Bookshelf Makeovers

           Most of us have bookshelves in our homes.  They can become catch-all spaces for papers, keys, and odds and ends.  They can also be unimaginative, holding only the books they are designed for.  During your post-holiday cleaning this year, take a fresh look at your rooms and think about making your bookshelves look more interesting.  You can combine storage and display functions for a colorful new look.  Start by organizing your books by subject matter, then by size and color.  Organizing books by color is prettier and more pleasing to the eye.  Stack your books both vertically and horizontally.  Alternating directions will give your displays more personality.  You can also place objects on the horizontal books to create a still life.

           

             Next, look around your home for objects that are attractive or meaningful.  A collection of similarly themed items works well, but don’t be afraid to mix things up.  For example, books, fine china, and family photos can all work together.  Choose only a few of the items to display; keep it simple.  Resist the urge to cram your shelves until they are over-full.  Limit your selections to three or four types of items at the most to create unity.  Too many objects can be overwhelming to the eye and cluttered-looking.  As you work, treat each shelf as its own vignette while taking care to relate it to the shelves above and below it.

            As you arrange your collection, put larger items near the top and bottom of the bookcase.  Place smaller objects at eye level.  Group items of different scale on different shelves and place items slightly off center.  Step back occasionally as you are working to assess the overall effect you are achieving.  Distribute items by their visual weight, rather than by their dimensions.  For example, metal items will look heavier than glass.

            If you have large shelves, try layering your treasures; it will give your bookcase depth.  Use a colorful book, photograph, or a piece of art as a backdrop to other items.  Placing colorful frames around the displayed art gives it more prominence.  You can also lean plates against the back, anchoring them with books or heavier objects in front.  Place smaller items near the front of the shelves.  If you want to give one favorite item attention, place it on a shelf by itself.

            If you must have loose papers or smaller pamphlets on your shelf, use pretty storage boxes or baskets to hold them.  Repurpose small wooden crates or metal locker baskets to hold sundry items and give your shelf a more industrial look. 

            If your books and collected items are not “popping” the way you want them to, you can also freshen up the bookcase itself by painting it a vibrant, contrasting color.  A dark color will make the bookshelf look larger.  Another trick is to paste an attractive wallpaper, fabric, or scrapbook paper onto the back wall of the bookcase to create visual interest and to draw the eye inward.

            Change items or rearrange them occasionally to keep your displays looking interesting.  Instead of merely being functional, your bookcases will give your rooms character and warmth, and you will have created a new decorator look at little to no cost.

Mirrors 101

          The use of mirrors in home décor has resurged in popularity in the last few years, and home owners are finding that beautiful frames and decorative details make mirrors works of art on the wall.  Mirrors can be used to create an illusion of space, to add light, or to add a decorative sparkle to various spaces.  They can also create depth on a flat wall or lighten the visual weight of a bulky wall.  Mirrors make long hallways feel broader and can enhance architecture by extending a line of sight.

            You can steal an interior designer’s trick of making the eye believe a small room has more square footage than it actually does by propping a large mirror on the floor against a wall.  The mirror should be at least ¾ as tall as the wall itself. 

To go for a collector’s look, try grouping mirrors on a wall featuring different frames or borders.  To create another “window” in a darker room, hang a mirror opposite the existing window to reflect light and make the space brighter.  Strategic placement of a mirror opposite a piece of art gives the painting or sculpture more importance.  Mirrors that reflect lamplight help make a space more intimate and warm.

            Mirrors may also be used in unconventional settings.  For example, place a long door mirror down the middle of a dining room table to reflect candle light or centerpieces.  And how about that fireplace that goes unused during the summer?  It’s a perfect space for positioning a mirror behind pillar candles.  It will create the illusion of a soft, flickering light without any of the heat.

            There are a few rules you should follow when working with mirrors.  Rule #1:  When hanging a mirror, make sure you consider the height, which is critical to getting the best reflection.  If the frame of the mirror is more important than what the mirror is reflecting (such as a starburst mirror), hanging it at a higher level works well.  Rule #2:  Unless you plan to use the mirror for primping, it looks best when it reflects light from a window or lamp.  Rule #3: You can pre-check the reflection of the mirror by standing where it will hang and looking at the opposite wall.  Rule #4:  When hanging a mirror, use picture hangers placed on both sides of the back of the piece rather than a wire.  This will cause the mirror to hang flat instead of at an angle that may distort the reflection you are trying to achieve.  Rule #5:  Be careful not to reflect too much glare from exposed light bulbs or the sun.  More light is great, but blinding flashes are not.  Rule #6:  If your mirror hangs above a counter or table top, clear the clutter.  You don’t want a mess magnified!  And lastly, Rule #7:  Consider the color of the room when you hang your mirror because that color will be intensified when reflected.

            Mirrors are available in all shapes, colors, styles, and sizes.  Your home will become “the fairest of them all” when you use them as decorative highlights throughout your rooms.

Beautifying the Boudoir

           Common decorating advice dictates that bedroom décor should be restful, neutral, and a place of sanctuary.  But who wants sleep induced by boring surroundings?  You can turn your bedroom into a stylish escape with a little do-it-yourself handiwork and some imagination.

