Feels like Home Again!

Hi Yall! Well, If you caught my post last week you may remember I discussed making a few changes in the den.  If you didn't catch that post you can read it HERE.  One area that I really wanted to focus on was the large wall in my den.  This is how it looked last Monday.

I wasn't happy with they way I had things set up and wanted to make a change.  I got a wonderful suggestion to move the large picture above the the sideboard.  I thought this sounded great because I never even thought of that.   I mentioned I wasn't sure I was going to keep the sideboard in this room.  One thing I did was try out a different piece of furniture, which I really didn't like so I put the sideboard back in this room and then moved the picture.

The idea was to have the picture above the sideboard and to add additional pieces of art over the chairs.  Artwork that could either be stacked or staggered was what I was envisioning.  I even went out shopping but didn't find anything that really inspired me enough to make the leap.

I let this idea test out for a few days and over the weekend but then this morning I knew I just didn't want to give up my trusty mirror that I had here to begin with.  I love mirrors and I especially loved having this one here.  I felt even more compelled to keep this one here for last minute vanity checks (i know that's so bad to say, but true).  You see I've made a few changes in my kitchen over the weekend and one of those changes included getting rid of a mirror I had in there by the coat rack.  

Since I didn't want to be short two mirrors, I decided to move this mirror back where I had it.   A girls gotta be able to check on that lipstick y'all.  Mostly though, I really love this old bamboo mirror and I feel like it actually enhances the casual Mediterranean tropical look I lean towards.

I also swapped a few lamps around in this room to make things a little more balanced.  I moved this crystal lamp over from the side table by the sofa, and that side table now has the large turquoise lamp.  I decided this lamp looked really good here and balanced out the room a little better because it was still a bit too big to remain on the side table in between the chairs without blocking the picture.  You'll see what I mean on that in a bit. 

Next, I pulled out a few more pieces of seasonal type decor and was very pleased with the look.  That's the beauty of having this sideboard in here.  It gives me room to pull out those fun decor pieces and swap them around from time to time.  I still want to replace the table runner shown here and have a few ideas on that.

This is the table where the large Turquoise lamp used to be between the two chairs.  While I really liked having it here I knew it was just a bit too big after I made the decision to move the print back on this wall.  So, I tried the crystal lamp here and decided it was still a bit too big and distracting from the print above.   I decided to dig around upstairs and try out one of my smaller lamps.  This was the ticket, and fit nicely without distracting from the print.

When I decided to put my print back on this side of the wall one thing I did that I hadn't done previously was I centered the picture exactly above the side table.  Previously in last weeks post you can see the picture was more centered on the whole wall itself, more to the right of the chairs.   It was centered there because that is where I use to have our old sofa when we had it on the wall on this side of the room.   The other change I made, or change back in this case was I added the sconces back on each side of the picture.  I say back because that is how I had them when the sofa was here but had moved them on each side of the mirror when I rearranged the furniture.  I think that was what was bothering me the most as seen in last weeks post.   I really didn't like the cluttered loof of the scones on each side of my mirror and really wanted them back on each side of the picture.  The reason I moved the sconces in the first place was because the picture wasn't aligned above the side table and the sconces were in the way with the larger lamps.  Little details like that drive me nuts.  Why oh why I didn't just think to center the print above the table first is a mystery, but oh well.  Maybe I was just being lazy or just being crazy who knows.  LOL!

I am feeling so much more satisfied with the look on this wall now that I paid a little closer attention to the important details.  I didn't want to have to find new artwork, I like what I have.  I didn't want to loose my mirror in here.  I didn't want to loose my palm sconces in here either.  I know the look I enjoy is not a popular or trendy look, but it's what I love and what I enjoy.

And now finally, finally, this room again feels like home!

Today I will be joining the following two parties to share my changes;

Metamorphosis Monday

Inspiration Monday Party

Check out the links above to see more inspiring changes.

Thanks so much for stopping by today.  I'd love to hear from you if you did, still hoping to reconnect and share a little home decor love with others.

Sending waves,

Mary

Thrifts and Bargains

Hey again! Doesn't everyone love a great deal?  Silly question, I know right!  Well, I've got spring fever for sprucing up so I hit a few stores yesterday and came home with a few great finds.  I am sharing my fantastic finds today just in case they might be something you've been thinking about too.

