Mitzi's Miscellany

Decorating the Kitchen with Vintage Finds

I often notice what folks do (or don't do) with the space between their kitchen cupboards and the ceiling.  Do you?  The default decorating plan seems to be a couple silk philodendron plants in baskets.  In my kitchen, the cupboards extend all the way to the ceiling.  I'm glad I have the extra cupboard space, but I wouldn't mind having space to display some of my vintage finds.  I definitely wouldn't fill the space with silk philodendron plants, that's for sure.  With this in mind, I thought I'd share some ideas with you today that I would put into place if I had the opportunity to "merchandise" my own above-cabinet shelf.

I really love tole-painted trays.  If I had enough space, I'd definitely have several trays above my cabinets:

Old tin chocolate molds look great in a kitchen.  I would definitely have room for a grouping of them:

Tour of an Exquisite Naples Home

I've always enjoyed viewing other people's homes.  Not just looking at magazine spreads, but taking little tours at a party, home show, or at an estate sale.  I like the opportunity to see how others have decorated their homes, to see the furniture and art they've bought.  I'm sure many of you enjoy the same thing.

Today I'm excited to show you family friend Debra O'Brien's exceptional home in Naples, Florida.  Debra has decorated it herself with art and furniture collected over the years and through her travels around the globe.  Her primary influence is French designer Christian Liaigre:

Here is the exterior of her home.  It's a three-level structure with plenty of tropical foliage to give it privacy:

Inside the gate, there's a lovely pool in the courtyard.  Debra's little Yorkie Stella is enjoying some relaxation time on the large chaise lounge:

Right inside the courtyard, there's a welcoming three seasons room to come in from the sun.  The furniture and accessories are all striking black and white:

The dining table has a steel top and the chandelier is a dramatic black glass.  The bench in the foreground is a fun black patent leather with clear lucite legs:

Two large doors with a transom window lead to the living room.

The light fixture in the living room is a like a modern sculpture hanging from the ceiling:

At one end of the room is a beautiful painting, the first work of art Debra ever purchased:

The kitchen can be seen from the living room, and swivel chairs like the one below make the counter accessible if you want to sit close to the kitchen activity.

The kitchen cupboard doors are a beautiful milk glass:

This unusual wire sculpture was created by covering a wax form of a human with intricate wire, then melting the wax.  It's suspended from the ceiling near Debra's staircase:

It moves slowly with the motion of the air:

This is Debra's second, more formal dining room:

A beautiful sink in the downstairs bathroom:

 The whimsical light fixture in the lavatory:

Note the wallpaper in the lavatory.  It's a silver wood veneer with pearl studs.  Have you ever seen anything like it?  I'd be surprised if you have!

Speaking of bathrooms, in an upstairs guest bathroom, there's silver patent leather wallpaper.  Another most unusual wall treatment!

And here is where the lucky guest gets to stay:

This is Debra's office:

Floating bookshelves make a real statement on one wall:

And last but not least, the master bedroom:

An art piece inspired by "The Last Tango in Paris":

The view from the bedroom balcony:

In the hallway, another lovely piece of art:

 And another view of the living room:

My mom's dog Jezebel (L) and Stella, driving her car:

Isn't Debra's house fabulous?  I don't know about you, but I feel inspired to do a little sprucing up around my own place after seeing such a luxurious abode.

I want to thank Debra for allowing me to photograph her home.  It was a delightful experience!

Mitzi

Regatta on Dwellable

Shopping in Naples, Florida, Part III: Spruce

Happy Sunday, everyone!  If you've been shopping with me the last two days, you've visited Sara Campbell, a ladies' boutique, and St.-Tropez Home, a home furnishings and gift shop.  Today we are entering Spruce, which happens to be right next to the other two stores for convenience sake, on Third Street in Old Naples:

Spruce has an eclectic mix of home, garden, and some ladies' clothing and jewelry in the mix.  They have stores in other locations too, as well as an online catalog that you should view right after out tour!

