Cuban Furniture Finds

Wow it's hard getting back into the posting groove.  Especially when I just want to flake on the couch watching the 25+ hours of junk TV waiting on the DVR.

Would you like to see some of the gorgeous wooden furniture they have in Cuba? We'd be in some out of the way place and stumble across the most amazing piece. Furniture that we would pay hundreds of dollars for.  This country that is so poor is so rich in many, many ways.

On one tour we stopped at a roadside stand attached to a pineapple farm for fresh pina coladas.  The drinks were made with fresh pineapple juice, fresh coconut, and of course local rum.  For $3.  Unbelievable.  And then, over in the corner, I saw this.

I didn't crop the picture just so you could see where it was sitting.  Less than a foot from dirt and plants and a parking lot full of trucks and tour buses. I'm not sure what it was being used for or if it was even being used. Maybe I should have asked if it was for sale.

On the same tour we stopped at a marina for a speedboat ride through the mangroves. There was a bar attached to the marina (open 7am to 7pm - get your drinking done early!) and these were the chairs in the bar.  The backs and seats were made of heavy leather, decorated with stamping and upholstery tacks. They look like they've been around for decades.

There was a live band playing in the bar and while everyone else was dancing around and taking pictures of the band, I was taking pictures of the chairs.  Priorities.

In one of the restaurants on the resort I found this.

Again, I was having trouble concentrating on the meal because I wanted pictures of the sideboard.  Of course my camera chose not to work.  I had to come back during the day to get some shots.  The lighting was probably better anyway.  If they only knew how trendy this is right now!

I just love the details. Only the turquoise paint gives away that the "chippiness" was intentional.

The restaurant also had this armoire turned wine cabinet.  This is the only picture I got of it as I felt like I was getting in the way of the staff setting up for dinner.

And this chair was in our room.  You know I wanted to hide it in my suitcase the moment I saw it. 

My favourite thing about it is the muted tones. It's not quite as in-your-face as the blue sideboard. I've always been drawn the the grey-brown of Restoration Hardware style but I think I might give this a try on some tables I'm waiting to refinish.  It's a shame that the desk and the dresser weren't done in the same style. They were just painted a basic off-white. 

What else did I see?  How about this porch swing?  There were two of them in the lobby of the hotel next door.  They were oversized yet fit in perfectly in the huge space.  Do you know how badly I want this on my front porch?  Except it's actually larger than my entire front porch.

Are you as interested in lighting as I am? The lobby of our hotel had these lights everywhere.  I think it would be really easy to duplicate at home.

And this chandelier was in the hotel entranceway.  Beautiful, right?  It was probably four feet across. Imagine how much it would cost here at home.

Both the marina bar and the pina colada shack had these lanterns. How many times have you seen them recently, purchased from the Restore or Goodwill?

These lights were scattered all over the grounds of our hotel and the one next door. They're so interesting - during the day and at night.

Have you ever been somewhere  - like a vacation - and stumbled upon furniture or decor that took your breath away? Everywhere I looked there was something beautiful.  I had to make sure I had my camera with me at all times because I never knew what was going to be around the next corner.