Store Display Ideas to Steal for Your Home

In my opinion, no one does store display better than Anthropologie.  Their merchandising is unique, creative, and always out-of-the-box.  I'm inspired and awed by their presentations.  I don't know about you, but I always take something away from their displays that I can use in my own home.

Not that I can even come close to Anthro's creativity, but I thought I'd share some ideas from this month's sale at our store, Buckeystown Design Co-op, that you could steal and use in your home.

We all have books on our shelves.  Did you ever think about using candlesticks as bookends instead?  These candleholders are made from porch balustraudes and perfectly support the books as well as adding interest to this dresser top.  Just for fun I added a crown instead of a candle to the candlestick and draped a beaded garland over the books.

CANDLESTICK BOOK ENDS

When vintage books have uneven ruffled pages, or even marbleized edges, I turn the spine to the back and let the decorative pages show instead.

BOOKS WITH SPINES FACING BACKWARDS

I always use architectural fragments in my displays.  One of my favorite fragments are large chippy corbels.  I used this fabulous piece as an easel.  It supports another book, but it could just as easily support a piece of art, a small mirror, a picture frame, or an interesting find.

CORBEL AS AN EASEL

Multiples always work.  I think groupings of threes or another odd numbered multiple works the best.  I even wrote about my fascination with threes in a previous blog post.  Click on this link to read it. 

You can also view my blog post about threes in my home here.

THREES ALWAYS WORK---OR ANY ODD NUMBERED MULTIPLE

Trays aren't just for food.  They can hold treasures or be changed up seasonally for holidays.   Note:  my metal tray is filled with a mix of sizes and textures.  What pulls it all together is the repeat of the colors gold, silver, and metallics.  Repetition is another of my go to display ideas.

REPEAT COLOR AND TEXTURE

Post office cubbies can hold your wine stash too.

See how I used post office boxes in my home here.

REPURPOSED POST OFFICE CUBBIES FOR WINE BOTTLES

Another idea for repurposing is to use the drawers in an apothecary cabinet as a jewelry box.

DRAWERS IN AN APOTHECARY CHEST FOR JEWELRY

So, in a nutshell:

Repeated Color

Layering

Out-of-the-Box Uses of Accessories

Mix of New and Vintage

Groupings of Like Items

Mix of Textures

Mix of Sizes and Heights

Books as Risers/Pedestals

( I've written about this in more detail before here.)

I'm looking forward to seeing all you Washington DC locals this weekend at the coop.

Cottage Garden 2017

I sometimes feel that my cottage garden is a bit unruly, even a bit out of control with its crowded bursts of color.   As the summer progresses though and the blooms take turns at center stage, I'm amazed at the variety of color and form.  One other thing I love about the cottage garden is the number of bees and butterflies in my yard.  Here are some of my most recent blooms.

I've had this speedwell for a while in the garden.  It's a deep purple that plays off the lighter purples of my lavender and russian sage.

Next to the speedwell is some salvia.  It popped up this year next to the speedwell.  The red/purple color combo is very appealing.  I love volunteer surprises.

The newest addition to my garden is a hydrangea tree.  It's about five feet tall and the blooms are so gorgeous.  It adds some height to the garden.  You can see the russian sage at its base and the lantana in the foreground.

My lantana is so happy that its growing beyond its bed and onto the sidewalk.  Oh how I wish it were a perennial in the north.  It thrives in the sun and heat.

Did you know that there's a perennial hibiscus plant?  In just one year mine has grown into a large shrub with enormous blooms.

I love how it weaves its way through my garden fence.

I hate that this perennial is called a joe pye weed.  

It has been covered with butterflies since it bloomed and doesn't look like a weed to me at all.

Do you have a cottage garden?