ALTERED SPINES

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Thanks.  Now, on to altered spines---on books that is.

Sometimes I'm inspired to do some creative project.  Several years ago I did just that.  I found some books that were the same height and covered them with wrapping paper, much like we did in high school with our text books.  I lined them up and decoupaged images to the spines.  The link to the blog post with the tutorial is at the end of this post.  Check it out if you feel inspired.

You know how much I love orange.  I used orange wrapping paper for these books.  The elephant is a copy of a vintage cardboard children's animal toy.  They're on the bottom shelf of my favorite bamboo side table.

ELEPHANT ON BOOK SPINES

This image of coral was from a calendar of sea life images.  I used the pages from this calendar to create a gallery wall in my daughter's apartment.

CORAL IMAGE ON BOOKS

I collect architectural prints/book plates.  I made copies from my originals and added them to books.  Currently, these books are on the brass and chrome bookshelves in my family room.

ARCHITECTURAL PRINT OF BUILDINGS WITH A SANTOS BOOKEND

This is another copy of an architectural print sandwiched between vintage faux marble bookends.

ARCHITECTURAL PRINTS BETWEEN VINTAGE FAUX MARBLE BOOKENDS

I don't know what this "building" was used for, but it's the perfect size for this image of a clock face.

IMAGE OF A CLOCK FACE INSIDE A "BUILDING"

If you'd like to see the tutorial on how I created new spines, go here.

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Updated Drexel Furniture

Oops, forgot to take the before, but it was your basic natural wood, and quite a versatile piece.

I don't know whether to call it a desk, a vanity, or a console table.  It could be any of these and could also be placed in the center of the room because its front is just as ornate as its back.

Styled Drexel Furniture with a Kantha Quilt as a Back Drop

I painted it a weathered gray and lightly distressed it.

Love the original hardware.

Wire Cloche with Architectural Prints, #3 Box With Lid, Urn Lamp

Bocce Balls in a Carved Dough Bowl

Kathy

Sharing On:  Simple Details:  The Best of the Nest
 and No Minimalist Here

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You Can Frame It

I'm always coming across antique hand-colored book plates,
architectural prints, and other vintage ephemera that is too lovely not to save and frame. 
 Framing can be pretty costly, but I've found a few ways to display the treasures in not so expensive ways.

One of the easier ways to frame your "art" is to simply use a picture frame.  I find that picture frames  have much more interesting designs and also find them to be much less expensive than custom frames.  I also like to use the frames because you have the option of hanging them on a wall, or displaying them on a flat surface like a mantel, table, or bookcase.  I always try to purchase them with both options.  Similar to this.

Recently I bought a pair of frames.  I loved them because they looked like patent leather.
  I decided to contrast the contemporary frames with old world architectural prints. 
I like to find a frame very close to the measurements of my artwork.  If you need to trim the artwork, I use the glass in the frame for a pattern.  You can see through it and know exactly where to cut.  I trim with a small exacto knife and use the edges of the glass as a straight edge.  I use a cutting board under the print I'm trimming.  It's always a perfect fit.

Old World Meets Modern

I also like to recycle unique vintage picture frames.  I found this wonderful print of a man's face.  It was the cover on an early French magazine.  I loved his face and the french words surrounding him.

It fit perfectly into this ornate vintage metal frame.  The only expense was the frame and the magazine.  No need to pay for a custom frame and mat.  And, the look is unique.

 Many possibilities for this framed print.

If you really like the look of a matted print, I have another solution.  Most of the framing cost is in the frame itself.  If you already have the frame, you can have a custom mat cut for your art for less than $20.  For example, I bought this beautiful antique gilded frame with metal ornamentation.

I wanted to frame an antique hand-colored book plate of a stork.

Stork Book Plate

I had the frame shop cut a mat to fit the frame and the art.  The mat only cost $16.
I usually pay a little more to have the frame shop install the mat and print.


Here's the final result.

Here it is on my bookshelf in my family room.

One last example.  I had an antique bird print and antique frame.  Again, I had a mat cut to fit the print and the frame and had it installed.

Here it is on the shelf of the other matching bookcase.

Please share your framing successes.

Kathy


To see a previous post about how I styled this pair of bookcases, go here.

Mirror Images

I've been noticing how interesting the reflections are in the mirrors in my home.  I decided to snap some mirror images.  If you're interested in which room is reflected, I've highlighted a link to the post within the text.
This modern geometric mirror is resting on my family room mantel.  Part of my chevron-backed bookcases is reflected there.

The convex sunburst mirror in my foyer gives a somewhat distorted image of my stairwell.

My shell map and my chinoiserie chandelier as well as my painted branches reflect in my greek key mirror on my mantel in my sunroom.

The next two reflections are from the mirror on my screened porch.  The first shows my ceiling tile art and one of my santos.

The second shows my wire orb and some iron candlesticks on the porch.

