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If you have followed my blog for any amount of time you may have noticed that I do like accessories. I find that when I view rooms, whether in a magazine or online, I zero in on the accessories.
I’ve been known to get tired of them (accessories) when they start to feel more like clutter than enhancement, but for me it’s the little things that can make a room, add interest, invite me to sit and stay awhile. It’s an ever-changing interior landscape that I have fun wit.
I prefer accessories with a story, like, “oh, I picked this up when we visited __________”[fill in the blank], or, “my kind, old neighbor gave them to me”. These stories make a room feel like a home (as opposed to just a ‘house’), don’t you agree?
The “little things” can also be adding something small, but new, to a room. New throw pillows, a new-found horse statue, complete with acquisition story, an used coffee table book from Friends of the Library.
My friend recently had new pillows made for her living room, the yellow Pierre Deux-like fabric livens up and enhances everything in the room, great job, Linda.
We used to call Linda the “vignette queen” because of her talents with arranging items. Another example of her skill is this little vignette that she has in her master bath in their home on Bainbridge Island. More of Linda’s house and this magical island next month!
The lavender, painting, jars for soaps and such, all together make such a pretty spot in her bathroom.
The smallest item can be something that draws you to a particular area in a room.
I discovered this little horse statue at a flea market I attended with my future daughter-in-law, I will always remember that fun day when I see this…stories such as this I like to weave into my own home accessorizing and enjoy hearing about from other homeowners.
We are fortunate to have a used book store inside our library. I’ve found a lot of old books there for usually less than $5.00. The little bronze Scottie dog was a gift from my friend Carla.
There are few table tops in my home that don’t have some kind of vignette.
This flower man statue was a birthday present years ago from my friends of the birthday group, the little pewter sugar cellar with greens came from my friend, Gretchen. These accents have spent time in nearly every living space in our home. For me that is the fun of mixing things up.
I bought this antique side board some years ago before one of my favorite sources for antiques went away, Bill (Kottler’s Antiques) retired, darn! The Napoleon Staffordshire statue, which had been repaired before I purchased it, was made into a lamp by Custom House Lighting. Napolean was recently relocated from our family room to the dining room for the fall/winter months—he needed a vacation.
Even the French coat rack in the entry can’t escape, The binoculars in the old leather case were my father-in-law’s, the small pair next to the case were given to my mother by a dear friend, I ultimately inherited them. The antique riding cap was acquired on one of the many antiquing trips Carla and I used to make before I rejoined the corporate world of full time work. The Pendleton wool blanket, while new, is a favorite since, with it’s carrying strap, it seems vintage (a Christmas gift from our oldest son and family).
The kitchen is a room that often goes UN-accessorized, yet I’ve seen designers hang paintings in kitchens with great success. Our kitchen doesn’t have the wall space for more than one painting, but I did manage to put a small, silver antique horse (that I had made into a accent lamp) next to the stove.
There are design stores that use accessories within the vignettes they stage. I know that I am always drawn to each detail of this kind of marketing and I would guess it helps them sell the furniture.
Mary Ann of Classic Casual Home posted about a design studio, Elizabeth Benefield, that did a beautiful job of staging. (Below).
~and~
I always delight in the stories many bloggers share. It’s fun to hear how they acquired some of the pieces featured in their homes.
This sweet statue has a great story behind it finding its way into my blog-friend, Victoria’s home. {If you’ve never visited Victoria Elizabeth Barnes blog you are in for a treat, she and her husband are renovating a 1890 Victorian home outside Philadelphia. Her posts are witty and entertaining}
I am forever seeking inspiration and ideas for accessories. I enjoy changing them up by season and when the creative mood hits me. I revisit certain blogs for a seemingly unending supply of decorative inspiration and one of my all-time favorites is for the love of a house. Joan and Dan renovated a historic home in New Hampshire, this after moving from Texas! If you enjoy a good before and after you will thoroughly enjoy the ongoing tale of their work on this home.
Joan used to own an antique store and each item in their home has a story, the memories of acquisition are wonderful treasures for those of us with an interest in home decor.
One of my other favorites for accessory placement inspiration is Charles Faudree. In his book “Details” he provides ideas by the area you are specifically in need of help with…mantels, walls, table top, etc.
Charles Faudree is the king of French and English rooms of this style. I especially love his Cavalier Spaniels that appear in so many of his rooms. Pets, for some, are the ultimate accessory {guilty as charged}. Side note: I met him once at a book signing and he is such a nice, Southern gentleman.
Do you enjoy accessories or do you prefer the clean lines of “less is more”? It’s the little things in life, never the giant issues, that provide contentment, right?
Victoria Elizabeth Barnes said:
The blue doll is now lording it over the other two—that she is famous on the Internet, and they are not… She’s demanding her own dressing room, and referencing Lady Gaga.
I love your accent lamps. Especially the Napoleon one. It looks like a lot of your collection will come in handy when you finally move to your estate in the English countryside. Wise of you to be gathering it now.
p.s.- in all seriousness, thank you for the complement of including me! I’m so flattered. It’s like being featured in Town and Country, or ELLE décor, except way more exclusive!!
