Accent
on Accessories
Elegant
accessories provide the unique and
distinctive finishing touch to dress up every room
in your home – they are the jewels of your room.
Through the magic of beautiful objects, you can brighten
and finish off your room with just the right touch.
A
quick way to freshen a room is to rethink your tabletop accessories.
Tablescapes was an idea
promoted by the late London designer, David Hicks.
I remember being in London and seeing the beautiful
displays he created with bold color combinations such
as red and purple.
Take
everything off and then look at the table or surface with nothing on
it. You may wish to only put
back one object instead of the three or four that were
there before. And keep in mind the philosophy odd
numbers of things, which is visually more appealing.
Some
suppliers from which to choose your accessories include the following:
Vietri does beautiful ceramic items from Italy and
they have a great sense of color. You can use some
of their plates for wall decorations, or use them on
easels for a tablescape. Palecek is another excellent source for table
and wall accessories.
Theodore
and Alexander has a marvelous assortment of small boxes and tables as
well as bronze sculpture all
of which add to the English look of warm woods with
inlays and beautiful traditional forms.
Two's
Company and Interlude Home are more tropical and trendy in their styles
and have some very
dramatic pieces such as a very large, red lacquer
charger, which is about 30-to-36 inches in diameter,
on a stand.
Chelsea
House is known for their reproductions of fine porcelains and has the botanical
porcelains
that are popular now with collectors. They also have
brackets, which are great for a display of shells or
porcelain objects.
You
can use your family photographs as art by framing them in a cohesive fashion
as well as having
them reprinted in sepia or black and white, which
instantly turns every member of your family, as well as
friends, into "stars." This is a way to create a "gallery" on
a wall in the halls or other
areas of your home where you
desire a personal effect.
Need
ideas for inspiration? Tour house museums. I recently
paid a visit to the Bonnet House
in Fort Lauderdale and was
inspired by the art and shell
collections and especially by the
shell museum, a small charming
building which also contained an
orchid house and a small bar
entirely lined in bamboo. The
vintage mood was wonderful.
Vizcaya
in Miami is another fabulous house museum. Built by
American industrialist, James
Deering, this extraordinary European-inspired estate includes a house filled
with art
and furnishings.
Both
of these houses have Web sites one can visit which give an extensive view of
the properties. Browse and be enlightened!
If
one has the time and the inclination, it is very helpful to make sketches and
then use those as a way of editing the furnishings and art you have in order
to get a clearer idea of how you wish your space to appear.
Experiment, have fun, and never be afraid of change!
Written by Dean Farris
Allied ASID interior designer at
NORRIS FURNITURE AND INTERIORS
5015 Tamiami Trail N., Naples, FL
239 649-5151
RESOURCES
PALECEK Distinctive Furniture, Lighting & Accessories
800 676-5382
www.palecek.com
VIETRI
www.vietri.com
TWO’S COMAPNY, Inc.
www.twoscompany.com
INTERLUDE HOME, Inc.
www.interludehome.com
