Just really jumping today

I've really been jumping around a lot lately.  I have been told that is what artistic people do.  My mind is already working on new projects before I have even started the one I decided to do.  Paint the hallway.  I definitely will do it this week as I have been very busy on another project.  A house that we own, and our children are moving out tomorrow.  I had to go get new tile and carpeting.  I discovered, that 18" tile is no longer the norm, 20" tile is.

I remember when tile was little pieces put on a mesh sheet and laid on the floor.  This week when I go to the studio, I will take a picture of the floor that is from the early 1900's.  Ironically it is blue and white.  It has the old glass in  a lot of the windows yet, as you can see the bubbles.  I will see if my camera can capture it.  I have discovered that I really need a new camera.  The bathroom window is the old glass that is textured so you can't see thru it, probably just shadows, but back then, I really don't think anyone really worried about it.

The house has some great characteristics for being over a hundred years old.  I love the garden area with the brick walkways.  We put some in, but most were there.  What sold me on the house was the back porch, with the old fashioned railings and the back yard.

See, Jumped again.   I need to put the house (no the studio house) on the market this coming week so  I have a very lot to do.  I may be a little remiss is giving you a lot of information this week, but I will still give you some.

As far as redoing a room, if you need to redo the floors, be sure to go and look around.  Look in magazines for ideas, although I saw a lot of ideas in just looking for plain tile and carpeting.

In redoing a kitchen, backsplashes has been an item we have talked about.  Now I love the glass tiles for back splashes, but it could date your home later on.  But let me tell you, I saw some drop dead gorgeous glass tiles.  My home is dated by the tile!  I was told by the owner of the store, that people want less grout lines that is why they now use 20" tile.  I can believe it.  Grout gets so dirty.  I have also found that a little Clorox cleanup sprayed on your grout as you see a discoloration helps, just squirt it in and scrub with an old toothbrush and it cleans right up.   There are companies now that just clean and seal your grout.  I scrub and then seal as I go.  Perhaps I am just too hyper.  I am looking forward to seeing the tiles I bought and the carpeting down next week.  One of the tiles has a knock down edge, I would have called it chipped, but it is the style.  I bought it for the two bathrooms.  I bought a porcelain tile that looks like marble for the kitchen, eating room and laundry room.

I would have loved to redo my tile in my house, but not a chance!!!  I probably would loose my happy home.

We haven't really talked about flooring until today.  When you are in the market for new flooring, seek a professional, preferably the owner of the store, and know what you are getting.  Southern homes use a lot of tile, while northern homes use more carpeting.  I have tile throughout with the bedrooms  having carpeting.  I would like to replace one bedroom with either tile or wood, possibly laminate as it doubles as a computer room and I would rather use an area rug.  Do you have rooms that do double duty?

We are now getting into another area, area rugs.  Design has more facets than a huge great diamond.  Every time you turn around you could talk about anything in your home for hours.  So for now, I will get these two projects, actually three as I started painting the banana leaves today.  I will take a picture tonight and add it to my list for tomorrow.

What are your projects??  Write them down.  See if you can start getting them done.  I have so many lists, that my lists have lists!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Jumping to furniture

In the late 1800's the job of putting together a room and picking out all the furniture, flooring, draperies and accessories was an architects job. Any list of great designers would have been historic architects.  But now there is a whole new breed of professionals to help you.  There are experts in all fields of design.  An interior decorator or interior designer, knows where to go, to save you the time and effort.  Many of todays architectural firms have designers on staff.

The computer has also led to the creation of online How To Do It Yourself.   DIY is the symbol for doing it yourself.  I believe that there is even a DIY show on television.  There certainly are enough blogs to follow.  You will find that many designers have their own special flair.  One could tell who designed the place by the style of it. 

Here is an older picture out of an od Architectural Digest:

 

This is a picture featuring Baker, Knapp and Tubbs furniture.  See the classic design.  This is the same style of sofa you can buy today.  The room could be right out of a magazine today instead o the 80's, of which this is from.  Style doesn't change that much if you are a traditional person.  If you buy good pieces, they will last a lifetime.  It is now Baker Furniture, and is one of the top furniture manufacturers still today.  Believe me when I tell you, it is expensive.  I believe their main factory is in Michigan. They used to have a furniture sale every year at their factory and you could get some really great buys.

 

The small pillow on the chair is a kidney pillow and is great for the back if the chair is deep seated. I love to use them in any chair, I even have them outside. There are several types of seats, stated by their length.  I prefer to say short seated and deep seated.  Have you ever sat in a chair that was very uncomfortable?  Men have a bigger problem than women.  In a short seated chair, if you have short legs you will be comfortable.  If you have a long torso and long legs, you will not find a comfort zone in that chair.  The same goes for people with short legs.  If the chair is deep seated, their legs will either stick straight out, or not reach the floor.  Bombay company when it was in existence, made several small stools for the purpose of deep seated chairs.  That store was one of my very favorite haunts.  I don't think that there is a store in the marketplace since that I love to go to.

 

I guess todays blog started out with something I read this morning, and I totally went on a different band wagon that I have been on.  It still comes back to, "What Goes Around, Comes Around." Especially in the design world. 

 

What do you have that was made in the 70's or 80's?? Is it classic??  Or are you an antique collector?   That is another whole area.

What is your  style????? 

Before and After Pieces from Yesterday

Yesterday, I talked about some more before and after pictures.  Here are some pictures of the 1950's chair with their blue and yellow striped cushions.

 

Guess this was sitting a little crooked or it was the photographer.  When I set them up I will take pictures o the grouping.

 

Here is the 1940s leaf dish that I found and am painting a picture just to go with it.  I matches the tile color on the pool and the greenery around the lanai.

 

I absolutely love this dish, ashtray or whatever it was used for.  I won't be able to start on the painting until next week.  I will let you see it as it progresses.  First, my husband cut me a piece of I/8 inch finished plywood to the size I want the painting.  He has ten put on two (2) coats of gesso on it.  It must dry thoroughly.  Then I need to draw out my picture.  I will take pictures along the way. 

 

I also told you about the placemats I bought yesterday, here they are on the lanai table.

 

 

They are a little wild, but since they are vinyl, they are great for the outdoors.  Here is the same setting with another set of placemats, see how quickly you can change a setting in a matter of a few minutes.  You just need to have things on hand.  I always have things as I have what my mother called the disease.  If you walk into a store, you cannot come out empty handed!!!!!!!!!!!

