silly sculptures? gigantic globes? how to deal with your super fun, super strange stuff!

Love that huge silly globe? Is that fabulously awful foot sculpture not getting proper attention? Here are some tips to make even the most unusual objects fit seamlessly into your home!

1. An oversize object too big for a shelf or or a side table? Try the floor; especially if the item is playful. Framed by curtains a super large globe or sculpture looks as if it's on stage. These items can bring kick to a corner and possibly hide a radiator or other unappealing objects.

2. And large bed in a small space? Rule of thumb: the top of a bed frame should be at least six inches from the ceiling. If the frame is open and airy, the space won't feel claustrophobic. White walls can highlight the lines of the bed to a crisp effect. Dark paint or wallpaper will add impact if you incorporate some of the color from the bed onto the walls.

3. A stately/huge chair? Play up the drama of a striking seat by making it the first thing you see in the room. Give it an equally grand companion, such as a large lamp or side table, to help it make sense among simpler pieces. Use the same color palette as your existing furniture and the larger object will feel right at home.

4. Quirky statue? Use something less form than a bust and funnier than a horse head such as an anatomy sculpture. Place it in a conspicuous spot, like on a side table or by the entryway as a door stop. The item will elicit question and smiles!

5. A graphic rug? A bold pattern on the floor gives a focal point to a room with a mix of furniture styles - it's unifier. To ease into the look, start with a neutral sisal, top it with a subtle strip, then put the showiest rug on top. Worried about the pattern overload? A solid (rather than glass) coffee tale with mitigate the effect.

6. A cool sculptural table lamp? You don't need to use a task lamp for it's intended purpose. If you have a stunner, you can use it as ambient lighting by putting it on a side table in a corner. Switched on and placed in front of fabulous window treatments or painted walls, it will cast a special glow.

7. Modern chandelier? A contemporary light can jibe with a classic piece if the finishes match. Set against a traditional mirror it can give you twice the impact and light. Or set over a transitional table with similarly shaped objects as centerpieces to echo the overhead shapes and features.

8. An open table? Use the space inside for an unexpected display. Place a light with in the cage of the open table. Or use a cool scuplture piece to give an unexpected "birdhouse effect" to the object inside.

garden and gun - (my hot, new favorite "design" mag) featuring: lone star retreat

http://gardenandgun.com/article/rachel-ashwell-prairie

As you wind down the sleepy back roads of Round Top, Texas, toward the Prairie by Rachel Ashwell, the Union Jack flying third on the flagpole (beneath the Stars and Stripes and the official state flag of Texas) is the only sign that the proprietor of this sprawling bed-and-breakfast might not be from around here. Though British by birth, Ashwell—author, designer, and founder of the global Shabby Chic brand—has spent the past year transforming five primitive buildings on forty-six acres of rolling farmland into an authentic Lone Star retreat, where guests mingle easily with visiting locals and the property’s familial staff. There are cattle grazing, roses blossoming, and panoramic views for miles in all directions. It’s part Out of Africa, part Lonesome Dove—a secluded, peaceful oasis at the heart of an eclectic and emerging travel destination.

Ashwell discovered Round Top, known for its quarterly antiques fairs, years ago during a foraging trip and fell in love with the tiny community’s bohemian spirit and laid-back lifestyle. “The flea market shows are by far the best I’ve ever been to,” she says, referring to the weeks each season when antiques dealers and treasure hunters inflate the local population from less than a hundred year-round residents to about thirty thousand people. (The upcoming spring antiques shows run from March 23 through April 8.) So when the property formerly known as the Outpost at Cedar Creek Inn came up for sale at the end of 2010, Ashwell, a longtime loyal guest, couldn’t resist making an offer. Three months, some Farrow & Ball paint and wallpaper, and a lot of hard work by Danny Riebeling (the property’s foreman, cook, and do-it-all guy) later, the Prairie officially opened its doors.

To create lived-in spaces to complement the five original farm buildings, some of which date back to the 1800s, Ashwell focused restoration efforts on the structures’ unique building styles and histories. She installed crystal chandeliers that would make Marie Antoinette swoon but left original wooden floorboards unvarnished and tin roofing largely intact. To make use of taxidermy left behind by the inn’s former owner, she crowned the mounts with vintage floral hats for just the right amount of whimsy. Perhaps smartest of all is the way she weaves local memorabilia (a Texas-shaped mirror, for instance, and vintage neon signs) into the decor with a wink and a nod. After all, many of her prize purchases over the years have come from the area—only back then, it was her little secret.

The entire article and more photos at:

http://gardenandgun.com/article/rachel-ashwell-prairie

I've been seeing this all over the place - thanks O'Happy Day for the direction!!  (see Martha Stewart's website for how to make without the lantern base). 

Only comment - to really make this work you need LOADS of balls in the air (pardon the pun) to almost completely cover the ceiling. Take the time - it's the finished product is totally worth it. I actually had some on these in my bedroom in NYC above my bed - they were ivory and pink and to me they were symbols to encourage creative ideas while I slept!

