Vieux Interiors – On The Move

 

Vieux Interiors:   The matching arched mirrors are so pretty!    I really love Vieux’s collection of antique chairs.

 

Houston now has several great shopping destinations for antiques and decor – the Bissonnet-Kirby area is one, another is Lower West Alabama.  There is also the Westheimer area, the Heights, and Ferndale.   Each destination is home to many wonderful shops - after all, competition brings more customers.   Lately though, the area around Upper West Alabama is the hottest destination, garnering lots of attention and traffic.   It is teeming with antique and decor stores such as Indulge, Thompson-Hanson, 2620, Chateau Domingue, Pilie, and The Gray Door.   Within just a few blocks along this stretch of Upper West Alabama, you can satisfy every need for the home – antiques, landscaping, bath, bedroom, architectural elements, furniture, and you can even satisfy your appetite at the trendy Tiny Boxwoods. 

The latest neighbor to move in is Vieux Interiors.   Last January, Vieux finally pulled up stakes from their former, God-forsaken address to move to 3701 West Alabama.  I’m teasing about their former location, but honestly, I could NEVER find it!!!  It was so isolated and out of the way, that I’m thrilled Vieux is now inside the loop!!!  I dropped by the other day to say hi and check out their new shop.   The store is large and bright with windows and doors that run along the front and back entrances.  The merchandise is a wonderful collection of old and new - antiques mixed in the mid century designs and even contemporary pieces.   There are also lots of accessories, things with a small enough price tag to make shopping guilt free.  As usual, the staff is super friendly – DeWayne Formby might just be the absolute nicest person in the business. 

 

 

The store is large, but nicely organized into smaller vignettes.   This gray painted furniture section was one of my favorites.

 

 

They have a beautiful assortment of lamps and vases like these persimmon colored ones.    Loved the double clam shells!!

 

 

A rare pair of painted gray armoires.   I loved the map and the gray chest. 

 

 

These painted chests would make great nightstands!!

 

 

I really liked all the smalls – such as these alabaster grapes and the books in gold or silver.

 

 

 

Favorites:  aqua and green covered books.    These would look so great in bookshelves.

 

 

 

There were several gorgeous coral roses in the shop.   And, these photo albums would make nice gifts. 

 

 

 

So unusual – a rustic dough table.  It would make a wonderful island in a country home’s kitchen. 

 

 

 

I really fell in love with these glass jars that are hand painted in red and gold.   So beautiful!!!

 

 

 

 

More gorgeous lamps!!!  There is also a large assortment of contemporary art work. 

 

 

 

To give you an idea of how big the store is – this is just one half of one side!   The shop goes on and on.  

 

 

Let’s Party:

To celebrate their new location, Vieux Interiors is having a opening party today – Thursday, May 6th at 6-9 pm.  It is open to the public, so stop by for wine, hors d’oeuvres and mint juleps – and to shop, of course!!!!!   

The location:  3701 West Alabama St. at Timmons.

 

 

NOTE:   Vieux has a great web site with online shopping – to visit, go HERE.

Vieux Interiors

 

Hidden away near the Heights in Houston is one of the more delightful and beautiful antique stores around:  Vieux Interiors.   Open for just a few years, Vieux is the brainchild of Benton Lackey and Marty Bratton.  Lackey has long been a fixture on the Houston antiques scene, though he usually prefers to be behind the scenes.  Called by some "a creative genius," Lackey has an uncanny sense of color and texture, which he combines with his love for antiques and design.  After a long stint on his own and more recently at AREA, Lackey teamed up with Bratton to open Vieux Interiors.  Bratton brings along his keen business mind to their endeavor.  Their secret weapon, besides the inventory, is DeWayne Formby.  DeWayne, of course, is the former salesman extraordinaire from Carl Moore Antiques.  Carl and Bert Melnick hired DeWayne, freshly armed with a degree in Interior Design, straight out of college.  Ever loyal, DeWayne stayed with Moore and Melnick for 17 years until they sold their shop.  After spending time as an independent designer, DeWayne was lured back into sales by Lackey who hired him to run his new venture - and who can blame him?  If there is a more personable, friendly, and sweet, yes - sweet! antiques man in the business, I haven't met him.   DeWayne always has a kind word to say,  a friendly laugh, or  a poignant story to share.   With DeWayne at the front door, Vieux Interiors, is assured to remain accessible, a place to go to learn something new about antiques, or just to gaze at the eye candy - without being hassled or pushed.  The consummate gentleman, DeWayne is thrilled to be back in the antiques business, ready to help all his clients, old and new alike.  

Vieux Interiors is a little hard to find, so get instructions before you head out.   Close to the Heights and the Memorial Park area -  stop in and be sure to tell DeWayne HI for me, if you go!!!

The delightful and ever helpful, DeWayne Formby. 

 

Ah yes, what a Vieux!  Let's see, I'll take that French sofa with the serpentine back, the urn right next to it, the French wing chair behind it.........and on and on!!!  Now, this is what an antique store should look like!

 

Nice pair of French arm chairs.   I spy a great wine tasting table on the far right.   And the oriental folding screen in the back looks pretty amazing.

 

Two major trend alerts:  Concrete garden statuary for inside the home and water gilded candlesticks from an ancient Catholic church somewhere in France, I'm sure.

 

French cane side chairs and a Murano glass chandelier.

 

Great urn lamps with paper shades.   I wish you could see the entire painted chest they sit on, it looks really interesting, doesn't it?

 

I adore these chairs!  And the shutters hanging on the wall, and the crystal chandelier, and the tall wing back chair.  And.....

  

Antique doors, gold ballroom chairs, and a great pair of candelabra lamps.

 

Mixed in with all the antiques is a great selection of modern art, as seen here.

 

But I prefer the antiques, like this massive French armoire, don't you?

 

 

Major trend alert II:  Coral!  More modern art -  I really like this piece of art, it's colors are subtle and would look  good in a Belgian interior.

 

My favorite!  An antique iron French daybed.  I love this!!!  Dewayne, what's my price on this?

 

The inventory never ends.  Every picture is just amazing, isn't it?  Here, an antique armchair awaits upholstery or, in my case, a great slipcover!  

 

Another French daybed with silk pillows.  The cabinet looks interesting - I love how it's filled with prints instead of knick-knacks.

 

New accessories:  glass canisters and blue opaline bowls atop an industrial type table.

 

 

OK, I'm in love!!!!   With everything in this picture!

 

Wait, more?  Beautiful painted French chaise and stool.

 

And finally, more from their new collection of blue opaline glass, along with a religious statue. 

 

If you go, Vieux Interiors is open Monday through Saturday - though closing time on Saturday is at 3:00 pm.   Call DeWayne at 713-868-5844.  Map to Vieux Interiors is below: