PLATE WALLS

Oscar de la Renta's home in the 1970s; this room is the love child of a Delft factory and a Magic Eye picture. Where do the walls end and decorations begin? Low lamps on Chinese stools are unexpected, as is the fabric scalloped border, draped across the mirror's north line. Don't miss the little ceramic frog...

At low resolution, it's challenging to make out whether these plates are ironstone, ceramic, patterned, or solid... but the sudden effect of weight on the wall is a counterpoint to the lightness of the room that lends gravitas. 

A twist on the classic color combination of trees and sky; this pistachio green punches up the plates, and don't miss the delft details in chandelier and sconces. I'm curious about the rug - custom? 

My apartment, with a dramatic dose of color. I didn't find the Baratta design above until after painting the walls green - perhaps if I'd been fortified with more color courage from the above image, I'd have spent less time agonizing in the paint aisle. My own plates are a mix of Tiffany, Urban Outfitters, unidentifiable thrift, Home Goods, Wedgewood and Delft acquired on travel, and Anthropologie. The only thing I'd change? More plates. I'm thinking some very small ones slipped in around the sides...

Soft, soft, soft... I feel convinced that dinner parties in this room must be quieter, more congenial. The symmetry of the plates is steadying - it's an orderly space.

The look of NOW. Old stuff in new colors. The Louder Is Living Club. Could this be any different than the room above? I believe those plates may be jadite - if you're inspired, grab an armful off of Etsy.

/Images/ SF Home, my own/ All others, Pinterest/

MISS SOFFIT

Soffit (saw-fit). def.  The underside of an architectural structure such as an arch or overhanging eaves. An odd plague of city-dwellers, apartment complexes, and handy-man renos. "Miss Muffet's odd soffits drove her so mad she dropped her curds and whey."

When I first entered the apartment in which I now dwell, I saw very little of it. From the sky-gazing picture windows, to the gleaming parque floors and shiny white walls, I was practically (joyously) blind with ample lighting and shimmering surfaces (like the pack rat, I am obsessed with shiny things). It wasn't until the shades were drawn and the lamps flipped on that I saw a different side of my apartment. The underside. Everywhere, like some large scale geometry experiment, were right angles. Even the soffits had soffits. I've borne these construction contortions rather well - it's all a bit over my head (ha) - but I'm beginning to contemplate improvements. Should I highlight them? Cover them? Paint them? Miss Muffet turned to the interwebs for inspiration.

This most closely resembles my soffit situation. What's in those things? 

High drama soffiting - stick some lights on those babies! "What, this old soffit? So intentional - planned it, you know."

What soffit? I don't see a soffit. Do you?

Cover it up in a cool way - here, plank flooring takes a walk on the high side. 

/Images/ Boys' room/ Dining Room/ Kitchen/

Do you have any soffit tips or tricks to share?

HOW-TO: PHOTO WALL

I got what seemed like a brilliant idea the other day - a photo display wall to fill a vacant corner above my couch. But large photo walls are so expensive:  custom framing, the art or photography on display, and usually a professional installer to hang them just so.

This Vogue vintage cover wall from Domino Magazine was a great inspiration. 

So what to do? My first stop was IKEA, king of inexpensive home accessories. Even if the frames weren't glam, a matching set always looks more elegant.

IKEA Ribba frames at $10 a pop - including the mat!

But what to put in the frames? I have years of fashion and shelter mag editorial and advertising tearsheets lying around, so I raided my stash to find a series of photos suitable for framing. The guidelines were to 1) find images in various shades of jade to pick up the green themes in my apartment, and, 2) to find them with as few words on the page as possible (editorials are best for this).

After choosing favorites, I framed them up and laid out the photos to find the best arrangement.

I settled on a mix up of home decor, accessories, and fashion images from over the years. Vogue had the best fashion options (of COURSE), but Town and Country takes the prize for absolutely gorgeous accessories shots (note the Tony Duquette brooch picture in the center).

With a little help from the IKEA frame inserts, and a lot of measuring, I framed out the job.
Tips:  Be sure to measure the space between each frame too, so the distance is right. I then penciled in the exact spot for each nail hole on the paper, and drove the nail right through the paper, pulling off the wall papers when I was done. Easy peasy!

(Remember, in an older building, it can be really tough to find the perfect "center" since the walls may not be perfectly straight. Your best bet is to trust your eye as well as your measuring tape, moving things around until they look right. Also, keep in mind that the frame insert papers are a great guide, but they're slightly smaller than the frames. You'll need to add in an extra inch or so for the perfect fit.) 

The final result:  ta-da - inexpensive photo wall!

The set dresses up an otherwise dull corner (apologies for the window glare). 

Total cost? $120 for frames. $0 for old magazine tearsheets. Yay!

I tried the same affect in my bathroom with vintage nature prints and a shell craft basket. Again with the glare. Sorry!

Have you found a special trick for making great wall displays?

THE WELL READ GIRL

Kate Spade sure knows her books AND her pocket books - Spade stores have almost as many vintage display books as they do bags. Which gave her an idea...

Books that are purses!!!

Notice that these clutches are a numbered series from "Kate Spade Publishing." Try to collect every "volume!"

Now you can "read" ...even if you're not in the library!

Or anywhere in particular...

If you'd like to find your own great vintage book covers to decorate with, visit the Database of Vintage Book Covers.