Right after entering Spruce, I was attracted to the cover of this book about dogs, being the incurable dog lover that I am:

Spruce has several unusual ceiling light fixtures for sale, including this pair:

I loved these wire sculptures covered in butterflies.  I'm thinking I could make something like this if I had enough patience:

A closer look:

Some of the garden-themed offerings:

I like the over-size vessels used for vases on the left in this vignette:

Pretty bed linens in rusty orange and neutral colors:

A window display at Spruce with dramatic glass dome cloches and mercury glass orbs:

 

More pendant fixtures above some beautiful silvery velvet upholtered furniture pieces.  I also love the little silver table:

A sea inspired display with an unusual shaped dome cloche:

 

At first glance, I thought these chairs were vintage, but they are newly made and can be purchased at Spruce.  I think they have great retro style!

My mom and I both bought one of these acrylic bracelets, artist made in the USA.  What color would you pick?

More beautiful and unusual pendant lamps, mirrors, and more:

A display of body lotions, soaps, and fragrances:

I think having unusual light fixtures is a great way to add style to a room.  Spruce is a good resource!

Besides the bracelets, I purchased a scarf and two tops.  We enjoyed our shopping trip at Spruce immensely and will definitely be back!

After shopping, we stopped at a "snowman" on Third Street for a photo opportunity.  That's my mom standing next to Frosty, and the historic Old Naples Building, circa 1921, standing in the background.  Jezebel turned her head just as I snapped!  I guess she was getting tired....

Meet me back here tomorrow for one last shopping trip in beautiful Naples!

Mitzi

The Enclave at Naples on Dwellable

Shopping in Naples, Florida, Part II: St.-Tropez Home

Welcome to day two of our Naples shopping trip!  We'll be shopping at St.-Tropez Home, an exquisite home decor, furnishings and gift shop located at 1300 Third Street South in Old Naples: 

Welcoming us in the foyer was a commanding starfish framed mirror:

The hot trend right now is all-white or mostly-white objets d'art.  St.-Tropez Home has foo dogs and other items that would fit the bill:

Flatware in a black or gold finish.  Very unusual:

A coffee table holds a huge silver octopus bowl:

This faux-bois table with a golden top is acrylic:

I love this sandy colored sofa with the tufted details.  Perfect for Florida!

A lineup of sparkling vases and candleholders:

A darker sofa option with beautiful coral motif pillows:

These birch bark covered balls could be made at home, if you are crafty enough.  I always get craft ideas at home decor shops!

Serving pieces and table decor in blues and browns:

A stunning mirror flanked by two coral lamps.  A selection of home fragrances are beneath the mirror:

A closer look at the coral base lamp:

I love shell mirrors and frames if they are done right, so they don't look like a craft project.  This one is done right, don't you agree?  The colorful ceramic pottery is lovely, too:

A very large petal-covered topiary, as big as a beach ball.  I'm getting more ideas here.....

The owner of the shop, Katie Frank, remembered my mom from previous visits and was so wonderful to chat with.  The young lady working in the shop couldn't have been more helpful, fetching a paper and pencil so I could write some notes.  It's no surprise the shop gets compliments from so many customers.  I hope you can visit St.-Tropez Home if you are in Naples.  If you can't visit in person, peruse their catalog and do some shopping right away!

Mitzi

Naples Heritage on Dwellable

Four Vintage Things I Always Look For

Don't let the title deceive you, there are probably hundreds of things I always look for, but for the sake of brevity, I just chose four for now. 

Number one:  Hanging shelves.  As a dealer, I like them hanging shelves because they get stuff off  tables and up on the walls at the eye level of customers.  For customers, they are handy to have at home to display small collectibles.

I'm just cleaning this one to get it ready to sell:

 

 

 

Number Two:  Tool totes.  These are fun to use as a way to organize items for sale in the antique mall.  I can imagine a person would find them useful for craft supplies like paintbrushes and pencils at home too.  But the most interesting use for a tote is as a primitive table centerpiece.  Can you picture this on a large farm table, or in a bay window?

