Côté Provence

Côté Provence - a new store in Fitzroy.  Photo - Brooke Holm.

More vintage finds at Côté Provence.  Photo - Brooke Holm.

Vintage goodness at Côté Provence.  Photo - Brooke Holm.

French antique goodness at Côté Provence.  Photo - Brooke Holm.

Julie Barbey of Côté Provence.  Photo - Brooke Holm.

I've been driving past this new shop in Fitzroy almost daily and watching it take shape over the past few weeks.  It's in such a great old building, and is so full of AMAZING vintage finds, I almost wondered whether it had been there for years yet had somehow escaped my attention. But NO, it is indeed a BRAND NEW retail experience, and boy, is it a goldmine! Côté Provence (or Côté, for short) is a new operation for local retail veterans Erik and Julie Barbey, who took possession of this amazing freestanding brick warehouse on Brunswick street late last year. Their previous business (also called Côté Provence) was a much more modest shopfront in Carlton North - specialising in beautiful French antiques, homewares and linen. The new space is about 4x the size of their old store! It still has an impressive range of French antique furniture and homewares, alongside a stunning edit of more rustic industrial pieces, such as leather couches, lighting, vintage signage and other ephemera. Erik began his career at 20 in his native France, as an apprentice learning authentic French polishing and furniture restoration. This quickly led to a desire to buy and sell, which really became a pattern for the next 10 years. He met Julie overseas, and together the pair returned to Australia in 1991, opening their first retail store in Provincial Victoria in 1992. Julie started her working career as a primary school teacher, however her love of all things vintage began as a child, with a strong influence from her maternal grandmother and a love of garage sales and op shops.  Together Erik and Julie have put their name to a great number of retail ventures across Victoria - they've had antiques and furniture stores in Koroit, Port Fairy, Brunswick, Ascot Vale, Carlton North and now Fitzroy! This one is well worth a fossick next time you're on the Northside! Côté Provence 433 Brunswick St Fitzroy

Amazing French antique bath at Côté Provence.  Photo - Brooke Holm.

French antiques and ephemera at Côté Provence.  Photo - Brooke Holm.

French antiques and ephemera at Côté Provence.  Photo - Brooke Holm.

Vintage goodness at Côté Provence.  Photo - Brooke Holm.