Or just throw down some cash at Anthropologie...

Book covers in spades - these are Andy Spade's displays. Do try this at home:  just print out some of the covers from the Database (above) and frame them! Your walls will be well read.

And, if you'd like to pretend your laptop is a vintage bookstore, visit Kate Spade's special online section "Arguments for Looking at Books Instead of Reading Them," to download wallpapers/book covers with vintage designs.
Images:  Database of Vintage Book Covers, Andy Spade images, Kate Spade ads, more Kate Spade ads.

FABULOUS AND FREE: YOUR WALLS

Wall decor these days is complicated. In the eons before modern design, there were two classes of things that went on walls, and each spoke to your place in society. If you were poor these would likely be practical (tools) or symbolic (religious articles). If you were rich these would be portraits of family or ancestors, maps of property, or possibly artworks of the non-mass produced, patron supported variety.

But in 2010, no one wants to settle for the spartan practicality of our peasant ancestors, even if we can't afford the gilt frames of our aristocratic ones. How do you decorate your walls in a way that reflects your taste, interests, and personal style - but not your budget? It's easy. Just go to that bedrock of free community services, the library. Specifically, the New York Public Library.

In recent years, the NYPL has taken on the daunting task of digitizing its mammoth collection of image-related pieces - manuscripts, photographs, maps, sheet music, and vintage posters. And they've made nearly a million of them available online. At their website, you can browse through hundreds of thousands of images, organized by origin, era, or various collections (Civil War, Dance, Victorian, Nature, New York). Select an image, crop it any way you like, and order a beautiful print for around $25. Or, you can enlarge and print it yourself. It's instant decoration.

All images, New York Public Library.

SUN AND SEA AT ANTHROPOLOGIE

J'adore Anthropologie - it isn't just their lovely looks and sublime styles; they create designs with wit. This summer, open your doors and drawers with porcelain urchins or bronzed crab. Dine off of scenes from the deep, as medieval monsters toss hapless ships. Or salute the sea with psychedelic coral, salt 'n pepper minnows, and a couch that will suck you in (to the arms of an octopus). Whether you're holiday-bound or settling in for a "staycation," these treasures will bring the ocean home.

DECORATING WITH... SCARVES

Aside from the odd scarf tied to a handbag, I don't wear them much. After all, I don't drive a convertible, I don't wear a lot of suits, and I'm too young to go the cravat 'n pearls route. BUT... I own a lot of scarves anyway. Vintage (a rare White House design, silks inherited from my grandmothers), designer (Fendi, Hermes) and a sentimental polyester number I bought off the street in Rome. Rather than keep these beauties stashed in the back of my closet, awaiting a dream car purchase or the onset of my golden years, I decided to bring them out in the open, and into my decor. Here are a few inspirations for the home, starting with the king of scarves, Hermes.

STUFF YOUR HERMES - PILLOWS

Aren't these colors fantastic? It's actually a very neutral room, but the feeling is sophisticated and lively. There are only four (count 'em) uses of color - and the Hermes scarf pillow (backed in mocha satin) sets the palette for the room. Design by Robert Brown Interior Designs. 

Some lovely Hermes pillow options available from Decorati.

A very adult, masculine palette isn't put off by a little scarf scrollwork.

Very elaborate, and traditional, patterns available from Vivre - similar to the one in the picture above.

More gorgeous pillows available from Decorati. I'm head-over for the pink and red combo with tassels!!!

Hermes on Housewives, of all places. Kelly Bensimone, of the Real Housewives of New York City, has two hot pink couches in her living room, chocked full of Hermes pillows. The pillows are completely fabulous, and I'm so sad I couldn't find more pictures to show you. However, you can watch the video of her house tour (including a giant horse, her washer and dryer, and more pillows) HERE.

Here's a mid-century modern mix with Hermes. Although the scarf is elaborate, the color scheme does match the chair. A little - not totally sold on this one!

Large Hermes cushions - you'll need at least three scarves, one for the front, one for the back, and another for the sides (just be emotionally prepared to cut it up!). The look is stupendous. Not sure about the rest of this room. Are zebra bridles really a great use for your Twillys?

HANG YOUR HERMES

I love the idea of framing and hanging scarves. They often make beautiful, abstract patterns, and you can indulge in color combinations and designs you wouldn't necessarily want to wear. Here, an art deco inspired framed Hermes scarf gives a jolt of color to a quiet living room. This image is, of course, from Domino.

And don't make the scarf shine alone - I love this whimsical, lime green chinoiserie frame, done by Dose of Design!

An Hermes scarf in a traditional frame. Notice how the scarf border creates an instant mat.

A beautiful use of a framed Hermes scarf in Ivanka Trump's New York apartment (from Blue Hydrangea). The various blues and greens in the room all come together in that scarf.

       OTHER DESIGNERS

      Graphic prints with Louis Vuitton...

A bright Vera scarf, courtesy Little Green Notebook.

Pucci patterns are fantastic in a room - here are some options in pillows and as wall art. 

The famous vintage store Decades, located in Melrose Heights, L.A., decorated their walls with Pucci scarves.

Try Ouno Design for pillows made from vintage scarves (including the recent olympics, Japanese fabrics, and Peter Perritt).

SOURCES:  all images, as linked above.