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Anatomy of a Vignette

September 10, 2015

A couple of years ago I started a blog series entitled ‘Anatomy Of’ but recently I fell of the wagon and have neglected the series. Today I’m jumping back on the wagon and sharing another installation in the series…The Anatomy Of a Vignette.

The premise behind these blog posts is to share design tips and decorating inspiration for specific parts of your home so you can tackle decorating with confidence.

If you’re not clear on what a vignette is, here’s the formal definition that explains it:

‘Vignette is a short impressionistic scene that focuses on one moment or gives a trenchant impression about a character, idea, setting, or object’

Or in general terms, a vignette is a capsule of items that tell a story, convey a feeling or create an impression.

min lilla veranda

I love creating vignettes when decorating homes because they are one of the best ways to add personality and create visual interest within your decor. Here are a few tips to help you build vignettes around your home and lots of beautiful images to inspire you.

TIP: Layers are key! Vignettes are not just about what the eye sees on the surface but what it sees front, middle and back. Layer and overlap items as you build vignettes to create visual dimension.

TIP: Variety is the spice of life! The items you include in a vignette don’t have to be a perfect match in finish, color or even style. As long as the combination of items feel cohesive the vignette is successful.

TIP: Texture sets the tone! Use items with different finishes to create visual energy within your vignettes. Baskets with metal, wood with ceramic and stone with glass are good combinations.

TIP: Style from top to bottom! When creating vignettes in your home, look at the entire area where the vignette sits and make sure the area above and below is part of the visual statement or is left free and clear.

TIP: Make it personal! One of the best tips I can give you for styling a vignette is to incorporate a few truly personal items into the mix. Photos, travel treasures or collected pieces will always give vignettes a personal feel and make them feel connected to your decor.

edith and evelyn

nell hill

target

pottery barn

a designer’s notebook

Domaine Home

domino

devonrachel

no29design

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Read more of the Anatomy Of series:

Anatomy of Accessorizing A Bathroom

Anatomy of A Linen Closet

Anatomy of Styling A Coffee Table Tray

Anatomy Of A Place Setting

Anatomy Of A Kitchen Island

Anatomy Of Bathroom Windows

Vintage Finds From Everything But The House

September 9, 2015

Last Friday I told you about Everything But The House (EBTH), a revolutionary way to shop for vintage and antique items online. After getting to know how the auction system works and how easy it is to place bids on EBTH, I decided to give it a try.

One of the first things I purchased was this bamboo and wicker end table. The table is manufactured by Emerald Craft Inc., was in really good shape and has classic bamboo furniture details.

The only thing I didn’t like about the piece was the color but I knew a couple of coats of spray paint would give the table a new personality.

image via EBTH

So here’s the new look after a couple of coats of gloss black spray paint.

I’m so happy with the piece and how it looks now. The size of the table is ideal for a corner or nook and works great as a spot to drop keys near the door. I also like the three shelf surfaces which provide lots of decorating options.

A smaller brass tray {thrifted} fit perfectly on the middle shelf and works great for extra storage. And of course you know I love the combination of black and brass.

I placed a stack of books on the lower shelf along with a blue and white ginger jar. This beautiful Asian ginger jar is another piece I scored from EBTH.

{glass zebra tray from Michaels, brass bowl was thrifted}

New sales start everyday on EBTH so have fun bidding and I let me know if you win something awesome.

FIVE place where round mirrors are ideal!

September 2, 2015

domaine home

When it comes to decorating, some spaces call for a rectangular mirror while others are ideal for round mirrors.

Mirrors as a whole are wonderful to decorate with because of the added dimension and light they add to a room. In addition to that, mirrors can create a sense of space and make a smaller room feel bigger.

I’ve used round and rectangular mirrors as part of my decor but if I had to make a choice, I think I’d choose a round mirror or a square or rectangular any time.

Here’s a look at five places where round mirror are ideal for decorating:

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No. 1 –Round Mirror In The Foyer

A round mirror in the foyer adds an unconventional touch to traditional decor. The curved lines of a round mirror provide a contrast to the straight lines of doorways and stairs and when placed opposite a glass inset door, the mirror enhances the natural light that flows into the space.

my domaine

No. 2 –Round Mirror Over A Nightstand Vanity

If you are using a desk or vanity table as a nightstand, consider a round mirror. Again the round shape provides a visual contrast to the square lines of the furniture and will create a vignette that feels softer and more feminine.

CB2

No. 3 –Round Mirror Over a Mantle

When placed over a mantle, a round mirror creates a open feeling and works when layered with other framed art pieces or decorative objects. Pay close attention to the size of the round mirror you use over the mantle to ensure it has a enough heft and weight to balance the overall scale of the fireplace.