 

 

From blue and white, to turquoise and yellow to match the water.  Again, I added the pink flowers as I love fresh flowers everywhere.

 

Look at your table, in or out, see if you can't refresh it a bit with just changing things you have.

 

I have a drawer just for placemats, and other cabinets for accessories to match them.  This is the time to buy as all summer things are on sale.  If you live near a Dillard's, they are having a wonderful sale.

 

Pier 1 is another one of my favorite haunts.  They have great pieces to give you indoors and outdoors a fabulous look.

 

Go looking, see what you can find!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

 

 

 

A Little bit of Outdoors

The word classic is that it never goes out of style.  Here are  few pictures of some outdoor things, before and after. 

 

Here is a birdbath purchased in 1992.  The color was great then.  It started to fade and look dingy.  Because it was  good piece to start with, it was easily spray painted white to match the trim on this house.

 

 

This is in the stage of painting.  It took several coats to get it to white.

 

 

This is the finished product, and I like that it has a pinkish cast to it.  It does change color since it is on the west side of the house.  Now to do some great landscaping around it, as it is right off the pool area.

 

In the second picture, you can see some parts of directors chairs.

 

 

These are the chairs.  There are four of them.  They were and are now called directors chairs.  They date back to the 1950's.  They belonged to my parents and were white with yellow seats.  My mother had plywood seats made for them in the 1970's so they could still be used and then you could put cushions on them.  Fast forward to today.  You can buy all sorts and colors of cushions for these chairs today.  I have no idea how much they cost then, but I can tell you that they are the sturdiest all wood chair you can find.  We just added a new coat of white paint to them, and I have some beautiful blue and yellow striped cushions for them. Tomorrow a picture of them with their new cushions.  It is late in the season to try and find some other colors but I may look and find another set on sale.  What fun to shop for things that make a difference for a small price.

 

Today at Dillards, I found some blue and white plastic placemats that are perfect for outdoors.  They were 65% off and were $2.10 each.  What a steal and great for the outdoors.  I will take pictures of the pieces tomorrow as there is not enough good lighting at the moment.

 

The little imp that we were painting with a glow in the dark paint does glow.  It, however does not show up in a picture, maybe it's the camera.  It looks pretty neat at night.

 

I will be doing a lot of things outdoors right now as it is cooling off a bit.  I am also getting ready to have a party and I am trying to redo a lot of different things.  I will take a lot of pictures tomorrow and we will do pieces of ideas for the next few days.

 

What do you have outdoors that can be tackled?  I know that in different parts of the country it is getting into fall, so you are putting away outdoor things.  Here, it is getting to be the perfect weather to be outdoors. When the humidity lessons, it is the time to paint.  We are lucky that we have an air conditioned garage, so we can paint in it.

 

But no matter where you live, put on your list what you can do to things that are showing wear.  Even if you will not be using them for a while. Perhaps if you have a basement, you can do these projects in the winter months.

 

It is still too humid to paint the front door red.  I have the paint and I am waiting. 

 

I also found out something about outdoor tile .  Our front porch is an outdoor tile, and it is a different color in certain areas.  I didn't know what to do, so I sought out the experts at Lowe's.  They think it is from our sprinkler system and is rust from the well.  I know about rust and wells as we used to have one up north.  I bought this product for rust removal and will try it this weekend.  I will also take a before picture so I can see what happens.

 

Do you have a problem to seek and expert.  Write a list, or just ask me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Bits and pieces on color

A retro color that is still used today in many cases Is Jadeite.  It is a mint type of green.  Many of the colors today mimic shades of the past.  Valspar makes a green, Mint gala, that is the color of jadeite glassware.  This is a great color to use with vintage furniture and collectables from that era.  As a matter of fact referencing an article in an older Better Homes and Gardens, Mint greens are  great colors to use in today's settings.  They can brighten a room as well as calm the spirits down at the same time.  If you are really up tight, think of the color that relaxes you.  I could be a shade of green.  What color relaxes you?

We've talked about turquoise lately, that is the color of the Caribbean, to me that is relaxing. 

Mint greens also serve that purpose.  The following are different shades of greens from B H & G.
Sherwin Williams - color- Aloe, a gray laced green
Olympic - Wintergreen -  A cool green
Valspar - Mint gale - A retro color of jadeite glassware
/Behr - Garden room - has a hint of yellow
Tru Value Paint - Crushed Mint - has quite a bit of yellow in it.

It is so very important to get color chips and view them in your room in all types of light.  You will see how colors lend themselves towards other colors.

A perfect example of finding the right color for you.  Go into a store, any store that has paint chips.  Stand in front of all of them and look for the color you are looking for.  Look to the left of that dolor and to the right.  What color do you see?  If to the left, you see yellows, the color you are looking at has yellow in it.

As a young married woman, before I knew all this about color and before they had all the companies that they do today, I decided to paint my living room beige.  I went and bought a beige paint.  When my room was done, it looked pinkish.  At that time, I hated it.  I had to repaint the whole room after I studied the paint chips.  Beiges can go pink, gray and yellow, so it is a matter of studying the colors in different lights.

Back to greens, the predominant color of a garden.  They are happy colors that work well in a bright sunny room.  Again look to your garden for color.  If you don't have a garden, look at pictures in magazines, or go to the nearest garden center.  It that doesn't work, go to a florist and just look at the colors.  Here, where I live, I can go to the grocery store and look at the fabulous colors.

How does color affect you?  Is it soothing?  Does it bother you?  Is it to bright?  Is it to dead looking?  Look at your colors!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Coloring around

Newell Turner - Editor and Chief of House Beautiful Magazine, quotes,"  Everyone has a favorite color.  But no color in the world exists in isolation - the real magic happens when colors combine and interact."

There is and apt for your smart phone "Color Schemer" and I believe you can pull 5 colors from any image to create a palette you love.  I haven't even done it yet as I just read about it, so I can't tell you anything about it.  It is supposedly free in the apt store "Color Your World".

One of the reason's I like to use quotes from others is that design trends change from year to year, and it is refreshing to hear what younger designers say, then reflect back to all the old basics.  If I ever hear of a new idea, YOU will be the first to know it.  I can just keep you abreast of what is happening in the design world today and reflect back to what I have been taught and what I know from experience.

Benjamin Moore has wonderful saying going along with their color palettes in all the magazines.
"Talking on reds, pinks and roses", and I've talked about pink previously, as a beautiful pick me up color.

