Fireplace Mantel Styling

Get Ready - There is some stylin' comin' your way with these mantels... Be bold and create something new for your mantel...you can always change it out, so just go for it!!

This one above, from the Dering Hall website, shows that sometimes you can plop something big right in the middle of the mantel and it can work.  Most people try to balance things right and left but maybe, just for once, try sitting something big right there in the middle...you can always move it!

I love this mantel above, because you can never have too many flowers.  And the flowers give some lift away from those huge andirons (??) that are place near the fire.

This focal point of a fireplace is just quiet...very well balanced and just ... quiet.

Designer Pick of the Day - Driftwood Tray

Designer Pick of the Day - 

Driftwood Tray by Pottery Barn

Designer Pick of the Day - Pillows

Designer Pick of the Day

Oh I love these pillows from Pottery Barn....

Designer Pick of the Day - Driftwood Trunk in Acrylic

Designer Pick of the Day

Driftwood Trunk in Acrylic - 

You can order this through Dering Hall....  www.deringhall.com

Cheers!!

Designer Picks of the Day - Mirrors

Designer Pick of the Day - Mirrors

Just for visualization...

Stripes...

Cool Stripes - Always "In" in one way or another!!

I know these pictures are summery, but I just couldn't help it!  Already I'm dreaming of summer days, breezy, warm, relaxed.  I could use a vacation somewhere warm, how about you?

Stripes don't have to be summery, but I can definitely see placing my flip flops in this bag above.

For me, stripes give a tailored feeling to a space.  Stripes can pull together the look and make one feel safer and more enclosed... it is hard to describe, but stripes... straight lines... are confining and safe.  They represent direction.  They represent order.  Now this might sound so obvious, but subconsciously, we are always picking up on these details without even meaning to.

In design, directional stripes control our space ... we can make a space look larger with stripes on the floor.  We can draw the eye to one pillow based on strong stripes.  We can convey feelings with just a few varied and colorful stripes.  Inviting.

Designer Pick of the Day - Cool Chandelier - This is not like anything you have ever seen!!

Designer Pick of the Day

Okay, check this out... this is one COOL chandelier!!

I found this on the Dering Hall website.  If you have not checked out their site, you must do it this year...this month... right now.  Very.cool.stuff.

I am dying to use this somewhere... There are so many options.  This could go contemporary or even in a typical Washington, DC colonial family room.  Love love it.  Where could you use it?

Designer Pick of the Day - Wood Classics Individual Salad Bowl

Designer Pick of the Day

Love the simplicity...

Wood Classics Individual Salad Bowl

All Things Malachite

All Things Malachite

I love Malachite.  It is this beautiful geological study in natural patterns and colors... such an amazing part of nature.  So lately I keep coming across Malachite.

The first two images here are from the Wisteria catalog, www.wisteria.com.  They are "in the know" with the latest fresh catalog designs.

The BEST malachite I saw in 2014, though, was at the High Point Furniture Market this past Fall.  I was perusing the Century Furniture Showroom, which was quite crowded with all sorts of designers, shop owners, CEOs and you name it,, and there, all of a sudden, was this unbelievable Malachite table with a lucite base.  Incredible!  Impossible!!  No lucite base could hold up that much Malachite.  I quietly sidled up to the table amongst the many professionals to... just... touch it...  And, of course, it was not REALLY malachite, but just a painted finish to look like it.  Beautiful!  A great table for a dramatic dining room or even for an overpowering conference room.  That would put people in their place.

WOW!

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year to everyone!  May you have the best year ever.

2015

Here are some beautiful images from the Huffington Post... Enjoy!!

 Big Ben... Happy New Year!!

And one of my favorite places...Sydney, Australia.  They have 7 tons of fireworks every year... there is a show at 9 for the families and then one at midnight... perfect!