Rumbling around the outskirts of my town this weekend I came to a realization -- my house is nearing completion. We made the decision earlier this year to turn our home into our haven instead of "making do" with hand me downs & cast-offs. I never really had the decorating bug before, but one summer of consistently going to yard sales & thrift stores has transformed my home very cheaply. I'm no where near finished decorating, but the major components are falling in place very quickly.
I can repaint furniture with a vengeance, reupholster with confidence & build like a breeze, but when it comes to accessorizing and merchandising, I'm lost.
My yummy trash-found dresser is finished with a little paint and some new knobs, but it took more thought and effort to dress it up than it did to transform it. I pulled out everything I had that I thought might work, but it took me forever to figure it out. And I'm still not happy.
Usually I just throw things together and I'm finished, but most times it ends up looking hokey and dated rather than polished and finished. I'm trying this 25 cent sugar bowl on a dime wooden pillar holder, hoping it actually works. Hmmm...
However, I did learn that if you take a small bunch of roses and stick them in front of a mirror it makes them look twice as full.
I aimed for a repetition of the round mirror by using various balls & threw in some glass for some glitter.
Got any ideas?
I need help!
Update: Still tinkering with it through your help. Books, no books? Keep those ideas coming!
Posted at Southern Hospitality & Between Naps on the Porch
44 sweet little love notes:
Looks pretty darn good to me! TTFN ~Marydon
Hi, Gina, that is a pretty dresser! And yes, that tip about doubling the flowers in front of a mirror works every time. HOw about adding a pretty lamp on one side, putting the flowers in the middle with 2 of the round items. Looks like you've got too many tiny things going on.
That piece is looking awesome. Like the way the flowers reflect in the mirror. The only suggestion I might add is to not be so symetrical. The odd number of items works well, but they are so evenly placed that they look almost measured. I'd try moving a couple items out of the rectangle and see how that looks. Just my 2 cents, as usual...:o} *elaine*
Hi Gina!
I love to decorate but can't upholster!
I would take your white rectangle platter and place it in the middle of the dresser. On that I would place the rose arrangement you made off to the right hand back side of platter. In front of that I would place the round bowl filled with the sea glass or marbles whatever they are and also place that little ball on the black stand off to the right.
Put the large eifel tower on the right upper part of dresser with one of the black photo frames. On the left side of dresser, put the other black frame and the twig ball on the other black candlestand. Try this and let me see if you'd like.
Hope I might spur on something creative for you and you can take it from there!
Love the dresser and I think you've been given some fabulous suggestions. I just think having accessories arranged in an uneven number and arrangement is always more interesting than everything lined up. Keep working with it, you'll figure it out. Just try to think out of the box. Hugs, Marty
Hum! Not sure about the books in the middle maybe to one side. I like the milk glass pieces you have in the big pic too. Maybe use the same pieces in the last pic but move the books to one side and the the other pieces in the middle? I really like it all but maybe if you take something away it might all fall into place. That's usually how it works for me! Can't wait to see what you come up with!
Hugs, Lisa
Hi Gina! Love your cute little vanity. I'd totally take the advice of A Touch of Country above. Her ideas sound great!! I feel your pain with accessorizing. I feel like I don't have enough "stuff" to make things look home. Not that I want clutter, but I don't want my home to look like all sleek and modern.
And I thought of Spaceballs the movie when you mentioned "Merchandising." So funny.
Gina--love the vanity. I wish I could be of some help, but when it comes to merchandising--I'm pretty much useless. I always want everything to be super symmetrical--must be the math background???
Love the look, though!
Very nice so far- I like the three items grouped together on the right and the flowers in the middle. It takes time to get this just right but when you do it is so worth it!
Karen
I LOVE that dresser....it turned out GREAT! I am challenged with grouping items also.
I think you are great at accessorizing. Oh, and those knobs are gorgeous!!!
I think that a decorator is about to join the painter, carpenter, and upholsterer in you! You have some good ideas. Sometimes I arrange things 5 or 6 times before I am happy and then I may change it the next day!!!
Rhonda
Visiting from Rhoda's party once again. :) I love what you did...I'm terrible at accessorizing myself. The roses are gorgeous! If you have a chance to stop by my spot, I have my 200th post Giveaway today with my Thrifty Treasures. :)
Love the dresser, keep the books !
Hugs ~ Kammy
Love the dresser, keep the books !
Hugs ~ Kammy
Great suggestions above! I love your dresser - it's beautiful!
Gina, that dresser is magnificent! I tell you what. I can't do the "bones" of stuff. You come do that for me and I'll accessorize up a storm for you, girl!
Brenda
I love the vanity! Definitely keep the roses in front of the mirror.. such a great tip!
~Amy
I love the dresser. I think it looks fantastic in the second photo! Great finds!
Looking good:)
To me, the books clutter it up a bit. Can the vase stand on it's own? or is it too short to make it up to the mirror?
I like the tower idea that "A Touch of Country" suggested.
I love the dresser and the sugar bowl on the stand looks so cute.
I think it is very pretty. I like white on white and would probably use some of the milk glass pieces you had in the picture of your "stuff"! Any chance you have a lamp with a white base? I like the books ... but I like clutter!
