Sharing one more post on the Lower Level Details, if you can stand it! A close up look at what was changed, switched out, what was reimagined. As I have said many times “it is all about the details.” Anyone can put a couple of pots on a console, books in a bookcase, and hang a picture on the wall. In my opinion, design is so much more than that. It’s about the “play” if you will. The juxtaposition of one object with the next. The “surprise” that just makes you smile. The artistry of a vignette. Crafting a beautiful room, is Art. It is my art.
So the first thing I did was set out to reinvent the bookcases. You can read about the Cabinet of Curiositieshttps://fortheloveofold.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=3543&action=edit here. I have a rather large surface on the base of the builtin, and the bookcases step back from there. These builtins were created when TV’s were super deep, and a 27″ TV was a luxury! This is a challenging area to design. It requires larger items for display, which is why for years I had my antique wicker suitcase there, with the Dickens Series inside.
I decided to try my Traveling Desk/Writing Slope there, and love the effect. It’s just beefy enough to hold that spot, and its sloped surface helps to create a place for multiple layers of smalls. To round out that shelf I used some books (of course) and a transferware vegetable dish on an easel, a tea caddy, anchored with a small block printed textile. Glass bottles, inkwells, and a postal scale move the eye and create texture and interest. It tells a story.
Placing the transferware in the bookcases first, helped me determine what transferware was left.
THE PLATE WALL
Do the hard things first, putting two portable table together, I laid everything out to get a feel for it. Using my other antique portrait, as my focal point, and liking the contrast of the mostly black painting, and the transferware, I went forth with great confidence!!! When I found the Giraffe platter a couple of years ago at the antique mall, I immediately envisioned it, in a plate wall. Well, it took a while to get there!!! The next thing was to change the sconces. Then I started making pairs. In actuality I only have one pair of plates on this wall. By matching up the color and the size, I was able to create some symmetry. Adding the darker blue supper plates near the top, then the two accent dishes directing the eye to look right, towards the bookcases.
A couple of medium blue un-matched plates, the smaller pair of salad plates, and 2 mismatched saucers. The dark butter pats put an exclamation point, in the small space under the sconces, and help to reinforce the darker plates above. An easel holds a creamed soup bowl on the table, balancing everything out. Ultimately I changed the tin sconces. Swapping them with this beautiful pair of pewter sconces, that were hiding in the bedroom. The oddly shaped dishes, and the sconces give the wall more depth while the painting anchors everything else. I think it turned out well.
In doing the trunk, I knew I was going to miss the traveling desk, so I went upstairs and grabbed the writing slope from the bedroom. Though smaller, it fit the bill. Placing an old rag rug on the top of the trunk for texture, then added the standing goose, some books, and chunky candlesticks. A sauce tureen complete with base plate, had found the perfect home on the closed writing slope. Perfect because of where the eye catches it. You can see the small platter, and details. The writing slope helps to isolate the space. A pewter tobacco jar and a carved pewter apple round out the display.
The corner cabinet lost its sconces and I made just a few changes. I added a figurine of a man standing with a planer in his hand. He is at his workbench planing a piece of wood. In his mouth, a curved pipe. He reminds me of my dad. Dad had a pipe just like that, and he was often in his garage making furniture and yes planing wood.
Removing the antique wicker tray, and replacing it with a pewter platter on the bottom shelf, gave me more breathing room. I also added in some handless cups, which are hard to come by in the mid-west. Many years ago I added a small chandelier to the interior of the cabinet. A small arched top antique mirror, helps to brighten that top shelf. And yes, the tin sconces are now upstairs in the bedroom.
Tackling the Tennessee pie safe was fairly easy. I took an old hunt scene out of the powder room, and placed it over the pie safe. Then I added in the sconces that were on the wall where the plate wall now is. I am in love with this addition. These sconce were my parents and hand made. When they received them, the tin was shiny. They used their secret recipe to age them. The play of the fancy sconces on the barn siding makes me smile. I am also happy with the soft blue hues in the hunt scene, reinforcing the blue around the room.
The wall above the sofa was probably the biggest dilemma. The barn vent was staying, but I had broken one of my small platters, resting on the wall bracket. Wanting to use the pair of prints, that had been hanging over the pie safe, they just weren’t working for me. Too much white space on the bottom of the picture, and did nothing to enhance the barn vent. I had them sitting on a table in waiting, and happened to have a small hops candle wreath sitting on one of the prints. I had a hmm moment. Could that work or is it just too weird? I decided to try it, so I went ahead and hung the pictures and then hung the candle wreaths on the prints. It was just enough. I love the way the prints play with the hunt scene on the perpendicular wall. It all works!
To the left, just one wall bracket, over the Restore tavern table. Enhanced with a small platter, a pewter plate, and a sugar bowl. Oh, and I brought down an old pedestal table from upstairs for the right side of the sofa.
To the far left of the couch is yet another bookcase. This is mostly a functional bookcase, holding the lions share of my design books. On the top shelf I kept it very simple with just a wonderful painting of a basket of eggs and a pair of brass candlesticks. I love the eggs but don’t have an ideal place to showcase it, so it gets moved around. We’ll see how long it stays here.
So that’s it. Yes, I would love to change this carpet but, it isn’t a priority at this time. I am very satisfied with this room. We all have had those spaces in our homes, that are filled with things we love but, for whatever reason they just don’t hang together. This room has been that for me. I love everything in it, and all furnishings were intentionally purchased, but as much as I love blue, I couldn’t get it to feel comfortable.
These few changes have made all the difference. The only money I spent, was a zipper for the cushion, and one new pillow form, oh and a couple of new bottles that I picked up at an estate sale.
The rest was just a reimagining of things I already had. I hope this encourages you to dig deep. Play with your things. Haul them out of cupboards, and see what can be made. If you look at any of my vignettes you will notice that nothing goes with anything else, yet the unrelated objects still create an interesting scape. Let me know what you think.
Thanks for stopping
Shelley