My destination of choice yesterday was Hobby Lobby.  I have been eyeing these framed iron pieces for years.  Okay maybe not these exact ones but certainly they have carried very similar styles for years now.   I haven't ever really had a place I knew I would use them until yesterday when I decided to start making some changes in one of my rooms at home.  (More on that in another post to follow later)  Funny how you can have an idea in your head that remains dormant until one day the light bulb comes on!  As usual I took advantage of their 50% off sale to acquire two of these.  I cannot wait to start the changes for the room I'm going to use these in!

"Silver and gold, silver and gold, everyone wishes for silver and gold!  How do you measure it's worth?  Just by the pleasure it is here on earth."

 Love that song by Burle Ives!  But as you can see above I'm certainly not dreaming of Christmas y'all. There is a Carolina Pottery near the Hobby Lobby I shop at and I always stop in there when I'm over on that side of town.   I was so thrilled to find these silver placemats in a beautiful coral looking pattern.  I purchased some similar gold placemats just recently from Bed, bath and beyond and have been wanting to add some silver ones as well.  You can see those later if I can ever get my old posts loaded onto blogger from Wordpress.  Uggh!  I almost purchased the silver ones like my gold ones from BB&B the other day but put them back.  I'm so glad I did because I like these even better and they were less $$$.  These are going to be wonderful for everyday use this summer as they are easy to wipe down.  This is how you liven up your summer table with a some bling!

And speaking of bling.  I wanted to add some colorful candles for the summer to a pair of mercury glass candlesticks I have.   I was looking for teal candles and about jumped for joy when I spotted these.  With my new gray sofa in the den, my colors are changing in that room to gray, teal and yellow (or golden yellow).  These are going to look great and have a sand & sea smell to boot.  Perfect!  I will share that another time,   when I get the whole look pulled together. 

 Finally, "Here comes the sun, here comes the sun and I say...it's all right!"  

Lots of singing going on around here today huh?  You would be too if you snapped up this bargain.  I have wanted a sun mirror for sometime now.  I just had to grab this when I stopped in at one of my favorite local furniture consignment stores on the way to HL.  For any local peeps it's called Main Street Consignment.  They have the best stuff.  This was priced way lower then it should have been (even the manager commented so) and there was not a ding or bang on it.  Now where to put this is another story for another day because honestly I really am not quite sure on this one yet.  But you know me, I will find a place eventually.....and it will be soooo fun dreaming where!

Thanks for popping by again y'all

have a great day!

sending waves,

Mary

Romancing Mardi Gras - A table for two

Hello friends and followers!  Do any of you entertain the tradition of Mardi Gras?  I will admit as a southerner from South Carolina we really don't adhere to this tradition much.  About the most you will find of Mardi Gras celebrations here is based more on the religious tradition of Fat Tuesday centered around the observance of Ashe Wednesday.  Even then, it is limited more depending on what church you attend as to whether they give any observation to this at all.

I did not grow up observing Mardi Gras, but I do love anything that is seeped in tradition and that which is especially creative and colorful.  One cannot deny that Mardi Gras is definitely colorful in more ways then one.  So with that in mind, it is what I have set out to embrace with my Mardi Gras tablescape this year.  A colorful setting with a colorful tale!



Tradition holds that Mardi Gras is a time of reveling in ones last evening of indulgence before moving into the season of lent and repentance.  While I find all the partying and extreme food over indulgence quite exciting I also can't deny that I also find Mardi Gras to be a bit romantic as well.



I guess it has to do with the all the mystery that surrounds Mardi Gras with all the masques and costumes.  For some reason, the whole idea of Mardi Gras reminds me quite a bit of those historical romantic novels where masquerade balls and opulence ruled with intrigue among the royalty.



OK, don't laugh y'all, perhaps I do spend too much time in my novels, but you know I'm right don't you?  Sooooo.....it is in this scenario I have created my table for two for Mardi Gras.



Image a house full of guests waltzing in a huge ballroom full of many masked guests where hushed whispers of dinner being served is announced.  A giddy young couple rushes to their seats to find that the table is set but exclusively just for the two of them.  Or imagine an older couple who have seen many years of Mardi Gras celebrations among the masses who cannot wait to escape to find a bit of solitude before retiring for the evening.  Or better yet....imagine a middle aged couple though despite hosting the largest celebration of the ton, sneak off privately to find their own bit of paradise in the mystery that is them.



