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www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver Weekend, Saturday November 4, 2006 - 25 Petits et Jolis A Haven of Old World Vintage Charm The warmth and comfort that immediately wraps around people who walk into the charming enclave that is Petits et Jolis, is matched upon meeting the effervescence of the shop's owner, Tamara Wright. Her indelible artistic fingerprints, and brushstrokes, are whimsically imprinted all around the Kerr Street shop's handpainted armoires, canvasses, rocking chairs and tables. The European inspired setting exudes décor that makes home furniture and accessories conversation pieces and fuels children's imaginations with equally impeccable design. It is replete with everything connected to decorating a child's room; from handpainted headboards and personalized dressers to beautiful, classic hot air balloons and vintage style mobiles. "I choose items that let people go back in time, to an era of old world charm," said Wright. The self-taught artist has long been a painter. With four children of her own she's had plenty of practice experimenting with the bedrooms and living spaces at the home front. Her personalized canvases have long been a popular draw among clients. Function meets form in Petits et Jolis with Mennonite made furniture awash in Wright's trademark vintage hues of pastel blues, pinks, whites, greens and yellows. On the other end of the design spectrum Wright has refinished antique pieces, such as dressers and bedside tables that have curvy Queen Anne legs, carved mirrors and bunned feet. "I wanted a store that mixed old and new furniture," said Wright, " and had something for every age." For example, not only does Petits et Jolis have gorgeous, high-quality Canadian-made Reiva and Reine cotton linens for cribs, but also in king-sized bedding. It's a store where the senses come alive with bright colours on the eye-catching artistry of the hand-painted furniture, to the sweet aromas emanating from Bebe Carotte, the classic Crabtree & Evelyn skin care line and Giana Rose Atelier children's soaps, to the tactile treat of touching comforting soft, fuzzy quilts, hand-knit blankets and embroidered pillows. Such an array makes giving baby baskets and decorative tins with hand-picked necessities and treats available in the store as gifts a memorable affair. There's also a Victorian wicker buggy overflowing with embroidered linen pillows and a nearby bassinet is loaded with cable hand-knit blankets in ice-cream colours and soft Austrian baby blankets. Beaded chandeliers overhead twinkle and reflect on the old-world toys and rocking chairs underneath them. Tinplate toys, unique German pull toys, hand-painted blocks, mosaic lamps and treasure boxes, fairy and clown music boxes, vintage clocks, decorative water jugs, porcelain dishes and jewel drawer pulls also all speak to the time-honored appreciation for fine craftsmanship. With the Christmas season approaching Wright has brought in authentic Germanmade, hand-painted angels and choir singers to festively grace any mantle and tabletop.