Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Tablescape Decor

How do you display your treasures?

For many years I did displays in boutique style furniture and gift stores. I enjoyed the creative aspect of it and found pleasure in taking usual things and displaying them in an unusual way.
I prefer asymmetry to symmetry as a rule, but do bend on occasion.

I like the dried hydrangeas, I am into that right now, and the tray used to display smaller objects but looks visually as one piece.



Symmetry done well here...look through the arches, whoever designed these rooms obviously likes tables set to the wall, a lamp on each end, treasures in the middle and something underneath. If it were me, glad you asked, I would do each differently to add interest. How about some A-symmetry? One lamp, interesting pieces with various height differences, books



To me...the pitcher of flowers competes with the topiaries. Take it away, angle the boxes pushing the right corners back and adding perhaps a fragrant candle in glass or ceramic.



This is one of my faves! There is so much about this I like. Take a look at all the different textures, shapes and dimensions...books, globes, pottery, glass, silver, the leather trunk and the screen against the wall. The height and simplicity of the greenery is perfect.
I NEED one of those trunks.



Don't forget the outside...don't you just love the ivy growing up the wall?
I sure would not want to clean that mirror.



Asymmetrical - I like - BUT the scale is off on the mantel. The elements along the bottom could be varied in height...if the silver urn were only taller.



Don't forget that when displaying your treasures in the round, to make it look good from any angle. This needs something on the other side so that when walking through the front door, something of interest catches the eye.
I would not display apples in an entry, that is best in the kitchen!


I covet these candlesticks of Amy Howard's BUT I would have to rob about 5 banks to pay for them.

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Thursday, October 22, 2009

What I do on Wednesdays

Every Wednesday afternoon I go to a Senior Living Community near my house and do crafts with some very special ladies. I enjoy spending time with them and they wonder why. Most are quite spunky and are not afraid to say what is on their minds.

There are artists of different mediums and one has shown her work all over the eastern United States. Another couple were secretaries - they reminded me today that in this day they would be called "Executive Assistants". I helped one of the ladies earlier this week on a sewing project she did with such ease still at 85. She gave me some good pointers too!


These gals are go getters and bounce from one activity to another in the complex. One of the projects we do frequently is make cards and a couple of them make sure that everyone gets a birthday card or whatever the need might be.


I see many of the 'fellers' hanging out in the library telling all kinds of tales, they are so cute.
One of the gals today told me her husband loves to fish but doesn't have anyone to go with, so DH is going to give him a ring.


Today some of the ladies were doing a beading project for Christmas and the others were painting and decoupaging leaves for fall.


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Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Vote for Valorie THE VISUAL VAMP TODAY Wednesday 10/21

Vote for The Vamp and for New Orleans!


THE VISUAL VAMP, our sweet bloggy friend and my personal friend, Valorie Hart has made it to the NEXT ROUND
in Apartment Therapy's Room For Color contest with her Spicy Modern Creole Room , so let's all get behind her and VOTE TODAY OCTOBER 21 ONLY.

If you haven't done so already, go HERE to register to vote. If you voted before, you must now VOTE AGAIN TODAY, WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 21ST..


She has lived in New Orleans for ten years now, and brings her New York roots to her love for her adopted city of New Orleans. The room you are looking at is her office.
You peek through an original archway into her office, which is flanked by a pair of vintage skeleton charts. One of them sports a Mardi Gras mask. The color palette is Late Creole Tomato (a coral based red), Vibrant Turquoise, and Sophisticated Chartreuse. Generous built in shelves house her collection of design books. A white cowhide rug makes the space cozy. A pair of pale aqua lamps with couture lampshades from Paris grace her desk, an antique table from France. Nestled into a corner is a Gris-Gris altar, filled with mementos found and given to her over the years. During Katrina, the home was spared, and many credit the power of this altar for saving it! So please vote! A vote for this room is a vote for New Orleans, as well as for The Visual Vamp!
But please vote right away! You only get 24 hours to cast your vote in this round. If we pull her through to the next round, you'll be ready to make her a winner!

