Provence Furnishings - or - gems found on an industrial estate

After a weekend spent furniture hunting for the new house (with some serious success in the charity shops - DIY projects such as the restoration of a gorgeous 1930's kitchen cabinet to be shown here next week), I ended the weekend on an industrial estate in Lea Valley Trading Estate. The boyfriend takes me to such glamerous places. We were looking for a six foot mirror (and we found the black version of this one - for a very affordable £220)

We were wandering around several rather unremarkable shops when he grabbed my hand and with a sideways smile, said "you'll love this one" and pulled me into Provence Furnishings. All I can say is that he was completely right. I can't remember the last time I was in a shop where I wanted so much. My best picks are below - sadly a lot of what I crave (the enormous silver vases for example), aren't on their website - I'm going to have to start carrying my camera. And in case you were wondering, that whimpering you can hear is my credit card cowering in the darkest corner of my handbag...

Mirrored armoire from the Moulin Noir Handmade Chateau range - I love the black painted finish and the use of sumptuous black velvet on chairs, re-creating the fashionable European look that was so prominent in the exclusive first class cabins of the Mississippi steam paddle ships and the new town Saloons during the hedonistic Charleston days of the roaring twenties. It'd be ideal in the bathroom opposite the free-standing tub and fireplace:

Two drawer chest and overmantel mirror:

Bombe chest of drawers (to be painted and distressed):



The moral of this post is: Don't judge a shop by its location!