Oh, Lighten Up!

Several years back, I happened upon a small thrift store's 'going out of business sale'.

And found these lamps sitting in the parking lot for $5 each:

Shown as found.

Dear Lord in Heaven.... someone thought this was a good idea....

You DO realize that the white parts in this 'before' image used to be BRASS, right?
So some manufacturer somewhere, sometime, actually gave the OK for these to be made and sold.

In the seventies, no doubt. ugh.

Then someone else took the time to tape the glass off and paint the brass parts white -

but left the hideous gold-orange glass with black felt pen-embellished raised scrollwork.

ACK!

And yet.... I see the possibilities even in the hideous ugliness:
If I could just neutralize the color and visual hot mess, these could actually be quite charming.
And so that's exactly what I did...

continue reading to see the amazing AFTER shot!

Create a Cloche and Dome It!

Using a cloche is a simple way to give small items presence in your decor.

Most cloches / domes are made of glass, especially the vintage ones... 

but you know I love using unexpected materials in new ways,

so I created a dome from a wire tomato cage!

I showed it covered with ivy in a past post, but of course it can be used WITHOUT the ivy...

 You can find my tutorial for this project here

The wire form is an industrial-style way 
to create a 'cloche' effect:

Place it over several small items to add the finishing touch to any vignette.

It's also indestructible, great for use outdoors in EVERY season...

[and at @ $2.99 per wire tomato cage, 

it's a VERY inexpensive way to get a lot of usable style!]

 You can find my tutorial for the seed packet tin can vases here

Another easy way to create a dome is to use a metal lampshade frame...

Simply remove the fabric, and use the bare metal frame to top a gathering of items.

Lampshades come in endless sizes and styles, 
so you can create dozens of different domes!

This is a great use for old lampshades, since the fabrics get stained and torn -

you can pick them up for a song at thrift shops and the Goodwill outlets!

You Light Up My Life...

welcome to Day 6!

 love that adorable lampshade up above?
it's made from vintage ribbons, laces, and GARTER BELTS!
 
i love using unusual materials to create lampshades!
here are more inspiring ideas that will light up your life...

 i created all of the lampshades pictured - 
some for my own use, and some to sell.
it's easy to personalize them for every room!

Spice Up Your Winter Decor with Black!

my last post showed the winter decor in my Cottage, all in tones of brown, tan, and white.

the photos here show the same rooms in another year,

where BLACK was added to the scheme for graphic impact and a fresh new look.

like adding a dash of black pepper to a recipe,
a fresh coat of black (or color) paint on a few accessories

can really change the flavor of a room
and spice up your winter decor!

this vintage victrola cabinet has been re-purposed as a bar

and the black paint makes the sparkling glass and silver accessories POP

 painting the chairs, lamp base, chandelier, and mirror frames  added just the right modern touch to the dining room. [here's my tip on painting chandeliers: use Krylon Appliance Spray Paint in gloss finish. No primer needed.
use two LIGHT COATS and let dry completely in between. FLAWLESS finish!]

the victrola 'bar' cabinet was a great addition to the next house we lived in,
joining a newly-refurbished black buffet in the dining room...
and yes, i made the glam lampshades myself. i LOVED those!

okay, so maybe you don't want to PAINT anything black.

that's okay!

what about using black in small accessories that are easily changed?

what about using your DISHES?

take a look at how bringing a few of those everyday items out 

and putting them on display in your home

can really spice up your winter decor!

the damask-pattern mugs and plate came from Marshalls

and the stack of art-deco border plates is vintage.
all of the other pieces are clear or white, but your EYE goes to the black patterns!

Warm Winter Decor

 today i am simply sharing these images of one my past homes
[known as 'the Cottage']

showing some easy ways to warm up your winter rooms using color and texture

the decor in these images show how the room was decorated

immediately following the holiday decor scheme seen in this post

 you'll see some of those holiday elements re-used in a new way

 to lighten up the rooms and make them warm and inviting, 

while remaining spacious and uncluttered.

it's a great way to start off the year!

simple elements and color add comfort and warmth

that wrap around you like a cashmere sweater

the mantel's arrangement of branches brings nature into the composition

and a collection of quirky letter K's adds interest without clutter
i collect letters from everywhere, and i also make them myself:

*a K cookie cutter, painted black
*a clear glass cylinder vase with a cursive k painted on with a paint pen
*a carpenter's ruler forms a K
*a cursive k cut from a piece of vintage sheet music
*a chipboard K covered with white glitter

a quick-change of the lampshades on the chandelier and the addition of clear crystals to bounce light

branches, pine cones, and bird nests bring the feeling of the winter woods indoors

if you aren't into neutrals

[and that's perfectly fine!]

it would be easy to replace the dark brown and tan colors in this room 

with bright or pastel hues - and you'd have a completely different look!