"There's a color for the thing everyone wants most.  Maybe it's Ruby, as in slippers.  On in 3 clicks.  And the feeing that there is no place like it.  It's the color of the hearts deepest desire: to be where you truly belong.  For everything that matters there's a deep, rich enduring color.  It's the color of being gone a little too long, and finally coming home."

  The color, I want for my front door only not that bright.  By the way, I got a sample Valspar color today of the red.  It cost $2.00 at Lowe's.

Back to the Benjamin Moore colors, watch for their circles with wonderful sayings in them.  I will quote them and quotes from Kate Smith the color guru.

Yesterday, I was talking Retro, and today I decided to paint a kind of painting to go with my retro dish.  I want it to hang outside so first I must prepare a thin finished plywood.  This will be an on going project.  If it works, it will be a great find for the art world.

Tell me what you are thinking of as a great color.  I really want to know.

A bit of bouncing around

I have mentioned Retro in previous blogs.  This seems to be a big trend now.  Even restaurants and businesses are going retro.

Furniture from the 40's, 50's and even the 60's is termed retro.  There are even retro colors.  They are the same ones you know only bolder or brighter.  Turquoise was a great retro color, along with red and bright yellow.  Today these colors are used a lot only in different shades.  I wrote about turquoise the other day, only a quieting color, calm as Caribbean waters.

A lot of these retro pieces have character that many other types do not have.  You either love it or don't care for it.  I have children who absolutely love it.  You cannot match it today with what is on the market, but you can mix it in.  It mixes well with things.  I will say that Martha Stewart has a few pieces that I would classify as retro pieces for the kitchen.

I  have also been noticing vintage Murano glass in magazines.  I've seen lamps and accessories that I know are of older style.  It is a romantic look.  It also mixes well with retro as there are some beautiful colors.  It mixes well with any type if furniture except country.  If you are lucky enough to find a vintage lamp,  Take it to a lamp shade store, and get a shade that does it justice. 

That is a whole other thing in design, Lampshades.  They come in variety of shapes, sizes, and colors.  I have even found nice ones at resale shops and trim them.  There is a lot you can do with lampshades.

 

This is one idea out of a magazine.  I have others, but at this second, I cannot put my hands on them.

You can add fringe to the bottoms, or any other type of embellishments.  I have even see denim pockets attached to them.  Use fabric glue.

 

I will look for other ideas and put them in my blogs as I find them.

 

When it comes to color in any of your rooms, if you are stuck in the same old thing, don't follow any rules, look to a garden for inspiration.

 

Vary the size and shape of items in your room.  Use a floor lamp for a different height instead of a table lamp.  I bought a Lucite floor lamp with a table and a magazine rack attached t it at a moving sale.  The shade is awful, and I want to find a prettier shape then make silk flowers ( not buy ones) to attach to it. The ones I have a pattern for are much more elegant.  I have the pattern, that is available to designers and workrooms.  If you are at all interested, write me and I can arrange for you to get one.

 

The Lucite helps create lightness in a darker area of my room.  I will do some before and after pictures this week.

 

Do you have a dark corner or area?  Write me and let's see if we can deal with it.

A bit on Less is More?

A movement for smaller places is moving across the whole country as Baby Boomers are retiring.  Since people are living much longer, they are consolidating their space.  They no longer need all the space they did when they wee raising a family or entertaining on a grand scale. 

Del Webb, years ago came up with the idea of retirement villages, now we are seeing PUDS (Planned Unit Developments) pop up.  These are like old fashioned neighborhoods.  You can walk or take your golf cart, or bike to the grocery store, restaurants, theatres and even town squares.  There are a lot of these in Florida, and retirement states along with all other areas of the country.

People feel that more square feet in a house is better.  How many rooms do you actually use in your house?  Is more better?  I am now a believer in less.  Utilize the space that I have.

Our home has had a revolving door for the last 4 years, with children and grandchildren moving in and out.  We have to have two guest rooms although one doubles as the computer room.  We have so many relatives and live in Florida, that we usually have a lot of company.  We have what the last owners used as a media room.   We used the top for a library and the rest for a poker room.  Now it has become my arts and crafts room.

So let me count the rooms we use, Kitchen, dinette, family room,( which in many states would be called the hearth room as it sits open to the kitchen and has a fireplace).  The computer room and my art room.  Of course you have to count the bathrooms.  We rarely use the dining room or the living room.  So I really think now, less is more.

If you are downsizing, start deciding what you can't live without, and what you absolutely love.  Start giving away what is good but you no longer need.  I now know I need to start doing that with my children. 

Below are two curio cabinets full of things I have collected over the years.  In the attic are all the boxes for them with each child's name on. Now is the time to find out if they really like the item, tell them to take it. 

It takes me 2 days to clean them now as I get older and I don't care about all that stuff.  When people walk in, they are awed by what I have and how I decorate.  Guess what?  That's what I have done for almost my whole life.

 I will have to take another picture in the evening so you can see it better without the light.  It is mirrored in the back so it does reflect.

They are both full of things that just have to be cleaned.  I'd rather have fun!!!!!!!!!!  Remember that as you are shopping.  It also depends on your age and your family needs and wants.

What do you have to get rid of?

Bits of soothng colors

Edie Wadsworth" out of Better Homes and Gardens magazine quotes," I don't follow decorating rules.  I don't even know them.  If I love something, then I'll find a place for it in my house".
LIFE IS TO SHORT TO FOLLOW THE RULES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A little bit more about color.  New colors I am seeing a lot in magazines are the colors of water.  the turquoises of the Caribbean, Aruba and the Bahamas.  The pale to bright turquoises to darker blues.
these are refreshing colors.  That is what everyone needs in their life.  Refreshing!!!!!!!!!!!  Even the computers need refreshing (or rebooting).  Turquoise makes you feel as if you are in a Caribbean resort.  It is such a happy color.  To punch it up, I love to use purple especially in paintings.  Another great color is a bright pink, as it also adds a lot of punch with turquoise. 

In Florida, or many of the southern states as well as western states, actually everywhere in the country, where swimming pools are prevalent, the water is mostly turquoise.  Use that as your backdrop.  Start from there and work your way indoors. Pale turquoise and pale blue are extremely calming colors.  If you want  calming effect, choose pale colors to accent with, such as pale yellow, pale pink, lavender or pale greens.  Keep it a very light palette.  The more daring, will use the brighter of those pale colors.

Serena Dugan quotes, " A Happy Life should be an everyday experience - beginning at home".