Go HERE to vote NOW! Look for the skeletons in the thumbnail photo.
It's a little confusing, so try to vote HERE too - but remember you can only vote in this round on Wednesday October 21.

Thanks!

Monday, October 19, 2009

Ottoman's as Coffee Tables

Finding just the right coffee table is a hard task. What I am loving right now is using ottomans. I know some of these images have been around the block, but so many are worth looking at and drooling over again.

Windsor Smith Designs

fabrics with a bit of whimsey

Suzanne Rheinstein

Or beautiful linen with French detail

Mary MacDonald

I adore the Suzani

Alessandra Blanca

Black and Spiro
love ALL the different fabrics in this room

did not notate source....anyone know?
tufted beauties, with distinctly different styles

Cote de Texas

HB

HB

HB

HB

this looks like two contemporary pieces side by side


HB

great nail head detail

These are NOT your basic footstools!

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Friday, October 16, 2009

Fall Beauty

There were so many wonderful things about growing
up on the coast of southern California,
but what I did not experience...

...was the beauty of fall colour.

While living in northern Virginia a few
years ago,
my breath was taken away by
God's creation in full splendor....stunning.

Take time this weekend to enjoy the beauty around YOU!

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Friday, October 9, 2009

Fall Festival

One of my favourite things to do is create a beautiful arrangement.

Southern Living

It takes having a few supplies such as floral foam and pins...
(for dry or wet arrangements, whatever the case may be).



SL
shop around your home
for interesting candlesticks...

SL
and planters, or anything that adds interest or height


cathywood.wordpress
go outside and see what leaves you have to mix in

MS
hollow out small pumpkins or gourds and put a votive or tea light
depending on the size


I saw this on a recent post by Joni at Cote de Texas did, see here.
I'm drooling over that table.


MS
wrap dried corn husks around glass votive candle vases and secure with a ribbon


MS
get the children involved and make some luminaries to line your walk
my boys had great fun doing this when they were young


MS
make your own chandelier or dress yours up

MS
hollow out a pumpkin and make a potpourri by using pumpkin incense


MS
what says Fall or harvest time better than a cornucopia?

SL

use any flowers you like, let your creative juices flow
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Wednesday, October 7, 2009

It's Good to be Green!

I was in one of my favourite candy stores at the Atlanta Decorative Arts Center (ADAC) a few days ago, I am especially fond of the colours on their bag.


My sweet friend Maria at Colour Me Happy has had these two colours on her brain of late as well. Be sure and visit her...she is the "Queen" of colour. As I have said before, I know I am American, but I like to spell colour the European way, I was born in England and that counts! She was featured on the cover of BC Home, check it out here.


DO YOU DO GREEN?



designshine.net
Are you MOD?


Colorado Creative
Or perhaps a bit more relaxed?


BHG
Love the chandelier!
shower curtain NEEDS to be on the outside...


Gordon Beall, Southern Accents
A mixture of personalities...


BHG
I inherited this shade in my house, also in the DR,
I quite like it.


did not make a notation of where I got this one, anyone know?
What might the personality of one be that has the guts to do theirs this bold?


House Beautiful
How about a washed treatment?


House Beautiful
I like this room a lot except for the coffee tables. Fun, bright, and zippy zebra.


Google Images
Great shade, don't like the room, notice the decals on the windows so the birdies don't fly into it?


House Beautiful
So what do you think? It almost looks like a rubrics cube. Crazy.
That lamp in the corner...what?
Elle Decor
How many shades are in this room?


Coastal Living
I could do this...


The latest cover of Metropolitan Home....ooh la la!


littlewhitebook.com
Since this is my favourite shade, I can very much see me giving you a gift wrapped like this.


sooo.....DO YOU DO GREEN?

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