Kelly O'Donnell and Tracey Shingledecker, professionally known as the 2 Lucy’s Antiques, recently moved to a new home – a 9,000 sq ft showroom off the Katy Freeway in Houston. What a feat! The 2 Lucy’s started off in a tiny booth selling antiques procured in Europe. They quickly outgrew that space and moved to a much larger home in the Memorial area, but, again, found they needed more space to hold their wonderful collection of antiques. This month, the 2 Lucy’s held a grand opening in their new shop at Back Row Antiques, which they share with two other dealers: Leighton Hale Antiques and Designs by Grace.
Here are some photographs of their new space! Enjoy!!!
This antique street sign looks like it was made just for the 2 Lucy’s.
Welcome to the 2 Lucy’s! If you are in the market for a confit pot – this is the place to find one. They have quite a collection of them.
And, here, Houstonian Jane Moore shows how you can display these wonderful French pots.
With 9,o00 sq. ft. there is lots of room for the 2 Lucy’s to spread out. I love their antiques. They have a certain aesthetic that I can relate to – in other words – I want everything!!!!
Great long bench – it would be perfect in a entry hall or a breakfast room. The 2 Lucy’s also have a nice assortment of demijohns. And I love the French door screen.
Demijohns make great accessories – here in an entry hall, a collection of the bottles sit on an antique French buffet.
Great desk and chairs! Notice all the mirrors on the back wall. I bought one of their mirrors for Elisabeth’s room. They have a great selection. That’s one of the best things about the 2 Lucy’s – they have a lot of merchandise, which makes it a great place to find accessories for a client.
This is what I was talking about – need an antique apothecary jar? Take your pick! I love that!!!! They have large selections of so many accessories - you can always find something for yourself or a client.
Apothecary jars look good on shelves. Sally Wheat used three when filling these shelves for a client.
Besides a nice selection of clocks, the 2 Lucy’s also have a nice choice of shutters. Shutters and old doors are so in right now – especially when used as a backdrop:
Brooke from Velvet and Linen placed these antique doors, flanking a window, in this dining room. Situated behind the concrete pedestals and urns, the doors create a fabulous look. HERE. I love this casual dining room that Brooke created.
These old shutters are used inside the house, instead of outside.
One of my favorite pair of repurposed antique shutters are these found in Sally Wheat’s family room. They hide the TV on one side.
Concrete is also a popular item – either urns or statutes. This statue at the 2 Lucy’s is such a cute one!
My concrete statue sits in front of the window, but it was really made for the outside. I don’t care because I love her! She’s so feminine, plus she never talks back!
The 2 Lucy’s have a great assortment of mirrors.
Another fabulous mirror. Love the picture stand too. A small antique leather book would also look great on the stand.
I got this cute little mirror from 2 Lucy’s a few years ago. I love these kind of mirrors – with some gilt placed around the glass on old distressed wood.
Mirrors are wonderful to decorate with – especially in place of fine art, which can be really pricey. Here, Suzanne Rheinstein used a floor length mirror – between two antique chairs and columns. Just gorgeous, no other word for it!!
In this corner, there is a great pair of painted antique doors. They remind me of the house that I just showed, with the wood doors in the master bedroom:
These doors, along with the antique mantel, make this bedroom. They are just fabulous! Remember how this house had so many wonderful old doors that really created a wonderful atmosphere?
And, here, Ginger Barber used a set of old doors that lead from the bedroom to the bathroom. Again, a small detail that makes a huge statement.
And, the 2 Lucy’s stock lots of antique books and small gilt accessories. Right now gilt is in when decorating with linens and textures. Ying and yang.
In my living room, I used gilt wood urns with white books and gold framed prints along with some tassels.
Not sure if this 2 Lucy’s piece is from a saloon or is a shop counter, but it would make a great kitchen island or a bar. It reminds me of the fabulous kitchen island from the house I just showed:
This long shop counter becomes the focus of this kitchen.
Jane Wood Interiors used an antique shop counter and topped it with a slab of white marble.
Lisa Luby Ryan used an old shop table as an island. I love the open storage underneath.
And, here is the 2 Lucy’s booth at Marburger during the last Round Top antique fair. Love the clock! Be sure to visit at the next Round Top this spring.
Here are instructions to the new showroom, along with hours and phone numbers:
To contact the 2 Lucy’s – email at backrowantiques.com
or call 713-827-9292
AND, finally
This is our own sweet Lucy. She, along with Sammie Jo and Georgie, are happy, healthy, and well fed dogs, perhaps too well fed in Sammie Jo’s case. But, many dogs in Houston are not as lucky. Volunteers feed and rescue these less fortunate dogs and cats that roam our city in what is called the Corridor of Cruelty. But, unfortunately, the volunteers have run out of food. The situation is dire.
For over four years now, these volunteers have worked in the fields of the Corridor feeding and rescuing these forgotten and neglected animals. The Corridor is an area in Houston notorious for strays. There is rampant over population and it is a popular animal dumping site. On a daily basis, volunteers feed hundreds of these hungry animals to help keep them alive until they can be rescued. To date, over 600 dogs and cats have been rescued from the Corridor.
