Antiquaire: Beaux Tresor

Harlem Shake - Sweet 16 John Hancock Edition

2013-02-19T18:55:00.000-06:00

Antiquaire had a wonderful time this weekend designing the most gorgeous setting for a Sweet 16 Party high on the 95th Floor of the John Hancock Tower in Chicago!

We will be bringing you all of the before anfd after photos, "how-to's" on all the decorations and invitations! You'll also see the behind the scenes decision-making and actual setup.

In the meantime, please take a look at the video below that we produced for the kids. The kad a complete ball as they were completely unaware it was about to happen.

Please see the link below:

Hope you enjoy it! We'll be back soon with the gorgeous before and after pictures. Stay tuned!

Here's a picture of the cake! It was delicious!

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Happy Valentine's Day!

2013-02-01T13:44:00.000-06:00

Here is our personal Valentine to you. We hope you'll be our Valentine. Posh in Downtown Highland Park, IL asked Soledad Zitzewitz Interiors to design a beautiful window display for Valentines Day. Soledad's design team selected some beautiful pieces from Antiquaire to showcase within Posh. Check it out below. Owner Pam Hillman's high-end Posh boutique carries designer lingerie, yogawear, and other great women's lifestyle items that we love and you should too.

The chic and seductive display houses a beautiful Antique French Chandelier overlooking red accents and a beautiful Gustavian Swedish Column Back Side Chair with an elegant fur draped over it's front. The chair is paired with a gorgeous Round Gustavian Table. You can find all of exquisite pieces at Antiquaire by clicking on our photos.

Melissa Edelman Antiquaire and Soledad Zitzewitz Interiors are again featured in the 2013 Lake Forest Showhouse. Be sure to check back soon for updates on special discounts for the Showhouse. We will be sure to forward you the information about Advanced Ticket Purchasing Online when it comes our way. Check back soon and have a Very Special Valentine's Day!

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I Spy....

2013-01-24T17:16:00.002-06:00

Let us take some time to appreciate the finer details here at Antiquaire. Here is your second episode of guess what this is. Click on the photo to find the answer. Good Luck.

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Bon Appétit, Antiquarians!

2013-01-10T18:44:00.002-06:00

As you may well know, we are quite obsessed with Gastronomy here at the Antiquaire Blog. The feature film, "Julie and Julia" embodies this completely. The movie is based on a true story, where Meryl Streep plays world-renowned chef Julia Child. It portrays Child as a budding chef to her current fame, and a blogger, Julie, that cooks her way through the book - recipe by recipe.

The film starts with a young Julia Child in Paris looking to take up a hobby. She is quite interested in cooking and to her detriment there are no cookbooks in France which are translated into English. For her birthday, she receives a famous cookbook, Larousse Gastronomique, outlining French dishes and technique. In the midst of trying to translate the book completely written in French, she gets the spark to pursue French cuisine seriously by training at the famous Le Cordon Bleu Cooking School.

Melissa, during a quest for antiques in France, came across a rare first edition ©1938 of Larousse Gastronomique that we want to share with you. It is the same book that you see in the movie clip above!

Julia Child labored to translate and convert measurements of this book to teach Americans in Paris to cook (and later around the world). She traversed the French culinary culture becoming a world-class chef and writing her own book Mastering the Art of French Cooking. In the movie, blogger Julie Powell aspires to cook all 524 recipes in that book.

As a special treat and to prove that we're putting our interests to good use, here is a peek into Melissa's kitchen. Today you will enjoy Steak Au Poivre with Pomme Frites by Melissa Edelman.

Bon Appétit!
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These are two super easy and quick recipes that anyone can prepare quickly after coming home from work. Quick does not need to be bland and boring! Also, this is a great dish to prepare in front of guests and many enjoy watching the flambéing.

Pomme Frites

Ingredients:
4 Russet Potatoes
Coarse Salt
Vegetable Oil

Serves 4

Peel potatoes and cut into square strips about 1/3" thick. Heat vegetable oil in a large cast iron skillet. Start on high then turn down to medium heat when oil starts to bubble. Add only enough oil so that it coats the bottom of the skillet, and is perhaps only 1/8" deep. Keep oil at this level by adding a little more as you continue to brown the frites on all sides. The potatoes should not be able to completely submerged in the oil. Add the potatoes adding only enough at a time so they are not piled on top of each other. Using tongs, turn frites so they brown evenly on all sides, about 2-3 minutes on each side. Remove onto plate lined with several layers of paper towels. Repeat with any remaining potato strips. Sprinkle with salt to taste. I guarantee you, no ketchup necessary with these frites!

