite.    But have no fear because our sponsors Poggenpohl/Blanco/Silestone are having us to their showroom for a special private dinner!!!

Today is going to be a day devoted to learning more about some of the key brands in the kitchen and bath industry.  While I personally don’t work in Kitchens & Baths, I love the opportunity to better understand the house as a whole so that I can learn how the whole house functions together in great design.

Warm Regards,
The Antiques Diva®

Dear Diva Readers,

When you imagine the flickering fantasy of New Orleans it’s the lanterns dotting the French Quarter that casts a romantic glow in your mind.  But did you realize that in a day and age of increasing globalization, this city’s iconic copper lanterns are still made locally by hand using old world techniques in a family-run business here in New Orleans?

I’m delighted that this morning we’ll start our day out with BlogTourNola getting to know the family who runs Bevolo Gas & Electric Lights  and having an opportunity to explore their factory.  This company was first founded in 1945 and revolutionized the gas lighting industry – 6 decades and 3 generations later they’re still going strong supplying not only locally but in 29 countries.

And speaking of strong, perhaps I should mention I like my coffee strong.  We’re heading out the door to tour their shop with #BlogTourNola at 7am, and rumor has it that Beignets and Coffee will be the olfactory pied piper should any of the Bloggers stay out too late the night before.  I must confess the first night on #BlogTour I joined a few friends on our roof-top terrace to dip our toes in the pool and continue chatting in a more intimate setting!

While #BlogTourNola involves a LOT of wining & dining,  it’s really all about design and in essence design is popular because it is through design that each makes our house a home, giving our homes a personal stamp.  But what if you didn’t have a home?  With the advent of new “news and natural disasters”, Hurricane Katrina may seem a long time ago – in fact, it was nearly 8 years ago – and yet New Orleans is far from being completely renovated and there are a lot of residents still displaced from the disaster.

One of our #BlogTourNola sponsors – Silestone – has been actively involved in the restoration efforts – they are a key partner in Brad Pitt’s Make It Right Foundation.  Silestone will pick us up downtown and bring  us to Gentilly in the north of New Orleans – one of the hardest hit areas during hurricane Katrina  where many families lost everything they owned.

 Photo Credit: The Examiner

Three families are now able to move into their newly remodeled or rebuilt homes through the help of The Storehouse of Worldvision which supplies building materials to over 2 million people in need, annually. The Storehouse project is supported by many great corporate sponsors and manufacturers of building materials and home products, including BlogTour sponsors the NKBA and KBIS.

We at #BlogTourNola are proud to be among the first to tour the completed homes and share more about this important project. We’ve been invited to do this, to spread the word that the work is not over yet.  Our# BlogTourNola community has a combined reach of 1 MILLION Twitter followers and we’re hoping to use the power in our tweets to make the world aware that there is more work – and help needed – here in New Orleans.

Next up we’ll visit an amazing modern architectural project. With Hurricane Katrina, these new Modernist designs are the “new” New Orleans. Brad Pitt’s foundation has produced over 80 homes and involved many local architects in addition to industry icons like Frank Gehry.

As the afternoon gives way to evening, we’ll continue celebrating design, attending the NKBA Design Awards night and dinner.

Net, net – today is guaranteed to be another amazing day in New Orleans!!

Stay Tuned for more Blogs from Crescent City!
The Antiques Diva®

Dear Diva Readers,

Let’s face it – coming to New Orleans for design inspiration was only part of the story…I also came here to eat, New Orleans Style, from crayfish to beignets.

#BlogTourNola sponsor KBIS knows the way to my heart.  While the Kitchen and Bath Industry Show at the New Orleans Convention Centre is still being set up behind the scenes with the official show running April 19-21, the show coordinators are taking me and the rest of the #BlogTourNola crew to breakfast this morning at Luke to whet our appetites for what’s to come later at the show.

Photo Credit: Travel Muse

Chef John Besh runs this famous grand old Franco-German brasserie Luke in the style of the famous New Orleans brasseries of yesteryear . Since opening in 2007, Luke has been hailed by Condé Nast Traveler and Travel + Leisure for its “disarmingly home-spun culinary touches and broad-shouldered dishes that satisfy something more than just an appetite.”  While filling up on breakfast foods, er… I mean preparing ourselves for the hard-core work we’ll be doing later in the day, we’ll learn more about KBIS while discussing  innovative kitchen and bath designs and the new products we’ll find at the KBIS Show.

Then we’ll head out for a streetcar ride to tour the Garden District, Audoban Park and Zoo and Tulane University.  You’ll want to make sure to follow me on Facebook so you won’t miss one photo from #BlogTour Nola. 