If you, out of the goodness of your heart, would like to help this rescue organization, please bring a bag of dog food to Olivine, between this Friday and the following week’s Sunday, and the good people of Olivine will extend to you a 15% discount off any purchase.
If you can’t bring dog food, Olivine will accept donations of $10.00 and over which will also earn you the 15% discount. And, on top of that Helen and staffers Cathy and Diana promise to give you a hug too!!!
If you live out of town, or can’t make it into Olivine, you can mail a check to:CRI
10134 Hammerly Blvd., Box 187
Houston, TX 77080OR
you can donate online at: http://corridorrescue.org/donate/
Olivine’s location, email, phone, and hours:
2405 Rice Boulevard
Houston, Texas 77005
Phone: 713.622.7776
Email: getcomfy@olivineliving.com
Store Hours: Mon-Sat 10:30 (ish) – 6pm Sun: Closed
Thank you so much for your consideration in this important endeavor!!!
Wow! Just beautiful items for the home.
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to get there. I LOVE the old doors, I have a set in my family room but I must have more!!!
I have donated to CRI and how nice to get 15% off at Olivine
Arla
Gorgeous photos and wow, really beautiful things... but somehow I can't get over the price tag that was shown on the small gilt accessories above. wayyyyyy outta my league!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great shop. We don't have anything like that in Sydney, so boring here.
ReplyDeleteWish I lived in Houston. I live in NYC where fabulous french antique stores are limited, very very limited!
ReplyDeleteJoni, that shop is amazing. And I am happy to make a donation. I think I will do it in honor of that cute Lucy. What a love! And what a great cause!
ReplyDeletexo,
Sheila
I live in the wrong state!! All the beautiful things are in Texas.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful shop and talented ladies! Also, Joni, every time I see Elizabeth's room I love it even more- simply divine!
ReplyDeleteSo heartbreaking for those poor animals. What a good cause to champion.
So curious, do you keep your blogroll current in your sidebar? You have a lot of blogs and I'm just wondering if you update them, or just add new favorites periodically.. I can spend hours just clicking your list of blogs!
ReplyDeleteJan
Thank you for featuring the information on the Corridor of Cruelty. It always blows my mind that someone could just dump or harm an animal. Love your blog with all of the wonderful articles and pictures of homes and design, but especially love that you are informing your readers of the animal rescue groups. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteLeigh
Oh, how I wish I lived in Texas!! What a great shop!
ReplyDeleteBTW, "epicerie" means "grocer" -- what a fabulous idea for a kitchen island. Good call!
Looks amazing. Wish I could get there. I live in Alberta Canada. We don't have any great antiques stores here.
ReplyDeleteAt times like this I wish I lived closer to Houston. What a fabulous resource. Thanks, too, for helping those precious abandoned animals.
ReplyDeleteXO, Victoria
Hi Joni, This is a wonderful post about a shop that is beyond amazing. Hopefully, So. Cal. will soon return to a more European (rich) design trend.
ReplyDeleteMary
Hi Mary, I, too, live in California and am sometimes frustrated by the lack of local resources for these types of furnishings in California. However, they are out there, just not in one place. Many people in the "design industry" poo-poo Craigslist. It takes time and one must definately be careful, but you CAN find some really good items on Craigslist. If you have more time than money, then the wait and effort can be worth it.
DeleteI have been researching the purchase of a walnut, Louis XV armoire with either wood or glass front. (By the way, all of these are antique reproductions.)
Craigs list ~ $1,200 to $1,800
Consignment ~ $2,200 to $3,000
Antique store ~ $3,600 to $5,400
Why the differences? It is all based on what the original owner will sell it for. Consignment stores don't purchase the item from the owner, they just hold it until sold. Typically, consignment shops take 40% of the selling price in exchange for holding and showcasing. So, if something sells for $3,000 the original owner gets the $1,800 he or she would have received had that same item sold through Craigs List.
Antique dealers that maintain shops buy the item outright. They usually mark it up by 3 times what they paid for it. Unlike the consignemnt shop, they invest their own money and take the risk that the item may not sell for a very long time. Typically Antique shops are in nicer areas than Consignment shops so their rent is higher. These factors justify higher prices.
Even if you live in California, the Marburg Shows in Round Top, Texas are a wonderful source of ideas, furniture, lighting, paintings and other decorative things. The next one starts a month from now. The selections are absolutely dizzying, worse (or better) than the Antique show in Pasadena, CA. While many people do use the show in Round Top for a one-day excursion, on the weekends, it is a mad house.