Browning the Pomme Frites

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Steak Au Poivre

Ingredients:

2 Steaks (3/4" to 1" thick)

2 Tbs. Whole Peppercorns (mixture of several kinds)

1/2 Cup Cognac or Brandy

1/2 Cup Heavy Cream

Salt

Serves 4

Crush peppercorns with a mortar and pestle. If you do not have one, a resealable sandwich bag and rolling pin do just fine.

Pat steaks dry with a papertowel. Steaks will not brown if moist. Rub and press crushed peppercorns all over steaks. Or you can use the Shake-n-Bake method and put the steak and crushed peppercorns in a plastic bag and shake. Rub off loose or extra peppercorns. You do not need to completely cover the steaks as the pepper will become too overpowering.

Heat a cast iron skillet with a 50/50 mix of butter and olive oil, just enough to coat the bottom of the skillet. Add extra if it starts to run dry.

Sauté the steaks in the oil and butter about 3 to 4 minutes per side. Regulate heat so steak do not burn. Steaks are done medium rare the moment you see some juice starting to puddle on the steaks.

Add the brandy and swirl around to deglaze skillet. Now it is time to flambé. It may look intimidating, but is rather very easy. Your guests will be so impressed! For the novice, using a candle lighter, ignite the brandy. If you are more experienced, you can carefully tilt the skillet (making sure the brandy does not spill out) and let the flame from the burner ignite the brandy.

Move (shake) the skillet back and forth until the flames subside when the alcohol is cooked off.

Add the heavy cream a little at a time until you see a desired creaminess. Stir.

Cook down the liquid for 2 to 3 minutes.

Plate the steak and drizzle the brandy sauce over the top. Add pomme frites and garnish with a sprig of Rosemary for color.

**********

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Did You Catch Us In Better Homes And Gardens?

2013-01-09T10:12:00.000-06:00

Happy New Year! It might be winter, but we heated up the summer in the Better Homes and Gardens Innovation Issue, if you hadn't noticed. It is a beautiful 1920's foursquare kitchen, remodeled with Tolix Stools in Tiffany Blue purchased at Antiquaire.

You can purchase these exact stools, as shown above in our showroom at Antiquaire. Click here.

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Guess What This Is.

2012-12-28T18:10:00.002-06:00

We pay extra attention to details here at Antiquaire. And we have a lot of them. There are many amazing pieces throughout our space, but sometimes it's the little things that make the world of difference. Click on each detail to reveal the whole of its part.

Probably A Very Old Door...Right?

Antique Mask? An Antique Hole.

Is it Part of An Old Ship?...

This One Is A Little Tough. This One Should Be Easy.

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Happy Holidays! The Antiquarians Take Chicago For A Night

2012-12-22T17:59:00.000-06:00

Greetings to our friends around the globe. Check out a typical Chicago Antiquarian Night. Fabrics at the Merchandise Mart and Fine Dining at Boka**** in Lincoln Park...Somebody has to do it.

Veal? Check.

Scallops? Check.

Squid? Check.

Antiquarians are foodies by nature.

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The Tolix Red Carpet Treatment!

2012-12-21T20:53:00.002-06:00

See all of the beautiful Tolix colors that are in stock at Antiquaire. And just in time for the Academy Awards, here are the most gorgeous choices of reds and oranges:


Give us a call or to order one of these gorgeous colors...in stock now! Antiquaire

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The Digital Houses Of New Jersey

2012-12-14T14:19:00.000-06:00

Episode 2: Side by Side Digital Rendering

In the previous episode we unveiled Amanda's suburban New Jersey kitchen. We identified some glaring issues that we intend to take on. We continue below with the next stage in the design process: Recreating her kitchen as a digital model.

Transferring her kitchen into digital renderings allows us to quickly develop new ideas through pictures to help Amanda make the very best decision towards awesomeness. Take a virtual tour through her kitchen. Take a breath...We think it's pretty cool too.

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How's It Hanging Antiquairian?