They adjourn to the dining room where they find the table set in beautiful rich colors of Green, Gold, and Purple representing the royalty that is of their descent and the tradition of Mardi Gras.



A metallic gold medallion style place mat from Bed Bath and Beyond is accompanied by Lenox Butlers Pantry and topped off with a beautiful purple, black and cream toile salad dish from Portebello by Inspire.



Each setting also appropriately shines with Louisiana flatware from Oneida.  Additionally, there are two glasses of stemware for indulging in both water and wine.



The local embroiderer was even commissioned to adorn the table linens with the family symbol of Mardi Gras Royalty.



Only a minimal amount of serving pieces are on hand for condiments as there will be footman readily available for serving dishes.



Tonight is a grand occasion with all the pageantry expected of such an affair.  The table dressing finery is a rich sparkly green runner combined with a beautiful purple satin wrap to drape the one of the centerpieces.  Both are adorned with the familys prized jewels representing justice, faith and power.





There is even a peacock to represent her beauty and integrity in addition to a crown of gold representing his family line of nobility.  No details were spared in this celebration for two where the masks are left behind, because tonight is all about the two of them indulging in each others company.





Oh yes, these two are all set for a romantic dinner for two to indulge not only in each other but in all that they are together.  May they always continue to prosper!



Yeah, I spend way too much time in the books, dreaming of other times and other worlds. I have always enjoyed a good story.  I hope you did too.  I still think reading is as wonderful a pastime as many of our more modern day entertainments and indulgences.  Don't you agree?

Happy Mardi Gras friends, from The Decorative Dreamer!

 

 

Organizing the Bling!

Hello! Hello!  Hello, sweet friends and followers!   I hope you all have had a very happy new year.  January has been all about decluttering and getting organized for me.   I know many of you have also been doing the same. Today I just wanted to pop out here in blogland and share a few tips on organizing jewelry.

Working several years of retail has blessed me with a beautiful collection of jewelry.  If you know me, you know I love my bling!  In fact I love all types of jewelry, both genuine and costume jewelry.  I have accumulated quite an abundance of costume jewelry that is so fun and which I might point out has come a long way baby from back in the day!  I describe wearing jewelry as fun because I like to layer my jewelry when I wear it for maximum bling.  Wearing layers means  having multiples, and multiples of anything needs organization right?

I spent this past weekend decluttering many of the extras I had out on my dresser because it had gotten to be too much.    I like to keep my jewelry out so I can see it and easily choose what I want to wear each day.   I've learned that if I keep it put away in my jewelry box then I tend not to take it out and so it just sits there.  I don't know why that is for me, but it is, so out it goes instead.   Now I would love to have a wonderful place in my closet to store my jewelry so that is out and well displayed but I don't.  I most definitely envy those of you who have those beautiful center islands in your closets.  Oh what a dream that would be!  Instead of dreaming....I decided to work with the space I do have!

I was planning on searching around for some really cute wall organizing racks with hooks and looking for a stylish organizing system.  But then, I was at Walmart and wondered through the closet section where all the hangers are and saw these two items.  At roughly, $5.00 each I gave up the idea that I needed cute racks.  My jewelry is cute enough so I decided the racks really didn't need to be cute too but they definitely needed to be functional.  This may be nothing new to some of you but I think it's worth sharing for anyone who just wants to get organized and doesn't want to spend a lot to do so.

I was super excited when I saw this belt hanger.  I knew immediately I wanted to use it to store my bracelets.  When I saw the hoops it was a dream come true because I knew I could separate my bracelets accordingly.  I grouped mine by silver, gold, stone, mixed media, and bling.  What I love about this is that I can add more hoops if I want.  However, the best part of this set up is that when I'm ready to wear my bracelets they are easy to get to now.  No more having to pull off tons and tons of bracelets just to get to the ones I want.

Using this pant rack hanger to organize my necklaces was perfect for me because I really have very little open wall space in my closet and this did the job perfectly allowing me to still have enough space to hang the bracelets as well.  I even organized the way I hung my necklaces on the different racks by grouping golds to the right, silver to the left and everything else in the middle from top to bottom.  I even hung the longest necklaces on the top bar so that they would not hang so low.  Again that was because my space is so limited.

