A Tale of Two Fireplaces, part three (accessorizing!)

I once heard someone say that a room without accessories is like an outfit without jewelry. I feel that way, but the accessories are what usually paralyze me. We lived in the house for months with no accessories in any "public rooms" and they felt soul-less.

The first accessory I knew I wanted was the giant deer head from Z Gallerie. I had been stalking it online for months, hoping it would go on sale (it never did), trying to figure out when to buy it. Finally, after living her about 2 months, I saw a 15% off coupon for Z Gallerie and I just went for it. My goodness, how I love him! It helps anchor the fireplace wall (more about that here), and brings some fun into what could be a too formal space (although the kids leave clear evidence of their existence).

My next step was to add the books. I love books. I really love books. So much so that I put in an entire library in our house, even though with my Kindle I have avoided purchasing about 400 "hard copy" books in the last few years. I fished out my hardcover books from boxes in the library that had not yet been unpacked, took off the book jackets, and lined them up by color along the mantle. I had tons of black books, so I put some on each end to bracket the arrangement. Then I added these adorable house bookends (similar to these). They can be a bit hard to see, since the black almost disappears into the wall color, but I think they are fun, just a bit too small. If/when I find bookends I like better I will replace them, but for now, they are staying.

For the kitchen fireplace, I wanted to relate it to the living room without just doing the same thing all over again. I've always liked how designers will put books spine-side-in to give libraries a cleaner, more neutral look. Here's the problem, I want to see my books! As a visual person, I know where my books are based on where I remember seeing them, and I might want to reference them again, or loan them to a friend. So this strategy wasn't going to work for the library, but it could work on the mantle with all the books I am a)embarrassed to own, b)had already hidden away behind other books, and c)would never need to look at/read/lend. What books were these? Why romance novels, mysteries, pretty much any trashy (I use that word with love) paperback that I read in a few hours while on a plane, beach, after a bad day in college, while too pregnant to move, the list goes on.

See how pretty they are from far away?

Then while shopping at HomeGoods I found this painting for only $199, that's $200 less than I had seen the same one selling for at another store. I snatched it up. I constantly get asked who it's by. Like, "Who is that artist" or "Is that an Agam?" OMG, I love Agam, but after this house it will be quite a while before we are out buying original art from established, already famous artists! The vases are rolled up paper that has been glued on, another HomeGoods find.

I love how here the color is brought in by the painting (above the books) and the bookends, the exact opposite of where the color comes from in the living room. Read more about the functional accessories here.

Linked to:

between naps on the porch, Alderberry Hill, Sumo's Sweet Stuff
Newbie Link Party, Project Queen, Nifty Thrifty Tuesday
Tip Junkie, Tuesday's Treasures, Thrifty Decor Chick
Homework Inspiration Board, Savvy Southern Style