Thursday, March 22, 2012

The Art of Display


When it comes to displaying your collectibles, group them together for visual impact, something I always need to remind myself.

Don't forget to look up for display possibilities.
Something Bonnie Broten taught me. I would never have thought to stage the top of this hutch!

Stack, stack, stack.
Stacked books create a foundation for little objects d'art.

Stick to a theme, whether it's chickens behind chicken wire...

...or religious art paired with like minded objects sharing the same patina and color.

Think organized chaos when your stuff is overwhelming.
Baskets, shelves and cabinets corral it all in an organized manor.

Why am I talking about the art of display?
Well, because I really struggle with creating interesting vignettes. In fact, I suck!
There I said it! I can do it for friends and clients, but not for myself.
I get too impatient and end up just making a big mess, which makes me even more impatient.
Yesterday, I moved things around in hopes of creating an interesting display in my built-in kitchen hutch.

So here is what I came up with so far.
I combined majolica with ironstone and silver and juxtaposed it all with rustic bird's nests.
I was going for a layered, added over time look.

But looking at it now, was I just organizing my chaos!
Or not. Does it look the way I intended?
Oh, I seriously don't even care anymore!


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29 comments:

Rebecca said...

What a helpful (and attractive) post! Great reminders & full of ides...

Unknown said...

Awesome displays! Thanks

Kathysue said...

Hi D! You are so funny! We all have trouble when it comes to our own home. What looks good for a moment isn't always easy to live with. Doing a vignette for a photo shoot is one thing and living with it is sometimes another thing. I think you do a wonderful job with your vignettes. Stick with what you know and make it quintessentially "Delores" and you will love it. you know all the basics and you are so talented. Good luck,
Kathysue

Lorna said...

It looks beautiful! I know what you mean, I feel the same way when doing my own home. I get all tense and anxious, but when it all comes together it's all worth it.

AntiqueChase said...

I like it. however I would change one thing... The cloche stand in that says "cake" is over a bird's nest. That seems off.. to me.. sorry.. I would get a plain cloche for that. otherwise I like it :)

vignette design said...

You're right about the cloche. Silly to have a bird's nest cake--right?

Mary Ann Pickett said...

Very pretty! I always think of it as "playing." So, I mix it up in my own home often.

Debra@CommonGround said...

I think your vignettes are always gorgeous. Sometimes it's hard to look at our own "stuff" in an objective way. Love the majolica and all your pretty things!

Grandma Linda's Daydreams said...

Thank you for your display tips!
You are too hard on yourself, your hutch is very interesting, you have wonderful things! It's always harder to do our own, easier to do for others!
Happy Spring!
Linda

Pura Vida said...

I've never come across anyone who can do this better than you

Marlis said...

I really love your vignettes.. But I know what you mean. I either don't have the right 'thing' and make myself crazy looking for "it".. or i clear it all off. Maybe add a majolica plate behind the cow and the pitcher on the top shell to help those items stand out? Great tips.. I need to remember them all! xo marlis

kim @ whitebarnbasics said...

Oh! I love your vignettes so much! They really inspire me and give me such great ideas (my brain just clogs up sometimes!)Thank you for always sharing your lovely life and beautiful posts!
kim

www.whitebarnbasics.blogspot.com//

Sonny G said...

beautiful sample photos and so many wonderful ideas. I am bookmarking this post so I can come bak and look again..
thank you for sharing with us.

Sonny

Nothing But Blue Skies... said...

I think your hutch looks fantastic, and I always love getting a glimpse of some of your treasures!
Great post! You always inspire!
xo-Lisa

The Tuscan Home said...

Love your hutch, it looks AMAZING! You are so talented. =) Thanks for sharing! xo ~Liz

Sarah said...

I think everything you do looks terrific. Thanks for sharing all these great images.

Unknown said...

Why not trade staging vignettes with a like-minded friend? You stage her stuff and she can stage yours. That way you'll both have a fresh eye on your things.

Rhonda said...

It's hard to imagine you getting stuck -- you're vignettes are always so lovely! I thought I was the only one who had difficulty making it come together! Whenever that happens, I call my artistic son to critique the decorating mess, and he usually gives me helpful advice. Eventually, everything comes together. Regarding your hutch, maybe it just needs some height on the top shelf. Thanks for sharing!

Karen said...

Delores,
Don't you dare doubt your talents where "vignettes" are concerned. I gain more inspiration and ideas from your site than any! I can't begin to tell you how many images I've saved from your blog and in truth, wish you would do a book on "details" much like Charles Faudree. You truly have the eye. I like what you've done with your hutch. I've come to the conclusion that with many of us like-minded home-enthusiasts, change is the norm and what looks appealing to us today may bore us by the following week and we'll be rearranging. So much fun.
Have a great weekend.
Karen at Garden, Home and Party

Anonymous said...

Hi Delores,
Like a lot of the comments made, I love your vignettes and have the same issue when it comes to decorating my own space, I tend to hem & haw over it whereas I could walk into someone else's space and not have an issue. I usually like to take photographs of my spaces to get another point of view and it helps me see where I'm off or not. Love your hutch though!
Dawn

Mr Paul said...

Delores, your vignettes are just great. I adore your nests. I'm inspired!

Paul

Kelley said...

Are those your chickens in the wonderful cabinet?

I love them!
and your vignette looks wonderful too

xx kelley

Cindy Deas said...

Delores, All great tips! You always have a wonderful "eye" for displays. I would just add that your print, behind the cake plate, be elevated or hung, but I'm sure you don't want a nail hole in your beautiful hutch and, possibly take away the white bowl in front of your lovely platter on the middle shelf. Keep playing and tweaking and you will get it "just right" like you always do!

Cindy Deas said...

Delores, All great tips! You always have a wonderful "eye" for displays. I would just add that your print, behind the cake plate, be elevated or hung, but I'm sure you don't want a nail hole in your beautiful hutch and, possibly take away the white bowl in front of your lovely platter on the middle shelf. Keep playing and tweaking and you will get it "just right" like you always do!

Cindy Deas said...

Delores, All great tips! You always have a wonderful "eye" for displays. I would just add that your print, behind the cake plate, be elevated or hung, but I'm sure you don't want a nail hole in your beautiful hutch and, possibly take away the white bowl in front of your lovely platter on the middle shelf. Keep playing and tweaking and you will get it "just right" like you always do!

Liz@ HomeandGardeningWithLiz said...

Great tip! I think you always do great with your displays/vignettes. I end up playing with things a lot and sometimes end up where I started and sometimes a long way from where I started. All I know is keep playing!
It looks like an awesome area to have fun with!

Toni said...

I love your style and the only thing I would add are some old books somewhere, maybe behind the white pieces on the top shelf or underneath the white pieces
. The only thing that throws it off for me are the yellow daffodils. I would add some more nests on the other shelves, perhaps just sitting in the majolica pitcher, turn the "cake" cover around so you don't see the word, and maybe add something earthy in the white footed bowl in the center shelf. Love all the majolica and brown and white tones.

Shirley@Housepitality Designs said...

Love the way you display all your collections..they are so beautifully and tastefully done...

La Dolfina said...

I feel your pain Dolores!
Sometimes I will spend all day attempting new vignettes only to throw in the towel at the end.
I am always amazed at how easy it is for our friend Lisa.
She is a genius at arrangement.

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