Sunday, 31 August 2008

The Problem Stairway Wall and a Sweet Award...



For many years after moving into my current home, I occasionally pondered the decorating dilemma of the long, seemingly endless wall that runs the length of the main stairway of my home. Eventually, a creaky little cob-webbed door opened in my befuddled brain, and I recalled a visit to a friend's home many years before. I could see it now, a stairway wall, much shorter than mine...but covered in a large number of pictures with the frames almost touching each other...but not quite. It definitely made a dramatic impression and I remembered loving the way it looked!
I decided to try something along the same lines, but I knew it would be different. I planned to use a collection of very old family portraits/photographs, many of which are enclosed in wonderful, antique framing. As I planned and schemed, I realized I didn't have quite enough pictures to cover the main focal area seen, as one climbed or descended the stairway. I came up with a solution I thought I would share with you today...perhaps it will inspire or give you some new ideas for your problem wall.


View as you enter through the front door...



Below, old family portraits and photographs are mixed with mirrors and wall shelves. Also, resting on each of the wall shelves is a family photo...some of which are so small they would have been lost if hung on the wall.


Most of the wall shelves and mirrors came from a Ballard's Outlet that used to be near my home, but unfortunately, has now closed. :-( The cost for this display, not counting the family photographs, was somewhere around $150...not too bad a price to take care of a problem area this large. :-)

A tip: One thing I would do differently, if I were to do this again, would be to start the the lower row a few inches higher up from the hand rail. At present, it's a little easy to bump into a picture as your hand glides down the handrail.

View from top of stairway, looking down...



Take a look at some of the picture displays and wall arrangements I found at Southern Accents, online. Notice the impact multiple pics make as a opposed to hanging one really large picture or painting.

Sorry the photos are a bit blurry. Unfortunately, enlarging them in order to give you a better view, blurs the pictures just a little.












Here's a great book I recently found...it's full of creative ways to display your pictures and photos...



Another little tip: When I hang light to medium weight objects, like photos or paintings, I often hang them first on a straight pin...just until I am sure I like where the painting is going to be. If I change my mind, the hole made by a straight pin is barely visible. If I do like the placement, I replace the straight pin with a nail, unless of course, it is light enough that a straight pin is all that is needed.

When hanging more substantial pieces, I love using an Ook. Their design allows you to hold a heavy picture or mirror with the smallest of nails, thus, making the tinest hole in the wall...I love 'em. You can find Ooks at Home Depot, Linens and Things, Bed, Bath and Beyond and Ace Hardware stores.


Thanks for stopping by and please feel free to comment and share your picture hanging tips.


I am happy and very humbled to announce that I recently received a beautiful award from Tootsie, http://tootsietime.blogspot.com/. Making it even more special is the fact it's my very FIRST award, ever! Thank you , Glenda, (Tootsie) for this award!



Now, the rules state I must choose 7 bloggers, whose blog I also, love...then pass this award along to them. I love so very many blogs; this is the hardest part. I tried to pick blogs/bloggers I love to visit and who have not already received this lovely...here are my choices:


http://houseinroses.blogspot.com/


http://www.ratemyfavoritespaces.com/


http://terriedj.blogspot.com/


http://dearlittleredhouse.blogspot.com/


http://southerngirlrambling.blogspot.com/


http://bella1104.blogspot.com/2008/09/how-do-i-look-new-name-giveaway.html


http://deardaisycottage.typepad.com/

If the above great bloggers choose, they may now pass this same award to 7 blogs they enjoy visiting, as well. :-) Now, I'm off to let each of these lovely folks know they have been chosen for this wonderful award. Thanks again, Tootsie! You made my day!<

Tuesday, 26 August 2008

ENTRY WITH A GLOW...



Have you ever noticed each time you decide to pull up stakes and move, you usually have this little list running through your mind...a list of what your next home "MUST have", or else, you would just as soon not move. And then there's that other list...the " WISH it had" list. At present, I am living in my third home, having lived in my first home four years, second home, seven years and now my third for eighteen.