The vendors set up tents or display their wares in barns. You will be walking on gravel or on sod so sturdy, flat shoes are a must. Silly moi, my first time, I foolishly wore heels! And, it almost always rains. The best selections are at the beginning of the show while the best bargains are at the end of the show. (None of the vendors want to have to haul their wares back home.) The prices are somewhere between the cost of Craigslist and the cost of Consignement. The Marburg Shows are a major source of goodies for the designers and antique shops in Texas. Therefore, the beautiful $5,400 piece you see the following month at the la-dee-dah antique shop in Houston may have been purchased for only $1,800 at the Marburg show. Even if it costs you $400 to have it shipped to California, your total cost will be less than consignment and much less than buying it at a shop.
Of course, you have to fly to either Houston or to Austin and then drive 2.5 hours to Round Top, but it is worth the adventure!
Finallly, if you think you are going to spend at least $1,000, get yourself a re-sellers license and invest in some business cards. With a re-sellers licesne, you don't have to pay sales tax. The business cards showing you are a "decorator", will often entitle you to an additional 15% off the price.
Happy antiquing!
Smiles, Charlotte
Dear Charlotte, does this mean that you don't and condone not to pay state tax on items you amd others purchese that are not for re-sale???? "Finallly, if you think you are going to spend at least $1,000, get yourself a re-sellers license and invest in some business cards. With a re-sellers licesne, you don't have to pay sales tax. The business cards showing you are a "decorator", will often entitle you to an additional 15% off the price."
DeleteWhen I re-sell something that I bought using my resale license, I do pay taxes to the state. That is, unless I sell them to another re-seller such as an antique store. As far as the 15% off, that is entirely up to the vendor. Thousands of savvy decorators have re-sale licenses and business cards. Many designers and decorators purchase items to be used in their own homes. I bet Joni and many others who comment on this blog get their 15% off AND do not pay sales tax. When they "edit" their furnishings (such as Charlotte Moss is now doing) they sell them off to friends, family, clients or others. In this way they have furnished their homes for a time AND satisfied the law by passing these purchases on to others. What difference does it make if an item sits in a store, in a storage unit, in a designer or in a decorator's home before it is sold to someone else? The law does not require that you re-sell your purchases within a specific time period.
DeleteBy the way, do YOU pay sales tax on things you buy on line if the seller does not require it? Probably not.
A feast for the eyes!
ReplyDeleteTwo things I'm passionate about....beautiful furnishings and animal rescue! God Bless the good folks of Corridor Rescue....they do fabulous work for a lot of Houston's forgotten and discarded! Thank you Joni and Olivine for highlighting their efforts! I'll be making my donation today!
ReplyDeleteIs the bedding in your blue bedroom custom made? Is the fabric linen? It looks so shear. I'm looking for something exactly like it for a bed skirt.
ReplyDeletePlease share.
Thanks!
Maureen
What a fantastic store! We have nothing like 2 Lucys here in Los Angeles.
ReplyDeleteAre they selling at Marburger this Spring?
I'm coming with my client on the 2nd. Would love to see you!!!
xo
Brooke
Sorry, should be more clear! I'm coming to Marburger on April 2nd. Will you be there?
ReplyDeletexo
b
Hi Joni! I have a question regarding lighting. I plan to use Alexa Hampton's AH4015 5" H x 17" W in my family room. I have 9'6" ceilings, I have accent lighting on the stone fireplace wall and two floor plugs for table lamps. My concern is whether or not I will have enough light in the evening since the fixture is metal rimmed (all 5") and the light will be pushed down into the space. The fixture has 3-60watt bulbs. Thanks for any help. Susan
ReplyDeleteHi Joni, This comment has nothing to do with your latest post but I thought you might find it interesting. I came across a new blog to me called Peppermint Bliss. It is a young couple who are totally redoing their house in Texas. It is filled with a lot of before and afters. I knew the before pictures of the house looked very familiar. I did some investigating and it is The House in your post titled The Story Of One Perfect House that Carol Glasser lived in. It has sold again. The young couple are totally redoing and it is not in typical Houston decor!! I thought you might want to go take a look. Enjoy!! Carol Carpenter
ReplyDeleteGorgeous post!!!
ReplyDeletePinned bunches of stuff!
Your blog is the VERY BEST! Your depth into each post is amazing and I always look at your blog last.........just like a great dessert.
ReplyDeleteHey,it's yin and yang. But I also prefer.......ying and yang.
Oh, how I wish I lived close enough to shop there!
ReplyDeleteFantastic decoration looking so gorgeous. I really wonder after visit your creative work. I eagerly waiting for your another post.
ReplyDeleteGorgeous Joni... I think everything has left France and is at the 2 Lucy's store... :)
ReplyDeleteTheir selections are wonderful... I could go crazy in there... so much temptation... xv
Upon seeing these interiors and decors, I think I should go to Texas.
ReplyDeleteGorgeous! I love your pictures.
ReplyDeleteThis store got so much to offer for its customers. It has all kinds of antiques you looking for in a home. All the pieces were very shabby, but has its own unique characteristics that will entice you to purchase it. It must have a large number of valued customers. -D & M Estate Buyers
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing. I am obsessed with mirrors no naturally I want them all! I always find the best fine art antiques in CA.
ReplyDelete