What's in my antique French writing desk | French lifestyle | how to renovate an abandoned house

Forget the popular 'What's in my handbag' videos, we are setting a new trend with 'What's in my writing desk'. Have a look at the antique treasures in our French writing desk.
We are Robert and Jyrki - two artists living in Helsinki, Finland. With no renovation experience, but lots of enthusiasm and passion we take on the big challenge of renovating a property abroad. Get inspired by the French lifestyle in beautiful South West of France!
Follow us also on our Instagram @charenteliving
Music by Epidemic Sound:
Theme from Elvira Madigan
Enigma Variations
#france #oldhouse #diy #charente #beforeandafter #antique #lifestylevlog #lifestyle #houseinfrance #ruralfrance #whatsinmy

[@lawrencebaker2318]

Those little treasures are the best! Some may be valued in money, most are valued in their connections to loved ones... others valued simply for their beauty. Thank you for sharing some of your treasures and by doing so, sharing some of your self.

[@charenteliving]

Thanks so much for the lovely words Lawrence!!

[@susansawatzky3816]

Would love a monthly [what’s in my secrétaire] This is one of my favorite videos, merci

[@charenteliving]

Thanks Susan, that could be certainly a thing alright to have every month haha!

[@angielu3273]

Mesmerized by the music and the beautiful objects.

[@charenteliving]

Thanks Angie, glad you enjoyed it!

[@JB-hw3te]

How lovely that you should devote an episode to the contents in and atop your secretaire. It reminds me of how all of us cherish certain small objects that evoke memories and inspire dreams. Thank you, Robert, and best wishes.

[@charenteliving]

Glad you liked it, and thank so much for the lovely comment!

[@chrisamon1409]

Thank you for,sharing your treasures. Beautiful and I love your sense of humour. Thank you. ❤

[@charenteliving]

Thanks so much Chris!!

[@marquamfurniture]

Dear sir: you have a lovely, refined sensibility. I nearly choked up when you brought out your grandmothers beautiful inkwell. Struck a chord.

[@marquamfurniture]

So many touching mementos.

[@charenteliving]

Oh so glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for your lovely words!

[@kefaad]

Lovely display of a wondeful collection! I am also an antique enthusiast/collector and always thrilled to see such treasures.

[@charenteliving]

Oh thank you! Great you collect also, its a wonderful hobby!

[@desireeismail3092]

What a wonderful collection

[@charenteliving]

Thanks so much Desiree!!

[@figencebe9287]

again, I love this video … it is so nice to know that someone in this world has the same interests than oneself … my desk is also very special to me since my teenage years … I remember writing an essay about it for my French composition class with great pleasure (I got a very good grade 😊) … I inherited this walnut desk from grand-dad who was a cartographer and travelled a lot living in tents with special movable furniture to be easily dismantled and transported … I also have all his mapping tools, his pencils in a beautiful walnut box, his walnut chairs and small tables … He loved to be surrounded by beautiful objects even in his tent and took great care of them … I am very much like him … Sadly, he passed before I was born … thank you for sharing these intimate, beautiful and delicate objects …

[@figencebe9287]

thank you for sharing the three opera singers that I didn’t know … I’ll soon listen to them …

[@charenteliving]

Thanks Figen for sharing your wonderful story of your grandfather. How special it must be to have his things. Its always special to cherish ones heirlooms!

[@charenteliving]

They are all very special artists, well worth a listen!

[@figencebe9287]

Thank YOU for making me remind these ...

[@francoisleyrat8659]

You have a nice French secrétaire, which I think is circa 1830, Restauration or Louis-Phillipe. I am fond of those as well. Interesting glimpse on your life, thank you.

[@charenteliving]

Thanks Francois, it is a beautiful piece and we feel very lucky to have it!

[@nativetexson]

Thank you for sharing "a few of your favorite things". Old fountain pens are one of my favorite collectibles. Cheers-

[@charenteliving]

Thanks Glen. Love a nice fountain pen.

[@rodolfogarcia4359]

Beautiful objects that make you happy are as important as the partner you share your life with that make you happy everyday.

[@charenteliving]

Thanks Rodolfo for watching again this week!

[@ouririshcountrylife591]

Beautiful collection Robert

[@charenteliving]

Thanks so much!

[@richardjohnston9732]

Thank you for sharing this little glimpse into your world.

[@charenteliving]

Our pleasure. Thanks so much for watching!

[@alan8943]

I love old inkwells, fountain pens and hand made paper. As you say, it gives so much pleasure to see and handle the objects.

[@charenteliving]

Thanks Alan, love all those things too!

[@williamfahey6066]

I like this video. Those Opera Glasses are beautiful. Jeff❤

[@charenteliving]

Yes they are really a treasure! Thanks Jeff!

[@torxsal7008]

Merci pour ce moment intime et romantique

[@charenteliving]

Notre plaisir!!

[@louiscecere5636]

Charming!

[@charenteliving]

Thanks Louis!

[@libertyblueskyes2564]

So calming to hear your voice and to look at your treasures. A writing desk whether old, exquisite or a modern desk is always interesting to me.

[@charenteliving]

Thank you for the lovely words!!

[@LimousinLife]

Great video Robert, your collection of items are exquisite Gary

[@charenteliving]

Thanks so much Gary for watching!

[@shelbycooper7504]

What wonderful treasures you have really enjoyed you sharing them❤

[@charenteliving]

Thanks so much Shelby!

