Old Artwork, New Dining Room Wall

As I put my dining room pieces back in place I have been taking a look at the artwork I have in the house and what I had in the dining room before it was repainted. Does it still work?

This piece - pastels on canvas - was picked up at a fundraising art auction held at the kids' nursery school many years ago. I loved the marketplace stall as subject. The vibrant colors as well as the texture drew me to the piece immediately although I had found the frame heavy at the time.

This is the only picture I have of the artwork in the dining room before - you can catch a glimpse of some of the previous green paint color to the right. This is when it was taken down from the wall. There is a dusting of antiqued gold paint over the predominantly black frame.

And now, I am trying it on the new walls. The frame blends in and the colors pop!

Remember the inspiration picture I came across after I had started work on the dining room? This was part of the post on the Goldeneye Resort in Jamaica.

And coincidentally, again, back in November I had participated in a mood board party over at Pewter + Sage and the inspiration had been dinnerware with which one had to create a dining room board.

Here is the board I had created. For further details about the items go here.

I seem to be subconsciously drawn to the combination of these colors in a space - burnt orange, gold, shades of aqua, smoky grey. Modern. Global. Vibrant. Calming. All at the same time.

And back to the current artwork. It has some of the blues - a touch of cobalt and some aqua in the background - and shades of orange and gold and some dark grey, and of course, there is the touch of gold on the frame which is apparent on the right-hand side as light shines on it from the living room.

This picture appeals to me in this spot. The eye is drawn to the artwork without taking away from the stencil. And the frame does not bother me.

What do you think? Do you see what I see?

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.

Lisa

Spring Into Action - Week 3 - My Desk Reveal

Today is the third and final week of the Spring Into Action project party and I get to share my desk area, as complete as it is thus far.

My goal was to get it organized and to lighten and brighten it. I was so excited with my various finds while also using what I already owned. Here is a glimpse.

 

These were the pieces I decided to incorporate. The clipboard being the piece with all the color inspiration I thought I would use.

 

Some more pictures of the space.

Before..

(Warning - you will see wires below the desk. I did not attempt to hide them for the purpose of taking pictures this time. We have been having some internet/phone issues so these have been left accessible for the time being).

After...

 

The details...

Nailhead trim strip on Premier Prints Traditions in Natural/Sweet Potato fabric (from fabric.com) along entire back panel.

 

File pockets by Martha Stewart from Staples...for household and work papers on the left,

 

 

and for the kids' school paperwork on the right. I also found a smaller pocket for the school directory so that it is accessible and there is a home for it.

 

Accessories which are functional and add color and/or pattern...

The gift store clipboard.

 

Vintage Etsy toast rack now a letter holder.

 

 

Flower vase from Goodwill now a pencil holder.

 

 

Floral bowl from Goodwill used to hold Post-Its.

 

 

I added some white mini roses in a silver jug from an old tea set I own.

 

Glass heart-shaped paperweight, one of a set of 3 from One Kings Lane bought a while ago.

 

 

In the hutch above the desk, decorating and design books, organized by color, and a basket to hold incoming mail. I used sample fabric I had on hand - which coincidentally coordinates with the colors being used in the space - as a backdrop for labels.

 

Filing cabinet and hutch on the side of the desk holds cards in a basket and magazine holders for subscriptions and catalogs. A bill sorter and a decorative plate made for me for Mother's Day a few years ago.

 

 

Vintage Hollywood Regency waste bin from Etsy below desk.

 

 

 

 

I hope you like this space as much as I am loving it. My desk is more certainly organized and so much more cheerful now. On a different day I will share the rest of the space - behind the doors of the hutch and the drawers below the desk.

If you would like to read the two previous posts on this party click on the links below;

Spring Into Action Project Party - My Desk

Spring Into Action - My Desk - Week 2

My work for this room is not complete. I have yet to share the other side of the study with you. It is another project and has a very special piece of furniture. Another time.

Do stop by these other lovely blogs to check in on their reveals for this fun Spring Into Action party.

1. Suzy – Saved by Suzy

2. Tiffany– Living Savvy

3. Kerry– Design du Monde

4. Laurie– Traditional& Modern Design

5. Cathy– Room Rx

6. Carrie– Hazardous Design

7. Sam– The Junk House

8. Becca – From Gardners Two Bergers

9. Jean– Flower Hill Design

10. Nancy– Powell Brower Home

11. Linda - My Crafty Home Life

Thank you, Linda, for coming up with the idea to motivate each other through these past few weeks. It might have taken me longer.

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.

Lisa

Architectural Art Glass To Suit Any Decor

Have you ever considered incorporating architectural decorative glass in your decor? Glass that has been creatively etched, stained, frosted or carved to suit your style of decor?  

