If you're stumped on how to decorate shelves, using a collection can be an easy way to go. It's always interesting when you can put together a collection, and by grouping them it can make for a simple solution for shelves.
Here's a collection of old cameras that add a cool, unique vibe for decorating these shelves. By adding a few other objects (like books or boxes) to raise a couple up, you can create some variation in height.
And a couple of individual shots.
In my kitchen there is a side entry with a charming old door. I wanted to make this a functional area – an extension of the kitchen with the BBQ and a small porch off of this side of the house.
I wanted to keep the original door (I even have the old skeleton key for it), but pretty well everything else around it changed. You can see it here in the “before” picture – this is pre-renovation.
At this stage there was a wall to the right and a sink on the left with a washer. There was a drop ceiling, the floors were uneven and the great views at the back of the house weren't visible.
When the renovation started and the place was being gutted, opening up the wall on the right hand side made a huge difference to the light in the house.
This end of the house required some structural underpinning so the floors were actually completely removed as that work was done from the inside and outside of the house.
Then came a new subfloor, beams, wiring and insulation. Bigger changes are visible after the new drywall is up. Things start to feel like a house again!!
Finally the new floors are in and the cabinets and counter go in back here. There is a coat closet, pantry and the two chairs in front of the window. The sun rises here and there’s an ocean view out the window, so it’s a great place to sit in the morning.
I love small, unique accessories around the house. In a bathroom, you can incorporate some interesting décor items too.
1. Old bottles: antique medicine bottles have that old fashioned pharmacy look. I love the old blue bottles in the window. These are usually easy to find at flea markets or antique stores and you can also use them as small vases.
2. A large jar of shells. So simple and easy to showcase shells in a glass jar. In my case I have a lot of them, but even a few shells in a jar in the bathroom give it some sea side charm.
3. A fringed hand towel. I like a fringed hand towel over the sink because it has a relaxed look. This one sits on top of a couple of other towels and is personalized with a “D” on it!
Stacks of old books can add character anywhere in your house. They don’t necessarily need to be packed away in a bookcase. I’ve always got a few books stacked here and there, they can help add height when you need it for a display area.
The above is on a dresser in a bedroom.
Below are a couple of rooms by Darryl Carter with stacks of books on display.
I also love how these random stacks of books look next to the fireplace in this room. (image from lonny.com)
I’ve always liked textured walls, these days “shiplap” walls are turning up every where. Really they are rooms with wooden boards on the wall that run vertically or horizontally, of course I love them painted white. I have white vertical boards in the room on my third floor, like you see above. These are original to the house and the boards range in size but most are around 5 - 6” wide. There are also boards on the ceiling so it really completes the look.
Here are a few spaces that I find very inspiring - showing the white painted horizontal shiplap!
I have a cool ship lap DIY idea coming soon!