We are redoing our old (1902 -- hey, that's old for the Pacific Northwest) house in Anacortes, WA, and thought it would be neat to get some of the attractive hardware we have seen on home/apartment entrances in France. In particular, I'd like a fancy period lighted door bell push/button, and house numbers. Do any of you know where I could start looking for such stuff?
In the States, we have businesses that specialize in that sort of thing. Restoration Hardware is one. http://www.restorationhardware.com/ Are there similar outfits in Paris, and what would I look for under in Pages Jaunes?
Last time I was in Paris I looked through BHV in Paris, which some one suggested, and they do have some enameled blue and white house numbers, but that is not what I want. I'm thinking brass or cast iron. I will also look through the flea market in Vanves next Saturday, but that will be like the proverbial needle in the haystack.
The French are restoring old homes all the time, and there must be a buck to be made in supplying the bits and pieces for doing so --- I just need help finding the right place to part with my bucks. Any suggestions?
Does anyone know where to get vintage/period house hardware in Paris?
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Damn, but this dropped off the page too quickly. Are there no DIYs out there in France? I leave tomorrow morning for Paris, but will keep checking in in hope someone can give me a lead.
BHV sells of a lot of replica items.
Hi Dick, the main DIY chains in France are Leroy Merlin, Castorama, Bricodepot but they are big stores and I don't think you'll find them inside Paris. If you write "bricolage" in the pagesjaunes.fr you'll find smaller shops everywhere in Paris. Good luck and welcome to France!
Merci Beaucoup, Corinne! That gives me a start.
Unfortunately, we will not get up to Dijon this time either. Every moment is planned out ----- mostly involving glutting ourselves on French pastries. We still blame you for getting us hooked when you took us on a tour of the Patisseries in Dijon.
could try antique / flea markets
links below have lots of details
http://tinyurl.com/7e6k6bz
http://www.parisperfect.com/paris-flea-markets.php
Great range of hardware here : http://www.auprogres.com/index.php
Good question, I am looking for door knockers but I have not had any luck finding anything.
"what would I look for under in Pages Jaunes?"
Look for "quincailleries".
Would your house not be a sort of arts and crafts if built in that time.
There is a huge Leroy Merlin right next to the Pompidou Center on the left, and 3 Castorama stores at least in Paris: Place de Clichy, Place de la Nation and metro Crimée (this one being a former BHV).
Start with BHV, just behind the city hall. All replicas but imo much better than Leroy Merlin and great selection.
Stay away from basin/sink fittings, sizes may not match.
Old light fixtures and lamps, both usually easy to rewire, are at the large marchés aux puces.
BTW, new replica lamps don't need to be re-wired, just need a US plug fitted, or can use a plug adapter.
Sorry, nuke, should have read your post more carefully.
Gracious Home in NYC has a huge assortment of brass house numbers, www.gracioushome.com
Do be careful buying anything that needs to fit into a U.S.-measured space. I once bought the most gorgeous Limoges porcelain door knobs only to find out (duh!) they were too small for the U.S. fittings and wobbled around like crazy.
I'd try the flea markets and brocante stores.
Thank you both Cathinjoetown and St. Cirq. I'm in Paris at the moment, but have had little time to look for the things I am interested in, except for yesterday morning when we went to the flea market in Vanves. Simply a wonderful place for a junk collector like me. I saw few bargains, but the variety was amazing! One category, however, old woodworking tools, were priced just about at the levels I would jump on in the States, but then I would have to lug them home. I can't imagine getting a three foot long wooden smoothing plane into my carry-on. It was only 8 Euros, though.
Mostly we have been going from one gallery to another looking for French artists working in kiln formed art glass. Unfortunately, innovative glass art seems to not be big in France, we are told, save for a few working in the south of France. We found only a few pieces in two galleries. We may need to head your way, St. Cirq.
If you are curious about what the stuff I am talking about looks like, you could look at the "Floral Fabrics" and the "Dimensional Landscapes" sections of my DW's web site. www.lumenaeries.com
The DIYers with homes in France tend not to be in Paris. You really have to go out in the country to find what you're looking for. And yes, innovative art is hard to find in Paris, just like a house, it is a question of budget....