  I cannot stand a messy kitchen, although I have at many times had one because of my projects.  The first thing I do in the A.M.is straighten it out.  Then I have my tea.  I also like to shop for placemats and fresh floral arrangements for my table to set  cheerful and happy mood.  I have so many different types of containers to put my flowers in.  I can use vases, too easy ( unless they are a drop dead gorgeous vase), tea pots, great idea, water pitchers as some come in various shapes.  At present, I have a white pheasant filled with pink alstromeria, on a white doily.  I have many doilies, saved from a friend and bought at garage sales.  I use them often to change a look.  A beautiful table invites anyone to sit down and be comfortable.  It is special.

I also collect dishes.  I like t mix and match them.  That makes an interesting setting.  Shop around and see what you can find to give your kitchen a happy feeling.

Does it already have  happy feeling?

Kitchens Again

Since we have been talking kitchens lately, let's just continue on a bit.

If you have old tired plain cabinets, here are a few tricks.  Buy some very narrow trim and cut it to put a window frame on top of your cabinet doors.  Depends on how much money you have to spend, you could even go fancier on moldings.  You could use inserts such as a mesh wire and frame it. Paint the inside of the frame one color and the outside another color a shade or 2 lighter, and the trim white or a shade you like.  You can even give them a retro look.  At craft stores, there are wood pieces or a heavy pressed paper that you can glue on and paint over.  At home improvement stores, they also have medallions or other types of embellishments that can be used for the same purpose.  You could even use the plastic ceiling rounds, the small ones, for the center of each door, and find something small for the center.  This could be very plain, all painted in one color, or in several.  Use your imagination.

Once you look for these embellishments, you may also find other places for them.  They are great everywhere. I like to use different things where least expected to add impact.

If you have the money, consider crown molding in the kitchen.  If your cupboards touch the ceiling, add a molding at the ceiling.  Another alternative is paintable wallpaper on the ceiling.  You could even make it look like wood by using a stain or leaving it white as the ceiling color.  If your ceiling is another color, you can paint it the ceiling color.

Does your kitchen have a problem?  Do you like it the way it is?  Is it a happy kitchen?

Tell me about your kitchen!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A small piece on kitchens

Since we started talking about kitchens, I have found a few things that are interesting.

First of all, bouquets of flowers, of which I have talked about before, add a bit of garden ambiance to your counter top of table.  I love to change them on my table.  I have found alstromeria to give great colors, and lasts a long time.  In Florida it is readily available at our super markets, for a small price of $4.00.  Last evening, I bought a bouquet of pink.  Out of one off my magazines it stated" think how you feel when you walk into a flower shop".  The beauty of flowers never surprises me.  This adds a touch of color and elegance even on a dreary day.

Place mats are a favorite of mine.  I can't resist them.  I have so many different ones, and still buy them.  They, along with flowers, add such a special touch to any kitchen table.  At dinner time, add some candlelight and you have a very romantic setting even if it is only pizza. 

I like to find place mats on sale.  I recently found some great navy blue ones at Dillards for $2.40 each.  It doesn't matter if you change them every week for something else for that price.  I also love plain white place mats and place a colored one on top of it and let the white peek out a little.  Actually, you can do this with any plain color.  I found some great white place mats at a garage sale for $1.00 for 8.  Great Bargain!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Do you find bargains like that?  Please tell me if you do.













42.50

A Piece on questions

First thing this morning, over a cup of tea, I opened my new Coastal Living magazine.  The first page is:
"MAKE YOUR HOUSE A HAPPY ONE".  this is just what we talked about yesterday.  This is an advertisement for: www.wayfair.com/coastalmag.  If I have a chance, I may check it out today.

By the way, we put 2 coats on the little Imp of glow in the dark paint, and it may need more, as it is not glowing yet.

I was told today that my blogs are too long.  They should be short and sweet. Sort of in and out.

Today I was posed a problem by a student.  Their daughter had a corner sink in the kitchen that looked at two plain walls.  The walls were each 36''w x 42" high.  You could do a scene of water or something calming and put it in  window frame format, and use mirrors to frame it.  I realized tonight, that they make mirrors that look like windows.  I will e-mail him the info.  Google what you are looking for and there it is.  What did we ever do without the internet?  What will the future hold for the children of today?

It has been a long day, and all I really thought about in the design field was what to put on a bare wall. Another question by a student, was she changed her bedroom to blue and wanted to paint pictures to go in her bedroom.  I stated, you don't match a painting to a room, you hang a painting because you love it.  You mat and frame it to suit a room.  I always use white mats and  pewter/silver frame as it is reflective and goes with everything.

Do you have a wall that needs help?  Ask me?  It doesn't cost anything.  Another blogger told me to ask questions and you start an interaction.  If you read this blog, at least tell me "Hi", so I can keep you well informed.

Have you started a project yet?  If not, are you planning one?  Do you have a favorite color you need to introduce or to add another color to, just ask.

Til tomorrow, Is Your House A Happy One"?

Pieces of past blogs and new bits

"Happiness is everything you love in one place".  I don't know who quoted it, but it is one of the greatest.  If all my children were all in Florida, I would be so happy.  As it is today, my son who lives 20 minutes away is moving to Key West.  My daughter who lives on the next street, is moving to Mississippi, 12 hours away instead of walking over.  That is one part of the happiness story.

An old saying "Your Home Is Your Castle", and that should make you happy.  Along with the other things I do, I have a major in Psychology.  If you love your surroundings, you can be happy to. 
Some people love their gardens.  They become very involved in them during the seasons for gardening.  Others are very outdoorsy people.  Some women love to stay home and do all the things that make them happy.  Besides loving their homes, they love to do things to them.  Learn to love your home or at least one area of your home.  Make it a me place.

I like to blend the best of all things.  I also like a quiet place for myself.  At this moment it is  my computer.  Each person needs their space.  A quiet place to read, meditate, cry, grabbing a nap, just a place for some me time.  Many years ago, it my have been called a parlor, a sitting room or a sun porch.  I have been in homes that have one or more of these things.  I have my art room.  Then I have my studio if all else fails.

Every house has a hub, where you can eat, a workspace for crafts or just bill paying or writing notes.  The kitchen is usually the hub.  There is usually a table and chairs to sit at and enjoy a friends company with a cup of coffee or tea, reading new recipes, or just sharing the stories of the week.  A counter with stools allows family and friends sit and chat while you are doing your work.  Our house where we raised our children had such a counter.  It held 6 stools and it always had someone sitting at it.  In those days, your phone was connected to the wall, and not your ears, so you needed a place to sit and talk.  Where or where has all the time gone?  So we will start talking a little bit about kitchens entwined with what we have been talking about.

