Living Room Vignette
Before I jump into talking about this picture, I have an amazing and awesome announcement! I'm featured on Today's Creative Blog today! Can you believe it? I am truly honored to be included with the very, very talented people who have been featured there. If you're not familiar, Today's Creative Blog is run by the also very talented Kim of ScrapToMyLu. She features a new creative blog almost every day, and today was my day--thank you so much, Kim!
Now, back to the photo. You know, the more I get into decorating, the more I realize I don't know. For example, in my living room, the fireplace is all the way on one side of the wall, instead of in the middle. I want the fireplace to be the focal point, but there's this big empty wall next to it. How do you decorate that without competing with the fireplace? Seriously, if any of you have suggestions, I'd love to hear them. In the meantime I'm just throwing what I have on hand at it to see if it works, like this dresser vignette. The dresser doesn't really physically fit in the room, but I like the grouping.
Clay spheres
I love the clay spheres. They have such great texture. They remind me of something from some kind of archeological dig. And the garden. Which this room seems to want to have as its theme. I got them on sale at Jo-Ann's for $1.99 each. The mirror was clearance Target, and the sun face (which is hiding a broken corner from the move, sigh) is from a craft fair. Everything else came from a thrift store:
Lamp base: $3
Lamp shade (still in the cellophane): $2
Birdcage: $2
Buffalo china plate: $2
Embroidered vintage linen runner: $1
Vintage embroidered linen runner.
Admittedly, this stuff was collected over a period of a couple of years, but still, can you believe the stuff people chuck out? Especially the old linens. I'm always surprised when I find them that someone else hasn't already snapped them up. But even in the city I find this stuff all the time. I have to buy it of course. It's beautiful and ridiculously cheap. Unfortunately I haven't found tons of ways to use or display it.
What about you? Do you have a problem wall? How did you solve it? Do you have any vintage linens? How do you use or display them?
P.S. Please do head over to Today's Creative Blog and see all of the amazing blogs posted there. And make sure you leave a comment so Kim knows that I sent you!
Comments (17)
I was just in Barnes and Noble last night checking out the latest Kelly Hoppen HOME book. She had the same fireplace off-center problem in her home--I guess it was common in homes before the 1960's to set them up that way. She had kind of an ingenious way to arrange the furniture and use a screen to make it all work. Her style is not cottage-y at all (though she is queen of using chainmail in the neatest ways!), but you may want to have a free peek at the book at your local bookstore and see if it helps! Best of luck--and may I add you seem to be genious at finding bargains. I need to hit the thrift stores more often!
Posted by Jennifer P. | January 4, 2008 10:15 PM
Posted on January 4, 2008 22:15
Received my wonderful pillow today Angela..I love it! I took a picture and will post it on my blog tonight. Looks great on my entry bench. I've been away from the blogs for a few days, so I have lots to catch up on on your blog!! Thanks again for the pillow, it's wonderful.
Posted by Cheryl | January 4, 2008 11:37 PM
Posted on January 4, 2008 23:37
Wow---congrats--and thanks for telling us about that blog. I can not believe you have such findings at thrift stores. There is mainly junk and I mean junk around here. But may be I need to go further afield as they say. I like the arrangement and love those balls!! It is so funny how I have often run into the problem of things not being centered!!! Who in the world builds things this way---I mean who are these people!! It is comical as far as all of the various problems there are in decorating, eh? Some friends of mine have a brand new home (and I do not usually like new ones--no personality--boxy)--but they have made it so homey by painting the walls this wonderful soft gray which I could never have imagined and they have a red plaid on their couches---the combination with the high ceilings gives a real home feel). Love your blog--glad I found it.
Posted by nannykim | January 5, 2008 5:13 AM
Posted on January 5, 2008 05:13
Congratulations to you. You deserve it! You really have me wanting to slip out to a thrift store today. Quit it!
Posted by Jen | January 5, 2008 5:42 AM
Posted on January 5, 2008 05:42
Really gorgeous, Angela! You are so inspiring! Everytime I see the simple yet gorgeous things you do, it makes me want to get my creative act together!
Congrats on Today's Creative Blog! Seeing it yesterday made me realize in her roundup about you that I hadn't ever seen your remodeled kitchen in your old home and I meant to comment and tell you how much I love it!