Karen B. said:
Victoria,
LOL! Yep, that was my thinking, when we move into Donwell Abbey I don’t want to have to rush out to Ikea last minute to furnish the many rooms, I’m collecting now to make the transition easier.
I hope the blue girl comes back down to earth as the fame wears off! I thoroughly enjoy your site and feel certain fame is around the corner and then you’ll be pressed for time with book deals and such, and unable to leave comments on your fan’s sites. 🙂
Karen
trouverlesoleil said:
Love your antique side board! .. and YES.. the right accessories, perfectly placed, can really change the look and feel of a room. Also a fan of Charles Faudree and I must get the book on DETAILS that you mention.
Hope your week is going well.
Karen B. said:
Leslie,
Thanks! If you like Charles Faudree I believe you’ll really like Details, it’s one of the best books he’s published (in my opinion).
Enjoy the rest of your week and the upcoming weekend, and thanks for your visit.
Karen
Keri said:
I Love accessories. I have bought so many of them before the fundamentals of the room were in place only to realize afterward that I had no place for the accessory. ::sigh:: So I’m trying to be disciplined now, only buying accessories after the essentials are there. (Just one more of those pieces of advice my mother gave me that turns out to be true). I
Karen B. said:
Keri,
I know what you mean, the “smalls” were often what I could afford and love, but I’ve edited quite a bit and now find I’m pretty disciplined. That said, I confess I do melt when I stumble upon a bronze this, or antique leather-bound book!
Mom’s do give the best advice.
Karen
Splendid WIllow said:
Look at you Ms. Karen – quite the lovely vignette queen yourself! Particularly like the treasured itmes in your foyer. Sentimental and personal that’s the ticket to creating a real and inviting home. Homes that look like showrooms don’t impress me one bit!
Hugs to you and happy weekend!
ox, Mon
Garden, Home and Party said:
😀
Thanks, Mon.
You have a great weekend as well!
xo,
Karen
Kifus said:
I love making vignettes. Especially with meaningful pieces, though my kids and hubby tend to add unsightly objects.
Am looking at my side table now with my lovely lamp, a framed photograph and three stacked old hardcover books, then my kids have added a bottle of pc screen cleaner, an empty ipod box, earplugs hanging form the side, and a crumpled piece of paper… so much for my vignette!
Love Linda’s arrangement in the bathroom.
Karen B. said:
Kifus,
LOL. That is truly life’s vignettes, the kids do add an element that only kids can achieve. I love the idea of a stack of old books. I even like the old cloth bound books with their added detail on the cover. Sounds perfect wonderful even with the PC cleaner and ear buds!
Have a wonderful weekend.
xo,
Karen
Loi Thai said:
Dear Karen –
How boring and lifeless would a room be without accessories? I love accessories, too, and think they are even more special with a little story behind them. You’ve styled everything brilliantly, and my favorite is the hall rack / shelf. The entire vignette is very old world, charming and handsome. It looks like it came out of an English manor home 🙂 Love the stories behind the individual pieces.
Cheers!
Loi
Karen B. said:
Thanks, Loi. That is the supreme compliment for me…English manor/cottage house is the look I strive to achieve. 🙂
Karen
Carla said:
Karen…loved your post on accessories….I can remember many excursions taken together when we focused a goodly sum of our energy on finding the “right” small piece to enhance a table or chest. Like bloodhounds on the scent we have traversed Brimfield’ antique fields and little hamlets in the Cotswald ALWAYS sniffing around for a deal. I know first hand how long you hauled that stone hedgehog we found in Broadway around in your luggage. Your strength of will when it comes to carting home collectibles is daunting! I think the philosophy we share of leaving the dirty clothes behind on a trip in order to pack a treasure trove of bits and bobs is one of the reasons we are friends for life. Here’s to many more pursuits of finding a pig’s ear and turning it into a silk purse ti highlight a side table! You have the vision to create interesting and lovely vignettes that inspire us all. CARLA
Karen B. said:
Carla,
Those were the good old days! I think we’re overdue for an excursion to seek out that one little treasure that will undoubtedly make the room.
Karen
Gretchen said:
Karen, your knack for finding and displaying the perfect accessories is without rival. I particularly like all the brass dogs, horses etc. that you’ve acquired over the years. I’ve always been more of a “less is more” type but you and Linda have shown me that little vignettes can add so much charm and detail to a house.
Karen B. said:
Gretchen,
I get in “less is more” moods every spring, but come fall I let the dogs out, pun intended. Thanks for your kind words and your regular comments, I truly appreciate you!
Karen
Linda Coble said:
Karen,
Once again you’ve shown your talent for putting together the most wonderful posts. I’m so flattered that you included pictures of my home as part of the mix. I’ve always thought you were the queen of accessories and you’ve inspired me time and again.
Thanks for another fantastic post.
Linda
Karen B. said:
Thanks, Linda!