Sweet “Eloise at the Plaza” Birthday Party: Hostess with the Mostess

 

Sweet “Eloise at the Plaza” Birthday Party

PARTY DETAILS, as told by Charynn…

:
“My daughter Madelyn has loved Eloise since she was 2 years old. She collects the dolls, books, and has ALWAYS asked for a party at The Plaza. Since it is such a special ‘number’ birthday – for her 5th birthday, I decided to style a pink, black, and white Eloise themed soiree. I enlisted the help of Kelly from WH Hostess to create an amazing invitation and coordinating party goods using Madelyn (and Eloise)’s favorite color, pink, and my love for black and white patterns. For the invitation, we had Vana Chupp of Le Papier Studio a custom silhouette of Madelyn created in an Eloise ‘pose’ that we carried through in several of the other party goods.

When Madelyn suggested the idea of an Eloise party, I immediately thought of an all-pink bakery that Eloise might visit on one of her trips outside of The Plaza. We built large risers to mimic the interior of a bakery store window, and created an awning using black and white striped fabric from Ikea. I used white cake stands and dessert ware from my collection, and I also greatly expanded my collection with a fabulous (and super inexpensive) project: DIY milk glass using glassware from Goodwill and white spray paint. It was styled with all pink desserts that were created by myself, with touches of black and white throughout.

Some of Madelyn’s favorite desserts were on the display, including: pink chocolate coated Oreo truffles, hot pink macarons filled with dark chocolate ganache, chocolate cupcakes with pink strawberry buttercream, NYC black and white cookies, mini donuts sprinkled with pink coconut, chocolate dipped pretzels, meringue ‘ice cream cones’ that rested on WH Hostess patterned paper to match that theme (and on a DIY ice cream cone stand!), pink gum balls and hard candy from Candy Warehouse, and absolutely adorable marshmallow pops made especially for Madelyn by The Marshmallow Studio. One of Madelyn’s special requests for the pink ‘bakery’: two different cakes: a pink rosette cake, and a fondant covered creation with pink stripes and a replication of her silhouette in fondant.

Another of Madelyn’s requests was to have a tea table set up for her and her friends to use at the party. As a surprise, I ordered an actual Eloise tea set from The Plaza to decorate the table, along with some pink and black cupcakes topped with pink and white swirled lollipops, strawberry cream cheese tea sandwiches, Eloise-themed stuffed animals, and pink and white polka dot suitcases. I made curtains using more of the Ikea fabric, and to tie the theme together, styled the floor with a black and white chevron rug. The tea table was so simple to pull together, and it was Madelyn’s favorite part of the party!

For the favor table, I really wanted to make it fun, whimsical, but also fitting for the preppy and modern theme. I made the ‘FIVE’ letters using wooden letters and small rectangular wooden plaques painted white and filled a bookshelf with the favors and lots of pink balloons. For favors, the kids at the party received a marshmallow pop from The Marshmallow Studio, ridiculously cute pink Eloise headbands made especially for the party by EmzBowz, and a custom memory card game featuring WH Hostess graphics custom-made for the party. The display was topped off with a banner from WH Hostess and striped fabric. One of MY favorite parts of the party were the little signs that Kelly and I came up with, using little phrases and key words from the books, including ‘Gifts from ME, Madelyn’ for the favor table and ‘oooooohhh, I absolutely love BIRTHDAYS!’ for the tea table. It was the perfect addition to the party to add a touch of the character feeling without going overboard.

The most talked about (and loved by the adults) part of the party was the inventive drink station we created. I have always found it amusing that, in the books, Eloise knew to order Nanny a drink from room service. Just like Nanny, the adults at our parties like a little ‘libation’ or two. I created a simple background for the table using a large silhouette from the stationery in an ornate frame from Ikea. Kelly created custom labels for the liquor bottles that were displayed on a cake stand for some height, and mixers were displayed in simple glass carafes. Another creative sign let all of the guests know that these were ‘Nanny’s Libations’ and were not for kids. A small game was also created using hot pink sixlets, as the guests had fun guessing how many ‘champagne bubbles’ were in the jar.

With a lot of pink and some key character touches for my little Eloise, and some modern patterns for my taste, I was able to create an adorable party that my daughter will remember for years to come. All of the hard work paid off when my daughter announced after the party that ‘Mommy brought The Plaza to my house!’”

*****VENDOR CREDITS & RESOURCES:

– Party Stationery: WH Hostess
– Event Styling: Two Sugar Babies and WH Hostess / The Party Dress
– Desserts: Two Sugar Babies
– Gumballs & Candy: Candy Warehouse
– Marshmallow Pops: The Marshmallow Studio
– Pink Headbands: EmzBowz
– Tea Table and Picture Frames: Ikea
– Fabric: Ikea, JoAnn Fabric
– Wooden Letters and Plaques: JoAnn Fabric
– Pink Suitcases and Paper Straws: Shop Sweet Lulu
– Pink Cupcake Wrappers and Swirl Lollipops: Target