Posted by Emily | January 5, 2008 5:45 AM
Posted on January 5, 2008 05:45
Hi Angela
Congratulations on being featured on Today's Creative Blog. You deserve it because you are always creative. Rhondi
Posted by rhondi | January 5, 2008 7:59 AM
Posted on January 5, 2008 07:59
Your site is wonderful..I have been reading for a couple of weeks now...such a pleasure to read all you do with a cup of tea...who needs TV when you can read about real people doing real things! You're very talented--good for you!
Posted by Tara | January 5, 2008 8:18 AM
Posted on January 5, 2008 08:18
So lovely! Love the vintage table runner!! Have a lovely weekend!!
Posted by M&co | January 5, 2008 9:05 AM
Posted on January 5, 2008 09:05
We really need to go junkin together! But I haven't done the bins....not sure I can handle that. My whole living room is from yardsales.....love that!
Posted by kim in Camas - ScrapToMyLu | January 5, 2008 9:27 AM
Posted on January 5, 2008 09:27
Congratulations! You certainly deserve the nod.
I have a similar situation, perhaps worse. The fireplace is quite large and out of scale for the room. The original owners then added on a large addition to increase the size of the family room leaving the fireplace stranded in one corner. It looked so odd to me when we first toured the house. A decorator told me to treat the areas like two separate rooms.
My solution was to have a large bookcase/storage cabinet built that would slip right next to the fireplace. Unfortunately that bookcase has become a sort of butler's panty, holding all the glassware I've picked up at estate sales. It's quite messy at this point.
And...I have that exact same lampshade...several of them in fact, in my bedroom. I did get as far as taking the plastic off! HA.
Posted by the farmers wife | January 5, 2008 9:29 AM
Posted on January 5, 2008 09:29
Hi Angela! A huge CONGRATULATIONS! We are so happy for you and you do so deserve it :) Beautiful Blog ALWAYS ! Your Vignette is so stylish! Jenn and Jacqui
Posted by Jenn and Jacqui | January 5, 2008 7:46 PM
Posted on January 5, 2008 19:46
Okay. I have so much to say! First off: congratulations on the Creative Blogs nod! I honestly thought you had already been featured...in fact, I ASSUMED you were!! Either way, you are more than deserving!!
Secondly, that gorgeous sofa for next to nothing??!!! Toile at that??!! You lucky girl, you!! As for the book case, I can't decide. I agree with the commenter who stated that it depends how it looks in real life, because in the picture it looks great as is!
As for the books, the thought of bleach scares me, so if you are up to it, why not make book jackets out of corrugated cardboard? It looks pretty and would appease the commenter who said that it would be (basically) frivolous to go to such trouble just to get a certain look! At least with book jackets, you could be noble and say that you are just protecting the books from becoming dog-eared. Really, who cares anyway? Like someone else said, they're your books!! I personally would find it hard to bleach them but that's me...
I happily displayed my new pillow from you on my sofa today. I will have to take a picture tomorrow and post it on my blog. It looks fantastic! Thanks ever so much!!!
Linda
xoxo
Posted by linda | January 5, 2008 9:28 PM
Posted on January 5, 2008 21:28
Hi Angela!
Kim is just as wonderful as you! glad she found you. I just found out from a friend that Portland seems to have a big blogging community! I wonder why that is? Humm. Anyway congrads on getting on Kim's site!
Ellen
Posted by ellen Crimi-Trent | January 6, 2008 6:33 AM
Posted on January 6, 2008 06:33
Congratulations!! I can see you are very creative! I am new at blogging. Mine is just a couple of days old so I do hope you stop by for a visit.
Posted by Connie | January 7, 2008 6:50 PM
Posted on January 7, 2008 18:50
Hi Angela Iam just hearing about blogs and thought I would look at them.I loved the interior of your house.and your English Garden. Joanne
Posted by Joanne Czeiszperger | January 13, 2008 9:25 AM
Posted on January 13, 2008 09:25
Hello! I love your house...such inspiration! cherry
Posted by cherry | February 28, 2008 11:45 PM
Posted on February 28, 2008 23:45
I really like the way you set up that table display. It's hard to believe what people get rid of these days, but it's so very lucky for people like us who are more than willing to own it!
Michele
luvkittysmeowmail@gmail.com
Posted by Michele | May 31, 2008 1:45 AM
Posted on May 31, 2008 01:45