I have been looking through all the photos on my card, and ran across my visit to MacKenzie-Childs in Aurora, New York. I thought I had a post on this little adventure, but must have posted pictures on Face Book instead. I have been loving the wild colors and design of MacKenzie-Childs ever since I discovered one of their catalogs among the mess of catalogs Tena Gray was getting rid off way back in 2007. Lindsey Arnold and I got in the car and took off for Aurora on August 20, 2014. She had to leave poor little Gigi home alone that day; we didn't think she would have been welcome here, and after looking at the prices, and knowing how rambunctious that little dog is, Lindsey didn't need to have her bounding around knocking stuff over!
Here we are at the entrance, and Lindsey is heading on in. Everything is green and lush in the North East, making it seem like fairy land to a desert dweller like me.
When we stopped at the office for information, we got some coffee and snacks (can't pass up something sweet), and took advantage of sitting in beautiful chairs.
M-C has branched out into outdoor living, and have pieces on display that customers can try out during their shopping.
Gorgeous, isn't it?
Color!!! Don't you just love it?
We can thank dear Mary Englbreit for introducing the checks and stripes. She is another one of my favorites, and I loved her work long before M-C came on the scene.
Those yellow stripes are so pretty.
MacKenzie-Childs was started by Richard and Victoria MacKenzie-Child right here in Aurora. It was a costly venture, and they declared bankruptcy ($15.3 million in the red). Pleasant Rowland bought the business for $6 million. Pleasant is the founder of "American Girl dolls, and a graduate of Wells College in Aurora.
When you are in the shop you see things that are not in the catalog, and this moose is one of those things.
Victoria and Richard also continued using the M-C label, and eventually they and Rowland were in a lawsuit over the trademark. This legal battle was a lawyer's dream! On May 1, 2012 the U.S. Court of Appeal, Second Circuit, decided that Richard and Victoria didn't have any right to the trademark.
How about that rabbit on the back of the chair?
Pieces like this are produced right here in New York, by American workers who are paid American wages.
I do love the upholstery, and I want to talk Bobby into getting his mother's French Provincial couch done this way. The word is "try".
I should have got a close up of the price tag. Aren't the legs just amazing?
I love their fabric art!
Marina from Marina's Monogramming likes the black and white check metal ware.
In case you can't read the price--it is $235.00.
The grounds are beautiful, duck pond and all.
The farm house is open for tours and it is the original structure.
This original farm house was built in the late 1800s, and was the home of a prosperous dairy farmer.
The grounds around the house are lush and beautiful. What a difference rain makes.
The renovated house over looks Cayuga Lake, one of the finger lakes that was carved out by a glacier eons ago.
The door is original and has been stripped of paint to reveal the solid wood. I see Lindsey's purse in the right side of the picture.
The home is decorated with M-C everything, from lamps to furniture.
Aren't the floors beautiful?
Some of M-C's upholstered pieces. The curtains are silk.
Now, this is my idea of a shower!
I am going to re-think how to change and update my bathroom sink and counter top.
I have always wanted a fainting couch, but would probably have to get up early to beat Bobby to it. Maybe not. The back doesn't recline.
Wall art upstairs.
There are three levels in the house, and each room is fully furnished and decorated. Some feature French Provincial, others are English and some are modern.
The legs on this piece are beautiful.
I like bathrooms, and warm colors are my favorite. I hate a cold bathroom; it reminds me of those old outhouses we had when Cowboy and I were growing up, They were plenty cold during the winter in Montana!
Talk about detail!
I could live with this shower!
The fabrics in the house are silk and rich cottons.
This tub would be fun to soak in while reading a book.
Just another fabulous shower.
They have not spared the horses on their use of tile.
This is the most unusual lamp I have ever seen. It takes up the whole top of a table.
Table leg.
The dining room is ready for company.
It is probably a good thing that I do not own a piece like this. It would have been demolished during all the moves I have made down through the years.
The Farmer's Wife needs these chairs.
She could bring fly fishing right into her home out on the Eastern Montana prairie.
Perfect pieces for Marina of Marina's Monogramming. In fact she has the tea kettle.
Oh to own these shelves.!
Attention to detail--a sock over the light cord.
Miss Lindsey Arnold waiting for the tour. Lindsey and I did quite a lot of roaming around while she was living in the apartment next to me and Bobby. She is from down around Houston, Texas, and I enjoyed her company.
These ladies were going on the tour also.
The painting on the top of this chest would tax a person's patience.
Farmer's Wife--you need this lavatory.
I am mad about tile, and this is a perfect combination.
Bathrooms need to be pretty, and taking pictures in this one was fun.
More tile, more ceramics, even the window frame is ceramic.
We had a wonderful time soaking in all the sights. I did decide that the prices are way more than I would like to spend. I would rather plunk down the dollars in a James Avery store, on some fine silver jewelry. But I will say this, there were plenty of people walking out of the shop with big shopping bags, so M-C has plenty of paying customers. If you have a chance, go see all they have, and even if you buy absolutely nothing, you will come away inspired to do something wild and crazy in your own home, and that makes the trip all worthwhile.
