Stairwells

Like its hallways, a home's stairwell is often treated as an afterthought. Because we don't congregate on the stairs, but rather pass through them on our way to somewhere else, it's not unusual for them to be ignored when decorating plans are being made. But even a small pass-through space can become a vision for the eyes. Decorative tiles, elegant carpeting, paint effects and art are all very effective in these small spaces. They retrain us to notice the humbler spaces in our homes and they prove that a little bit of effort can have a big visual impact. There's no reason the path to bed each night can't be an inspiring one.

Images: Lonny magazine, May 2012 issue. Canadian House & Home magazine, November 2010 issue. British Homes & Gardens magazine, November 2010 issue. Driven by Decor. Apartment Therapy. Houzz.

Boho Chic

Partly made up of world market treasures and partly made up of flea-market finds, boho chic is all about layers of textiles, colors and collections. The opposite of minimalism, boho chic almost invites messiness. A few trademarks of the style: piles of cushions, overlapping rugs, walls covered in art or photos, and furnishings with character (read imperfections). Ultimately, boho style is collected over time. Though an approximation of the style can be achieved overnight, it won't have real character until it has been lived in for a while. A boho space will often have pieces that don't naturally make sense together. But the look is enhanced by the differences. Even the ugliest little piece of furniture will shine in a bohemian room. What's not to love about a style that welcomes rejects?

Images: The Comforts of Home by Caroline Clifton-Mogg, published by Ryland, Peters & Small. Recycled Home by Mark & Sally Bailey, photography by Debi Treloar, published by Ryland, Peters & Small. This Free Bird. My Favorite and My Best. WeHeartIt. Apartment Therapy.

Plate Walls

The appeal of a plate wall is obvious. It brings decorative dishes out of hiding while filling a large space that might be expensive to cover with actual art. For those who love a particular style of dish, such as the ironstone plates in the first image, a plate wall makes a feature out of a cherished collection. Even a narrow wall seems suddenly interesting when a cluster of plates is strategically arranged on it. In a room that already has a lot of interest, plates of a single color do the trick without overwhelming the senses. While in a paired-down space, a grouping of patterned plates contributes color. I especially love the plates that form the unorthodox canvas for an oil painting while framing the new work.

Images: ReadyMade. Nesting Place. Mmmcrafts. Decor Pad. SF Girl by Bay. Down and Out Chic.

Art Clusters

I've recently had several customers come into my shop asking for advice about adding interest to a blank wall. The possibilities are endless: a piece of architectural salvage like a window or vintage sign, a ladder turned on its side and used as a bookshelf, or a grouping of one item such as straw hats or wooden tools. And then there are art clusters -- a combo of art, framed or not, and unusual objects that is very often hung in a slightly random way. There are no real rules to these clusters other than that the whole should be visually appealing. With the above cluster currently in my shop, I began by grouping items together on a large surface to determine placement before I made holes in the wall. It doesn't matter if picture frames don't match, as long as there's something unifying about the pieces. In this case, the unifying factors are natural wood and hints of pink and pale gray/green. Because art clusters often include items that don't normally hang on a wall, they welcome a conversation about what really constitutes art -- one that has been debated for generations and will never be settled.

Images: RevivalSmith. The New Victorian Ruralist. Down and Out Chic. From the Right Bank. Made by Girl. Design Sponge.

Benches

Having just watched the quirky French movie Park Benches (despite some laugh out loud moments, it's a bit too disjointed for me to recommend it), I thought I might focus my attention on benches in the home. Though I've been selling vintage furniture for three years now, the above bench is only the second one I've had in my inventory. Besides church pews, great benches have proven difficult to find. I shouldn't be surprised because they work in every room of the house -- in a foyer, a hallway, at the foot of a bed, or as seating for a farmhouse table. Where a sofa might be too bulky, a bench provides seating for more than one without taking up a lot of square footage. As with outdoor benches, they are most often used as places to take a pause -- a spot to put on shoes or peruse a book or grab a bite to eat. In green spaces, benches are often associated with lovers, young and old, pausing to lean on each other. Even inside the home, they carry a bit of that romance with them, which probably explains why people aren't often willing to let them go.

Images: RevivalSmith. Vogue Living magazine, November/December 2011 issue. Period Living magazine, October 2011 issue. Country Living magazine, British edition, November 2010 issue. BBC Homes & Antiques magazine, November 2011 issue. Canadian House & Home magazine, November 2010 issue. Country Living magazine, British edition, May 2010 issue. Campagne Decoration magazine, July/August 2011 issue.

Botanicals

Every year around this time I get a craving for spring that can only be sated by a visit to Longwood Gardens -- more specifically to the massive greenhouse that is home to an ever-changing array of tropical plants and orchids. The combination of humidity (even man-made) and layer-upon-layer of fragrances is intoxicating. Whatever my mood going in, I leave with a fresh perspective and a reminder that winter does not last forever. Perhaps because of this yearly pilgrimage, I've developed a taste for bringing botanical elements into the home. Old classroom posters, book plates, terrariums, forced bulbs -- all are welcome. I'm sure it's no accident that the Philadelphia Flower Show takes place in March. Just when we're all suffering from snow fatigue and our skin has turned green from hibernation, along comes an invasion from the natural world. This year, I'm not waiting for the flower show. I'm staging a mini invasion of my own at home.

Images: 1) Elle Decoration magazine, June 2011 Issue. 2 and 3) British Homes & Gardens magazine, November 2010 issue and November 2011 issue. 4) BBC Homes & Antiques magazine, November 2011 issue. 5 and 6) Vogue Living magazine, November/December 2011 issue. 7) Period Living magazine, July 2011 issue.

Fireplace Mantels

In college, the choir that I belonged to spent every spring break touring one section of the country. We would perform in churches and then divide up into pairs to stay the night with the brave parishioners who were willing to host us. Some nights I stayed in suburban mansions and other nights the accommodations were a little less roomy (a trailer in Indianapolis comes to mind). The very first night on a tour of the Midwest my freshman year is the one I remember best. The house was average and the family was welcoming -- fixing hot cocoa and inviting us into the kitchen for conversation. That night, my friend was placed in a small guest room while I was put up on a mattress in the living room. I might have been disappointed if it weren't for the fact that the fireplace was lit and its warmth kept me company most of the night. Since then, the dream house in my mind has always included a working fireplace (though the house itself has morphed from a city loft to a lodge to a stone cottage throughout the years). Even when there is no possibility of setting a real fire, a mantel can add a focal point and architectural interest to an otherwise bland room. In the summer, it can house a giant bouquet of dried hydrangeas. In the winter, a mass of candles approximates the effect of a real fireplace. Fitting a mantel with an upholstered piece of plywood turns it into a headboard with a handy shelf for books. A mantel headboard gives new meaning to the idea of falling asleep in front of the fireplace.

Images: Vogue Living magazine, November/December 2011 issue. Period Living magazine, October 2010 issue. BBC Homes & Antiques magazine, September 2010 issue. Country Living magazine, British Edition, April 2011. Girl at Home. Poetic Home.