I love that I can easily unhook the different bars and spread them out if I want to get a better view of what I have.  It really is all about being able to see what you have to get inspired and to see what you can combine to wear together.  I have one more organizing tip to share with you on necklaces below.  I don't know why I never thought of this before for keeping necklaces untangled and easily accessible while on display.  Believe me, I would have saved myself several hours of frustration if I had thought of this sooner when I worked retail and did our jewelry displays.  If you've already figured this trick out please just smile okay.  LOL!  Some of us are a bit slower or maybe just a bit too busy to slow it down sometimes and figure out a better way.  Anyway, for those of you who want to know here it is.

When hanging multiple necklaces on one bar they can easily get tangled and be a real pain sometimes to remove without dislodging all the other necklaces on the bar.  I finally realized that by putting each necklace on looped around the bar it keeps them in place and you can undo one necklace at a time easily.  First take the back end of the chain and drop it over the bar.

Then you pull your necklace through the loop and push the pendant down.  This puts a knot on the bar and holds the necklace in place and keeps it from sliding down the bar if you move it or when unhooking other necklaces.  How simple and how sweet is that?

So there you have friends!  It's certainly not the most adorable way I have seen to organize jewelry but it works and its very functional and that's whats important to me.  I've learned sometimes you really just have to look for simpler solutions rather then waiting for the best all of the time.  Learning to work with what you have, space, resources and money is always wise.  I'm all for dreaming you know, but I'm all for logic as well and this to me was the best combination of the two.   But best of all , it's done and it feels so much cleaner and more accessible.  Now I'll spend less time searching and deciding and more time getting my bling on!

Hope you enjoyed todays post and todays jewelry organizing tips.  You may want to check out a few more inspiring posts @ Metamorphosis Monday.

So glad you stopped by today.  Have a great day!

Hugs and Waves,

Mary

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hard Candy Christmas in the Kitchen

Hi sweet friends!  Yes, this is really happening!  I actually decorated the kitchen for Christmas today.  If you follow my FB page you know that I have been struggling with getting in the mood.  Today I was touch by the spirit, and decided it was time.

So without a lot of chit chat because honestly, I'm a bit tired now.  Let's just jump right in and let me share my "Hard Candy" kitchen with you.

I'm calling it a Hard Candy Christmas because my kitchen is always decorated with a candy theme.  I love the candy and gingerbread look for kitchens.  It's just so warm and inviting as all kitchens usually are.

I started with my very thin pencil style Christmas tree and moved right on to the chandelier.  Did I mention I also have a thing for elves in the kitchen?

Next, I worked on my shelves.  They are so fun and I am enjoying changing them out regularly.  I've got it set up pretty good but I've got a bit of tweaking to do.  I need to paint the wood block for the background of my embroidered sign (it's going to be black) and I want to find a cute little mini candy type Christmas tree to replace the plain little tree beside Mr. and Mrs. Claus.  I think they need their own miniature Candy tree as well!

Next I worked on spreading out a few of festive servicing pieces and positioning my baking Santa's around as well.

I had to set up an area to display more dishtowels.  Oh mercy, do I ever have so many embroidered decorative dishtowels!  I don't have my newest ones down from the sewing room yet, but don't worry they will make their  way in the kitchen soon.

My newest addition to the kitchen is the adorable shabby framed chalkboard.  I actually just picked this up recently on clearance at Kirklands and new exactly where I wanted to use it.  I did'nt want to do the chalky scene for Christmas though I really wanted to just use it to hang a wreath on.  I already had this wreath and was quite pleased to see it actually is sized just right.  I was trying to figure out what to do with my adorable measuring spoons to display them when it hit me they would look so cute here on the wreath.  Love it!  I may add a few gingerbreads or other baking items to the wreath, or maybe not, still debating that one.

After it was all done, I vacumed and mopped the floors.  What an enjoyable day to listening to Christmas music on Pandora, smelling my melted candles and now wrapping up the evening with homecooked Chili from the hubby.  Whew!  I'm tired, but my kitchen is all decorated now and it's all clean too.  Now that's not really the true meaning of a hard candy Christmas is it?  I know, so maybe I'll rename it my Sweets for my Sweets Christmas kitchen.  LOL!

Thanks so much for stopping by, and wishing you the spirit of Christmas soon!

Hugs and Waves!

Mary