DSC_0197accessories on parade

Since we busted up some parades yesterday, I though we should talk about good and honorable ways to accessorize.  Let me assure you, I am accessory’s biggest fan.  I love accessories.  I dream about accessories, I am connoisseur of accessories.  Of course, these are all my big fat opinions, they are not rules, no accessory police will come arrest you, and I retain the right to change my mind any time I want. I should be a politician.

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Yesterday we talked about “Accessories on Parade“.  We can easily fall into the trap of lining up a big bunch of lovely tchotchkes to the point where they look like they are marching in 3/4 time.  Part of the reason they resemble the parade is the scale of the items are all relatively the same.  That’s fancy decorator talk for saying all my cute junk  is about the same size.

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{did you notice I all ready have one more accessory added in?  my son brought home a clay creation}

A few ways to bust up a parade:

  • mix up the scale
  • layer your cute loot
  • stagger the placement

Let’s talk about scale. For example, on my mantle, even though I showed a photo with just 3 little accessories, some of you asked about the big urn that you saw sitting next to the small accessories.  Wait, doesn’t that count?  Don’t you have 4 accessories?  Cue the bass drum…and then, I admitted not only did I have an urn, I also had a pair of shutters and a large frame of classy broken wood.  So does that mean I have 7 accessories up there?  I have no idea.

All I know is that since the shutters are like 4 feet tall, they don’t seem to be competeing with the little dog.  And since the frame is layered in front of the shutters, it doesn’t feel like it’s marching in a parade.  It’s my little way of still getting to fill my house with lots of much loved accessories without having them compete or march side by side in a parade.

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Let’s take a look at my tablescape.  Real designers, please avert your eyes–look over there, it’s Stephen Drucker! {ok, got rid of them, as if they are reading this blog anyway.}  I’ve got my two lamps, 3 topiaries, 3 framed photos and some dish with a wrapped clear box of nuts.  Don’t ask.  Now you may hate all of my stuff but you have to admit, it works ok.  Lots of my stuff is close to the same size but I’ve staggered and layered the topiaries one in front, two in the back and I’ve staggered and layered the frames.  I had to incorporate the use of a little metal stand for one of the frames.

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But wait, what about shelves?  I have not choice but to set 4 photos of the same exact size up there, right?  Nope.  But, I wouldn’t say I have anything against 4 photos of the same size, I do like that look.  But you do have options.  Scale, stagger, layer.

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Another method to get away with having lots of the same size accessories grouped together is to call it a collection.  Just know, four of something does not a collection make.  You can do this with apothecary jars, picture frames, trophies, urns, silver, bonsai trees, bobble heads–whatever you collect.  The trick is to mix up the scale and to stagger and layer the items. Scale, stagger, layer.

Today’s words are Scale, Stagger and Layer.  Do you have someplace you can apply them?  I know I do.  And it’s not just what I do with my body after I wake up on a cold winter’s morn.

“Before you leave the house, look in the mirror and remove one accessory”  -coco chanel, the QUEEN of accessories