a new finial

While antiquing at the seacoast we found this small piece of white coral for $1!  I knew it would make a great finial, but didn't have a specific lamp in mind. 

Lamp finials are like cherries on top of the proverbial cake... the final, finishing detail!  A lamp isn't complete without them, and they can make or break a beautiful lamp.  Scale, proportion, and composition are all elements to be considered.

When we arrived home I walked the small piece of coral around the house to see if it would work on any of our lamps, or if it was to go into the "one day" collection for future lamp finials!   When I walked into the reading room and saw this antique Chinese blue and white double happiness ginger jar that we made into a lamp years ago, I knew it had found its home!

 
The shape of the coral mimics the background in the ginger jar, something I had never noticed before!  I have used a lot of white coral in this room, so using the coral finial seemed like a good match.

 

A simple brass ball finial was being used prior to the coral find.  The right size and height brass ball finial can sometimes be the perfect solution, but some lamps can hold their own with a more ornate finial!  Since the lamp sits on a chest of drawers the brass finial was attached using an extender to raise the finial just enough to be seen from standing level.   

 

Dan used a table grinder to reshape the coral to fit inside the finial base.

I expected to use some glue, but it was such a snug fit none was needed.

 

When we make lamps we like to use as many old/antique elements as possible.  This ginger jar had a rather large opening at the top, so an antique brass ceiling medallion was used as the cap for the lamp- the swirl designs in the cap mimics the background design on the ginger jar.

With a project like this we always err on the conservative side, as you can always continue to take more off, but you can't add it back on!  The first several attempts at height were too tall.  I lived with this height for several days before realizing that every time I walked by and saw it it reminded me of a feather sticking out of a Derby hat!  Three more grindings, and....

we finally arrived at this-  the perfect height!

So, do all your lamps have the perfect finial?!!

the Spring mantel

It's Spring, and I'm thinking green...  green with a hint of turquoise!

The living room mantel is the only one of our five that I change seasonally.  I thought these vintage and antique Chinese ginger jars (they were literally used to import ginger) just said "Hello Spring!"  This is only a few pieces in a larger collection, but they make me happy each time I go into or pass by the living room. 

 

Several of the ginger jars still have their original clay tops, and one even has its original wicker wrapping.

The ginger jars share the mantel with a vintage copper tray from India, my twenty-year-old ivy topiary, a pair of antique mercury glass candlesticks, an 1857 leather book, ...

an iron bird, a piece of dried root from the property, and an antique French gilt mirror.



 

With so much going on on the mantel I placed a simple black antique tole tray, leaving it unadorned, on the coffee table.

Today was a bit chilly, so I started a fire for you (margaritas, fires.... ohhh, the things I do for you.  

I must like you! :)

my favorite everyday glassware....

To tell you this is my favorite go-to, everyday glassware is a big statement for me, as I have a "thing" for glasses. 

Some people do dishes (I'm a white-dish girl, though I admit I do have a "few" other plates ;)...
I do glassware. 
From Bacarrat to Ikea to antiques.... doesn't matter; I have them all, and love and use them all!

These favorite glasses put me in good company, as they are also Martha's and Ina's favorite too!  In fact, I first ordered these years ago from the old Martha Stewart catalog.  I panicked when the catalog was discontinued until I found them at CB2- Crate and Barrel's hip understudy. 

These are the Marta glasses. 

They are paper-thin, sturdy and elegant!  Yes, sturdy.  They are fabulous for so many drinks, and their ultra-thin lip is perfect for coating with salt for margaritas-   just in case you were wondering;) 

I buy the 18oz. Cooler size.

Just for you :) I made a margarita to show you how wonderful they are in this glass!

With the early arrival of Spring this year (word on the street is that we are at least three weeks ahead of normal) and our gorgeous weather, we have been spending lots of time out on the porches.  We have coffee here in the morning and cocktails at night!  So, this is where I am tonight.... on the porch with my favorite everyday glass, having a margarita for you!!



And, speaking of porches.... look who's porch was shown on

The Huffington Post Stylelist Home today!!!!!!

