Friday December 25, 2009
Sparkly Antique Sconce
Photo © Wayne Shielly
On the twelfth day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Twelve crystals dripping,
Eleven pins a-sparkling,
Ten plates a-chipping,
Nine shakers for salting,
Eight engravings hanging,
Seven drawers a-stacking,
Six fans a-blowing,
Five popping springs,
Four statue crowns,
Three doorknobs,
Two ceiling tiles,
And an antique secretary!
If you like the body of a chandelier or wall sconce, you can dress it up easily by adding crystals -- or by adding even more if it already has a few.
If your fixture needs more help than a few new baubles can fix, consider a complete chandelier makeover before you toss it and buy a new one. You'll be amazed at the difference.
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Thursday December 24, 2009
On the eleventh day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Eleven pins a-sparkling,
Ten plates a-chipping,
Nine shakers for salting,
Eight engravings hanging,
Seven drawers a-stacking,
Six fans a-blowing,
Five popping springs,
Four statue crowns,
Three doorknobs,
Two ceiling tiles,
And an antique secretary.
Rhinestone Crown Pins
Photo © Wayne Shielly
Decorator Wayne Shielly, a devoted antique mall and thrift store shopper, collects crowns. In addition to this dish of vintage rhinestone brooches, he has collections of statue crowns in his study and rhinestone tiaras in his bedroom.
What do you collect, and do you display it in your home?
All of the house tours here have something in common. The homes are intensely personal. We're all inspired by store displays, by magazine and catalog pages, or by house tours. The magic happens when you take the parts you love from those sources, add your own treasures and vision, and incorporate all of it into one whole that's uniquely you.
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Wednesday December 23, 2009
On the tenth day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Ten plates a-chipping,
Nine shakers for salting,
Eight engravings hanging,
Seven drawers a-stacking,
Six fans a-blowing,
Five popping springs,
Four statue crowns,
Three doorknobs,
Two ceiling tiles,
And an antique secretary.
Vintage China
Photo © Wayne Shielly
Memphis Interior Decorator Wayne Shielly displays vintage plates, vases, platters, and tureens on open shelves in his kitchen. The mix of patterns is a big part of the charm.
If you want to create something similar, flea markets and garage sales are terrific places to find bits of vintage china -- sometimes for mere pennies, especially when the seller doesn't have the complete set.
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Tuesday December 22, 2009
On the ninth day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Nine shakers for salting,
Eight engravings hanging,
Seven drawers a-stacking,
Six fans a-blowing,
Five popping springs,
Four statue crowns,
Three doorknobs,
Two ceiling tiles,
And an antique secretary.
Silver Salt Shakers
Photo © Leah French
You'd think hallmarked silver prices would be fairly consistent, at least more so than items with less definitive markings. And perhaps they are among specialized dealers, but I've seen identical pieces marked from a few dollars to 10 times that amount.
When you're shopping for silver - or for anything else - pay attention to prices and watch for patterns. You'll be able to spot overpriced merchandise, and you'll know when you've found a real steal.
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