My first home had an entry or foyer, sort of. It measured approximately 4 x 4...as in, feet...as in, tiny...as in, pretty-much-non-existent. Our second home was a bit better, but not much. There was no room in the entry for a table and I realllly wanted a table...with a lamp. On walks in the evenings I would pass by homes in the evening and see the warm glow of a lamp in their entry. It said, HOME...and I craved that.



By the time I was house hunting for the third time, the "must-have" and the "wish-it-had" lists had definitely grown. And running through my head, at the top of the "must-have" list, was the word "Entry" followed by the description, "large enough for a table with a lamp."

I have met so many wonderful friends in Blog Land. I do think it's time I welcomed you into my home. :-) So won't you please come in...I am so glad you are here!




The table with the...well, you know... :-)




Aglow at night...




View from Family Room...




Just in case you missed it the first time :-)




A few details...






Tree of Life rugs (or Tree rugs) are distinct in that they represent one of the oldest spiritual symbols in human history, predating Christianity and Islam. References to a "Tree of Life" that links mankind to heavenly worlds have been found in ancient cultures spanning from Europe to the Orient. (Description from Pak Persian Rugs online)




Quack!




Virginia MetalCrafters...Torch Sconce




See that room through the French doors? Got big plans for that room...one day.
But that's a story for another day. :)


Thanks for stopping by...you are always welcome here! Before you leave...I'd love to hear what's on your "must-have" and wish-it-had" list!

Parker turns 3!!



So my little boy turns three today and heads off to his first day of Preschool on Thursday!! Parker is my charmer, especially with the ladies!!! He loves dinosaurs and will at times not respond to anything but "T-Rex!" He also loves Peter Pan, cars and torturing his sisters...he likes to touch slugs and eat candy! What a cute little man!! He is named after his great-great grandfather, Parker Merriam and after Peter's Dad, Windfield. He makes me laugh at least a hundred times a day and mostly when I am trying to be serious!!!

Monday, 25 August 2008

WELCOME TO THE FIRST TABLESCAPE TUESDAY!!!

I know summer is almost over, but I'm just not quite ready to let it go. I found some adorable shell candlesticks recently and put together this "beach" themed tablescape.





Found the sea-blue flatware at Pier 1 recently and it was half off...whoo, hoo! Thought it worked well with the colors in the china...what do you think?


Napkin rings were made by gluing shells to plain wooden rings...


Used both starfish-shaped salad plates with shell-shaped ones in this tablescape... Star-fished shaped salad plate shown here...


Shell shaped salad plate...


Do you see the little starfish on the glass? :-)


Sea-biscuit bread plate...


Love how they decorated all four sides of the bowls...


Thought these candlesticks look like they were designed to go with this beach china...


Close-up of candlestick base...






Come walk with me, along the sea, where dusk sits on the land. And search with me, for shells are free, and treasures hide in sand. (Author unknown)

Hope you enjoyed this little escape to the beach. Click HERE to view more tablescapes I've posted for our Tablescape party.



You will find beautiful tablescapes awaiting your oooohhhs and ahhhhhs at the following blogs (listed in alphabetical order):

A Beach Cottage http://www.abeachcottage.typepad.com/
Angelic Accents http://angelicaccents.blogspot.com/
Cathymac’s Holiday Hamlet http://holidayhamlet.blogspot.com/
Dish Diva aka Kay http://dishdivaakakay.blogspot.com/
'D's DayDreams http://dsdaydreams.blogspot.com/
Equus Villa http://equusvilla.blogspot.com/
Designs by Gollum http://designsbygollum.blogspot.com//
My Romantic Home http://romantichome.blogspot.com/
Note Songs http://notesongs.blogspot.com/
Ribbonwood Cottage http://ribbonwoodcottage.blogspot.com/
Sweet Designs http://judith-sweetdesigns.blogspot.com/
There is Always Thyme for... http://thereisalwaysthymefor.blogspot.com/
Thinkin’ of Home http://thinkinofhome.blogspot.com/