Hi Gina! I love the pretty vanity! I didn't read the other comments so if this is redundant, so sorry. I would move the round ball over to the lamp, then take the roses off the pedestal and make a trio on the right side with the vase of roses and the 2 glass pieces (no pedestals). You need a small tray or vanity tray in the center with a pretty hand mirror and brush or comb, or a pretty little dish for pearls or what not. I thought I saw a white tray in the photos above; fill it with seashells and put it in the center. Just my 2 cents! I'm sure whatever you finally do, it will be lovely.
That dresser is amazing - and you did such an awesome job on it that I think too much would just be clutter. If you were to paint the pillar under the ball a lighter color and remove the magazines and lamp (unless you need the lamp there) I think the piece would sing. I may be biased because it is so stinkin' pretty. It's a bragworthy makeover! (Oh, and I am terrible at accessorizing too so take what I say with a grain of salt!)
I just simply adore the dresser!
group your collections in Odd numbers with similar types or colors.
I would ditch the books. But its a nice transistion.
TTFN~~Claudia ♥
I think I would just set the vase on the dresser. The roses will still reach the mirror to look doubled.
The rest is great. Love the dresser!
I love it! What an awesome redo! Love love love those knobs too! I think your display looks great!
I love the flowers on top of the books in front of the mirror! Pretty neat trick to create fullness!
Hi Gina,
The dresser turned out awesome...love the knobs. The wonderful thing about decorating is that it can be redone as many times as you like. So when you get tired of one look just go on to the next. I love the flowers in front of the mirror. The books are a nice idea, but have you thought of a decorative box...maybe a small jewelry box to go under the flowers instead? I know that whatever you end up doing will turn out great...have fun.
Blessings and a great big smile,
♥Ana~A Petite Cottage
Cute blog! Good luck with the decorating!
Your dresser turned out very pretty.
Your dresser looks great! I like the arrangement you have in the last photo best, but then I love books anywhere! I struggle with this same issue, and commend you for having the courage to ask everyone else's opinion. Good Luck!
I think it looks lovely as is!
I love it just as it is, and thanks for the tip about the flowers in front of a mirror! I need all the help I can get!
Hello Gina - I can't say enough how much I adore your dresser! That mirror is fabulous! What if you add the white tray. Put a few of the books on top of the tray and the flowers on top of the books. I love the flowers in front of the mirror! Have you tried putting the tower off to one side? I like the lamp where it is. I would paint the candle holders heirloom white. It's fun to experiment!
Blessings,
Marie
http://emmacallsmemama.com
That's a lovely old Deco-style vanity you have; it's beautiful. Is it in your bedroom?
If so, I'd probably go with a "vanity" theme and put one or two boudoir-style lamps on it -- crystal column or milk glass -- and maybe shop those estate sales for some old hand mirrors and/or a dresser set -- pin dish, vanity tray, hair receiver, things like that, with some old perfume bottles. A bit of lace -- make it "girly" and as if some one has just stepped away from her toilette!
Great, fun post! Thanks ... Cass
The dresser is very sweet. I think things in the first photo are two symetrical. I like the second photo best. I like things in groups and not the same . Good luck.
Gina, I would put a little rabbit or kitty figure under the lamp on the left side of your dresser. Or, you could get a little figure of a girl or compack that has silver in it. May a grouping of seashells that are white might help you too;)
Melissa form GA
AKA Mel
How about painting the stants a lighter color, like cream or some other light colors that go with the other items on the table?
I did that with some old wooden stands that we had when makinga project. The stands themselves were too dark so I painted over them with cream paint and that worked perfectly! :)
I came over for some more reading. I really like your blog. Please come over my cottage for a visit and some tea and if you have a moment while visiting please join my followers, much appreciated.
Duchess xx
Very good, trash finds are the best. What about a tray with some colored bottles, flowers etc. Mary Ann
I know what you mean about "scapes", they can be the hardest part but they are what really make a room look pretty. It looks like you have a shorter lamp with a silver base in the one picture; I would use that lamp instead, and you could stack books underneath it to raise it up. Then I would put the white bowl in the middle, with the roses next to it (not on anything, the vase it tall enough that the roses will show in the mirror, I think), and put some some of your balls in the bowl. On the right, you need something that isn't round - something linear like a hairbrush. I think there are too many round objects right now. IMHO! Have fun, and what a great idea to get everyone's input - lots of good ideas to start with.
I think you're doing a great job with your decor. I love the dresser and I LOVE your wall color! What color of blue is that?
The dresser is beautiful on it's own, I don't think you need a lot of things on top of it. How about a nice lacy runner or doily with the vase of roses and the lamp? I like the pearly looking ball. That might be cute sitting on top of a few smaller books, maybe tie the books together with some creamy satin ribbon.
Love your blog!
~ Penelope
What a lot of good ideas! I agree that the books might be a little too much, maybe use half as many. I also think you've got too many rounds and it's time to introduce something square and maybe not white. A pretty painted pastel box would be great, maybe sitting next to the lamp which looks a little lonely. Someone suggested a silver lamp - you could always just paint this one to lighten it up, but something with a little more substance would probably serve better. My last suggestion would be to use a tray or platter or pretty plate on an easel standing up behind the grouping of three to give it a little more prominence and "back" it so they don't seem to float so much. Hopefully some of these ideas will give you something new to try. Good luck and let us see the next version!
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