To Australia, With All My Love

When people tell me how much they love my furnishings, I am humbled and honored every time. I cannot tell you how happy it makes me to know that someone out there loves the work that I find to be truly a passion of mine. When I left the practice of law last year, I never dreamed that following my bliss would not only be rewarding to my soul that craved beauty but also bring me to distant places and people who share my same passion.

A few weeks ago, I received an email about one of my beautiful pieces which you may have seen on my 1stdibs store. This gorgeous antique French sofa certainly took my breath away when I first laid eyes on it. Completely refinished in a tufted Belgian linen and a plush down cushion, this antique sofa is one of a kind in both beauty and style.

The inquiry came from none other than the beautiful and talented Australian designer, Frances Russell.

Many of you may be familiar and/or already followers of her fabulous blog, Beautiful Interiors and 18th Century Style.

Frances had been searching for 2 years for a tufted french sofa like the one I envisioned and, although she never dreamed that she would be purchasing one from New Orleans, Louisiana, she was willing to consider the long trip of that sofa from my shop in New Orleans to Queensland, Australia, where she lives with her husband Andrew, her daughter Georgiana, and her two sons, Dominick and Alex (by the way, Alex, 22 and a handsome, talented actor, is one of the lead roles in the new Australian movie, "Wasted on the Young" which is being hailed as one of the featured films in the Toronto International Film Festival this year).

Frances and I became instant friends through the distance and it turns out we have so many things in common -- not the least is both being women from "down under" -- she from Australia and I from Argentina. So this week, after wishing them a safe trip and long, happy lives in their new home, I bid adieu to my antique french tufted sofa and my dainty pair of French Louis XVI parlor chairs which I had refinished in a pale grey and white linen.

My pieces are on their way by ocean liner to their new home in Queensland.

But, don't cry for them, Argentina.........

Their new home is absolutely stunning and their new family could not be kinder, nicer and more loving. Frances and Andrew bought a century old colonial Queenslander, named Cooloola, which Frances completely decorated in her impeccable and signature style. She is truly my soul sister. Hues of white and pale colors are showcased with splashes of vibrant colors throughout the gorgeous house with wrap-around porches. Here is a tour of her lovely home to which my pieces are heading.





The stunning exterior in monochromatic white.

The veranda...

The stunning gardens and front of the house.

The interior and exterior of the house blend seamlessly.

And what house would not be completely finished without the poolhouse. I love the coastal look of it!

I am truly delighted that my pieces have found such a beautiful new home in Australia, but mostly, I am so fortunate to have met and become friends with such a talented designer and beautiful woman as Frances Russell.

And, by the way, these beautiful Italian altar candles of mine ...

... these made it safe last week to another wonderful home -- this one in Sydney, Australia.