Happy weekend!

oh, and Cheers!!!

xojoan

Here's to Spring!

and to you!

xojoan

the chairdelier

When designing a space I  love the rush of that split-second when you come up with an idea, a design, or a solution for a room and you just know that it's the right one!!    The vintage iron chandelier that I used as a light fixture in the barn mud room was one of those moments for me. 

I've found that going into a new space to decorate I will usually "see" 80% of the finished design (i.e. furniture placement, art, colors)  and the rest comes organically after living in, and with, the room.   The mud room between the barn room and the garage below is small, so I chose lighting that would illuminate the art I had planned for the staircase wall and also illuminate the stairs coming up from the garage below.  Two small lamps in the antique hutch light the path from the top of the stairs into the barn room.  Since the room is used as a pass through space I really only need ambient light, as opposed to "task" lighting.  After using the room for several months I realized that I wanted/needed a bit more light from the window area of the room.  I initially thought of putting a small table there with a lamp on it, but didn't like the idea for two reasons- one it seemed expected and two, it placed the light source a little too high for where I needed/wanted more light. 
It was during this time that I was unpacking unused antiques/accessories from boxes that had been in the attic since we moved here into the new storage room that sits right behind the mud room.   As I made one of my many trips into the storage room to unpack a box I noticed the vintage iron chandelier and then as I walked through the mud room the idea came to me to use the fixture in an unexpected way- not by hanging it, but by sitting it in a chair and wiring it as you would a lamp!  By placing the light on the chair it doesn't line up with the other light sources in the room and it causes your eye to move around the space, making the room feel larger and adding interest.

We purchased the iron chandelier years ago from White Elephant in Dallas.  I had originally wanted to hang it from one of our large trees in our backyard and light it using candles, but that project never happened.  The iron itself is really unusual- it looks like tooled leather!  The fixture was oiled, but I left the finish as I found it- with a little rust coming through.

Since the light fixture would be seen from the top looking down instead of how you usually view a chandelier (from the bottom up), and because the candle holder cups were so large I knew that I would need special candle sleeves for this piece.  I looked to a favorite source,  Lumiere Candles. 

I found the perfect sleeves in these large diameter solid wax candle sleeves from Lumiere.  These are real wax sleeves (though they do make a "resin" line for higher wattage bulbs) that are custom made to each order.  I have purchased real wax candle sleeves from Lumiere many times and have written about their quality products and good prices on the blog ( here.)  From all the great feedback I get from you, you love them as much as I do!! 

(In case you're new to the blog-  the owners, Paul and Lisa, have kindly offered a 10% off coupon for all my readers!   This is a permanent coupon, with no minimum purchase!  When checking out, simply enter the coupon code : FLOH in the "Coupon" box and then be sure to click "apply coupon" which will re-tally your amount.)

Look at those gorgeous drips!  Since the iron candle holders had an inch lip I specified that the drips stop an inch up from the bottom for clearance.   The sleeves are in "white" which I find works best for my Benjamin Moore White Dove trim paint color ( fyi: Lumiere's "ivory" has more yellow in it).

My very talented electrician (Dan ;) wired the chairdelier (name coined by said electrician;) using thin "chandelier" electrical wire which comes out from the bottom of the piece.  Thin wire holds the electrical wire in place.  This photo gives you a good view of the "tooled leather" look of the iron.

An old chain was added to create the illusion that I just sat a chandelier in a chair which adds a bit of whimsy to the space.

The chairdelier uses my new favorite touch-dimmer (here.) 

This 3-level (low/medium/high) touch dimmer only works on metal lamps.  You simply plug your metal lamp into a small box converter and then touch any metal part of the lamp and the dimmer activates: one tap- low, two taps- medium, and three taps- high.

gotta love the rush!!!

STOP THE CAR!!!!!

See it???!

You would laugh if you heard the numerous conversations we've had on how we could get this baby out of the tree (which hangs precariously over a busy road!!)   Think "Lucy and Ethel" and that will give you an idea of our ingenious concepts:) 

It's not gonna happen, but I want it soooooo bad!!!

Renovation Style "The Ultimate Guide to Kitchens & Baths"

A huge Thank You to Renovation Style and editor Erich Gaukel for including a feature on our master bathroom in the current Special Issue of

Renovation Style

 "The Ultimate Guide to Kitchens & Baths"

 

Available on newsstands now!