In Search Of Frames

With many prints, a couple of posters, canvas pieces and artwork from school and photographs accumulating in the house, I am in need of simple and certainly affordable frames of various sizes to showcase these.

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I have been looking into various options on Amazon, Target and Poster Frame Depot. There are many choices to suit individual needs no matter what your style may be.

Whether creating an asymmetric gallery wall....

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...adding bold statement artwork to brighten up a space....

...displaying an oversized poster on a wall or propped up against it....

 

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...matching frames in a kids' space....

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...or for a sophisticated gallery...

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..or even using shadow box frames to add dimensional artwork to a wall and showcase a treasured collection ...

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..or one of my favorite ideas - incorporating framed fabric pieces of similar colors and/or patterns in varying sizes resulting in a unique grouping...

...there are some great, affordable options for finding the right frame. Last year I had shared these 4 silk scarves which I had framed in pairs in standard poster frames from Target. 

 

The backing is cardboard - not ideal. I might redo these with good quality and affordable custom frames. Poster Frame Depot offers custom sizes as well as a choice of lens covers and backings and the required hardware . Definitely something worth considering.

And I also have this 3' 2" x 5' 2" piece. Shared here.

Although I Iike it this way, in order to preserve it for a very long time I will have to frame it some time soon.

I will keep you posted as I work my way from print to poster, from frame to frame.

Where do you shop for frames?

If you require any help with Interior Decorating please click on the tab at the top of my page marked 'Services' or click here for further details.

I would love for you to leave a comment. Thank you for stopping by; please do check back often.

Keeping The Entryway Organized

Do you find it difficult keeping the entryway/foyer clean and organized? This is the first space people see when they enter your home. It creates an immediate impression and usually reflects the state of the rest of the house.

If one has an entryway/foyer table, this could be where the mail can get dumped and where keys are thrown.


I had shared this space with you in my first post last year. I had purchased the bench online from Target. It was initially for the outdoors but I brought it into the house. I love the tiles on it and the spindles beneath the arms lend character.

I have repurposed the bench. It serves as an entryway table and a good size one, too.

I would like to show you how I keep this area of the house clean and organized for everyone.

I purchased this unique vintage English brass magazine holder from Phat Dog on Etsy last year. I had initally thought I would use it as an accent piece in the living room and I had it there for a few months. It has two compartments.

Although it has some discoloration and a few minor dings, it has some beautiful repoussé* work of an outdoor pub scene and I have chosen to leave it as is. It has more character untouched.

* repoussé - malleable metal decorated or embossed by hammering from the reverse side.

I also found this adorable woven basket from simply objekts, also on Etsy.

It is just 9 1/4" high (with handles) and 8" wide.

I have both items on the bench as tools for keeping mail and keys organized as they are brought in the front door.

The basket has ample room for all keys  - house and car. And I also keep my spare mini measuring tape to grab-and-go for when I am shopping for items that require measuring. A small one is lighter, naturally, and adds little weight to my already heavy bag.

The mail is placed in the magazine holder. Magazines and catalogs in the back compartment and everything else in the front.

From here I can easily discard/recycle junk mail. On occasion this has got quite full on days when we have received more than the usual amount of mail but I am getting to be more diligent with clearing the magazine holder. These two items have been worth every penny.

This is an easy way to stay organized in the entryway before these important items - mail and keys - get lost and/or add clutter to any space. The basket saves time looking for keys and the magazine holder enables some initial organization of mail before it is moved to the next location.

I love this system. As you can see, the bench has room for flowers and when I am running in-and-out of the house through the day I do leave my bag on it, too.

We have a coat closet as well as a mudroom (or mud "nook", as I sometimes refer to it) for coats and backpacks and shoes.

Staying organized saves time and of course, conserves energy.

Do you have an organized system in place for your mail and keys? I would love to hear about it.

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Wow Us Wednesdays

A Stroll Thru Life

If you require any help with Interior Decorating please click on the tab at the top of my page marked 'Services' or click here for further details.

I would love for you to leave a comment. Thank you for stopping by; please do check back often.

I Am Excited About These Home Goods Finds

I am so thrilled to be able to incorporate these new pieces into the redecorating of the basement. I happened to come across the four fun items on a quick trip into Home Goods a couple of weeks ago. As usual, I was multitasking and was not looking for items for the basement.

The first two pieces can double as tables or seating. They were $69.99 each. I love this drum-shaped one with it's fluted sides and spiral top.

This seagrass-like piece I picked up first. I think it is a great piece to lighten things up and for adding a natural element and texture. Both pieces are lightweight so will be easy for the kids to move around as required.

They will make perfect accents to the PB teen sectional.

This fun chevron-patterned throw pillow was $16.99.