[@virsanib]

Hi! Absolute beautiful objects. I admire your delicate taste for old things. Thanks for sharing these marvelous images!

[@charenteliving]

Thank you so much for the lovely comment!!

[@charlieb2903]

I had the privilege of being at a performance of Lucia di Lammermoor with Dame Joan in the title role at the Sydney Opera House in the early 1980s, and also attended her State Memorial Service there. A wonderful diva and person.

[@charenteliving]

Oh wow, would have been amazing to see her live. That must have been special. She seemed so down to earth considering all her stardom.

[@charlieb2903]

@@charenteliving By all accounts she was. If you are interested, the memorial service is on KZbin, including a wonderful tribute by her son.

[@LCamp-cr7fs]

I have two suggestions for the pointer thingy. It might be indeed a pointer for a piano teacher to follow the notes or a tutor teaching reading. My grandfather had something like that. It may also be an embroidery tool, although it is a bit long, to prepare holes in a fabric. My grandmother had one made of ivory.

[@charenteliving]

Yes it would certainly suit piano teaching perfectly!! Still waiting to get a nice piano in the house!!

[@jaymurtagh]

Beautiful pieces , ye have good taste

[@charenteliving]

Thanks Jay!

[@elisabetharzberger2456]

what a won der ful desk!!! and the beauties you've collected❣️thank you for showing us your treasures ❣️

[@charenteliving]

Thanks Elizabeth. Glad you're enjoying!!

[@reillybb1]

Beautiful

[@charenteliving]

Thanks Kate!

[@angelakilroe3271]

Loved it. What good collector you are. I loved the Stick with the dogs head on it, I’m just hoping someone comes up with a suggestion for it’s real use. Have a good weekend.

[@charenteliving]

Thanks Angela. I think the best suggestion so far is a piano teacher to point out the notes on a score. That I could imagine working!! Enjoy your weekend too!

[@phyllisburrell8661]

TREASURES ! I agree, have to surround yourself with things that give you joy ! Question, have you ever used a quill? Love the art of calligraphy. Thanks for sharing your lives and beloved belongings. Sincerely from San Diego.

[@charenteliving]

Thanks Phyllis. Never have used a quill but would love to try sometime.

[@chateaudelannoy]

the desk looks astonishing , was the box a sniffbox of pillbox ? it looks very nice . 🙂

[@charenteliving]

Thank you. I think the box was maybe for rings or small jewellery, I am not sure if snuff boxes or pill boxes would have been lined in silk.

[@beiderbecke1927]

That was such an intimate look into your collection, and I felt something of a sense of relief and kinship, since I love old things that were once useful, some mysteriously so, and now are simply echoes of other times. It's somehow reassuring to know that others share this affection for objects that, though not currently practical, nurture our interest in, and reverence for, the past and the people who dipped their pens into inkwells, or did whatever one did with a pointy wooden thing with an ivory dog's head handle. Thank-you!

[@charenteliving]

What a lovely comment to read this morning. Thank you. We are so glad to be able to treasure all our things, and share some happiness through the computer screen to you all too. Thanks for watching.

[@sarahcronshaw3088]

Love the way you put these clips together. The music and ambiance when speaking so beautifully about your treasured collections. I watch your journey and it immediately gives me a sense of calm . Look forward to watching more.

[@charenteliving]

Thank you Sarah for the lovely words. So glad you are enjoying our videos!!

[@Harmonious-Living]

Lovely!

[@charenteliving]

Thank you!

[@thechatelaine]

❤❤ Thank you for sharing.

[@charenteliving]

Our pleasure!

[@surfincincindy1185]

I am new to your channel and love it! I think framing your little menu with glass too then you can write out a menu then erase it after a party could be fun!!!! cindy : )

[@charenteliving]

Oh thank you so much! That's a great idea!!

[@LaReynedEpee]

I wonder if a teacher or professor might have used the pointer while delivering a lecture. It's the only thing that springs to my mind. It'll probably turn out to be something completely different. Objet mystérieux!

[@charenteliving]

Yes I thought that too maybe. Beautiful whatever the use is.

[@LaReynedEpee]

@@charenteliving Couldn't be a conductor's baton??

[@danielpolk9808]

I was also thinking it could be a baton

[@charenteliving]

@@LaReynedEpee I think the wooden part would be too short and thick for that, unless conducting smaller groups maybe...

[@LaReynedEpee]

@@charenteliving Another thought. Maybe it's an apprentice piece, that a trainee would make to show their acquired skills 🤔

[@nimuehmoon872]

...where do you write and pay bills? my antique desk is full of paperwork...🤣🤣😉❤

[@charenteliving]

Haha I didn't include the laptop that often sits there for the admin work!

[@mcmarine424]

Bonjour, votre crochet en Argent s’appelle un crochet à bottine . C’était pour aider le laçage des bottines et des corsets pour les femmes. Ils en existent des pliants de voyage ,des tout petits pour les boutons des gants .... vous avez de jolis objets

[@charenteliving]

Merci beaucoup! Bon à savoir, nous sommes prêts si l'un des invités en a besoin pour son corset haha

[@deanviewofachateaumybandbi7899]

Love the desk, what wood is it?

[@phyllisburrell8661]

Thanks for the clanging sounds for St Patty's day Dean.

[@charenteliving]

I am not too sure to be honest Dean, but its some kind of hardwood, maybe oak and then veneered.