It's kinda chic...to fill your home with Vintage French finds!

Vintage French tea towels with monograms.

It’s kinda chic to fill your home with things found at flea markets in France — we’ve traveled all over to find one-of-a-kind treasures, which is exactly why, four years ago, we opened SHOP Most Lovely Things: a little shop built entirely around what we find on those trips. And today, after some time away working on other projects, I’m so happy to say the shop is open again. I thought Sunday favorites was the perfect time to share.

The case for a well-traveled home

There’s something about a piece that’s already lived a life before it gets to you. Add one warm, well-worn copper pot, one mismatched glass, one tea towel monogrammed with initials that aren’t yours, and suddenly the room has a story. That’s the whole idea behind the shop, and it’s the reason we keep going back.

What’s waiting for you

Small lamp, pitcher of basil, silver christening cup of dahlias.

Vintage crates on a wwall wiht books, jars, bowls filled with tomatoes and garlic.

We spent two weeks doing what we love most — planning routes, driving all over France in search of the right flea markets on the right day, taking the Métro out to the flea markets on the edge of Paris, digging through bins, and talking our way into a good price (Brent does this part). Here’s some of what came home with us:

Embroidered tea towels — Vintage linens with hand-stitched monograms, each one someone else’s initials, each one a little mystery about who they belonged to.
Copper — Pots, molds, and pans with that deep, tarnished patina you can’t fake.
Vintage glasses — They make a table feel gathered rather than staged.
Paintings— Mostly oil; they appear to be very old, beautiful on their own or layered into a gallery wall.
Pitchers – An assortment of pitchers perfect for milk, water, or a few flowers.
Appetizer dishes – Small oval dishes are just the right size for olives, nuts, or a few appetizers.
Bowls of all sizes – Perfect for holding your tomatoes, garlic, shallots, and onions on the kitchen island
Peg racks – Getting more and more difficult to find, but add so much to an entryway or mudroom to hang your coat and favorite tote! The smaller peg racks are perfect to use in the kitchen for tea towels.

Vintage bowls filled with tomatoes on a wood cutitng board on a grain sack on a kitchen island.

Pichter of basil, copper molds hanging from a vintage peg rack, tea towel, and a footed bowl with tomatoes.

Come shop it

Small diamond shape dish with blue trim and cookies inside the dish.

The shop is live now – Click here. If something catches your eye, I’d grab it. Things sell out. And if you’ve been collecting your own bits of French flea market chic, I’d love to hear what you’ve found!

Here’s to filling our homes with things that have a little history.

More Sunday favorites

Oak Essentials by Jenni Kayne

I was recently gifted a few items from Oak Essentials, the clean skincare and body care line by Jenni Kayne, and I am so impressed. It’s not a brand I would have sought out on my own. I’ve had my routine for years — but it was the perfect opportunity to try something new, and now I’m making changes.

My favorites are the Dew Body Butter and the Moisture Rich Balm. You only need the smallest amount, and both work morning and night beautifully, exactly in line with my new less-is-more philosophy as we downsize.

The Dew Body Butter is already earmarked for the girls’ stockings this Christmas. I can’t think of anyone who wouldn’t love it.

What I read this week

If you’re a Nora Ephron fan, maybe you’ve already read it, but if you haven’t, may I suggest you listen to it. The book I am talking about is Heartburn, Ephron’s 1983 novel that mixes marriage, heartbreak, and recipes into one of the funniest breakup stories ever written — Thirty years after it first came out, Meryl Streep narrated the audiobook, and hearing her voice bring Rachel Samstat to life is a treat, especially since Streep also played the role in the 1986 film adaptation.

There’s a line in the book- I can’t remember where- but I immediately recognized it from the movie Julie and Julia. You can watch it on Netflix. It’s when Julie makes a chocolate cream pie after a hard day and marvels that no matter what, egg yolks, chocolate, sugar, and milk will always thicken. It’s such a comfort — and it’s very much Ephron’s voice, whether she’s writing a novel or a screenplay.

Sézane + silver ballet flats

I’ve been searching for a pair of silver ballet flats to wear to the ceremony at the Hindu Temple for Madeline’s wedding. I wanted something that I knew I could wear again. Because, well, I’m practical that way. And then I saw these at Sézane.

I also ordered this Will jacket from Sézane. I love the style. It’s not quite a blazer, but you can wear it like a blazer, unlike a coat. It’s such a versatile style, and the black-and-beige houndstooth is perfect to wear with almost everything in my closet.

What do you think of the rebrand from Sézane? I think I am finding that I still like the basics. The Will jackets, the Clyde coat, and the cardigans.

Literie Candles

I saw this candle from Literie called Late Fees at the Library, and I had to order one for everyone in my book club, and one for Madeline, of course! The scent is paper and linen, and it’s heavenly.