 

 

To keep ivy and cut branches alive, tuck bottles with water in the tote.

 

Number Three:  Art or mirrors in round or oval frames.  I like a mix of rectangular, oval, and round framed wall art in my home.  Having too many angular items looks harsh, in my opinion.  The painting below is very large, and would make a great piece of art above a fireplace instead of the more common rectangular framed mirror or painting.

 

Number Four:  Something Unusual.  I never really know what it's going to be, but when I see it I know it right away.  The Pyrex lab beakers below fit the bill perfectly.  They make cool vases and would appeal to men as well as women:

 

 

Another good example of something very unusual:  a Kotex display from a drugstore.  It's one of those things that you just have to comment on when you see it.  I put this in the ladies' bathroom at the Antiques Market of Williamston several months ago and it sold!

 

 

What do you always look for on your hunt for vintage treasures?

Mitzi

Let There Be Lights, Vintage Lights

While in Florida recently I paid special attention to lighting, beginning with some lamps in my parents'  home.  The table lamp below is a beautiful example of a bent panel "slag glass" lamp with metal overlay depicting a tranquil scene.  The lamp base is formed to resemble a tree trunk and roots:

 

 

This lamp has more of a classical theme, but again it's a slag glass lamp with metal overlay:

 

 

A beautiful leaded glass or stained glass hanging lamp in the breakfast nook with some of my mom's majolica collection in the background:

 

I found the tall wicker beauty below at Treasure Island in Naples.  It's called an Eiffel Tower lamp because of the base shape.  I've sold three similar lamps since I've been an antique dealer, and I'm always on the hunt for more.  Although the price was reasonable, I couldn't figure out how to ship it back to Michigan cheaply enough to make a profit.  I would probably price this lamp around $250.

 

 

 

I was surprised to find a table top Eiffel Tower lamp in another Florida antique mall, but it didn't have the original wicker shade, so I passed on it.  I already have a full size Eiffel Tower lamp base in storage for which I'm searching high and low a matching shade.  It's not easy to find a lone wicker shade to fit an Eiffel Tower floor lamp, but I'm determined to find one someday!

 

 

 

Sometimes lamps I would have thought were tacky 10 years ago suddenly appeal to me now.  I would call the lamp in the foreground below "Early American Bordello":

 

 

Chandeliers don't need to have crystals to be richly elegant:

 

 

I'm really liking the colorful tole painted chandeliers that were popular in the 1960's and 70's, such as this example I have for sale in my Williamston, Michigan booth:

 

 

Another tole painted lamp in my friend Annie's booth at the Livingston Antique Outlet in Howell, Michigan:

 

A gorgeous leaded glass hanging lamp at the Antiques Market of Williamston:

 

 

Replacing the ceiling mount fixtures in your home with vintage beauties can make a huge difference and needn't be expensive.  I've done that in most rooms of our house, donating the cheapo new fixtures to charity.  Our house was built in 1937, so there are plenty of fixtures around that can be installed inexpensively.  It really adds authenticity to an interior, take my word for it!

 

 

Don't forget the ceiling medallion!  It's like jewelry for your ceiling:

 

A nice selection of affordable ceiling fixtures in the Frietag's booth in Williamston:

 

 

Just look at the warmth and beauty of these alabaster lamp bases!

 

 

Now compare them to the cold and stark hotel surplus lamp bases in the photo below.  Which would you prefer in your home?

 

 

 I like to take a vintage lamp shade and glue stuff to it.  I'll be creating a blog post about that soon.

 

A French table lamp with marble base and velvet shade that I have for sale in Williamston.  This picture was taken at the auction where I purchased it:

 

 

If you have lamps that are "builder grade", (that means cheap) or out of style like the examples below, get yourself out and about this weekend to find some beautiful vintage fixtures to add to your decor!

 

Mitzi

Decorating With Books, Part Two

In my last post, I showed several examples of books being used in interior displays at Arhaus, a furniture retailer.  Today I'd like to show you what I look for in a book, or books.....

