What is it about yesteryear that is just so cool? I think when a piece of furniture, jewelry, a lamp whatever has a past, there’s something romantic about that, at least for me. Many would say that an old piece of furniture is junk and toss it to the curb. Not me, and not Robin Rountree of BonVivant Studio in Old Saybrook, Connecticut.

Robin, originally from North Carolina, now of Old Lyme, Connecticut by way of Chicago (long story), has, and is, making a business out of her wonderful vintage finds. Re-purposed and reused should be part of all of our vernaculars these days, we throw away far too many things. Robin is a multi-tasker like most women, a Mom, a wife, a business owner. She finds what she likes and her artful eye friend, Deb Swanski go to town on remaking an item. You’ll see Deb below with a shade of white paint at the end of her brush doing something cool with a chair. Robin pointed out there are so many shades of white, look it up, you don’t believe it. This of course is something interior designers know all about but it was new to me to see so many kinds of “whites.”

A couple a days a week Robin and company open up the studio, where the magic hapens to the public and lovers of vintage. You can come and see what they’re doing and also browse, what is not to like about that? Surrounding yourself with all these wonderful new creations gets the creative juices flowing for what you keep saying you’re going to do with all of those items up in the attic or down in the basement.

Yes, I know, you’ll have time to do all of that when “pigs fly.” Well guess what, the pigs are flying at BonVivant Studio. I saw them with my own eyes right on the counter! I figured it was a sign to get going and stop putting this kind of fun stuff off.

Robin, along with a few friends who share her love for this kind of design, also have a booth in an antique center in Old Saybrook, Connecticut called Maximus on Main Street. I discovered that wonderful place years ago, it’s almost directly across the street from the Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center for which I am a board of trustees member. I digress a bit here, if you haven’t seen an event at “The Kate.” get a move on it’s a “gem of a place with a movie  star name.” Commercial over, thank you.

On top of all of what is going on in the studio and at the antique store, Robin also stages homes with all of her goodies to help sell them. I would be sucked in hook line and sinker if I walked into a house that looked like her studio, I’m just sayin.

Related posts:

1. Designing Along The Connecticut Shore
2. Anything Old is New Again and it’s Great!
3. Venetucci@Home in Westbrook, Connecticut
4. Alva Finds A Home For Fine Art