Domanie Home

No. 4 –Round Mirror At The End of A Hallway

Decorating the wall at the end of hallway can be challenging. A mirror is a good option for this space especially if the area doesn’t get a lot of natural light and if the space is compact. The reflection in the mirror will create visual dimension and add visual interest.

Coastal Living Showhouse–Burnham Designs

No. 5 –Round Mirror In A Gallery Wall Display

Since gallery wall displays typically include an abundance of square and rectangular framed art pieces, a round mirror thrown into the mix will give the overall arrangement a more relaxed feel. When using a single mirror in the grouping the mirror can be the focal point and when if you’re using multiple mirrors, go with mirrors in a smaller size so the total wall grouping is the focal point.

the neotraditionalist

Domaine Home

When it comes to shopping for round mirrors, I’ve lucked out and found some great styles at HomeGoods but one of my go-to sources with guaranteed inventory is Wayfair. Here are some of my faves from their site:

Entwined Wall Mirror–$327.80

Devon Wall Mirror -$138.99

Kichler Scallop Wall Mirror–$250.00

Howard Elliot Rex Convex Mirror–$252.00

And for small mirrors, I always shop Target which has a great selection of mirror sets between $24.00 and $39.00.

So when it comes to mirrors, do you stick with traditional rectangular shapes or have you given round mirrors a try?

p.s. this is not a sponsored post, just sharing the sources I love to shop.

Gift Wrap Inspiration: Flowers and Denim

August 31, 2015

Hello friends and Happy Monday! Sorry for the last blog post today. I had a morning meeting and then had to get a few things checked off the to-do list so I’m late getting this post out. Anyway as the saying goes, ‘better late than never” so here I am with some gift wrap inspiration for you.

Whenever I’m looking for a new idea to inspire a gift wrap project, I usually don’t have to look far. The inspiration for this wrapping came from some flowers I spotted while on an evening walk recently and a denim shirt I had in my closet. This package is headed to a girlfriend and I just know she’s going to love the wrap.

The box I used for this package is a two-piece box with separate lid and I wrapped each piece in the beautiful floral paper I picked up in the dollar ($1.50) section at #Michaels. Then I added a denim heart, also from Michaels and adhered it with tape around the edges so it could serve as a pocket.

{p.s. my local Michaels just restocked the dollar area and there are lots of really cute fall and Christmas items you should check out}

{p.s.s. the denim hearts are on clearance at 80% off and they have denim pockets too}

The finishing touches are a pink gift tag with hand lettering and a silk bow and flower that are clipped onto the edge of the heart using a small clothespin.

ribbon from May Arts

Wrapping gifts is always fun but when you can create a beautiful box using just a few items and in less than 10 minutes it’s even better.

I hope you give this gift wrap idea a try. If you can’t find denim pieces at your craft store, you can always cut up old clothing that is slated for the thrift store.

Happy wrapping!

sharing on:

Creative Space Inspiration {plus a few creative links}

August 29, 2015

Cheers to the weekend!

When it comes to creative work spaces, the space below is one of my all time favorites. I love how open the room is and the sense of organization and order. And despite all the structure in the room, the space exudes warmth and creativity.

Even if you don’t have a creative space as big as this, you can be inspired by some of the details in this room:

♦ Use baskets to add texture, warmth and organization

♦ Use decorative tags to label baskets, bins and storage boxes

♦ Create a sense of order by using one style of storage box or binder

♦ Opt for nontraditional seating if it works for how you use the space

♦ Add a narrow counter height table to serve as your computer desk and then use a large table as a work surface

♦ Hang decorative lighting to add style and highlight the work area within the room

via Atlanta Homes Magazine

For even more inspiration, enjoy these weekend links:

Advice for creative entrepreneurs.

These tassels are yet another genius craft project from one of my favorite craft bloggers.

You can never have too many containers, especially when they can look like this and are easy to DIY.

I recently discovered this blog (where has it been all my life) and if you love blue and white pottery, you’ll definitely want to follow the Chinoiserie Chic blog.

Design Crush: Alessandra Branca

August 27, 2015

Hello friends. The last few days my life has been a little like this beautiful inspiration board above…a mass of stuff on the to-do list and lots of projects the works. In times of stress, I look to sources of inspiration to get me through. So I’m popping in today with a quick post to share one of my sources of inspiration and favorite designers, Alessandra Branca.

via Lonny, photo by Joshua-McHugh

If you’re note familiar with Alessandra Branca, she is a Rome-born designer known for her use of color and her skill of combining chic, old-world style into the spaces she designs.