Today I am happy to welcome Shahab Shokouhi of Dulles Glass and Mirror with a fascinating guest post on glass art.

Read on...

Once again, here is the link to the source for all images above, Sans Soucie Art Glass and  they can also be contacted for details and pricing on their products.

Other links,

 Dulles Glass and Mirror

Dulles Glass - tempered glass

Dulles Glass - glass table tops

Dulles Glass - vanity mirrors

Thank you, Shahab, for sharing with us some very interesting art glass options.

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.

Lisa

Please Note: I have not been compensated in any way for this post.

Spring Into Action - My Desk - Week 2

This is week 2 of 3 of the Spring Into Action project party where 12 blogs have joined forces to motivate each other, and hopefully those who visit, to complete a project that we need to see through to completion. 

I chose to share my desk make over and am excited to show with you the pieces and colors that I am incorporating in this space to make it more functional, organized and pretty.

This clipboard is the color inspiration I shared with you last week. I had talked about the desk being the place from which I manage bills and other paperwork as well as kids' school papers; the place from which I blog, work and study.

 

This is the desk as it was until a few days ago. I had begun contemplating ideas to organize and beautify this space back in the Fall as I was heading into a hectic holiday season.

I thought the back panel was a great spot to make over and a great place to start - I looked at the 56" x 18" as a blank canvas. It has been begging for some color and I would not be me if I did not put something colorful up there and so I decided to add fabric - a soft furnishing to a room with a lot of wood.

For the past couple of months I had these pinned to the board from a selection of swatches I had ordered from Fabric.com. I narrowed the fabrics down to these two because I liked the colors against the Mountain Lane by Benjamin Moore on the walls.

Then I picked the one I liked best because of the off-white background which would lighten the space - I found the one on the right a little too busy so I picked this one and I liked how it looked in the room with the paint on the walls.

It is Premier Prints Traditions in Natural/Sweet Potato.

Here are the fun desktop/hutch items I have put together - some already owned, some purchased.

 

1. Edible Arrangements vase in quirky shape in turquoise, from Goodwill - new

2. Toast rack from Etsy shop, Bluebell

3. Floral fun little bowl from Goodwill - new

4. Premier Prints Traditions Natural/Sweet Potato fabric - new

5. Two's Company clipboard

6. Hollywood Regency mini waste bin from Divine Orders - new

7. Task clips from The Container Store - with 'Send', 'File' 'Do' and 'Read' on them
8. Bejeweled letter opener from a local gift store

9. Green basket on sale from The Container Store

I am sure you can guess what the toast rack will be used for!

This week I picked up this double pocket from Staples. It is part of the Martha Stewart - Home Office with Avery - line, in white.

About 10 days ago I pinned the fabric to the panel with nailhead trim purchased here. It comes in a long strip - 10 yards - with every fifth nailhead requiring a nail (included in the pack).

It was not too difficult to get this installed.

 I first pinned the fabric to the back panel using pushpins..

...and then began to fasten the strip to the fabric with the nails. I did not need a tool to cut the metal when I reached a corner. I just bent the strip back-and-forth until it snapped apart.

And that is my project update. So far so great!

I hope you like what you see. I am excited!

If you missed last week's post on the introduction to this project party go here.

Now it would not be a party if it were not for these other lovely ladies so please head on over and check out their wonderful projects.

1. Suzy – Saved by Suzy

2. Tiffany– Living Savvy

3. Kerry– Design du Monde

4. Laurie– Traditional& Modern Design

5. Cathy– Room Rx

6. Carrie– Hazardous Design

7. Sam– The Junk House

8. Becca – From Gardners Two Bergers

9. Jean– Flower Hill Design

10. Nancy– Powell Brower Home

11. Linda - My Crafty Home 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.

Lisa

Oversized Artwork - Are You A Fan?

Are you a fan of oversized artwork? Sometimes these could be larger than the furniture in a space or in some cases take up almost an entire wall.

The following are great examples of how such pieces can work whether on an entire wall, above a mantle, to the side of a mantle, centered on a wall or not, or anywhere one might choose to place one.

And these could work in any style of decor, too.

 

via House & Home photo Francois Halard

 

via House to Home

 

 I am definitely a fan. The artwork can be the main focus in a space, can add much-needed color, be thought-provoking, set a mood or can enhance the furniture already in place.

If you have been following my blog for a while you will already know that I do not abide by any rules when it comes to decorating. Any space should reflect one's lifestyle and one's personality and, at the end of the day, make one happy. Therefore, there should be no rules in terms of size of artwork if it is what one wants.

What do you think? Is this something you would consider in your own home if you have not already?

On a side note: It has been four days since my last post as I have been busy - my kids have been on Spring break all this time and for the rest of the week but I will be back on Thursday with the next update on the Spring Into Action project party.

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.

Lisa