mantel inspiration

I was browsing a favorite blog the other day and came across this space by Camille Price.  When I saw how she decorated her mantel with red books I knew this is how I wanted my mantel to look for the holidays.  

 here's a photo of Price's mantel; I love the sort of messy, overstuffed but balanced look.  

and her living room

and here's what I did with mine;

and my living room

the rest of my antique books

first two photos via isuwannee

current inspirations and a chair find

Some current inspirations that I have been glossing over lately, scanned from old clippings of Dwell from the previous year.  I've also started redecorating the kids room and with luck and patience I finally found the perfect matching vintage brass beds this past weekend.  

Another amazing score was this modern bright yellow chair. The base looks like spider feet don't they? This chair will be on my next sale over at Fab.com next month.

outdoors in

it was hailing just last week and then this morning I woke up to find the trees in my backyard blooming; the camellia, magnolia and the pear tree. I cut a few of the white delicate pear flowers and scattered them around my dining area.

bits and pieces

just a few bits and pieces of my living room this morning.

wallpaper

Do you love wallpaper, pretty plates and buttons like I do?  these wallpapers are so cute in a granny chic kind of way, you won't ever have to worry about putting holes on the wall. via

*A special thanks to Ms Jen for her sweet words this week about Modish Vintage.  She's a great writer and also a lover of all vintage; visit her blog here.

it's starting to look a lot like... holloween!

I must got bitten by the decorating bug, because last night after I tucked the kids to bed I dug my old autumn wreath from the shed and hung it outside my door this morning; then I shopped in my basement a.k.a. inventory/junk room for some holloweeny items and set to work. Here's a peek of my living room, but first here's what it looks like outside my home this gorgeous autumn morning...

while I was hanging the wreath noticed this huge spider web outside my door... how appropriate!... and the Japanese maple is glowing beautifully by the entrance.

This wreath was an after holiday sale from Michaels many years ago, I think I only paid a couple of dollars for it.

I don't like the mantel too cluttered and only put a few brass items, ceramic owls, candelabras, a ceramic pumpkin and silk garland (nothing like fake orange garland from Michael's to make the room a little festive)

For the table centerpiece I found an old silverplate tray and added some gourd, fake leaves and a mannequin hand.  I also found a couple of clear glass candlesticks and tied a black velvet ribbon around them.

I love my crocheted tablecloth (thrifted from Goodwill for $4.99) which also resembles spider web...

Gourds makes a strong and festive bookstand (my mobile office upstairs by the kitchen).  There you have it, hope you like this little peek...I know I'm a little shy about showing much of my home but if you have a wall to wall carpet like I do then you will understand... someday I will have wood floors, someday...

Now onto the more important task; finding a costume for the little ones! 

So, do you decorate for Holloween?  If so, what style? Is it the general fall theme like pumpkins, gourds and leaves or more like spiderwebs, witches, skulls and bones?  

my vintage collection: brass bowls

I wasn't very fond of brass home accesory when I started with my first apartment and home; it was one of those things that I've associated with the 70s shag rug, lava lamp or velvet artworks in terms of offensive home accessory.

Since opening my etsy shop though I’ve started seeing more of them in the thrift stores and they've kind of grown on me. I like the really old, heavy brass candelabras and small animal and fruit figures with dark patina. I started adding some brass in my home and decided that if they're use sparingly they could add lots of charm and understated elegance in a room.

I have been seeing lots of brassware show up in antique malls and auctions. And this bowl with brass elk head, I just couldn’t resist. Do you love or despise brass or did you- like me learned to love it with the current trend?

hollywood regency home decor

My next shop update will be all about "glamming up" a room; the decorating style known as Hollywood Regency. The elements in this style includes Asian inspired décor, chinoiserie, black and white pattern, pops of bold colours, faux bamboo, animal prints. And of course you can’t have Hollywood Regency without a splash of glitter and gold, so there will be lots of silver and gold home accents. See you back here on Monday!

All these beautiful and inspirational photos are found from flickr.

















Apartment Therapy has also recently did a house tour with this fabulous San Francisco home with Regency glamour style home decor.

granny chic

I have always been enamored by simple little things like pretty little teacups, old wallpaper, crochet pillows and needlepoint wall art, evident in some of my home décor. I didn’t realize there was a name for it: GRANNY CHIC. When a reader told me of such a trend maybe coming back again, I quickly went to Flickr and look for some inspiration, and sure enough I found this group and all their charming granny home decor goodness which all evokes comfort, familiarity and nostalgia.

**all photos are from granny chic flickr pool

I may have to do a shop update with these theme soon. I just realized I have accumulated lots of items that falls under this category. By the way, I do my shop updates now where I pick several items from my inventory with a concurrent theme and list them in the shop on Mondays.

Monday shop update!

I can't believe it's already February! It's almost that dreaded tax time again. But before that of course is the V day, and here are some mid century items I just listed in the shop that might be a great gift for you or your love one. Hope everyone is having a great Monday and start of the new month!

vintage Noritake Primastone stoneware oval serving platter with geometric design

vintage orange pottery vase made in Italy

vintage mid century Nystrom relief Classroom globe - SOLD


mid century modern ceramic green lamp

vintage Pantograph no 1291


vintage abstract print framed

vintage Kodak 35 with original leather case - SOLD

vintage perpetual desk calendar (no.20)

collection of 3 handcarved wooden animals elephant owl duck