Tag: home decor

A Decorative Accents Obsession

I’m usually not one to hitch my wagon to the word of the hour.  Thank the 15 minutes of fame gods trending catch words (i.e. cray, cray or any other word(s) that has no business being uttered out of the mouth of anyone over the age of fifteen, imo) prove to have a short shelf life, but there are exceptions.  Finding myself in the middle of a decorative accents obsession has me staring an exception right in the face.  Warning! Trending Word Zone Ahead.

Susan-Ferrier-kitchen-design

I am crushing on the pitcher featured in the kitchen of Atlanta designer Susan Ferrier as featured in Veranda .  Unabashedly crushing on, loving it and totally obsessed with the pitcher from Formations.  Inspired and obsessed, the pitcher pursuit is in full swing.  Imitation, flattery and all the other gotta have it stuff feeds a decorative accents obsession.  The where’s it going question will be answered as soon as the cast of characters take the stage.  In other words…

I Know It When I See It-1

Yeah, you do!  How’s this for a creative process mantra?

An email delivered with inspiration in mind is always worthy of opening. Architectural salvage, authentic or in the likeness of, gets my attention. Decor Steals offered this distressed Fluted Corinthian Base Stand and I took them up on it as fast as I could add it to the cart.  The  6″ Square x 7” High dimensions give me the room to work/play with, and the vintage finish fits well with the intended look.  The “should I buy it?” litmus test is passed when Dave the Builder and I confer and realize we could not build it, find it or thrift it for a better price.  Sold!

decorative accents obsession

I’ve always had a fascination with pitchers.  The Villeroy &  Boch water pitcher I purchased at an antiques auction for $6.00 in all its chipped, cracked and vintage imperfection is packed in storage, as is the 100+ year old pitcher my maternal grandmother gifted to me.  As great as these pitchers are, I’m really wanting to go with an all white or dirty cream color and no or very little pattern.  I want  the presentation to be focal point and not the pattern.  Less can be so much more, especially when it comes to pairing.

hydrangea-plant

Hopefully by the time I find the perfect pitcher for the pairing a bouquet of blooming hydrangeas will add the finishing touch, and a sought after, obsession driven decorative accent will be filled and fulfilled.

***Update***

pitcher (1)

Found it!

Love your style!

Focal Potential: A DIY Light Fixture Project

Necessity and sticker shock is the mother of all DIY projects.  If I search for an item and either can’t locate it or can’t bring myself to shell out $$$$ in order to make it mine a DIY light fixture project is in the making.  At times I succeed with the project, other times I exceed all expectations, and plenty of times it fails miserably. I’m rolling the dice on this one.

DIY light fixture project

Italian scroll chandeliers cause inspiration to tug at the creative part of my brain. The fixture style is lovely and wildly popular, but the sticker shock gives pause. Ouch!  Truth be told, the drops and the finial are the true eye catchers of the piece. A quick search landed me in a more affordable neighborhood. Gorgeous hand painted chandelier drops from Aidan Gray and a Tara Shaw Italian gilded tassel finial from Layla Grayce will be added to the shopping cart if this “eye”dea of mine falls flat. Here’s what I’m thinking~

Williamsburg chandelier

The crystal chandelier is pretty much pristine sans burned out bulb.  I found the fixture on eBay six years ago thinking it would be perfect for a client. When it arrived I immediately knew it was staying out of inventory.  It’s moving to the dining room.

foyer light fixture

The 12 light Williamsburg chandelier is an inherited left over from the original dining room design.  I added the shades last year with pleasing decorative success, but talk about further darkening the room. Personally I love it, but my camera and aging eyes hate the thing. I’ve studied and studied the fixture with a modifying intent. Paint it?  No. Lose the shades?  No.  Move it to the foyer?  Yes! That’s a start, but I want more for this chandelier.

decorative wood finial

We measured the clearance in the foyer noting the links would have to be removed to eliminate any head to fixture contact.  Hurdle #1 cleared. I’ve Googled till I can Google no more with very limited success in locating wooden carved chandelier drops. I asked Dave the Builder if he could channel his inner MacGyver to come up with an idea for the chandelier drops and decorative finial. How about…

chandelier parts

Dave found these craft finials at Lowe’s.  The mixed Oak craft finial (top left) is $2.98 and the Early American table leg (bottom right) is $1.48.

Okay, the upfront cost is minimal.

The plan is to create drops out of the table legs by removing the screws with vise-grip pliers, replacing with cup holder hooks, and staining with an umber or antique bronze to create the desired finish.  A distressed effect is also under consideration.  The craft finial will replace the center ring.  We will retrofit it with a new screw to match the opening size of the chandelier, screw it in, and hope it fulfills my decorative dreams.

It’s well worth the try.

Design Show and Tell

A wonderful opportunity and prospective client may be in my future. It is crazy busy, crazy beautiful at Places In The Home, and I’m loving every minute of it- multitasker extraordinaire that I am.

The world of interior design and home decor is a beautiful place to resource in.

With swatches, fan decks, caffeine  patience, eye drops, and Tylenol keeping me company,  the moodboards and mock-ups featuring dining room tables and chairs are under design and decor construction.

Dave the Builder knows it serious when I break out my readers.

Love the world wide web contacts and convenience, but  computer time wreaks havoc with my eyes!