What type of kitchen do you want?  Or to say it better, Would you like?  A kitchen is a woman's personal domain if you are married, although, some husbands take on the task.  So it is personal, just like your clothing.  This is where you will spend the most time with a family living at home.  Of course today, with microwaves, fixing food is so quick.  If you are still an old fashioned cook, then you be the queen of your kitchen.  First of all, there used to be rules about kitchens.  It was in arranging your glasses, silverware, pots and pans, etc.  Your silverware drawer should be the closest to the table.  Easier to set the table, and if possible, close to the sink and dishwasher.  Easy to unload and easy to grab things needed for cooking.  Dishes also should be closest to the table as they can be, unless you serve buffets.  Glasses should be to the right of the sink.  Easy to reach to get a glass of water.  Pots and pans, you guessed it, as close to the stove as you can get them.  I found that Rubbermaid shelf liners are great in pans drawers or glass cupboards.  It stops the clattering.  I have drawers in this house, but I used to have a lazysusan for my pans. so if you start your kitchen by rearranging and straightening your cupboards, you are on your way to  happy kitchen.

Remember a few blogs ago, I talked about rust-oleums glow in the dark paint?  Well it comes out clear, and it has had two coats.  I will set it out tonight and see what happens.  the birdbath and chairs should be finished tomorrow.

I want you to know, that I am no Martha Stewart, as there is only one of me and my husband.  We do it all.  I would love to have people help me do all that needs to be done, or what I want to do, but I am not that lucky.

Tomorrow some after pictures!!!!!!!!!!!!

More befores, later afters

Today you get 2 blogs.  I forgot to hit publish on yesterday's, so it was published early today.

We've been covering a lot of ground in our bathrooms and foyers, and a few bits and pieces in other rooms.  Id like to hone in on what you can do to things for these and your entrance area with things you have.

First of all, I pull everything together in one place, usually the garage, or even in my living room.  I want to redo my front entrance, so I need to look around my whole house and see what I have.  I don't need at this time to redo and shrubbery.  I have lots of different flower pots and garden items.  First I have a beautiful birdbath.  It needs painting badly.  It's original color was pink, now I think I will paint it beige, or red.  Remember, I am thinking of painting my front door red.  I have a pedestal that had a sculpture on top, that rusted away in the salt water.  Perhaps a gazing ball can be found to set on it.  I have chairs, but one need to be reupholstered. There are some directors chairs that are solid wood from my childhood, they need a fresh coat of paint.  So I guess step one is to paint.  I am going out to get paint today, and start that project.

I found some very interesting paint that glows in the dark by rust-oleum, that I am going to paint a faded imp in.  I will keep you informed on all of that.  Here are some before pictures:  They are very large so you will have to manipulate them.

Before and after bits

Yesterday, I talked about moving things around.  I showed you a shell shelf in the pool bathroom.  It had a plate on it that I really didn't care for.  I leave things there for a while to see how I react to them.  Just as I told you the other day.  The Wow Factor!  Here is my before and after:

 

Don't know if I love either one.  I will live with this for awhile.  Perhaps, I will find just the right thing.  The vase is very Art Deco with a gold inside.  It probably would be better appreciated down low.  I will keep you informed.

 

As I was reading a Better Homes and Gardens Magazine this morning, I saw something of great interest to me.  It was on organizing.  I am always organizing.  If I didn't have so many projects going, I wouldn't have to constantly organize.  They took a square canvas box and filled it with brown paper bags.  They inserted different items in the bags, probably related and wella!, things are organized.  I have my own thoughts on that.  I like the idea of the square canvas box.  I have to look and see what is available, and maybe something that will allow rolled up paper to set in.  I have used a large wastepaper basket, rolled things up and they were well organized.  If I could find some type of plastic cylinder, it would keep them neater.  I usually use paper clips to keep them rolled.  See this is what I mean.  If you discover something, see if you can't expand upon it.  Waste paper baskets, the Rubbermaid type, work the best for me.  You have to be careful in Florida with cardboard as it draws silverfish along with the dampness.  They are attracted to glue as my bug man told me.  I have gotten rid of all cardboard.  They like books also.  These are a few FYI.

 

As I go through my house, after almost 2 solid months of company, I am starting to notice things that have happened , like little nicks here and there.  So let me tell you how to take care of most of them:

Old English, makes a polish for wood that covers scratches, not so much dents.  For that, you need a professional.  For the most part it works pretty good.  The Home Depot, Lowe's , Menards, And Ace Hdw. are a few that have sticks that match colors, or little touch up paints.  Shoe polish is another great trick for wood.  One reason is that you can shine it.  I have a black cabinet it the pool bath, it has some nicks I noticed yesterday and a crack from lack of humidity in the house, a common thing in Florida in the summer.  Black paste shoe polish will work just fine.

 

For tile, I bought some Porcelain fix at one of the same stores above, and being a color expert, I buy  a bottle of cheap acrylic paint at Joanne's or Michael's.  I mix it on a piece of wax paper and paint a dab on.  It works perfectly.

 

Another great tool of mine for doing these projects is wax paper or foam paper plates.  Easy clean up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

 

A bit of confidence!

The other day, I read several articles about confidence.  My reading goes in all directions as I teach also, and want my students to develop confidence.  That isn't something I can give you, but I can help you work up to it.  This is almost anything you can or try to do.  "Never Give Up".  When all else fails seek expert help.

I am surprised that no one who reads this blog ever asks a question.  As I write, I have questions for myself.  I write them down immediately.  I come across words that I can't either pronounce or know what they mean.  Plain English is what I know, not words that become fancy, and are used in connection with the design world.  Sometimes in my blog, I give you the definition of a word so you know what it means.

Today, I would like you to do me a favor and send all your friends my blog site: www.nancysdesignbitsandpieces.blogspot.com .  That may help me along.

For today, I want to talk about paint again.  I have a project that is copper.  By the way, copper is the new canvas for some acrylic artists.  I want to try it, but right now I am committed to other projects.  It is a copper pole that is attached to a ceiling fixture that had a black rustic look.  The copper had to be added to give the fixture length.  The thing is, it now needs to be the same color as the light fixture.  Upon hunting, I found a no prep metal paint by Deco Art.  It is black and as I paint it on and rub it off, it matches perfectly.  A little digging and you can find exactly what you want.