Next up, Shaun Smith will be taking us on an antiquing & design tour in New Orleans, visiting the shops on and around Magazine Street!! For me this a real treat – normally I’m the one leading the antique shopping tour  and it will be such a pleasure to be able to sit back as the tour-ee for a change!!

Shaun Smith is a residential and commercial design firm and boutique based in New Orleans and they have a passion for creating, stylish, organic, and contemporary spaces utilizing a mixture of modern and rustic design components with simple and clean lines.  They truly capture New Orleans living in a way that rejuvenates, inspires, and encompasses the essence of living well.

Photo Credit: bywaterboo.blogspot.com 

Photo Credit: bywaterboo.blogspot.com  

Needless to say I cannot wait to see what insider NOLA décor shops they highlight on their tour today -  And don’t worry – I promise to share everything I learn with you.  No way I’m hiding this light under a bush, oh no! In fact,  if you are on Twitter, you can follow me @TheAntiquesDiva for live tweets or check out the hashtag #BlogTourNOLA so you can read not just my insights on our tour but my BlogTour companions insights as well!  We’ll finish our tour in the Shaun Smith Home Shop.

And just when I thought I’d died and gone to New Orleans, it gets even better.  After spending a fabulous afternoon doing my favorite pastime (and profession) – Antiquing – this evening we’ve got a date with  my design hero, Miles Redd, for cocktails at the Ogden Museum of Southern Art!

Miles Redd is an internationally acclaimed interior design sensation, known for his quirky brand of cozy glamour. An Atlanta, Georgia native turned New Yorker, his work has been published in Elle Décor, House Beautiful, Vogue, House & Garden, Domino and W magazines…. And as of last fall, Redd’s fabulous “The Big Book of Chic” (published by Assouline), has hit the shelves.  This is an inspirational resource and compilation of all things chic, lavishly illustrated featuring a diverse selection of his unique interiors, a visual feast for anyone interested in spirited, eclectic design.

If you’re as smitten with Miles as I am you must take some time to listen to this interview with my fellow #BLogTourNola compatriot Linda Merrill of Surroundings – posted on her popular interior design podcast The Skirted RoundTable.

Miles Redd – Elle Décor

 
Miles Redd in Texas

Loaded down with a freshly signed design book… next up, it’s time for JAZZ!!! You CANNOT go to New Orleans and NOT listen to music! So we’ll skip out of the Ogden and over to Lafayette Square for “Wednesday at the Square”.  This is part of a series of twelve free outdoor concerts from early March through late May by well-known New Orleans and Louisiana artists. Tonight we’ll be listening to The Revivalists + Disco Demolition Knights.  Elevated above the crowd on a big sound stage, each week bands perform a wide variety of indigenous musical styles, including jazz, rock, funk, swamp pop, Latin rhythms and more.

Photo Credit: Off Beat Magazine

Once our toes getting tapping, we’ll leave the muggy outdoors to get steamy INDOORS  ….  Get your mind out of the gutter.  We’re going to dinner courtesy of Mr. Steam!  You’ll remember that Mr. Steam is one of our #BlogTourNola Sponsors. 

Mr.Steam® makes the world’s most luxurious steam showers and steam baths for the home and for the spa  – not to mention diva worthy towel warmers!  They’re taking us to Bayona where Louisiana native Susan Spicer defines her cooking style as being  ”New World”.  She’s known for her imaginative dishes on a constantly changing menu served in an early-19th-century Creole cottage that glows with flower arrangements, elegant photographs, and trompe l’oeil murals suggesting Mediterranean landscapes.   Rumor has it that this is the place to eat dessert first, lest you’re too full to eat dessert.  I’m having fantasies about that maple-semolina cake with golden-raisin compote and pomegranate sauce.

The only thing I love more than food, antiques and travel is taking time to go to the spa – unfortunately it’s something I don’t do nearly enough.  When I do go one of the first things I do is plan time in the steam room before the sauna and then an ICE SHOWER.    With Mr Steam, it’s now possible to have that Spa Experience at home, avoiding what #BlogTourCologne alumni Paul Anater calls “Being Naked in Public”.  One of the products we’ll be learning about is the iSteam, a new home steam shower experience that marks a new era in bathroom remodeling options. As easy to use as a smart phone, the beautiful graphics of the iSteam touch panel are unprecedented in steam controls. With a swipe of the finger, the iSteam’s intuitive touch screen navigation allows the user to seamlessly control temperature, time, aroma, chroma, audio entertainment, and overall steam system functionality.  You can even use iSteam’s accessory commands for optional chromatic lighting and aromatic infusers to transform your shower into a sensory spa.  Now this sounds like an experience fit for a diva.

In fact, this whole day is Diva Worthy! From Shaun Smith Home, to Miles Redd to Mr Dreamy, I mean, Mr Steam….  Today in New Orleans is Drop Dead Diva!

The Antiques Diva®