Unexpected things on your walls

Background

A couple of months ago, we helped a client decorate an empty wall in her bathroom. We worked together with her to select a combination of prints & a mirror with an unusual frame.

Today she popped in to say thank you and that she loved what our pieces did to her space. 

Project: Lounge room

Her next task was the lounge room. She showed us a sample of feature wall wallpaper and told her she was looking for ideas for the lounge room which had this paper. 

The wallpaper was white with irregular vertical silver stripes (a perfect neutral paper with a touch of interest).
She had a chaise in paprika, grey tiles and two chairs in grey.

There was also a red chair in the house which could end up living in the lounge instead of the two grey chairs (darned size limitations!)

There was also a black/grey arched floor lamp in the mix.

Usual things in unusual places

By now, you've probably figured out that this lady loves unusual pieces. She is the sort of client who would take our French style furniture and use it in unexpected ways. She is very open to new ideas. Lovin' this lady!

We talked about coffee table and side table possibilities and she is off checking measurements.

We drooled over the chaise in such a stand out colour.

We talked about the feature wall (behind the chaise). A mirror was not do-able as the wall faces the kitchen & the view wouldnt be ideal.

The traditional idea was a print or an oil.

Given her openess to interesting ideas, we suggested "unexpected things on walls".

Here are some ideas for inspiration:

Use the accent colour on the couch for many medium size, varying textures of empty frames. Yes, empty frames. The oval frames add a distinct softness to the rectangular frames.

A single large very traditional frame, empty. Wow! And you've saved money on the print/oil too!

Many same colour frames in various textures.

Very graphic, sleek frames in primary colours.

Lots of colours, lots of frames & many overlapping.

Very bold frames in a single colour.

Metallic frames picking up the rectangle shape of the fire place.

Another breathtaking wall.

This one is a little bit bland in our opinion.  But it's an option.

Or you can add photos and leave some of the frames blank.

Light fitting plaques.

More light fitting plaques.

More light fitting plaques.

Notice how the wall fittings pick up the colour of the throw/cushions.

Pick a colour & mix it with white, then find it in many different prints.  Crazy energy here, but in a good way.

Various plate ideas

Plates with mirrors - these may take some work, but the end result is lovely.

White plates mixed with white/black toille style plates. Get the idea?

Toille plates in a Wedgewood type blue/white colour. A wonderful complement to the lavender   upholstery.

The plates look like they are flying away...gorgeous.

If you love symmetry, something like this will give you peace. If you love asymmetry, this will drive you nuts! 

The vertical ribbons used here are an interesting twist. But you have an additional decision to make, what colour ribbons?

More toille style plates. in toning plum/red shades.

We hope these photos have given you some inspiration for your home and we also hope that our client returns to our store soon so we can play with some more ideas for her home. 

Alternative uses for a tea set

Most of us have a number of tea sets that we no longer use.
Even one that is chipped which you wont want to present to good company.

Well, there are some alternative uses for your tea sets & crockery.

All the items shown are available at Glamour Living.

The flowers all have bendy stems so they can be accommodated in a variety of depth of pots.

The flower stems are sold individually.

Tea pots - very cute

Jug

A milk jug & a gravy boat can make terrific vases.

Have fun & make sure you post photos of your tea set alternative uses on our Facebook page.

All you need is....a small vase of flowers

This week at Glamour Living, we received many deliveries of flowers.

                                    

We love what a small vase with a few short stems can do to brighten up a room.

Anything can act as a vase - even mugs....

Single carnations forming a large bunch.
 Lovely & you dont need a flower arranging course to do this one.

The flowers we buy at Glamour Living will last indefinitely. We ensure we select the best quality so they look authentic both in terms of their colours & feel.

We have large stems of flowers as well as carrying a tremendous selection of small stems and bunches which are very affordable.

All the photos following show small bunches or single stems, unless otherwise noted - they are all less than $20 per piece. 

A small bunch can make a big impression, either on its own or mixed with several same size bunches.

We love the planters used in this photo. Planters sold separately to the hydrangea bunches.
The middle planter has 6 bunches and the small planters each have one bunch.

We have sold this bunch previously as bridesmaid flowers.
Very affordable at less than $20 per bunch.

3 bunches here

One small bunch in a "Friends" porcelain jar.

These are sold with the matt white round pot for $26.50.

These are all small stems of hydrangeas for $6.50 per stem.
Each stem is the size of the one laying flat on the table.

The watering can is a novel vase. It holds the single stems of hydrangeas, $6.50 per stem.

These white porcelain vases with roses are our best sellers -  $24.50. 

Will you be adding some flowers to your home this spring?

50 Shades of Lavender

Lavender fields in Provence, France

At Glamour Living not only do we love the scent of lavender, we also love the many shades of lavender plants. From the deep purple right through to the pure white variety they form a perfect complement to French style decor.

Lavender grows best in a hot dry summer climate but there are varieties suited to a humid or a colder climate.

 Here are some tips for growing lavender:

  Where to grow lavender

Warm, dry conditions suit lavender best. Plant in any well-drained soil in a sunny position where the roots will seek moisture deep in the soil. Lavender often does well in heavy soil for a while, but winter waterlogging may well shorten its life. Take cuttings early in autumn to grow replacement plants.

Lavender is a gorgeous accent for red interiors

  The best soil for lavender

Many lavenders come from poor soils around the Mediterranean such as the French countryside. This area has soils that are well drained but rich in lime. When planted in acidic soils, lavenders appreciate the addition of lime to the soil. If your soil is very acidic, grow lavenders in pots containing potting mix.

Planting new lavender plants

Take 7.5-10 cm heel cuttings from semi-woody non-flowering lavender shoots in autumn. Insert in pots of propagating mix and overwinter in a polystyrene box. They can be moved to their flowering positions early in spring. A small piece of concrete rubble beside plants provides lime.

Pruning lavender

Cut off the dead flower stems and lightly trim the plants in late summer. Straggly plants may be cut back hard in early spring to promote bushy growth and encourage new shoots. However, lavender plants are inclined to grow leggy with age and it is recommended to replace them after five or six years.

 Scented lavender pathways and hedges

There is a variety of English lavender called Lavandula angustifolia which has a height and spread of about 1 mt, beside a path. The silver grey foliage exudes as much scent on sunny midwinter days as the flowers do from midsummer to autumn.

For a fragrant hedge with a profusion of flowers in summer, plant different lavender species to give shades of purple, mauve, pink and white. The plants’ size and spread will vary, so clip the hedge to a uniform height.

   Drying lavender

To dry lavender, pick it when the flowers show colour but before they are fully open. Cut off the full length of the flower stalks, tie them together in small bunches and hang them upside-down in a cool, airy place to dry.

Drying lavender

At Glamour Living, we always carry a selection of potted 

lavender plants as well as lavender stems for you to arrange  

individually.

A selection of lavender at Glamour Living

As they are pseudo plants, you dont have to worry

about the lime, the temperature or the watering.

We do assure you that they are so real, you wont be able to 

detect the difference to the real thing.