Category Archives: decorative accents

Pineapples are the "Owl" of 2014

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Anyone else agree??

Do you know what I’m even talking about??

I’m calling 2013 the year of the owl.  Everywhere you turned, everything was in the shape of an owl…

Owl shaped lamp bases, owls on thank you notes, in photographs, on plates, baby clothes, salt and pepper shakers… seriously… they were everywhere, and I’m not even going to lie. I was onboard.  I have several owl figurines, a framed print of an owl (which I still love very much) and I’m sure several other “owl” things.  I got totally caught admiring “owl” things here, here, and here…

This year, it’s the pineapple.  They are everywhere – do you notice them?  If you didn’t before you certainly will now!

You can’t walk down an aisle of lamps without seeing a pineapple among the group… here are a few that I’m admiring:

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I love this white one from Pier One – for one, it’s totally affordable ($99!!!), and the white / gold combo keeps it looking classic, and glam.

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The yellow on the next two is just so fun. This one above is a take on the Horchow version (below) – very playful, but not for those that are shy of color…
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If you’re not into a pineapple lamp, perhaps incorporating pineapples via a piece is art is more up your alley?
Again, the burst of color in this print below is super fun, and kind of a great way to transition a space from winter and spring, to summer.
If a pineapple print doesn’t say “summer” I don’t know what does!
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Still too in-your-face with pineapple art?  Turn to your bookshelves – the perfect place to display more funky pieces.
I love this white ceramic pineapple – would look really pretty against a dark back of a book-shelf.
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Or go for book-ends to corral your books… these brass bookends are quirky without being “out there”.
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What do you think?  Are you going to jump on the pineapple band-wagon??

I’d love to personally – I think the pineapple lamps are really fun, and it’s actually a really classic image – I’m sure Williams Sonoma would agree:

While I want to get my hands on something pineapple (because they are sooo cool), I’m exercising restraint.

My next endeavor is to clean through all the accent pieces I already have, and weed out the ones I’m no longer in love with before I can add any pineapples to the mix.  We have about 3 boxes in storage that are full of decor accents, and we just don’t need them all.  A purge is on the horizon, and maybe as a reward when I’ve finished, we can see about a little pineapple piece 🙂

Happy Friday my friends!!

Standing Lamp Roundup

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TheTorchiere Lamp… a very fancy name for perhaps the ugliest lamp ever.

Everyone’s had one.  They are in every dorm room and first apartment in the history of the world, since they are the cheapest lighting option out there.
Not only has everyone had one at some point, most of us twenty something’s (and let’s be honest, 30 somethings) probably still do.  I did… until a week ago, when I had a moment of clarity and promptly unplugged it and walked out out to the street corner.  Actually, when Kris and I moved in together, we each had our own, and had to decide which one to keep!  Ugh.  The answer should have been neither! 
We (me and my lovely torchiere lamp) spent 8 glorious years together, so I’d say that was $20 well spent back in 2005.
Anyway, there are so many amazing standing lamp options out there that are totally affordable, and now that I’m on the hunt for a new one, I’ve rounded up a few of my favorites.  None are over $100 – in fact, most of these range from $60-70, and they are actually all from Target.  This is by no means a sponsored post – they really just have some great stuff right now!!

White Tripod Lamp,    Taupe “7” Lamp,    Brushed Silver Tripod Lamp,    Bronze “Window” Lamp

Of the above options, I’m totally loving the white tripod lamp – we get so many compliments on the tripod lamp in our living room, and this one is a smaller, “leaner” more simple version of it.

I also love the second option… this would be a great task light next to our “desk” in the dining room. I’m not a fan of the overhead light in there, so for just a bit of ambient light in the evenings, and it’s narrow profile, this could be a winner…

Bronze Modified Arch Lamp,           Silver Arched Lamp,                    Brass Library Lamp

The :arched” lamps are also very :in” – they were all over the new West Elm catalogue – the second one here would be so rad in our living room, but I definitely want to hold off on any committments until we settle on a new sofa.  If that ever happens… argh!

The brushed brass “library lamp” is also really sleek and cool.  I was thinking that a pair of these flanking our dresser / TV stand in the bedroom would be sort of fun since sconces are not an option right now… It would also look great with it’s narrow profile in our living room next to the sofa and our gallery wall – but would the light shine down in our eyes if we were sitting on the sofa below it??

I’ll report back!

Any other cool (and affordable) floor lamps you’ve seen recently??

Orchid Terrarium

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Our living room was feeling a bit… cluttered – I have a shamefully bad habit of adding more and more accessories to our space without taking things away.  I feel like a decor pack-rat sometimes.  
The side tables in our living room were in need of simplification – the multiple picture frames, candles, books, vases, etc were too cluttered.  It all had to go.  What to put in their place?  Something simple, clean and pretty…. and what could be more simple or more pretty than an orchid??
I’ve always loved the look of a pretty terrarium, but do not have the expertise to know how to successfully plant one.   
Despite my brown thumb, I thought I might try my hand at a more simple version of a terrarium – I had a pretty glass apothecary jar, and it was crying out to be used, so on Saturday morning, I took a quick trip to the grocery store to pick up some breakfast goodies, and came home with a few small orchids.  
Bear with me as I scientifically explain how I created an orchid terrarium…

Step I: Take orchid plant out of it’s pot as carefully as you can

Step II: dump into apothecary jar

Step III: Admire pretty new “terrarium”

I know, you were hoping for something more special than that, but it was really that simple.

I’m going to get additional soil since there was not much in the pot, and I feel it needs a bit more now that it’s spread out over a larger surface area.  See how the roots look like they need a little more soil coverage? A quick trip to a nursery will fix that!

With the light near our windows, and the slightly mottled glass, this was VERY hard to photograph, but trust me when I say it’s SO pretty!

If you think about it, an apothocary jar (or cloche) is kind of the perfect environment for an orchid – they love lush, humid environments, and the lid on the apothecary jar keeps things nice and humid… it looks so pretty in our living room, but if this orchid ends up dying in a few weeks, it will still be totally worth it! It was only $7!!

Hope you had a great weekend!!
xo

Blue and White Ginger Jar Amazingness

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What is it about blue and white ginger jars that are so awesome??  They are a little bit asian-inspired, a little bit traditional, and for whatever reason they are absolutely stunning in every single space.

Sculptural.  Check.

Classic.  Check.

Beautiful.  Double check.

My mom has some beautiful planters in a similar pattern, and her dishes – the Blue Danube pattern – have always been a favorite of mine as well.  Something about the royal blue and crisp white, combined with the ornate details (whether it’s floral, or a whole Japanese garden scene), makes them so lovely, and elegant.

Isn’t this just gorgeous filled with those ruffly full peonies???

They of course look right at home in traditional spaces – flanking an antiqued console (below), or displayed in a large collection like this formal dining room (above).

But they also look lovely in more contemporary spaces – it looks just as natural and pretty next to a piece of abstract art, and a coral lacquer box…

I’ve read about people finding these lovely vases and lamps at thrift stores, but while I’ve had my eyes peeled for a long time, I have yet to stumble upon one myself.
A collection of blue and white ginger jars is on my “one day” wish-list, but for now, I’ll probably just continue to admire them from afar.