Getting inspired at Courtyard Antiques.

There are some places that make you feel good when you are there. In Edmond, Oklahoma, the little yuppie town I live in, Courtyard Antiques is one such place.

On a dull day, just visiting will give you inspiration.

The unique thing about Courtyard Antiques is that Barbara Nix (who co-owns the store with hubby Steve Nix) beautifully combines antiques with vintage and new pieces to give a very fresh look. So instead of having a dull antique store look, you have a unique eclectic look through which you can even visualize how to place a particular antique piece in your own space/environment.

This morning as I walked in to the store, pretty Julie Jones with her beautiful smile was there, like always greeting customers.  A few minutes later ravishing Barbara Nix joined in too. It was a pleasant surprise to see my friend Bill Nash and his better half there getting inspired too. I had a wonderful two hours, I browsed through the store, had a nice chat with Bill and Mrs. Nash and with the two lovely ladies of Courtyard Antiques. Through Barbara, I discovered that Charles Faudree’s new book has been published, which all of us Faudree fans have been waiting for.

 Here are some pictures I took to share with my blog friends, hope you will get some inspiration too.

A nook at the entrance

Wedding Armoire from the Normandy region c. 1860

Beautiful English secretary

French Walnut clock c.1820s

Black Forest cuckoo clock c. 1800s

French Trumeau c. 1840s

A unique French piece

French Comtoise clock c. 1840s

Fall decor to remind Fall is just around the corner

The lovely ladies, Barbara Nix(left) and Julie Jones  

Beautiful White Peacock (taxidermy)

A unique table lamp, product of Oklahoma

Marble top French tables

Would love to have this table lamp in the
wine cellar

French marble top table

French Hunt Cabinet 

English console table with Burmese hand
carving c. 1800s

Front of the console

Picture credits: Paisley Curtain

Riding in 1957 Ford Fairlane Coupe

My friend Richard bought a 1957 Ford Fairlane Coupe about a year back. In the past year the car has won numerous awards in car shows around the state. Interestingly though we both are members of Mercedes Benz club of America and meet often, but I did not have a chance to see the car in person.

Few days back Richard asked me if I could do a painting of his Ford.  Since it was not possible for the car to do sessions with me while I do its portrait, I had to photograph it and use those photographs to do the painting. This weekend I went to photograph the car, after that Richard took me for a drive in the beautiful car. It was a unique experience. The car rides so smooth and the V8 engine has so much power that on the turnpike it drove like a dream.

Beautiful curvaceous body

 

Miles of real Chrome on the car

View from inside

Massive V8 engine that the car shares with Ford Thunderbird

 Picture credits: MK

Pebble Beach Concours d’ Elegance

The Pebble Beach Automotive week started on Wednesday, August 17, and ended with the Pebble Beach Concours d’ Elegance on Sunday August 21^.

This year pebble Beach celebrated Mercedes Benz and 125 years of automobile and 50 years of Ferrari GTO.

On Thursday, August 18 was the Pebble Beach Tour d' Elegance. This was a 60 mile drive starting and ending at Pebble beach Equestrian Center, around the Monterey Peninsula. Over 150 historic cars participated in the drive.

Sir Stirling Moss and lady Moss in Mercedes 300SL roadster

The Concours, held at the 18^th Fairway of Pebble Beach Golf Course, had cars from 30 states of USA, Washington DC and 14 countries. There were 40 Mercedes Benz cars including a 1894 Benz Victoria. Also 21 Ferrari 250 GTO were there out of 36 that were produced.

21 1957 Ferrari GTO lined up

Judging the cars

The surprise winner of the Best of Show was a 1934 Voisin C-25 Aerodyne, owned by Peter Mullin of France. 

1934 Voisin Best of the show

Best of the show

Picture credits: Pebble beach concours, sports car digest etc