This next mirror is between my bookcases.

My pier mirror leans in the corner behind my sofa and my sofa table in my living room.
My bookcase and chandelier reflect into it.

This mirror is also in my living room.  It was actually a picture frame and I added a mirror to it.  Reflected in this ornate gilt frame are my iron pedestal spheres ,which I use as bookends, and framed black and white architectural prints.

My orange chinoiserie chandelier and a sneak peek of my wine poster appear in this mirror.

My stack of suitcases on my luggage rack and my chandy reflect in my decadent mirror
 in my powder room.

My driftwood, coral, and clam shell appear in my mirrored-top table.

That was fun.  I did realize though that I'm a little obsessed with sunburst mirrors.

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Another Laundry/Pantry Change Up

Recently I updated my kitchen with new fabric and furniture.

Since my laundry/pantry adjoins the kitchen I decided to continue the new look in there too.

BEFORE

AFTER

 If you saw the post about the kitchen you'll recognize the Schumacher chevron fabric on the window and also as a full length drapery in the powder room.  I also changed the two prints on the wall.

View from Kitchen

I also changed the curtains that cover the under-the-counter washer and dryer to a Lee Jofa linen fabric.  If you saw my post on my additional kitchen chairs you'll know that I used this fabric on a pair of parsons chairs too.

  I kept the swing arm curtain rods for easy access to the washer and dryer.

This is the opposite wall with the tiered restaurant pot rack and part of my pantry cupboard.

This is the best I could do with the photo of the pantry cabinet.  The room is long and narrow and I couldn't get back far enough to get a good pic.   You get the idea though. 
(I tried standing on the counter,  lying on the floor, and I even tried to take it from outside through the window.)

  It is an old cabinet.  It needed a top so we added boards similar to the counter.  To co-ordinate it with the corner cabinet we added rope molding and fluting on the sides.  It's been perfect as a pantry.  It has shelves and is just shallow enough so I can actually view everything I have stored inside.  The wide doors also make it easy to access.

This last image is of my favorite feature in the room--the three framed prints.  If you've been following me you know I'm always using architectural prints in my styling.
Below the prints is an urn with a boxwood ball, the books I covered in architectural prints,  a vintage document box, and my signature finial and orb.   I use these document boxes for storage in almost every room.  This one holds small jars of labeled paint samples from my home.  It's much easier to open a small container than it is to open -- and find-- a gallon of paint when I need to do a touch up.


 
So what do you think of this change up?

If you missed the kitchen redo post, go here.  If you missed the previous pantry/laundry change up go here.  To see the parsons chairs in the Lee Jofa fabric, go here.


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Piero Fornasetti and A Pair of Rain Boots

For a while now I have been fascinated by the painter, sculptor, craftsman and decorator, Piero Fornasetti.  (bio here)  I don't know if it's because he's Italian, like me, or that many of his pieces are in black and white.  I've been accused of wearing only black and white, but I have made an effort lately to add some yellow, orange, and green.   Or, that many of his works have architectural themes.  I love and buy architectural engravings and representations whenever I can.

I think what he is best known for are his porcelain plates with unique variations of the same woman's face.  This was how I first discovered him.

Here she is depicted on a wallpaper sample.

And another selection of a unique variation of her image on plates.

All the following images in this post are from 1stdibs.  The items on this site are totally out of my price range, but the selection of items is amazing.  You should go there just to get a feel for how prolific, unique, and eclectic he was.

 Below are some of my favorites from this site.

Architectural Fornasetti Folding Screen

Arm Chair with Fornasetti Fabric

Teapot with Part of That Famous Face

Zigzag Table

Lamp Base.

Whimsical Tray

Umbrella Stand

Sea Life Tray

Corinthian Column Chair

Fornasetti Poster

This is the piece I'm lusting for:  A Fornasetti Cabinet

And after all that, you're probably asking, what do the boots have to do with this?  Well, the post was inspired by these rain boots I found while visiting my sister in Annapolis.  I call them my Fornasetti- style rain boots and like them even better than my leopard rain boots.  Here they are in my garden.

The only  Fornasetti items I own are a book, purchased on Amazon (filled with illustrations)

and this Swatch Watch, from eBay.  I found that the prices on eBay are very reasonable, but not quite the selection of 1stdibs.   They even have knock off pillow covers on eBay.  I'm tempted to buy them.  Has anyone purchased them and liked them?

In my dreams I go to an estate sale full of Fornasetti that I can afford.

Kathy

Some non-Fornasetti info:  If you're in Annapolis, MD, on one street you'll find Target, Restoration Hardware, Anthropologie, Arhaus Furniture, and a Latin restaurant with the best Happy Hour ever, Palador.

I haven't forgotten about the screened porch.  I'm working on it and will post about some landscaping next.  Stay tuned  by subscribing by email in my side bar.