Minimalism SUCKS!

As I’m sure you’ve gathered from the title, I am not a minimalist.  I personally think minimalism is cold, boring and just plain no fun! I need to borrow some quotes from the USA’s resident fun decorator, Jonathan Adler.  In his manifesto he says, “We believe in irreverent luxury,We believe that your home should make you happy, We believe minimalism is a bummer, We believe handcrafted tchotchkes are life-enhancing, We believe tassels are the earrings of the home, We believe in being underdressed or overdressed always, We believe dogs should be allowed in stores and restaurants, We believe colors can't clash.” 
Back to me.  Now I must stress- the opposite of minimalism is clutter and that is also something I’m not into at all (AT ALL- it really makes me crazy!) 

I advocate controlled vignettes that allow personality to permeate your interior.  Achieving this, however, is something of an art form and is personal to the people who live in the house. 
You also need a place for the eye to rest, so be sure there is empty space. 
A vignette is a still life arrangement on a table, mantle book shelf, nightstand etc., that is balanced with tall and short, textured and slick, color and lack thereof. 

Most of all it’s a collection of things that make you happy and mean something.

Cote de Texas



Lindsey Harper

Melissa Gulley Portfolio

Jane McGarry


Ludwig Interior

Melissa Gulley Portfolio

House Beautiful

Lindsey Harper

Branca Interiors
Here are some links to articles on how to create the perfect table top Vignette:
http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/10820?utm_campaign=updates&utm_medium=email&utm_content=gallery5
http://www.ehow.com/how_5143987_design-tabletop-display.html
http://www.thelennoxx.com/?p=4713
http://www.hgtv.com/decorating/8-tips-for-making-beautiful-vignettes/index.html
http://interiordecorating.suite101.com/article.cfm/how_to_style_and_accessorize_a_coffee_table
I will leave you with a little more Jonathan Adler.  Here are a few of his “10 commandments of a happy chic home”  totally Hysterical- go to his web site www.johathanadler.com for more fun!
#1
Thou shalt embrace maximalism. Thou wilt find minimalism to be something of a bummer in thy abode. Thou wilt grow tired of an endless sea of beige and thou wilt long for a splash of color & a dollop of pattern! Bargello pillows, Furnace bottles, and rustic modern lamps - these shalt be the accessories that add some panache to your pad. #3
Thou shalt buy an X-Bench. Then, thou shalt buy another. Thou shalt use them in pairs, perfect under thy console or placed near thy sofa. Thou shalt rest thy feet upon them & so will thy guests. In fact, thy guests might even fight over who gets to rest upon them. Therefore, thou shalt establish house rules about thy X-Benches. Perhaps thou should consider a sign up sheet. #5
Thou shalt mix fancy with frisky. Thou shalt not be overly formal, for if thou art, thou will be sad. Conversely, thou shalt not be overly whimsical, for if thou art thou will not feel chic. Therefore, thou shalt embrace a mix, pairing the chic classical foundation - excellent proportions, classic furniture - with a layer of playful punctuation. Then thou shalt rest.
#6
Thou shalt honor the funsters of yore. David Hicks, Alexander Girard, Piero Fornasetti, Bonnie Cashin, Bjorn Wiinblad - if thou dost not knoweth them, thou should. Thou can use Google Images to learn more about them and thou shalt channel their fun, idiosyncratic, playful spirit in thine own interiors. Thy home will be fun, happy, and chic.
#7
Thou shalt not commit murder, unless thou art murdering for a decorative accessory. If thou should find thyself at one of our stores and seeth the last bird bowl on our shelf, thou shalt feel free to use whatever means necessary to obtain that special something.

YIKES a snake!

Antique snake jewelry!  To me there is something so beautiful about organic shapes and symbols done in precious metals and stones.  To make the common into decadent art is so appealing.  Now I know my Mother-in-law (deathly afraid of snakes) will read this and think the last remaining small bit of my brain has finally drained from my head (hi Nanc), but these pictures are truly stunning.  I was recently in a jewelry store and the owner told me that people have been melting down antique jewelry and selling the gold in this bad economy.  The gold, he said, can be worth more than the antique piece (many of which are very heavy). 

