The Timeless Art of Seduction

Pandora

It is a sweet seduction which becomes obsession when it is at its best. Everything is in the gaze and the desire. The very idea of creating an intimate setting is instinctively soothing. It almost seems contradictory to the notion of what is trending now with ready made designer interiors in a bag, but one thing for sure is that when comes the time to take that leap of faith and start rearranging our dwelling’s interiors, we want to repel the ordinary. We seek individuality almost as bravely as to expose ourselves to the judgement of others without wanting to admit it. Let's face it, a lot of personal identity is defined by the interiors we live in everyday. The art of cocooning relegates preconceived designs to the people who are stuck in their mental comfort zones or the unimaginative to make place for unpredictable eclecticism. Add green eco consciousness and it is not surprising to hear a collective sigh.  One can almost hear the small voice coming from that consumer wilderness crying out: what now?

 We are a society of consumers surrounded by objects. We want something that adds value by its acquisition. A whole class of seasoned consumers flog through flea markets, thrift shops, auctions and internet sales such as Kijiji, Craig's List, Etsy, EBay and even Facebook. Then there is the green army, these environmentalists who seek recovered or abandoned treasures that are not yet rendered in the antique shops for fine collectors or Eco centres. It is the art of intercepting that rare find until others realize its fair value.

Expect the unexpected

From the sacred to the profane

The profane blend with the sacred seduction of the found object has become our hobby. Our motivation is simple. To enhance the modern clean lines of our house, we chose to add unexpected architectural elements and decorative accessories for texture and whimsy. One of our inspirations is to have old interior doors. It is a beautiful dialogue between eras and it is green. Giving a second life to an object that does not come packaged by a foreign manufacturer is a rewarding adventure. One could actually say it is a form of voyeurism. The coveted object comes wrapped in a unique story that tells its provenance. Taking the time to find these artifacts, we discover the lives that were entwined with these objects as well as imagine all the stories that go with the associated era. This perspective adds to the richness of our finds and is limited only by nostalgic imagination beyond research. Dressers, mirrors, doors and even windows have their own entity because there is a story attached to each object. They say if walls could talk, yet it is it these everyday objects that speak volumes as they share a profound testimony to the lives that once manipulated them. I sensed this when I was picking out doors and found one where a teenager had put stickers behind her bedroom door telling her story. I warn you, this is addictive.

ARTÉ

In our quest to find an architectural or decorative artifact, my husband and I started to covet what others had surrendered to municipal Eco centres, or entire warehouses filled with ancient treasures from the demolition of old convents or monasteries. In order to succeed in sourcing out these finds, we became weekend warriors with purchasing and logistic strategies. GPS and coffee in hand early on weekends, we were looking for specific items we had identified on our lists. The learning curve was steep. Don’t kid yourself. It is both cerebral and physical. Then, there's the attitude. Everything has a value related to its functionality and its era hence the famous catchall label of vintage. How many times did we chat with a seller who used this epithet liberally? Caveat emptor! When it comes to vintage, one speaks of an era and the original object. For the neo-retro, it is imitation designed to evoke the era. Vintage has its nostalgic value added to the desire to buy quality at a low cost. I don’t personally go for kitsch, but common sense along with the desire to be green gives me the eclecticism I strive for without being locked in by preconceived designer or architectural settings. If it’s eclectic you are looking for, have we got the place for you.

Saint Basil

It’s not every day that you are greeted by a bonifide saint, but at ARTE, Saint Basil waits for you at the entrance as though giving you his blessings. While looking for architectural elements, we found ARTE, the Artisan du Renouveau et de la Transformation Écologique, a warehouse store in the heart of Griffintown, a historic suburb along the Lachine Canal, in Montréal. While browsing their website, we discovered a wealth of objets trouvés from kitsch to antiques. Going to ARTE is like opening Pandora's Box with all its enchantment. Then, it is the warm hospitality of Jean-Marc Moreau, ARTE’s manager who literally gives you free range to explore the mazes of the Murray Street warehouse. Indeed, all the strategies that we had made to locate specific objects vanished quickly. Pierre and I were walking in silence akin to the tangible emotional experience one has when entering a cathedral or a temple. It's mind-blowing. Then suddenly, we are convened by a voice coming from somewhere in the labyrinth. Stéphane Tremblay

Stéphane Tremblay

is the genius behind ARTE. He is the founder and the one who was able to enhance recovery of items what would have ended up in the municipal landfill. What is more remarkable is that ARTE is sustainable. Not only has it created jobs, but it enhances the creative approach to recovery. ARTE is recognized by designers, interior design magazines, television and theatre directors, and film sets scouting for rare objects that are for rent. For ordinary mortals, it is Pandora's Box.  If you have the eye, and you have done your research, you uncover artwork, artifacts and furniture, even tools coveted by experienced collectors.  Then comes the art of negotiating. Practice makes perfect.

Jean-Marc Moreau

We went three times at ARTE and every time, Stéphane and Jean-Marc greeted us with the same brio. If you are uncertain about an acquisition, Stéphane is a born designer who offers suggestions to inspire. What would be the ultimate criterion to consecrate ARTE with Stéphane and Jean-Marc as a must for your interiors? It is when one spends a good portion of the day scouting around the huge warehouse until night time sets in and having to rent a truck to haul your treasures home. The bonus is the new friendship with two unique individuals for their involvement in the community and the ecofriendly sustainable approach they generate.

Leaving with our booty

Usually, when we drive back home from Montréal on our way back to Gatineau, I find highway 417 long and boring as I keep glancing at the Navcom screen in the car to see how many kilometers are left before we get home, but this evening was different. As I was following my spouse who was driving the rental truck with our booty, I sang with the radio all along watching the stars piercing the dark skies overlooking the never ending rural landscape. It is amazing how sometimes life gives us a glimpse of how even the smallest of things can become rich with meaning. Basically, it is to go green and by giving a second life to an object that has a story to tell. What is even more fascinating is the emotional appeal of buying something from the past. The story continues to be told following the path given by our daily lives. When you think of it, design is not the image of the object but how it works. If this object is useful still after all the lives that were once connected to it, then this only adds to its value. Well done is better than well said. Sometimes a little seduction takes you by surprise and brings the right amount of inspiration  making dreams a reality with roots from the past. I guess it not only makes sense, it makes the ordinary almost timeless.