submitted by: Jennifer
06/27/11
I love my six china sets from four different grandmothers. I adore my handkerchief collection that the women in my family stitched by hand. Most of us would agree that we cherish those lovely knick-knacks and pieces of history passed down to us but they’re not showing off to anyone but the dust bunnies. Below are a few of my favorite ways to bring these beloved belongings out to center stage again without making my home feel like a stuffy Victorian museum.
1) Handkerchiefs. Try hanging up a clothesline made of twine or satin ribbon in your laundry room (I’ve even done this in a guest room). Use clothes pins to hang up your favorites, just make sure they don’t get too much direct sunlight. If you love to entertain, set a hankie underneath each glass or mini floral arrangement. Its okay if they don’t match! It adds to the charm and you may find that each one has its own story to tell (for example I have one that my newlywed grandmother made for my grandfather while he was in the war).
2) Pieces of china. I still love to use china dishes for certain dinners but using the entire collection at once feels stiff and far too formal for many peoples’ tastes these days. To lighten it up try mixing and matching your dishes or dine on plain white plates but use the tea cups to hold cut flowers (I love one peony in each teacup along the length of the table).
3) Recipe cards. Some of you are lucky enough to have inherited someone’s “famous” recipe book. If you couldn’t get enough of mom’s chocolate chip cookies as a child, why not bring those happy thoughts to your own kitchen today? Frame her recipe card in a special frame that reflects the kind of person she was. Place in a corner of your kitchen countertops for a little tug at your heart strings every time you pass by.
4) Retro holiday decorations. The Christmas tree decor of the 50′s is making a major come back but I don’t intend to wait until December to show off my favorite inherited items! This glitter and pearl star hangs up year-round and while it isn’t a hand-me-down, it sure looks like one. It currently hangs beneath a ledge shelf in our living room to add just a hint of whimsy and romance to an otherwise neutral space. Get creative!
Tags: antiques, china, decorating, decorations, flowers, handkerchiefs, heirlooms, heritage, tea cups
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submitted by: Jennifer
08/23/10
Never heard of it? Don’t beat yourself up, you decorating maven! Its not exactly covered on the front pages of Better 
Homes & Garden Magazine (don’t I wish). Susan Rapp of Urban Style Decor Blog writes “Mystery + Beauty surround the Bohemian Chic Lifestyle. Don’t be afraid to express your soft romantic side and create beauty in home decor. Whether it be a city loft by the river or a downtown brownstone, we all need a little { pretty } in our hectic urban lives. So, if you love culture + fashion + design, come embrace a little bit of the sweet “Vanity Fair Vintage” lifestyle.”
When someone asks me to define my style I never have a clear cut answer. Mostly because it changes every three days. I help other people mold their style. But when I saw Rapp’s blog on the Bohemian Chic Lifestyle I 
knew she’d struck a nerve in this decorator. The photos she used are every single thing I wish I had in my haven, from the 19th century Rococo-style sette to the rustic iron lantern ~ I had finally come home. And there was a name for the beautiful (sometimes beat up) pieces I was always being drawn to!!
Not sure where to begin? First I recommend soaking up the charm that vintage pieces possess. Rid yourself of the idea that everything has to be “perfect”. There is infinite beauty in the most imperfect things on this earth. Then I suggest you forget all those “rules” little miss Martha Stewart has taught you. This is perhaps one of the most liberating decorating styles out there simply because there are no rules. You decorate with what feels good to you, whether that’s a 50 year old tea pot you found at an estate sale or a wooden bench you brought back from a trip in the Poconos. So let your inner Collector go wild and uncover the Bohemian Chic in you that’s been dying for you to drop the IKEA catalog!
Tags: 19th century, antiques, apartment, Bohemian Chic, charming furniture, collection, decorating, interior decor, lighting, loft, rustic, settee, vintage
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submitted by: Jennifer
07/22/10
If interested in any of these items please notify me at Jennifer@decorateokc.net. Cash, debit or credit cards accepted only. No shipping available.
Various paint samples, never used. $1-4 ea.
Antique Silver ice bucket. Also used as an elegant planter! $45
Antique law books. 26 available. $2 each
Tags: antiques, ice bucket, law books, paint samples, Sherwin Williams, Valspare, vintage
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submitted by: Jennifer
05/11/10
As I search for the perfect addition to a client’s dining room I came across this adorable set and had to share. It isn’t quite what my client needs but that doesn’t mean it wouldn’t be the perfect fit for one of my readers! Found in the mecca of antique and restored furniture at Oklahoma City’s Mockingbird Manor, this quaint cottage-style dining table set is only $525 and is sure to add a splash of whimsy to any space.
Perfect for tiny breakfast nook or apartment!
Mockingbird Manor is located at 4417 N. Western Ave in OKC.
Tags: antiques, breakfast nook, chairs, dining table, restored furniture
Posted in General, Local shopping | No Comments »
As I search for the perfect addition to a client’s dining room I came across this adorable set and had to share. It isn’t quite what my client needs but that doesn’t mean it wouldn’t be the perfect fit for one of my readers! Found in the mecca of antique and restored furniture at Oklahoma City’s Mockingbird Manor, this quaint cottage-style dining table set is only $525 and is sure to add a splash of whimsy to any space.
Perfect for tiny breakfast nook or apartment!
Mockingbird Manor is located at 4417 N. Western Ave in OKC.