Tattered N' Torn Christmas Decor

silver and white are staples for the Holiday decor in my home. 

yet each year, i add something new like

another color [or non-color in the case of clear glass]

to breathe new life into the rooms we live in. 

one year, I decided to bring in browns, coppers, bronzes, and wood. 

i love the warmth and masculine touch it brought to the decor...

i call this look 'Tattered & Torn'

and i hope that you will find some inspiration for your own home, table, or party decor here!

hanging on an old door turned pegrack at the entry to our Cottage,

leather bags and a weathered chair hold knit scarves, mittens, holiday decor and a sweet teddy bear

on the white mantel, a gathering of silver serveware is dressed up with

a floral arrangement, candles, and ornaments galore...

one end of the mantel holds this tiny nosegay arrangement, 

made with a dried hydrangea blossom and one of my chenille stem poinsettias 

simply placed in a silver mint julep cup with a crepe paper collar.

stockings made from old linen fabric and the trim from a vintage dress hang from brown bows.

the buffet in the dining room held another arrangement of silver pieces, 

loaded with ornaments, florals, candles, and silver flatware.

i like STUFF, what can i say?! i load things up for an abundant look... 

[no, i honestly never used this as a server!]

on the wall, a huge twig wreath is flanked by two wire baskets

filled with dried hydrangeas, vintage paper, and ornaments

 adding scale to the wall arrangement.

ah, and the lamps? new. i paid something like $14 each at Marshalls for them.

i took some muslin fabric and swooped it around the white lampshades, and tied it with string.

the warm creamy ivory light made this room glow!

the arrangement features a sweet birds nest, 

with a tiny ceramic brown bird decorating HER nest with tinsel!

celery glasses hold my silver flatware, ready for a party...

my grandmother's silver sugar spoon on display...

 a beautiful tiny arrangement of a dried hydrangea and dried roses,

in a silver creamer...

 on the dining table, a centerpiece is created on two trays that are easily removed,

and the tall arrangement in the center coordinates with the ones on the buffet and mantel.

the tablecloth is actually a beautiful piece of sari fabric...

up above the table is a simple chandelier with linen shades,

and several wire garden baskets hung upside down... just because i could!

[tho they DO coordinate with the wire baskets on the wall above the buffet...]

and finally, the Christmas tree... this one was pretty unique. 

i had a small white vintage tree  - and then found a vintage aluminum tree on craigslist!

[i LOVE craigslist!]

since you can't put light strands on an aluminum tree (fire & shock hazard)

i just nestled the two trees together(a bit like trees grow in the forest...)

and then decorated the white one with large white C9 lights,

and an array of ornaments, vintage finds, and crafted goodies:

the brown stars look like gingerbread - but they are pre-cut felt stars from the dollar store, 

painted with brown textured patio furniture paint

those silver beads are on bendable wires, able to swoop and loop through the branches.

tiny buttons on wires and gold acorns dance on the branch ends...

my white santa mugs again, this time suspended as tree ornaments with brown ribbons.

[people always ask where i found white vintage santa mugs... 

these came with red paint on them, just like the ones you always see in antique stores. 

i simply soaked them in hot soapy water, then used a credit card to scrape off the softened paint]

the other ornaments are beads and charms on wires,  with the names of my family members on them

i had some silver candle clips, so i added these long white tapers to the tree.

and no, i didn't light them!

a vintage painted ornament in the perfect copper & brown colors,

and a new star... i found six of these at a thrift store. they were PINK.
i spray painted them silver, and now they look perfectly vintage!

taking a page out of Deb's book...

this last post for a series of photos shows a few more ideas for simple seasonal changes...

the table up above is a round wood pedestal table, painted green.

It was just an 'ok' table until I added some detail to it:

a selection of pages from old dictionaries, ruined books, sheet music,

and miscellaneous items like vintage bingo cards and postcards

are laid out artistically on the table top and reflect the brown tones in the fall decor.

then the glass top from a round patio table is laid over it all to protect it all.

what else can you do with old book pages?

*paper a wall or a wainscot below a chair rail

*use as matting for photos in frames

*paper a CEILING (pretty advanced stuff)

*decoupage onto furniture

*cover lampshades

...and i know you must have some of your own ideas, so

share a link to your projects in the comments!

[i love buying old or damaged books for pennies at libraries as they are sold with missing or torn covers, ripped pages, etc.

i never feel guilty about using the pages in crafting & decor projects, because it is giving the books a second life]

i found this old door at a salvage yard for TEN BUCKS!

[ReStore is the architectural salvage end of Habitat for Humanity.

they re-sell used building supplies - often antique & vintage items -

to raise funds for their building projects. it's a GREAT cause to support!]

i was lucky - there were four old coat hooks already on the top of this door.

[but you could add some old hooks to any door for the same effect]

i simply leaned this perfectly peely door against my wall,

and then used it as a 3-D 'inspiration board' and organizer next to the front door.

it holds baskets and assorted items that change with each season:

you can see some leather purses and bags,

along with natural materials like bleached leaves & grasses,

that coordinate with the fall palette in the rest of the room.

it's an easy change with every season, using items i have on hand...