Here are some of the reasons why I love her style:

Exquisite pattern mixing + that floor lamp

Sophisticated color combinations + those upholstered chairs

Decorative details + that coral dutch door

Dramatic design + that plaid daybed

Her fabric line for Schumacher + this chair

via branca

via Schumacher

Traditional Roots + those stools

Her passion for pink + that rug

Her whimsical side + that ceiling treatment

Her use of trims + that chair detail

When it comes to design with personality and polish, Alessandra Branca is definitely a designer that inspires me.

You can view more of her design work here or pick up a copy of her book…

all room images via Alessandra Branca unless noted

My Coffee Table Has The Blues (but it’s happy)!

August 26, 2015

I am constantly changing out the accessories on my coffee table but the one design element that remains a constant is a decorative tray. I use trays because they add visual layers to the arrangement and they’re great for holding small decorative items and books.

You might remember this brown wood tray that often makes an appearance on my coffee table. It’s sturdy, oversized and I like the texture and pattern of the woven liner but the tray was begging for a facelift. As as thing go, changing the look of the tray led to a mini makeover with the coffee table decor.

Books and flowers are usually the items that add color to the table arrangement but I wanted a bolder color statement so I gave the tray its new look with a coat of emerald green paint (Behr Crown Jewel #P420-7) and new gold handles.

Emerald green has always been a color I love and I plan to use more of it in my fall decor.

Once the tray got its facelift, I went about styling the table with some of my favorite pieces. I recently started collecting blue and white chinoiserie and love the combination of green, brass and blue & white. The combo is eclectic and happy but still has a traditional feel which is right up my alley.

Blue and white ceramics are such a hot design trend right now and I’ve been fortunate to score some great pieces at incredible prices from thrift stores, flea markets and a new shopping source I recently discovered (I’ll share more about it next week).

My coffee table is fairly large and the color pops create the perfect contrast against the darker wood table.

I love how the arrangement turned out and I think the colors are perfect for the last few weeks of summer.

When I’m ready to start decorating for fall, (I’m not there just yet) the DIY pumpkins I’m making will work great alongside the new tray and blue and white pottery.

Product sources:

Wood Tray–Tuesday Morning (purchased years ago)

Gold Handles (Ikea–spray painted gold)

Wood Box–Tuesday Morning (purchased years ago)

Wood Slice–Hobby Lobby

Gold Wishbone–Hobby Lobby

Small Blue & White Lidded Dish–Goodwill

Large Blue & White Vase–EBTH

Large Blue and White Lidded Bowl with Gold Trim–Local thrift store

Brass Turtle–Goodwill

Scalloped Brass Pedestal Dish-local thrift store

Style Ideas For Your Bar Cart

August 20, 2015

When it comes to bar carts, nobody does it better than Society Social. If you’re not familiar with Society Social, the company started in 2011 with a small collection of stylish bar carts and their products immediately grabbed the attention of magazines like House Beautiful, Southern Living, Lonny and HGTV, The business exploded after that and today, the Society Social online boutique sells a range of furniture and decor all with a chic, modern flair and style.

One of the really great things about Society Social is that all of their designs are created by their in-house design team so every piece is original to their business and you won’t find them anywhere else. And as a truly custom touch, every single piece is made or finished to order.

Not only are each and every one of the Society Social bar carts stunning, but I love the way they style their pieces for photo shoots and their blog, The Social Diary.

If you need ideas on how to style your bar cart, I’ve got Ten Bar Cart Styling Tips for you that were inspired by the folks at Society Social.

Tip#1: Add a lamp and accessories to give your cart the feel of a furniture piece.

Tip #2: Create a color story with the items you decorate your cart with.

Tip #3: Mix in a few unexpected and whimsical accessories to personalize the your cart.

Tip #4: Your bar cart can definitely be a mix of work and play in an office setting as long as the cart reads more play than work!

Tip #5: Add Flowers for color and softness.

Tip #6: Use quickly containers to hold bar tools, straws and swizzle sticks.

Tip #7: Create layers with the items on your bar cart to make it feel warm and inviting.

Tip #8: Change the look of your bar cart styling with the seasons, including barware, beverages and accessories.

Tip #9: Display entertaining and cocktail recipe books on your bar cart so they are close at hand when you’re planning your next party.

Tip #10: Select beverages in pretty bottles to add instant style to your cart.

The same techniques you use to style a side table in your home can be used to style your bar cart so have fun and create a space that ready to party in style!