Back to confidence, If you just buy some poster board, and try some faux painting, you gain confidence in what you need to do.  It may also, make you totally give up and try something else.

There is a book, " Drawing on the Right Side of The Brain".  That is your creative side. I have read that there really are people who can teach themselves to be creative.

I am a firm believer that if you set your mind to do something "YOU CAN DO IT".

Let's jump back to design.  Take a room, any room in your house, and find a show stopping piece that fits in that room.  It could be nothing but a beautiful vase with fresh flowers, or a wow picture that you have found.  Set it down or hang in up, what ever and leave the room.  Do not go back until you need to go into that room.  Does it still give you the same effect?  Then start there.  If it doesn't, try another piece.  I tried a blue and white plate on a pedestal.  It has been there for a few weeks and it does nothing for me.  I need to try something else.  Today is that day.  I need to hunt the house first, then perhaps buy something.  I would love a beautiful piece of glass.  Just thought of something.  It is up on a plant shelf, it is a cobalt blue blown glass vase.  I will try it later.

Here is the plate on the seashell shelf:  I think it need height!

 

See the shelf above the picture.  This picture appeared in a previous blog.  Tomorrow, I will show you what it looks like before and after.  With the onset of computers and cameras or smart phones, we can do this so easily.

 

Tomorrow, before and after shots.  And maybe a little craft lesson.  I am so involved in so many things, that I will do bits and pieces of all the artistic world in blogs to come.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Inspiration "Bits and Pieces

In my" bits and pieces", I get inspired everyday.  Today as I was going thru some things, I found some other pictures of things I have done.  I may have put them on one of the past blogs, but here they are.

I talked about striping.  This guest bath was striped in 1993-94.

 

This is an old camera photo, so it didn't scan in great.  First let me explain a few things.  First of all, I first painted the walls white, and let them dry a good week, then striped in in an old color, a Ralph Lauren color that is no longer available.  It had a shimmer to it, although I no longer remember the color.  It had silver in it.  If ever I remember, I will let you know as it was beautiful.

 

I have always been a blue and white person, and I love to add different colors to it.  This particular one was a sunny yellow.   This pattern was popular in the early 1990s.  The fish above the towel rack was purchased at an art fair, and it now hangs in the guest bath in the house I live in now.  Since the towels matched the shower curtain, I left them with the house.  The shell  on the commode is made of wood.  It is a piece that goes anywhere.  It is even great on a table setting.  I think at the moment it is on the lanai here.  In the mirror is a reflection of some koi fish I did in the early 1990's and is above the commode in my guest bath today.  So things do travel well.  " If You Really Love It, Buy It, It Will Fit Somewhere."

 

Here are the same pieces used today:

 

 

 Here is the same fish.  It really can go anywhere, and it is blue and white.   This is in the guest bath.  Remember, we talked about the framed mirror previously, and the lighting.

 

This is the koi fish picture that I painted years ago.  See how much blue and yellow is in it.  Then orange is added which is the compliment to blue.  You can see in the fish ceramic piece above the top of the bottom picture frame.  They are together on the same wall.  this is also wallpapered, that you can see in a previous blog. This painting is for sale, but please contact me about it.

 

 

 Here is the same sea shell used as a table decoration.  To me all of these things are usable everywhere.  I love to change things.

 

What can you change?????

 

 

Pieces of a lot of things

Today is the 72nd day of my blog.  It seems like it was only a week ago.  It does take time and planning. 

Yesterday a client e-mailed me about some colors she had chosen.  I favor, Sherwin Williams paint as I have used it forever.  Her painter also likes to use those paints.  I didn't have my fan deck with me, so today, I ran to Sherwin Williams and picked out her colors.  Too late, her painter started painting the bedroom and she about freaked, it looked neon.  Some colors do that.  When I saw the chip, I knew she would hate it.  She now choose a beige color.

Sometimes it is good to seek help.  then a mistake is harder to make.  As designers or decorators, we are not mistake proof.  Things happen.  I love to read what all the different designers say about what they are doing.  Only once in my life did I have free reign.  It turned out glorious, but that is not the norm.  Most of the time, you guide clients.

Some designers love texture and color so much, they develop a "More is More" attitude.  the more of anything you use, the more you like it.  Again, this is a matter of preference.

We've been talking about foyers.  The foyer should be an inviting beginning to your home.  I agree, but I believe the entrance should be the inviting thing to your home.  Porches are becoming so important in homes today.  Pay attention to the front entrance leading to the foyer.  Outdoor areas can have some furniture, hanging lanterns, flower pot gardens, even today, programmable candles.  I just bought one and am going to try it out.

  Inside, minor things such as pictures, mirrors, faux painting, wallpaper ( this used to be the thing to do, and is now the thing to do), area rugs, light fixtures, and ceiling trims or moldings can change an area very quickly.  My favorite is crown moldings.  They are expensive but add that elegant, important look to any room.

Dark colors make a wall recede.  sometimes that is great in a foyer, if you want to push back a wall.  They are not a lived in room, they are an entrance.  Make it smashing.  Large pattern wallpaper can make the area look grand, making it look finished without anything else needed.  I love mirrors o dark areas or bright paintings.

 

Title: Bromeliads

Size: Unframed 22' ht. x 15" w.

Price $450.00

Original Watercolor

>

 

A painting like this in the foyer as colorful as it is, is a real attention getter.  The dark background, sets up the color.  I will take it out of the gallery and have it framed and put into the foyer, for you to see.  Who knows, I may love it there.  Perhaps I should start a "Rent a Painting".

 

Study the area, and jump in with both feet.

A funny thing happened this morning as I was reading an older issue of Better Homes and Gardens.  It talked about " if you love it, you will find a place to use it".  Almost my motto, "If you love it, buy it".  I always find a place somewhere for it. 

Lately, I have been moving things around and came across a few things that I even forgot I had.  These wonderful little fish carved out of teak.  I bought them probably 20 or so years ago.  Now they look darling outside on a table, next to my programmable candle. 