I'm always on the lookout for a nice set of books so I can pile them up on a table, like they did in this interior featured in Country Living magazine.  Books don't have to be lined up on a bookshelf the traditional way.  There are no rules!

I look for old books that are missing covers, and tie a few together with jute string.  For a touch of sparkle, I spray them with gold Glimmer Mist, which is difficult to see in this picture, but it gives just a touch of sparkle:

Sometimes, I'll insert a picture of Granny or Gramps on top:

If color is your thing, books can lend a hand in that department too.  Look at this gorgeous set of books I rescued from a thunderstorm at an auction last summer (all of the wares were on tables as the storm approached, and I slid this box full underneath the table so it wouldn't get wet until I could bid on it):

I used the set as a backdrop for a photo shoot, then it promptly sold at one of my antique mall booths:

Colorful books for children from the late 1800's:

I'm attracted to leather covers, like the smooth buttery leather of these old mechanic's encyclopedias:

They're as smooth as a baby's bottom!  I also appreciate the marbled designs on the page edges:

I love the deeply colored marbling on the book below:

 

You've got to get the books off the shelves to appreciate this aspect of them:

The mottled cover of the book on the right really shows its age, and the book underneath it on the left has some nice texture:

I'm also partial to embossed covers, even if they're "pleather":

Even plain old textbooks can look fine in a vignette, as long as they complement the color scheme:

 A nice set of books for a boy's room:

Once books have begun to fall apart, images can be "framed" in unique ways, like the cow images I framed in old bottles and sold on Etsy:

At the opposite end of the spectrum, we have fancy-schmancy poetry books such as the examples below.  These are the most beautiful books I've ever owned.  They have heavy gold embossing and a recessed area on the covers with a celluloid floral insert:

 Even the spines are lovely:

I covered some of my uglier books with sheet music and tied dupioni silk ribbon around them.  For a final feminine touch, I added a silk or velvet millinery blossom:

 

A little over a year ago, I posted a tutorial how to make paper wreaths like the example below:

Here's another version:

I suppose I'm getting a bit off track, because I'm not "decorating with books" anymore, but "crafting with paper" instead.  I'll end this post here, and hope you have some renewed inspiration for decorating with books!

Mitzi

Decorating With Books, Part One

If you're not using vintage books in your decor, you're missing the boat!  I think books add great style to a space, and they're popping up everywhere these days.

When I was visiting my folks in Naples, Florida last summer, my mom and I stopped by Arhaus, a popular furniture store.  Here is their welcoming entrance:

They were nice enough to allow me to snap pictures of their displays, many of which included books, like these fabric covered examples:

Did the fabric covered books just give you an idea for using up some of your favorite fabric scraps?

Leaving a "coffee table book" open is a nice option, and something I never think of doing:

 

Arhaus filled cupboards with books, like the examples below that have several pages turned inward for interest:

 

This display at Arhaus included crumpled and torn book pages combined with sand in glass vessels.  If you can't bring yourself to tear up a book, try to locate your high school algebra book:

 

 Simple craft paper covered books help add height to a display:

 

Although books aren't involved here, I liked this display of silver painted frames on the large wall space.  It was very dramatic:

I admired these pillows as well:

Crumpled paper lamps:

We could make felt pillows like these, couldn't we?

These pictures were taken with my old camera, which didn't have a stabilizer, so they're blurry.  But anyway, check out the clever use of books and flowerpots with moss in this large cabinet:

 

I hope these images have sparked your imagination.  What I've learned by viewing the decor at Arhaus is no matter what, new paperback books simply must be covered with simple craft paper for a cohesive look.  We don't want Tucker Max's "Assholes Finish First" ruining our beautiful display!

Mitzi

A Wicked Fall Arrangement

When it comes to creating centerpieces for our dining room table, I sort of get off the hook because we gave up our dining room so I can have a craft room.  But I was in the mood to create a Halloween centerpiece this year, and it will be displayed in one of our bay windows instead.

