Saturday, March 31, 2012

Flying high

Lately I'm seeing birds in many design magazines and home decor shops. They keep popping up on wallpaper, pillows, bedding, pottery, art work and in cages.  It seems the sky's the limit!  Here are some of my favourite ways to integrate a theme into your home. It doesn't have to be birds, it could be butterflies, fish etc.

Wallpaper 

Heather Garrett eclectic laundry room
 Houzz
 I love the design possibilities of wallpaper, but I can also remember all those hours of scraping it off walls.  My preference now  is to use wallpaper on smaller spaces or as an accent.  The colours in this pattern work perfectly with other colours in the room. In a small space which isn't lived in daily you can be a little more whimsical or adventurous.

living room eclectic living room
maison21

This vibrant yellow is hard to ignore and it is used sparingly.  Framing sections is a perfect solution for a shot of pattern and colour.  Look closely and you will see tiny birds.  The graphic pillow repeats the motif in a much bolder way.  
Creating Exploration eclectic kids

 And the bird theme is carried through this nursery even to the ceiling.


Wall Decals and Stencils

Four Walls and a Roof contemporary kids
 These white birds  are subtle and fresh even with the addition of pattern on another wall. I think white drawings are so minimal  because they just hint at their presence.   


Look up!  Look waaaay up! What a lovely finishing touch in a nursery!   

oniroco eclectic kids
 Oniroco

  You have to love these graphic birdcages and birds on the wall, but don't miss the pillows!




And here they  are again in  graphic black providing a  backdrop for this dark sofa.  I like how the curved lines of the sofa interact with the curves of the cages. And following up with the real thing......

Birdcages

Family Room Details traditional family room
 Cristi Holcombe

Using cages is a way to reference our fine feathered friends without having them actually  appear.  The absence of presence so to speak. I love the weathered driftwood with the straight lines of the cages.  


 You can also attach birdcages to your wall for a very three dimensional look which leads me to other forms of 3 D accessories....  


Sculpture
Accessory Closeup traditional entry
Nelson Wilson Interiors

Tucked away on a table top amidst  a display of flowers and books, 
Interieurs Showroom by Francine Gardner eclectic home office

 commanding a shelf in a very contemporary office space,



 or hanging in pristine whiteness to delight a new baby, birds take many forms in homes.


Eames House Bird by Vitra modern artwork

 The iconic Eames bird can be found in many styled homes. Charles and Ray Eames had the original carved bird and constantly rearranged  it in various vignettes around their home and when styling photos. Because of the colour and simple lines the bird was sought by Eames fans.   Using 3 D scans of the original bird Vitra is now creating reproductions of it.


Art work


Edgewood Townhouse modern

Silhouettes of birds and branches provide a very eye catching headboard design. 


Black & White Master Bedroom with a Touch of Teal contemporary bedroom
Small prints of various birds matted large and stacked on either side of this bed make for an interesting symmetrical layout.

Spring 2009 British Colonial Entry Room Design Ideas | Williams-Sonoma Home tropical

 Don't forget you don't have to hang artwork.  It can be beautifully displayed as part of a vignette.



Painted Furniture 
black birds

Birds appear to be a favourite motif on painted furniture.  This striking combination begs your attention.  It would make a fantastic art piece at the end of a hallway.


  

 What a difference from the dresser above.  This one is all calmness and delicacy. 

 Lighting

Mountain House eclectic dining room

 Ingo Maurer  birdy chandelier is a modern classic that will always inspire interest.


Lola Bs traditional living room

 And a more traditional take on a birdie chandelier.

 I could keep going but this post is already too long!


Do you have an interesting way you have included bird motifs in your decor?  Just click on the comments button and have your say.

Friday, March 30, 2012

Abundance–plus more–is found at EmilysBreakfast Furniture this week! Seriously.

Long hours this week.  So much inventory I was pricing until after 7:00 p.m. last night!  Yikes.  By the time I started taking photos I was beat. 

Here’s the flip side to that opening paragraph.  Unbelievable donations this week!  I ran out of adjectives – on the price tags and in today’s post – to describe how fantastic everything is!  There aren’t enough exclamation points in the world to properly express my enthusiasm!  Stopping by EmilysBreakfast Furniture today from 1 to 8 or tomorrow from 9 to 4 is a must!  Truly you won’t be sorry if you do!

Oooh, now I’m feeling a tremendous amount of pressure!  Maybe you might NOT find what you’re looking for.  Or you find it but you think it’s priced too high.  Or someone beat you to buying it and now you’re incredibly disappointed and sad.

Are you beginning to think I’ve lost it?  Me too.  Let’s get to the photos of some of the new-to-us items from this week:

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cool trunk with inside storage containers priced $40

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lovely moss green/tan microfiber sofa – only issue is some of the interior stuffing material has shifted on one cushion (seat cushion on the left in this photo) and you a little bit lean into the middle of the sofa when you sit there (how weird is that?) priced $95

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truly beautiful sofa/loveseat by Conover with a bird/floral print in excellent condition – sofa is $175; loveseat $125

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equally nice wingback chair by Pennsylvania House priced $175

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these two denim sofas have a lovely blue-on-blue design in the fabric – some fading – priced $95 each

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very nice wicker chair w/cushion for $85; wicker ottoman for $45

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lovely, elegant writing desk with three drawers priced $145

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fabulous purple velvet chaise in excellent condition priced $225

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McCreary loveseat and chair – both somewhat faded – loveseat is priced $50; chair $35

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amazing retro desk by Broyhill Premier priced $175 (some desk top scratches); wooden chair is $15 (and a bit wobbly)

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gorgeous, fabulous, amazing, wonderful, comfy Vanguard sofa for $395

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wood pedestal game table with four rolling chairs – top changes to other games or just plain – priced $135

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super nice Smithe Craft three piece sectional priced $475

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amazing retro swivel/rocker (actually fairly comfortable as is but you’d probably want to buy some cushions) priced $195

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extra clean tan loveseat with contrasting trim – priced $145

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green leather sofa for $185; matching green leather ottoman for $75

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great Bassett sofa priced $145; matching Bassett loveseat for $120 – perfect for anyone wanting that ‘80s look – both pieces are in excellent condition.  Oval coffee table is $45 (top has some scratches) matching end tables (can you see a corner of one?) are $75 each and there are two of them

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great wicker rocker w/cushion priced $135

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rich reddish stain on this table with one leaf and four chairs priced $245

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four gorgeous ladder-back chairs w/rush seats priced $145 for all four.  Amazing table – with pull-out leaves on both ends (pull, lift and lock into place) priced $245

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Smithe Craft leather chair and ottoman (worn in spots but otherwise very nice) priced $135

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Rowe loveseat and chair – both are extremely nice in a lovely muted (NOT faded and you know I’d tell you if they were) floral print.  Loveseat is priced $275; chair $175

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Florida brand bedroom set includes: two night stands – one needs the top refinished and it’s priced $40; other is just fine and it’s $55; long dresser with mirror (and there’s some sticky goop on dresser to that you should be able to remove) priced $125; tall chest of drawers for $145

If my paranoid, Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde opening hasn’t totally scared you off – it really would be the perfect time to stop by the store!

Blessings to you, dear reader!

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