  

 

Lastly, this wire magazine holder which will balance the heavier pieces, I plant to keep stacked against the wall. It is perfect for a book or 2, incomplete artwork, journals, anything the kids may be working on/reading that requires a temporary home. A convenient, accessible storage system. 

This cost me $19.99.

 

I also liked the magazine holder because it will (hopefully) help the kids keep any items in there organized as everything will be visible. The price...

 

 

In a couple of weeks we have family visiting us from Australia so I have to have some of this in place before then so that all the kids can enjoy this space when they are required to be indoors.

We are finally in the last couple of days of final exams and I have 2 moving-up/graduation ceremonies this week and a couple of home projects to complete. So bear with me if I am a little late in visiting your blogs this week.

If you require any help with Interior Decorating please click on the tab at the top of my page marked 'Services' or click here for further details.

I would love for you to leave a comment. Thank you for stopping by; please do check back often.

Sectional For The Basement

I have yet to share pictures of the furniture in the basement but I wanted to show you where I shopped for the main seating for this space.

A few years ago I had my heart set on a lounge sectional from PB teen after having weighed different options. I have used faux suede for my home and for clients so when I saw this collection online and liked the overall look and shape and height of the pieces I knew this was the solution for my kids and their cousins and friends who visit frequently.

When purchasing any type of seating (or bed) it is important to take into consideration who it is being bought for and have them test it out. Before making this purchase I did want the the kids' opinions and so we visited a PB teen store on Manhattan's Upper East Side and tested the floor sample. They sat and yes, they "lounged" !

I wanted something that would last many years - durability, comfort and of course, style were the criteria.

This is perfect for an adult to lounge on, too. The basement has the second of 2 televisions in the house - the first one is in the family room. On occasion I have watched a movie or a show on this ever-so-comfortable couch.

I opted to buy the four pieces shown above with the cushions in the exact chocolate brown color. Many color options are available.

The bases offered are white turned wood (shown above), storage base (below), or pedestal base. The storage base comes in white, chestnut or espresso finishes while the pedestal base can be purchased in white, chestnut or dark espresso finishes.

I chose the pedestal base in white finish.

This lounge set has been used in different configurations as the kids desired. It was as much a perfect choice a few years ago as it would be if I had to purchase it today. We love it.

The cushions can be used without a base if one prefers. At a sizable 31" square the seating is so very roomy and extremely comfortable. Height varies depending on the base.

I love low seating options. They lend a casual feel to a space and I find them more inviting.

The navy twill with white piping option (below) was not offered when I was looking.

Neither was this Trailblazer faux suede option which really looks like leather.

This collection is currently on sale at PB teen.

Meanwhile, I found some perfect (and unexpected) pieces last week while on a quick trip to Home Goods. I will share those with you next week.

Enjoy your weekend and Father's Day!

If you require any help with Interior Decorating please click on the tab at the top of my page marked 'Services' or click here for further details.

I would love for you to leave a comment. Thank you for stopping by; please do check back often.

Please Note: I have not been compensated in any way by for this post. The views and opinions expressed here are solely mine and are based on my experience with and on my purchase of this product.

Cocktail Tray Table For The Living Room

On a recent "trip" to Joss & Main I came across this amazing cocktail tray table. And it was offered at a fabulous price. I thought it would be perfect for many decor styles and certainly for a small space where the need for an end table might arise.

I had been on a hunt for a stylish end table for a while and grabbed this one the moment I saw it. It has a global feel with a subtle engraving around it and it adds the metallic element to the living room.

It is functional and pretty and of great quality.

It cost me just $51.95 + s&h  and works perfectly with the other items in the living room.

The ring on the leg to the left of the picture is used to collapse the 3 legs.

It adds a little punch to the space between 2 armchairs.

Are you familiar with Joss & Main? They have some great items at amazing prices. If you have not visited their site, sign up and check it out.

If you require any help with Interior Decorating please click on the tab at the top of my page marked 'Services' or click here for further details.

I would love for you to leave a comment. Thank you for stopping by; please do check back often.

Please Note: I have not been compensated in any way by this company. The views and opinions expressed in this post are solely mine and are based on my purchase of and experience with the product.

On The Coffee Table, New Blog Design & Anniversary

I am enjoying the daisy poms I purchased for last weekend's event; mostly for the dining table. I had 9 jars of them and if you recall, I did not fill them up entirely. I like them looking less arranged. These flowers bloom perfectly for a good 2 weeks. 

I have moved a couple of jars to the living room coffee table with my Manzanita candelabra from west elm. I have placed the jars between the branches.

I am playing around with the other items on the table to add some turquoise and teal colors. A work in progress.

It is certainly a more organic look than what I had before.