My arrangement was inspired by the popular play "Wicked".   I used stuff I had on hand.  I didn't buy one thing.  Admittedly, I have a lot of stuff  "on hand".  Probably more than a lot of people.  But this arrangement could be duplicated without too much expense if you can scrounge around a flea market.

Most of us have a tray of some sort, and I used a vintage silverplate tray with fancy handles as a base:

Next, I used a couple vintage high top boots, one in white and one in black, so I had a "good witch/bad witch" theme going on:

One of the few things left in my garden is dusty miller, and I placed some in small bottles that would fit inside the boots.  To anchor the bottles in place, I used paper shred.

I took a bag of shredded brown craft paper and sprinkled it around the boots, and added some tattered vintage lace here and there.  A few vintage paper pulp Jack-O-Lantern treat holders were added along with a vintage book.  For a final touch I placed a rusty "fence" from a craft supply catalog that I've had forever.  I thought it made the scene look a bit like a pumpkin patch:

I love the fancy handles on my tray:

The Jack-O-Lanterns added a lot of color:

I tried the arrangement without the Jack-O-Lanterns for a more subdued look.  Instead, I added some old bottles which I had enhanced with "poison" labels, and one of my crochet covered faux pumpkins:

I also had a vintage tonic bottle that made a nice addition to the display:

 So, here's my final version:

I can think of lots of other variations, such as adding witch images, Scrabble tiles spelling out "Wicked", and perching a black crow on the pumpkin.  Does this arrangement inspire you to make something similar?

P.S.  I've discovered how fun "link parties" can be.  Last week I got lots of new visitors and positive feedback about my pumpkin project.  I'll be linking to the following link parties this week:  Creation Corner, The Shabby Nest, The Girl Creative, Ginger Snap Crafts, Finding Fabulous, At The Picket Fence, and FaveCrafts.

Another Harebrained Scheme...

I had been planning a major renovation of my largest antique mall space for quite some time, and during the last month I finished it.  The booth is housed within The Antiques Market of Williamston in Williamston, Michigan.

My booth had green lattice on the walls that have been the backdrop for 11 years.  It looked OK, but several other dealers have the same thing,  even using a very similar shade of green.  I want to have my own style, to I concocted a harebrained scheme using some of my hoarded vintage wallpaper.

Because we can't wallpaper directly on the walls at the mall, I purchased 11 four foot by eight foot sheets of luann board at Home Depot, and applied my vintage wallpaper to them with ready-mixed wallpaper paste.

I wisely chose to work on this in my driveway during the most recent wave of heat and humidity.  It's been an ordeal, let me tell you!

I used a rolling pin to help smooth out the wallpaper, which worked quite well.  I wasn't going for perfection here.  In fact, I wanted the seams to show and for the walls to look like layers of peeling paper like you might find in an old farmhouse.

After finishing papering the luann boards, I transferred them to the mall and had hired a very capable worker named Troy to install it.  Installing the boards wasn't a one-woman job!  The photo below shows the lattice vs. the wallpaper.  Please don't tell me you like the lattice better....

 

I purposely applied the wallpaper in a patchwork pattern on one wall, with some torn areas, making a giant collage.  I had to do this primarily because I ran out of the pink paper:

 

Once I had the backdrop installed, I layered on the goodies I have to sell.  I always go for the maximum eye candy look:

I still have some arranging to do, but I'm pleased with my updated mall space.

It's going to be hard for anyone else to replicate my wall treatment...... 

My dad painted this old aluminum awning for me.  I think it makes a nice focal point on the wall:

 

Wallpapering luann boards and attaching them to walls could be a way for apartment dwellers to get wallpaper in their apartments while being mindful of their lease.  When it's time to move, the walls can go with them!

This was a labor of love, and I have to remind myself that I don't need to do this again for another 11 years.  That's a relief! 

So what do you think of my hairebrained scheme?  I'm all ears.

Mitzi