I would like to develop a technique to make my acrylic paintings work outside on my lanai.  I found a beautiful art deco green leaf at a resale shop.  It is the same type as some Florida leaves.  I want to paint a picture of these and use it with the dish outside on the lanai, over the grill.  I am messing around with some things.  Will let you know!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A bit of everything, including foyers

To make a house a home, you really have to live in it.  I tell clients who want to paint, wallpaper, and by everything before they move into a new place, live in it.  Now if it really needs painting, then do minimal work, as you can very easily change your mind after you move in.  You need to get the feel for your home.  To me houses speak to you.  They tell me I'm happy, I'm tired, I'm old and so on.  How much time have you spent listening to your home?  Does your house speak to you, or are you doing the talking?  Do you say, I hate or dislike my bedroom?  my bathroom?  my living room?  Then it is time to do something about it.  In the past blogs, I have told you many things about what you can do.  Start with traffic patterns, comfort, light, and use.  We have gone over all of these previously, and I will keep coming back to these.

I have talked about other paint companies, but Glidden has come out with" Picking a Color can be a Beast".  I love the color ads in the magazines and on television, now even the animals are getting colored.

A back up a little to Feng Shui, I have decided to paint my front door red as I told you.  I want a big Splash when you enter, and my front door does fast directly East.  So I am trying my first bit of Feng Shui , after I submit my color to the architectural board.  Funny, how today it seems that everyone has a say in your life.

 

This is the first thing you see as you enter my front door, as I showed you I think yesterday, I showed you the entrance.  I wanted you to be aware of the texture, and look back at yesterdays blog and see how much is packed into an area.  The sofa fabric offers a lot of texture, the wood adds warmth, the glass adds reflection and the lamp, (that has a very small wattage bulb) adds drama at night.  The blue hydrangeas, pull the blue from the vases that are on opposite side of the entrance.  Unfortunately, there is a step down from the foyer to the floor.  Very bad architectural plan, there should never be a step down when people come into an area, especially an entrance.  Steps are different.  It just so happens that the whole back wall is a window wall with French doors, and look directly onto the pool area and the lake behind.  If you are looking at the pool area or whatever, it is a very dangerous step down.  We have chaser lights and put signs on our front doors so people hopefully will take heed.

 

This chandelier is also very visible from the foyer, and can you believe it is over 4' high.  You can tell by the paintings behind it that are stacked one on top of the other.  Again, one is a giclee' of one of mine and the other is an original by another artist I know.  We will talk more about this later when we get into dining rooms.  As you see, I like to mix everything.  My adage, "If you love it, Buy it".  You can see some of my paintings on another blog: www.riverviewartstudios.com.

 

Buy the way,  I did tell you that using a lint roller on lamp shades cleans them wonderfully.  It is great to use on chandeliers such as this one. 

 

From the Traditional Living Magazine, Feb/March, 2013, an article by "Ann Omvig Maine", interior designer," what families are craving it seems, is not a Showplace, but a Shareplace.  A light flooded home with fabrics you don't have to fear spilling on, pet friendly spaces and chairs so cozy they practically wrap you in hugs".  This would be my favorite use of Sunbrella fabrics.

 

Let your rooms serve many purposes.  Especially your Living room, it has never been a used room.  Use it for reading, chatting with a friend with a cup of coffee or tea instead of the kitchen.  Have tea served there.  Use it for grabbing a nap or  quiet place for a little me time.

 

Sounds like a good plan for a rainy day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

New insight to a few pieces

I read a very lot of magazines and to the trade magazines and things related to design all the time. 

Almost every magazine I look at talks about color all the time, mirrors, space saving ideas and clutter.  Just reading some of these articles, any one gives a person a new insight or feeling of something to do.

Several weeks ago I showed you a room of stripes that I did.  Actually the first room I striped was in the 60's in my daughter's nursery.  ( Yellow Stripes) I told you about the hall I was just starting and showed you the chandelier that has been hung.  I told you it would be a shade of white with pale blue stripes.  Yesterday, I read in House Beautiful, July/Aug 13 issue:  " Trick your eye-give wall and floors the stripe treatment to expand the sense of space".  Not sure who the author was.  It was in a space saving issue.  I love to use quotes as they just reinforce all the old tricks and adages that have been around forever.  Remember "What goes around comes around", there is only so much out there that has to be reused.

The latest recession, seems to me the worst I have ever been through.  In the design business, I saw many businesses fail, companies that I had dealt with for years close, fabrics, etc. taking longer than usual to receive after ordered, an actual slowdown in the design business for the average person. Television programs on DIY showed up on all types of things.  Some were good, for the recession.  a lot of ideas are out there.

The programs on T.V., sometimes are amusing to a designer or decorator.  They are using things straight out of the old books.  So, I am trying to tell and show you things old and new, a lot straight out of the old books. (Not literally, but what is in my mind).  I love to interject things out of present day magazines, and the publishers should be happy, because you may just go out and buy their magazine.

Mirrors and glass expand your space.  Chandeliers and objects hung high, tend to draw your eyes upward.  In talking about entrances ( foyers) the other day, I mentioned several different things, but here are some pictures ( that visual thing) of a foyer:

 

Even though there is a lot of light coming thru the French doors, I choose a mirror to bring in the dining room with it's wonderful pedestals into the picture.  On either side, are crystal candlesticks with glass candles filled with oil in case of a blackout. They can also be used them  formal dining along with other candles.  The large blue and white vase serves  as a place for canes.  It is really a vase but can be used as an umbrella holder also.  Also notice a niche that the mirror is hung in.  I can always change that out and put a painting in it.  I have to be careful with a painting as light will affect the color and fade many of them.

 

 

This is the opposite side of the mirror with a sconce with ivy and a blue and white vase to carry out the theme with my blue and white.

This is the light fixture, believe it or not, it is quite large.  It is stained glass and really doesn't mimic any of my other things, but it looks grand there.  See all the curves in the architectural plan.  They add so much interest.
So here again, we have a mixture of old and new, reproductions, crystal an the iron in the chandelier.


This is a before picture of the inside of the door color.  They are new and have not been painted yet.  They will be just white.  I am a great fan of white woodwork.

I talked a little bit about Feng Shui, so I am going to pint my front door red, first it matches and second, I want to change the look of my front entrance.  The door has to be painted anyway.

Look at your foyer or entrance way, see if you can find a way to enhance it.  There are my before pictures.  So layer look for my after ones.

Til tomorrow, Ta,Ta!!!!!!!!!

Bits and Pieces of Everything

A quote by Billy Baldwin " Decorating is never successful unless it is personal".

Since I don't know your home, I must just present basics.  There is a place to ask me questions at the end of each blog.  That is when I can make it more personal to you.

My hairdresser  asked me today about the colors for her home on the outside.  We talked a little, and I gave her my professional opinion.  She said that was a good idea. If she hadn't asked, she would not have had any professional input.