2012-12-12T17:57:00.000-06:00

Check Out Our Newest Antiquaire Fixture, The Rive Gauche. It is a Lovely Niermann Weeks Chandelier in A Rust Iron Finish. It plays on lines and how, despite the fact it has geometric details, it still holds a traditional aesthetic.

Call us with any Niermann weeks order (trade or public) or questions you may have.
See More of the Niermann Weeks Collection here:

Niermann Weeks Collection

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Lake Forest Got Talent?

2012-12-10T11:53:00.000-06:00

Lake Forest Showhouse Episode 2

The Antiquairians are back at it again in the David Adler Italian Villa for the Lake Forest Showhouse. Below you'll find Melissa and Olga walking through the room as they assess the potential ahead of the road. Check out how the pros do it.

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Real Houses of New Jersey

2012-12-07T10:28:00.000-06:00

Episode #1: Revealing A Real Suburban New Jersey Kitchen.

Our Mission: To make a dramatic kitchen remodel with a sensible budget.

In this episode, we want to present to you a real life kitchen of a growing family in New Jersey. We would like to give this kitchen an update using simple design techniques such as: applying a modernized color palette, accentuating architectural details, and solving organizational challenges. We want to prove that you can revamp a kitchen without an outrageous budget.

Stay tuned for our step-by-step progress on the design process for this kitchen makeover! We will be showing you the real-life drawings, photos, renderings, and 3-D models that we will be presenting to this client to help their decision making process.

And Now...Let us Present To You, Our First Real Kitchen of New Jersey.

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Keeping Up With The Antiquairians

2012-11-29T11:56:00.000-06:00

Lake Forest Showhouse Episode #1

We are delighted to announce that we have been selected for the nationally acclaimed Lake Forest Showhouse AGAIN! It's the second consecutive year that our talented design staff has been chosen from Chicago's finest for this annual event, now running in it's 27th year. That my friends, is a hot streak. This year we are working within a gorgeous David Adler Italian Villa, just off the bluffs of Lake Michigan. We are excited to get started and give you exclusive content on the design process. In addition, this November we have been celebrating 5 years in business and kicked off with a successful Anniversary Sale, which you still have time for, but you already knew that.

Check back for our tips of the week and our thoughts on the latest trends flowing through design. Our Latest Projects. Antiques. Design. Travel. Gastronomy. Awesomeness. This is the place for the finer things in life as commented by our dedicated design staff.

The Showhouse has graciously chosen the designers at Antiquaire to revamp this quaint Utility Room. Here's a sneak peak of two panoramic views below. Check back with us to see the room transform over the coming months.

Yup, we've got some work ahead of us, wish us luck.

And BTW, Join the Community! Francophiles welcome. Comments are very welcome.

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Welcome to The Antiquaire Blogspot!

2011-11-05T22:15:00.001-05:00

Welcome to the Antiquaire Blogspot! We are an antique store that specializes in Exquisite European Antiques. We are also the only United States distributor to offer the complete line of Tolix chairs and furniture. We also adore hip French industrial and Mid-Century furniture.

World traveler. Explorer. Interior Designer. Importer. Gourmet Chef.....Melissa Edelman of Antiquaire and her prestigious design staff dare to tempt you with all things European...especially for you Francophiles!

We hope to take you through a fantastic journey of our travels, our degustations, our antiques, and all things that inspire us. We will give you insight and how to's in good living, inspired by our quest for exquisite antiques..which in turn leads us in to our travels of fabulous food when hunting down antiques (yes we do get hungry when working)!

Below is a photo of the recent room that we designed at Lake Forest ShowHouse in Lake Forest, Illinois (North Shore of Chicago.) Comments that we had from this conservatory is that this was the room that people actually wanted to live in. This is what we want for you.... Surroundings that you want to hang out in, not feel stuffy in. We want you to use and eat on your furniture, as it was actually intended. we will show you how to do that. We want you to LIVE!

This is the room where you want you have your dinner party. We will show you how to design it. We will show you how to cook for it. We will show you how to use it.

FYI... Here was the before shot!

We ask you to take the ride with us. We want you to be able to add the good life to your home. La dolce vita!

"If you are lucky enough to have lived in Paris as a young man, then wherever you go for the rest of your life it stays with you, for Paris is a moveable feast."

~ Ernest Hemingway

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