I’m starting a new category for the blog called “Inspired!”. I’ll post regularly with images and info about things that are inspiring us hens at the moment.

Yesterday I found myself taking a look in some of the books that we have hanging around the shop. These books are a great inspiration for anyone looking to create custom pieces with that rustic old-world vibe. The images below are from the book Antique Furniture of Quebec by Michel Lessard. Here are some of the pretty things I’ve found, and some of the facts that I learned.

This pine carved armoire is framed with moulding, and has a sweet cutout base with a shell carving in the centre. According to the book this piece dates back to the late 18th Century. I think it it’s the perfect blend of masculine shapes with more feminine details.

This piece is a stunner! Another pine armoire from late 18th Century Quebec, but this time the hand-carvings are much more detailed. The mix of geometric shapes and organic forms is beautiful. This piece has been stripped of its original paint.

Before the 70’s in Quebec it was common for people to “revitalize” furniture by stripping it down to the wood and waxing and polishing it. Unfortunately the stripping methods were very hash and would destroy the wood surface and grain.

This armoire has hand-carved doors, and has been stripped on the outside. Even though the book says that stripping is bad, I kind of like the contrast between the bright red paint and the natural wood colour. What do you think?

Have you felt inspired by a special piece of furniture lately? Share your story with us in the comments, we’d love to hear from you!

At Henhouse, its all in the details and I was constantly stopped in my tracks when we were there to admire the abundant details in New Orleans.



This finish and colours found at The Laura Plantation remind me of the work we do or have done in our shop.
Our clawfoot bathtub off of our room in the garden district. I could daydream here all day….eat your hearts out ladies!!

This is the flavour of New Orlineans; Funky, charming, a little disheveled and a lot naugty!

These Mardi Gras beads are everywhere; trees, fences, gutters… Its a great reminder that people are able to let loose here, shimmy down the street, live life to the fullest and bond because of it. These are qualities I need more of!
Here is a great sampling of the music we saw at the Jazz Festival. “Lil Nathan and the Zydeco Big Timers…”

These are some of the areas that I fell in love with. Give me anything that looks like it needs to be fixed up and loved with a weatrhered patina and I’m all over it! This building in the French Quarter reminds me of some of the finishes that we try and emulate at Henhouse. Can you see the flood line?
Lafayette Cemetery. Quite eerie to see all the mausoleums above ground and crumbling…again LOVE the decrepit patina….
These homes are typical in the vast Garden district which really is acres and acres of old homes in various states of charming disrepair.