            Large furniture pieces tend to set the tone of a room, while choices of accents, lighting, and color define personal style.  Nothing provides a focal point in the bedroom like a great headboard.  Before you run out to a store for a typical bed, however, consider making your own headboard out of unconventional materials.  Here are some ideas to get you started:

1.       Cut an inviting headboard shape out of vintage wallpaper and paste it to the wall at the head of the bed.  Modern vinyl decals can be used for the same look.  (Try wallwords.com)

2.      For an upholstered look, start with a piece of plywood, some padding, decorative fabric, glue, staples, and embellishments like upholstery nails.  With little to no sewing, you can create a plush headboard in endless patterns and colors.  (For help, go to marthastewart living.com)  For a more rustic look, try burlap or canvas.  Too much work?  Hang a colorful quilt from a rail over the head of the bed.

3.      Turn an old door sideways after removing the hardware.  You can distress it for a shabby chic look or paint it any color you like.

4.      Attach an old picket fence section to the wall.

5.      Connect several shutters together to match the width of the bed.  They don’t necessarily need to be the same height or all the same colors.

6.      Connect wooden pallets together and attach to the wall.  Position them all horizontally, all vertically, or mix and match slat directions.  You can keep the roughhewn surface, or sand the wood and stain it for a smoother finish.

7.      Screw several old boat oars together at varying heights and attach to the wall.  Have fun with colors and patinas as you collect your oars.

8.      Find a large, old metal or wood advertising sign for some fun color. 

9.      Use a tailgate from an old pickup.  Make sure you connect all heavier pieces to studs in the wall so you don’t damage your drywall.

Now pile on the pillows, and when you choose your bedding, don’t be shy about mixing

patterns.  Vintage quilts or chenille spreads make nice accent throws.  If you can’t decide where to start, find inspiration in the places, colors, and styles you love.  Your new headboard will make your bedroom inviting and fun, and you’ll sleep well because you didn’t over-spend to create your new look!

Antiques Under the Tree

    

           I once had a friend who collected pigs.  She had wood ones, porcelain ones, painted ones, fat ones, pink ones, and smiling ones.  She frequently received pigs from friends and family on the holidays.  I once remarked to her, “Darcy, every time I see a pig, I think of you!”  Perhaps the statement didn’t come out quite the way I intended, but the point is that people’s collections can become part of their personalities.  The cherished pieces have stories about where they were found or the memories they invoke.  This holiday season, when you are pondering what gifts to give family and friends, consider giving an antique instead of choosing the same old stand-bys.  You can find unusual pieces to add to collections, stir memories, or let someone know how special she is.

                                                                               

            People collect all kinds of things:  flower frogs, marbles, baseball cards, postcards, glassware, and books are but a few examples.  Start a conversation with your friends about their collections, what kinds of pieces they look for, how they display their treasures, and how long they’ve been at it.  Once you have a good idea, go treasure hunting for the perfect addition to the collection.  If you are afraid of duplicating a piece or can’t afford the gift, consider giving a book on collecting or a price guide.  If you are a do-it-yourselfer, think about creating a display for your friend’s collection.  For example, my dad collected toothpick holders for many years, and my husband built him a display cabinet with a glass door in order to keep the glassware more clean and visible.

                                                                           

            Looking for just the right piece is lots of fun and doesn’t seem like a tedious chore, which happens in the holiday rush sometimes.  Some of my favorite gifts that I have found over the years include a wooden hat form for my daughter’s vintage hats, an A.J. Cronin novel for my mother’s collection, and old printer’s letter blocks for a friend who liked to stamp cards.  I was so excited to find the items and could hardly wait to give them.

                                                                          

            Antique gifts also recall fond memories.  Does your mother talk about the Chatty Kathy doll she had as a child? Can you imagine her face if you found one? Does your grandmother wish she had a certain dish that was broken long ago?  Do you want your children to play with games and toys you had as a child?  Who remembers “Hands Down” or Tonka trucks?  How about a piece of sheet music for a song that was played at your parents’ wedding?  It would look great framed and is sure to be appreciated. 

                                                                          

            If your children show an interest in certain topics, you could even help them start a collection.  I know a young man who collects baseball mitts, an elementary girl who collects Breyer horses, and a teenager who likes welder’s goggles for his Steam punk costumes.  Antiques aren’t just for grownups. 

            Antique and thrift stores are treasure troves for holiday shopping.  And who knows?  You might take up collecting vintage Christmas ornaments for yourself while you’re at it! 

                                                                       

The Holiday Table

This Christmas, consider repurposing everyday items into holiday decorations.  Dough bowls look great holding glass ornaments.  Wire baskets, crates, or bird cages make rich looking receptacles for greens, berries, nests, and birds.  Cloches can enclose winter scenes.  Quilts and vintage lace make rich tablecloths.  Hang vintage Christmas cards or ornaments from chandeliers with ribbon.  Stack crates to display collections on.  Use buckets, milk bottles, Mason jars, or old cookie jars as vases.  Decorations for the rustic table are everywhere!

Have fun decorating this holiday season!  Add some home baked cookies, and your table will be the gathering place of the neighborhood.

An Antique Fair in Wyoming

 What better time than autumn to attend an antique sale?  We hit the road to Big Horn, WY September 29th for the second Cat's Pajamas Barn Sale and found a beautiful blue barn full of well displayed antiques and primitives.  Several vendors sold hand crafted wares across the lawn.  It was fun to stroll through the lovely grounds and enjoy the day.