Architectural Fragments As Design Inspiration

If you follow my blog, you know that architectural elements are a big part of my home design.   I use them inside my home as well as outside in my garden.   All the images I'm sharing are from older posts on my blog.   If you'd like to see the entire post, just click on the highlighted word or click on the image and you'll be directed to the full post.

I used half columns behind the day bed on my screened porch.

COLUMNS ON MY SCREENED PORCH

Part of a corinthian column is a side table in my foyer.

SECTION OF A COLUMN AS A TABLE BASE

The column next to the dresser in our bedroom once helped support a large mantel.

COLUMN FROM A VINTAGE MANTEL

I have another shorter column next to my favorite chippy chair.

COLUMN NEXT TO MY FRENCHY DESK AND FAVORITE CHAIR

A rescued garden gate fills a large wall space in my living room.

VINTAGE GARDEN GATE IN MY LIVING ROOM

On the bottom shelf of one of the bookcases in my family room,
 I used matching fragments as bookends.

ARCHITECTURAL FRAGMENTS AS BOOKENDS

There is another styled cupboard in my kitchen.
You can see the architectural fragments scattered on the shelves.

STYLED CUPBOARD IN MY KITCHEN

In the foreground of this image of my patio, you'll see two cement "urns".  They were once part of a large fountain.  Now, they're just my garden art.

MY PATIO

Chimney pots from the roof of an old building are planters in my garden.   I also placed salvaged cement fragments in my flower bed.

PERGOLA IN MY GARDEN

Do you rescue vintage fragments?  How do you use them?

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Wonky Bookcase Gets Pretty

Well we've moved our daughter into her lovely apartment.  While we were making our thousandth trip in the service elevator I saw her large wonky bookcase.  I thought it was going to collapse as we loaded it onto the cart.  I seriously wanted to throw it into the dumpster that was very near the loading dock.  She said she really wanted to keep it so we hauled it into the apartment.  I was looking around and I saw an alcove in the hallway.  It was very shallow and narrow and seemed to serve no purpose but I immediately said that we should see if the bookcase would fit in that spot.  Yea, it fit snugly.  The sides of the wall would support the bookcase.  And you know me the queen of sow's ear to silk purse, I suggested that we add hounds tooth wrapping paper to the back of the bookcase to spiff it up.

On my next visit I brought my roll of wrapping paper and we added it to the back.  Then we styled it.

It looks so pretty now.

The sides weren't the only wobbly part.  Now that the sides were stabilized we addressed the other wonkiness.  The top shelf was falling down too.  

My solution, stack some books and hold it up.  It worked!

She had most of the accessories.  We just put all her stuff on the table and picked and chose what to add.  She had purchased the orange boxes and magazine holders before the move.  Not only do they add just the right interspersed pop of color, but they also provide much-needed storage.  My only contribution was the set of books with the elephant spines which she requested.

She had the shell mirror and the shells.  I always like to have a mirror somewhere when I'm styling a bookshelf and this one fit perfectly.

Did you notice that she likes owls?  They made great bookends.

She was very happy with the result, but I told her that when she moves again, 

this shelf is destined for the dumpster.

Kathy

If you'd like a tutorial about how to style a bookcase, go here for more detailed instructions.

Gilding the Lily

In an earlier post I gave instructions on how to style a bookcase.
This was the result of my styling.

I like the collected-over-time look of my bookcases, but I've always been drawn to the uniform look of the Restoration Hardware bookshelves with the books covered in

a solid color.  Here's one of the shelves I like.

Restoration Hardware

I decided I'd like to give it a try and found some large books at a sale.
My only requirement was that they were all similar heights.
They were perfect for covering.  I purchased some white craft paper on a roll and I was ready to go.  Anyone who has covered a text book can do this.

I measured the width and doubled the measurement.  To that I added the width of the spine plus 8 more inches to allow for the fold overs on the front and back covers.

Next I measured the height and added 4 more inches to allow for the folds on the top and bottom.

I unrolled the craft paper onto my sewing cutting board.  The grid helps me measure  and draw a straight line.  I used my metal square also to make sure all was straight.  I then covered the books with the same method I use for school text books.

Here they are covered.  You know me though, I just couldn't stop there.  It was time to gild the lily.  So much for the Restoration Hardware look.

I decided to add images to the spine of the books.  The first thing I did was copy an old clock face I had.  I then cut it into thirds.

I glued the image to the spine with Mod Podge.
I also top coated the images to protect and seal them.

I really liked how it turned out.
Since I still had more books, I selected another image and cut it in quarters.

I liked this too so I copied some antique architectural bookplates that I had and cut them into strips and applied them to my other books.

You can see that I used three books for the building and decided to turn the two other books with a different architectural print on their sides.  I staged this photo in my laundry room.  I haven't shared that room yet, but I have three over-sized architectural prints in stainless frames.  I thought they would be a good back drop.  The urn and the finial are also part of the laundry room decor.  Underneath the items is a weathered and mottled mirror.

Yes, I'm out of control with this.  I had several vintage cardboard childrens' animal toys.  I decided to copy the elephant, then I cut him into fifths to fit the books I had.

I did a twist with this one.  I had some orange wrapping paper left over from Christmas.  I have to say that it was much easier to work with the wrapping paper.  I also removed the white back ground from the elephant copy before gluing him down.


I think I like the elephant the best.  What's your favorite?

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