Blasphemy!!! 

 

In the Victorian era, the snake symbolized eternity, vitality and life.

"In many cultures it is believed to protect one from evil spirits…It is the mystic representation of the snake that fascinates many people. Take the Egyptians. The snake was worshipped and feared. The native American’s saw the snake as a healer and so on.” Jane H. Clark

"The SNAKE or serpent was the symbol of royalty and deity in early Egyptian society. Victorian jewelry often used an entwined snake to symbolize infinity and eternal love. Over the years the snake has also come to symbolize sexuality, rebirth and wisdom.
While serpent motif jewelry goes far back in history, it's popularity really spread starting in the 1840s and peaked between then and the 1860s (Understanding Jewelry, Bennett, pages 88 & 104).

Whatever, i just love it.  Hey Kev, my birthday’s in a month.

I’ve Been Clocked!

If you don’t know by now I have a pretty healthy obsession with the color turquoise.  It all started with a tiny French carriage clock given to me by my grandmother (who also LOVED the color)  This tiny clock was a gift from her father after he returned from a long trip to France in the early 1900’s.  He brought back three clocks for his three daughters, all somewhat similar- except for the color.  My grandmother Alice had turquoise, her sisters Ines and Winn had pink and yellow.  See my beloved clock below:

This clock started my obsession with turquoise, as well as a collection of Guilloche with enamel.  According to Wikipedia:

Guilloché, phonetically pronounced gee-oh-SHAY is a French word for the process of engraving either by hand or by machine intricate repetitive patterns.  Guilloché, is an engraving technique in which a very precise intricate repetitive pattern or design is mechanically etched into an underlying material with fine detail. Specifically, it involves a technique of engine turning, called guilloché in French after the French engineer “Guillot”, who invented a machine “that could scratch fine patterns and designs on metallic surfaces”. The machine improved upon the more time-consuming practice of making similar designs by hand, allowing for greater delicacy, precision, and closeness of the line, as well as greater speed.  Yet another account is that it derives from the French word for an engraving tool, not the engine turning machine.

Further details on Guilloche from e-Bay:

Although Enamel and Guilloché was used, pairing-first, applied by Peter Carl Fabergé on the Faberge eggs in the 1880’s-they are nevertheless two separate techniques and were not applied to one another until Fabergé.
Below is a picture of Guilloche with out the applied enamel:

Next group of pictures below are examples of Guilloche after enamel:

The machines used to create guilloché designs are no longer produced. Today true guilloché can be found in mostly luxury watches and then only a very few companies practice the art.  The guilloché technique can be seen in various antique and vintage jewelry and vanity items from compacts, pocket watches and  dresser sets to charms.

 And then of course, there is my favorite- CLOCKS.  See below a bevy of clocks to delight the eyes:

    

Because this process is no longer practiced, these items have become very desirable, expensive and hard to find.

My life as a professional Scavenger

Many many years ago (In what seems like a different life) I worked as a photo stylist- It was tons of fun, tons of stress and very exciting.  I remember being asked to find a solid crystal globe.  It could be anywhere from 3” to 12” in diameter but had to be etched like a globe.  This was pre- internet (dating myself I know) you can only imaging how hard this was to find.  I was paid three day rates to complete this task.  This was the hardest item I’ve ever had to find.

Now in 2010 it would take me about 2 seconds to locate the item on Google and a simple overnight delivery charge and presto- task done.  Total cost to find globe about $50.00 Vs. $3000.00 PI (pre- internet).  My kids can’t believe I used to go “Old School” searching- they think it’s hysterical.
Now I’m addicted to all the fun ways to shop and there are seemingly new ways popping up daily, my favorites are:
http://www.ebay.com/
http://www.1stdibs.com/
http://vandm.com/
Lately I love searching in auction listings, and I can blow threw hours at:
http://www.liveauctioneers.com/
Some of the antiques directories are fun:
http://www.goantiques.com/
http://www.tias.com/
http://www.rubylane.com/
I have had great luck finding art for clients as well as the perfect unique accessory- Check them out and have fun!  This is just a partial list of the possible fun out there, What are your favorites?