When Gayley and Ken Guest looked at furnishing their home in Murrumburrah, a new business was born.
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"I have always loved antique French gilded furniture, in fact it has always been a passion." Mrs Guest said.
"Even as a child, I can remember watching the old movies and being fascinated not by the actors, but by the furniture in the background. It was quite bizarre, really."
Mrs Guest said that over the years she has spent a lot of time searching for that 'something special' to improve her home, to make it unique.
"The internet has been wonderful." Mrs Guest said.
"Last Christmas, after searching for many years, I came across a piece of furniture that was advertised for sale overseas. It was an antique French gilded sofa, upholstered in black velvet. I had to contact the seller to find if one, it was still available and two, if they shipped to Australia."
The rest, as they say, is history. Mrs Guest has stayed in constant contact with the supplier, who scours the antique sales all over Europe, purchasing, restoring, re-upholstering and regilding the pre-loved furniture.
"My supplier started to show me all the pieces he has in stock and I thought all my Christmases had come at once!" Mrs Guest said.
"I said to my husband, Ken, 'there is definitely a market for this furniture in Australia, but there is not a supplier - what if we set up a business?'"
Mr and Mrs Guest sourced a shop in Murrumburrah and eight months later, their first 40ft container of antique French furniture arrived.
"We have ordered not only the gilded pieces, but we break it up with some mahogany pieces." Mrs Guest said
"The pieces are not only pretty, they are strong, heavy furniture, designed to last a lifetime."
Some of the chairs, sideboards, beds and tables have indeed, already lasted several lifetimes and will last for may more.
"I have to keep pinching myself to realise that this furniture is now not only in my home, but we hope to build a thriving business, allowing other people to have the type of furniture that is not only stunningly beautiful, but practical." Mrs Guest said.
"We have had a lot of positive feedback from the Harden Murrumburrah community; not only from women, but from men and surprisingly, young people who have visited the shop."
They say 'a man's home is his castle' and visiting this shop, you may be forgiven for thinking you are indeed, in a castle.
The 'Gilded Antiques Emporium' is located at 351 Albury Street in Murrumburrah and is open from Wednesday to Sunday. Ken Guest can be contacted on 0416 778 194.