d*s reader recs!
d*s reader holly needs your help! she has a blank space above her couch just dying to be decorated. does anyone have any great ideas? this is her space...what are your suggestions? good luck, holly! i'm sure this crowd has some great ideas for your space! [d*s reader recs is a new weekly column for readers to reach out to eachother for advice with their homes. send photos of your design question here and maybe we can help you next week! thanks to 2modern for sponsoring the column this week!]
posted by design*sponge @ 6.3.06
17 Comments:
That space kinda makes me think of the winner, Brooke, from ApartmentTherapy's See My Artwork! contest.
http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/ny/021306/see-my-artwork/see-my-artwork-contest-brooke-1st-place-006473
She had an awesome piece of old signage over her couch and it gave the room so much character. I know ebay always has old sign lettering - perhaps you could get individual letters to spell something out, too.
I think a mirror or series of mirrors would look great over the couch. A beveled mirror or one with that old mercury glass look would really go with your style. A sunburst mirror might also look nice and add another shape to the space. Here are a couple nice ones from Nieman Marcus:
http://www.neimanmarcus.com/store/catalog/prod.jhtml?itemId=prod27870027&parentId=cat3520808&masterId=cat3520805&index=19&cmCat=HEHome4
http://www.neimanmarcus.com/store/catalog/prod.jhtml?itemId=prod29660027&parentId=cat3520808&masterId=cat3520805&index=5&cmCat=HEHome4
Both have a really large diameter - 34"-36"
I think the lamp you have on the side table is cute but to me it looks a bit too small for the place, not in proportion to the couch.
Finally, I have always loved that Erte print!
I second the idea of using several different mirrors, maybe rectangles of different shapes and sizes.
How about a set of shelf blocks, like West Elm carries? My husband and I have had a lot of fun in our own home with those -- choosing just the right accessories can be a very creative process:
http://ww1.westelm.com/cat/pip.cfm?template=8grid&pkey=cwllshe&gids=p190&cid=wllshe&area=shp
or
http://ww1.westelm.com/cat/pip.cfm?template=8grid&pkey=cwllshe&gids=p188&cid=wllshe&area=shp
or
http://ww1.westelm.com/cat/pip.cfm?template=8grid&pkey=cwllshe&gids=w206&cid=wllshe&area=shp
or even
http://ww1.westelm.com/cat/pip.cfm?template=8grid&pkey=cwllshe&gids=p189&cid=wllshe&area=shp
I like the nesting tables-they add a lot of visual interest.
Before placing the item(s) above the couch, I would suggest moving the tables further to the left. The little guy should be centered under the right corner of the poster frame, with the lamp just clearing the artwork.
There's nothing wrong with an Erte from the aesthetic point of view, but the posters of his work are becoming very common, and one can see them in restaurants and nice hotel lobbies. Get some original artwork, or architectural artifacts or old papier mache mannequin heads--something with a trace of mystery and eccentricity that can't be found in your friends' homes. The Rainbow sign alluded to earlier was a great find, but even simpler items, like an array of antique mirrors, will turn a beautiful room into a beautiful and intriguing room.
How about some photography? (fri451.deviantart.com) :)
Sorry, I had to pitch that. But seriously... ;)
I say leave it bare. If you add something above the sofa, the lamps will need to be larger scale...
thanks everyone for all your ideas! i can't wait to see how the space develops!
for kquared, the paint color is a commercial blend done by pittsburgh paints in atlanta, ga. the color code is "p11" and was used throughout my building (called the buckhead grand). if you call 404/745-9126, they can tell you the formula or share it with your local pittsburgh or porter paint dealer.
for kate, i think i'm with you on the lamp being too small. i've never really thought about it before, but you're right! do you think i could keep the base with a bigger shade?
for anonymous about the erte ... it has a story! i bought it at an estate sale about two years ago when i was living in washington dc. the estate sale was at the home of a woman called something clark. diane clark? dee clark? anyway, she was somewhat of a local celebrity (she had a tv talk show in the 70s) and had quite an art collection as well as a lot of sea horses. so, the erte is signed (yay!), which makes me love it even more. i do like the idea about getting something truly unique like the rainbow sign or some mannequin heads! i'll definitely keep y'all posted!
thanks again!
It looks like the sofa is in the corner. Not being able to see the whole room, I'd move the nesting table to the right side of the sofa which looks like it would give you almost the same width of space to the right as the ERTE print on the left. I first thought mirrors, like everyone else, but a series of similar subject paintings of different sizes with different frames placed irregularly but with equal spacing between them (I don't know how to say that the way I'd like to) might be a neat idea. maybe drawing on the Erte theme, images of dogs, or women or something. Seem too busy? Oh well...just a thought!
I say go for a special piece of art. fine art which is an original and speaks to you. You will love it forever and it will never go out of style. (and your friends won't have it either!)
have fun!
hi
i just think an arc lamp (to the right side) will be great no paintings mirrors ecc.
Nadejda
You may have seen what Wonderful Graffiti offer. This is a great way to make a space original and unique. This is their site:
http://www.wonderfulgraffiti.com/index_f.html
Like Susan, I'd go for some bespoke art.
We've used IMIDG DESIGN Art Studio for several pieces in our office, and it really brings the space to life!
Hope you get something you love Holly!
"for kate, i think i'm with you on the lamp being too small. i've never really thought about it before, but you're right! do you think i could keep the base with a bigger shade?"
Trying a larger shade would be less hassle (and much less expensive!) than finding a new lamp. I would try out a drum shade with the top and bottom measurements being closer in diameter than a more traditional style.
I like that your current lamp base is skinny - it leaves some space on your larger nesting table for additional objects.
Holly, then it *is* a special piece. It can be difficult to tell with a very small photo.
LOVE the new webdesign. Looks awesome.
I love your taste.
I had a condo with a very large, difficult span of wall, like this. I pulled the sofa out from the wall at a little bit of an angle (bonus: some storage behind the sofa) and mounted three cantilevered shelves on the wall. They were staggered, for interest. I used them to display Nambe, a bowl of green apples and some favorite pottery, a few art books, etc.
The cantilevered shelves I got -- about 3 feet long each -- were from IKEA. $15 each. I can't find them on the web site at the moment, but I know they still carry them. They have no visible hardware -- just a thick shelf floating on the wall. Very clean look.
It makes a very dramatic and versatile display, and adds some depth when you have a very long stretch of flat open space.
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