Today I learned something new.  I was at Lowe's and looking for a type of paint for my refrigerator door handles.  They are $189.00 to buy.  Looking at them, they are made of a hard rubber.  What kind of paint do you use on rubber to make it last?  Go to the pros.  Anything that you paint that is used all the time should be totally clean before it is painted.  He said clean it with alcohol first, then spray it.

I will let you know.  I have alcohol and white Rustoleum.  If it works, it is virtually free.  If it doesn't work, I guess step 2 is buy a new one.

In several blogs, I talked about mirrors.  Today I went to my studio, and wow!  It doesn't even look like the same place.  It is so light.  Great for painting. Yesterday I told you it was done so today was the visual part.  I love, love, love it!!!

Mirrors are the oldest decorating trick there is.  First they double the space as they reflect all the light.  My little room is not huge, but today it looks humongous.  If I had glass top tables in there, the room would look larger, as glass and acrylic tables or even Lucite, allow the light to go through as though they aren't even there.  Myself, I have several glass top tables in my living room and my dining room table has a glass top.  Even though the ceilings are 12', they make the space look larger than it is.

That is why good mirrors in  bathroom are as important as the lighting.  We all love pretty lighting, but make sure it is functional.  I love hand mirrors on the counters as they let you look at the back of your head.  Many art or craft fairs have stained glass places, or you may have a studio close to you, I love the stained glass hand mirrors as they are functional as well as pretty.  I have one that looks like a pink flower on the back.

Another great thing in bathrooms are the rugs.  If you find one that is multi colored, carry one or more of the colors through the bathroom.  A lot depends on the size and width of the room.  Also whose bath it is.  Children's baths are fun to do.  There is so much out there these days, that you can really be creative.  I have noticed in the stores the bright colors that are available, it is fun to mix and match.  Let the children become involved as it is there room.  Don't put your fancy things in there, put their things in there.

One of my friends decided to make one of her bathrooms look like a tropical island. She used I will probably spell this wrong (tatuage), they are a sticker type decor and really are quite attractive.  I will have to check with her on the spelling.  Anyways, she has sea weed and fish on the shower door,  A large palm tree, sea type accessories, and it is very whimsical.  I will see if I can get pictures of it.

I find it hard to imagine how much there is to use today even compared to 10 years ago.  I'd love to hear from you as to something you have used.

A Bit of Backing Up

Today is a bit of backing up. Some things may be repeated and /or added to.

First, I talked about faux painting and wallpapering a bathroom.  I talked about lighting. I  really talked very little on mirrors, but may have touched on the subject of magnifying mirrors.  Mirrors add light to bathrooms through natural light or incandescent. I have all kinds of mirrors in my house, but at the moment, I want to talk about bathrooms.  One thing that I found out in buying older homes, is that the previous owner may have been shorter that I am, or taller.  I have run into a few situations that needed changed.  Especially in mirrors.  I have one that is really too short, but has a light right above it and without hiring an electrician, I can't at present move it.  I will show you a picture later.

The easiest way to use a mirror is one, buy one you like and hang it up.  That way it is not permanent, and you can take it with you if you move.  I really use mirrors a lot.  As a matter of fact, I had some hung in my studio today, and I only saw pictures of them from my son in law.  Can't wait to see them tomorrow. 

 

Here is a light fixture in the guest bathroom.  See the mirror behind it.  It is attached to the wall and framed with a mirror border.  This was popular in the 1990's and 2000's, but now I am not seeing so much in new construction.  I am seeing much fancier mirrors, round ones, or many different shapes.  One thing to remember, is that cheap mirrors distort images.  Make sure you check that out.  One good thing, if you buy one, most likely it can be returned, if it doesn't work out.  By the way, this is the wallpaper that looks kike faux painting, if you zoom in, you can see it up close.  I absolutely adore it!

 

I like to use things that are a little different.  I love things that hang on walls, besides paintings.  I will use giclees', or signed and numbered prints.  Cheap art fades, or else you see it everywhere.  I tell people, "Save your money and if it takes a year, buy a good piece of art".  I also love to buy sconces, shelves and pediments.

 

These are three pediments that have traveled with me as I moved.  I love the look.  People always ask about them.  Actually, I bought them at Marshall Field's in Chicago eons ago.  There is always a place or things like that.  AGAIN, IF YOU LIKE IT BUY IT!!!!!!!!!!!! These things are timeless.  I Italy several year ago, I bought some little houses made on the Amalfi coast.  They are hung above a door coming into the house.  Actually in the garage.  Neat, huh?

 

Back to the bath and sconces:

 

 

This is the master bath with the sconce with a blue and white vase.  See how the art work is hung and the mirror with the picture frame mirror around it. The picture above is one of mine in the blue frame to bring in my blue and white vase.  This is one way to carry your colors from room to room.  If you think of your rooms as a large wave that goes into the air and the color is a very light color and as it recedes the color changes.  Look at some surfing pictures and see how the color flows.  This is what you want to create a flow throughout the house.  You can change color but add a little bit from the room next to it.  This interjects the feeling of flow.

 

The one above is in the family room used with another old pediment.  I also use small mirrors in frames next to pictures or in a grouping, for more interest.  Look for small things in your travels, whether it be on a trip, or in a thrift store or a garage sale, or just any store.  Sometimes you find things in the most unlikely places.

 

Here is another pedestal that is in the master bedroom.  See how different they all are, in color, shape, and design.  Yet each one fits somewhere.  A great place to find pedestals was Old Tyme Pottery, if there is one in your area.  Stores that bring in a lot of things from other countries usually have some unique things.  I will say though, I prefer now to buy "MADE IN THE USA", trying to get manufacturing back to this country.

 

When I travel, I always bring back things that are prominent to that country.  I am not well traveled, but where I have been, I have some wonderful things that I bought there.  That is supporting that country. 

 

Since I live in Florida, I use sea shells, coral and sea glass in many things.  In a bathroom, I have glass sea shells, or I'll use a large shell to hold soaps, other shells, and I have seen towels rolled and put in large clam like shells.  I have several of these large shells, and I put smaller collected shells from our beach in them.  Use your imagination.  See what you have sitting around, stored away or something that you see.  Imagine what you can do with it!  Paint an old picture frame and add shells then have a mirror put into it.  I will show you one that I am planning on doing.  Best of all, the frame was free, I had a can of silver paint and the shells are on the beach.

 

USE YOUR IMAGINATION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!