The Tale of a Desk

My Provence Blue Desk

One of the first things France teaches you is patience. You must not fight it, but go with it. There is a certain rhythm to life that flows there. Once you start to understand it, your days also flow. With that said, it took three patient years of visits to find the right desk.

That stands to reason, as an given room is always much more interesting when it is decorated over time with pieces and finds that mean something, a memory, hold some weight, and uplift your spirit. I was okay to take my time, and enjoy every minute of the hunt.

Our little stone house in south France, has a somewhat spacious room by European standards upstairs which has taken on multi-functions. A small house from the late 1700’s, always needs more storage, so a custom closet was created with a linen curtain front which fills one side of the room. This room is large enough to do yoga, stretching, and even light weights. There is room for a small stand alone armoire which has become my linen closet. Additionally, In one corner by the window, the thought was it would be perfect for a writing desk area. Not all days are sunny, and not all days are market days. So began the hunt for the perfect desk to fit in that corner.

I looked diligently for a desk at flea markets, antique shops, and village garage sales called “vide greniers.” It had to be a certain size, large enough to write on, place items on, and spend some time there. For three years, I looked for the right desk. Some were not the right size. Some were too formal and not the right style. Some were perfect, but an earlier buyer had claimed it. Some were sweet, but had flaws from a past life, such as a gap in the table top or a corner missing, which ultimately wouldn’t work.

New Closet In The Room

First find, an old map of France, dated 1721 was found at a flea market. The actual map is vintage, but certainly not 305 years old. It is a colorful map of the past where bodies of water have different names, the French boundaries different from what it is present today, and yet if you look closely many, many towns today are listed such as Uzès. It would be perfect for the eventual desk in that quiet corner.

One day this summer, John and I ventured over to Sommières by a friend’s recommendation. It is a historic medieval town on the Vidourle river between Nîmes and Montpelier, complete with a Roman bridge and vibrant Saturday market. We weren’t disappointed. We strolled along the large market and adjacent flea market buying a few vintage treasures, but no desk.

We had a wonderful lunch at a cafe near the river, and headed back to our car through the medieval streets. In a narrow street, so narrow a car couldn’t get through, we stumbled upon a really neat brocante or antique shop. In the back of this shop was this Provence blue desk. It was the perfect size, rustic style, and charm for our corner. My only hesitation was the color, would it work in my mainly neutral palette room. I thought it was either going to look really, really good, or really, really bad. There was no in between.

The shop owner said it had been in someone’s garden, and that sealed the purchase. This desk had a past life and story. How apropo to have a former garden table as a desk. The desk luckily fit in our car, and made the journey home. We cleaned it up, and brought it upstairs to the quiet corner, and it worked beautifully in the room. The Provence blue actually makes a desirable color pop for the room, and the color of course is so traditional, so Provence.

Second find, was a very simple but beautiful vintage brass lamp was purchased for extra working light.

Third find, was a small hand-thrown ceramic vase with matching blue colors to hold fresh flowers to cheer on those working at the desk.

Fourth find, was a vintage patina basket with a loop, bought at a vide grenier. It could rest on the floor or hang off of the desk. The proceeds from this vendor’s table went to assist a cat charity. That tugged at my heart.

The little wooden chair is a typical Provençal country chair. It is one of four chairs that was part of my very first flea market purchases. Two are in the kitchen, and now one is front and center at the desk.

The spirit and charm of the room was taking shape. The corner was complet, as they say in French.

A Nice Addition To The Room

Bon Appétit et Bon Semaine….Bonnie