Anywho, the original concept for this blog remains near and dear to my heart- a design show and tell.

dining room tables and chairs

Be steel my heart!

On trend for 2013 is the mix and match styles of dining room tables and chairs.

I discovered the decorative and design impact of this one afternoon at Hopefully Classic, details here.

This option may not fly with the client(s), but I’m considering  these metal dining chairs from Masins Furniture Classics Metal Collection.

Masins Furniture metal chair

I have a vintage china cabinet with double arch pediment in storage that is a candidate for an update in the style of this Thomas bookcase in dark grey with antique pearl grey inside from Blanc d’Ivoire.

gray bookcase

The beautiful thing about sourcing for potential projects is I never get bored with it,  regardless of the outcome.

Keep plugging, keep sourcing, keep stylish, and keep beautiful- the mix and match of life and design.

I’ll share more later of this design show and tell project.

Home For The Holidays Dining Room Decorating Ideas

I like dining room decorating ideas that deliver year round, classic, and wow factor beauty.

I believe these home decor accents and accessories will do exactly that.

The magnificent mix and match movement continues to gather decorative momentum, and why not?

It’s the sure cure for boring interiors.

Ever wonder why a table setting set with mismatched flatware makes such a visual impression?

gold-silver-flatware-mix

Unique and unconventional styling, different styles and finishes paired together, and furniture placement never fails to catch the eye.

Hooker-Furniture-Sanctuary-4-Door-Console-Table

The ribbons, pears and pomegranates design of this early 19th Century Aubusson panel from art1 epitomize the grace of the French motif.

You can’t go wrong with gold-rimmed white dinner plates from Dollar Tree.

Neutral.

Classic.

Elegant.

Affordable.

Now that’s striking entertaining gold.

To keep the emphasis on elegant affordability, may I suggest the Hampton Forge Sophia 20 piece flatware set.

I view charger plates as the picture frame of the total place setting picture.

wood-charger

I like to use key decorative foundation pieces in neutral colors.

It justifies the initial investment for quality pieces, and makes it easier to use those pieces from holiday to holiday.

soup-tureen

Beautifully shine a little light on your holiday celebration with the help of elegant and affordable table lamps in year round style.

gold buffet lamps

Serving pieces are the jewelry of holiday dining tables, buffets, and sideboards.

Add magnolia leaves and a fresh green garland and let the impressive holiday dining season begin.

garland-decoration

One of the best parts of holiday decorating is decking out the dining room in the colors and decor of the season.

Love your style!

Home Decor Memories Under The Big Top Of The Piccadilly Circus

I hail from the land of Steel Magnolias, Divine Secrets of The Ya-Ya Sisterhood, grand interiors and impeccable tastes.

If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, then I have flattered with the best of them.

In my attempts to recreate the glory of fine, whimsical and vintage interiors, I have found I like home decor memories and keepsakes weaved throughout my decor.

It’s a nice way to incorporate the wonder times of my childhood, friendships, travels, and family.

Steel Magnolias

I’m neither a Southern Belle nor Hollywood’s interpretation of one.  What I am is an appreciator of tasteful objects that take me to a place in my life timeline as I pass by, place around and prize them.

divine-secrets-of-the-ya-ya-sisterhood

My mother, a true Southern Belle with a nth degree black belt in retail, is of the firm belief shopping and lunch go together like Visa and MasterCard.

My brother and I were not particularly thrilled to see this idea of a circus come to town.

The brand of circus I speak of was the weekly ritual of lunching and marathon shopping at “the Village.”

The Village was the largest shopping center in town and the epicenter of early nineteen seventies shopping.

venetian-carnival-mole-by-scalamandreCarnival by Scalamandre

When I can’t sleep there is no sheep counting for my inner insomniac.  I think back and place the shops in their rightful storefronts circa nineteen seventy something.

Works every time!

Fast forward to today’s Village where all that is left of yesterday’s retail offerings is one national chain grocery store and a family favorite, Piccadilly Cafeteria.

I believe I have spent a collective decade of my life at the Piccadilly.  When you are the only kid on the culinary block it just works out that way.

With frequent visits came a strange familiarity with the surroundings.  My parents viewed after dinner visiting with fellow diners, local friends and dignitaries as the final course of the meal.

As my childhood patience was tested, I would stare at the chandeliers, grandfather clock, draperies and paintings in the dining area for what seemed hours.

cattle oil painting

I always loved the gold gilt framed oil painting of cows that graced the wall of the dining room with its larger than life presence.

Some years later the exterior of the cafeteria was remodeled, and the addition of eight large decorative pineapples found a new home atop the cafeteria’s exterior pillars.

Word spread fast throughout the community of the Piccadilly renovation and liquidation sale of interior and exterior decorative goods.

 My checkbook, my brother and my memories headed to the Village faster than you could say dilly plate.

Piccadilly-restaurant

The beautiful oil painting proudly hangs over the master sitting room fireplace in my brother’s home, and the “Piccadilly Pineapple” graces our kitchen dining area.

The pineapple is a symbol of hospitality, and goodness knows the Piccadilly served up enough of it over the years to my family.

Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, children of all ages…

A memorable memento from where we’ve been, what we’ve seen, and who we are celebrates us and brings it all home.