I am working on the styling of the table while I enjoy my flowers. I removed the rug that grounded this space. It is now in the master bedroom where it looks amazing. I am contemplating rug options for this space.

Here are more flowers on the end table by the sofa. I love how the sun catches them.

About my new blog design. I wanted a clean design with color and I did not want a design that would compete with pictures in my posts.

I had been a follower of The Mustard Ceiling blog from my early days of blogging (last summer). Some months ago I saw Elizabeth's impressive new designs of various other blogs and asked her to redesign mine.

On my search for ideas I came across this fun grey/natural and fuchsia pattern selection from Tracy Ann Digital Art on Etsy. I love the look of texture and this background has it. The pops of color modernizes it.

Thank you so much to Elizabeth for creating this in a timely and most efficient manner. She has done a great job! If you are considering any such design work do stop by Elizabeth's site and take a look at her portfolio. It speaks for itself.

A couple of weeks ago was one year since I first started blogging. And although I do not post every day it has become part of my routine, for the most part. I am always thinking about post ideas and taking a lot more photographs than I used to and I do also have to say I have made some truly wonderful blogging friends. I would love to meet you all!

Thank you for those who have been following my blog and are regular visitors!

Enjoy your weekend!

If you require any help with Interior Decorating please click on the tab at the top of my page marked 'Services' or click here for further details.

I would love for you to leave a comment. Thank you for stopping by; please do check back often.

The Table Is Set

Saturday's neighborhood event - annual progressive dinner - was fun and our part of hosting dinner for 10 was a great success. We met these 8 neighbors for the first time. We were all an hour late to the next course - dessert/nightcap - as everyone was having such a great time.

The table was warm and inviting with an eclectic mix of styles and formal pieces interspersed with less formal ones. The infusion of turquoise, orange, lapis, gold, hints of green, and of course, white to lighten things up helped create a fun and relaxed space. This was certainly not meant to be a formal event.

Everything came together perfectly.

I took pictures at every opportunity I could during the day therefore the change in the light in different pictures. I set the table in stages and the flowers were added Saturday afternoon.

Much later in the day I added soup bowls for salad so you will see the table set without these in some of the pictures.

Everything I used I already own and I would have used flowers from my own garden if I had anything in white that was in bloom. But I bought 5 bouquets of the daisy poms at $4.99 a bouquet.

And the turquoise shells and glass gems added perfect color in my assorted jar collection and the arrangements were intentionally simple but effective with the mini flameless candles for a soft glow - more effective at night.

Like I had mentioned in my previous post, I kept the floral arrangements low so as to allow for easy conversation across the table.

This table is a beautiful piece and I like to enjoy it without a tablecloth whenever I can.

I only have place settings for 8 and so I had to add white china at the heads pf the table. My formal china is Grande Ivory in Imperial Lapis by Mikasa. It is about 18 years old and so is the flatware which has just a hint of gold in the delicate tassel pattern to tie in with the gold border on the china.

I did not include additional forks for salad as I have noticed in the past for such an occasion these are rarely used.

The placemats are woven vinyl ones by Chilewich. They were a great buy from a few years ago. I even have another set for daily use at the kitchen table. These are strong and so easily washed by hand  - so perfect with kids around. They come in a variety of colors.

I used crystal glasses for water and a set with different tinted colored glasses for wine. The wine glasses did not take away from the overall look and color scheme of the table.

The coasters for the glasses are 2 different sets; old. I need to find new ones. But these served their purpose.

I also had only 8 beaded napkin rings...

...and so I made my own for the heads of the table and did this at the last minute before the guests walked in the door so the flowers were fresh. I used daisy poms and some hemp I already had.

The orange cotton napkins are from Crate & Barrel. These I have had for a few years. I decided to use fabric napkins (instead of paper) in order to soften the space particularly as I have removed the rug from beneath the table and do not have any curtains in place right now.

The dining table, when extended, can comfortably seat 10 and we have even hosted 12 at the table. But we bought 8 chairs for it and so I pulled in 2 extra chairs - the ones with spindles - from around the kitchen table.

I added some of my tallest flameless candles for additional ambient light.

For those who might be interested, on the menu for dinner (this was catered):

Pear Delight Salad - poached pears, mesclun greens, mozzarella, mango and homemade pot wine dressing

Cavatelli in a pink sauce

Chicken alla Sophia - prosciutto with mozzarella, spinach in a  brown demi-glaze.

The table before:

After:

It was a fun evening and we walked home from the last house (dessert/nightcap) after 1 a.m.! 

Linked up to

Between Naps On The Porch

Colours Dekor

If you require any help with Interior Decorating please click on the tab at the top of my page marked 'Services' or click here for further details.

I would love for you to leave a comment. Thank you for stopping by; please do check back often.