Filling in the Gaps

It’s been sometime since we first posted about our ever-growing staircase gallery wall and as you can see it’s really starting to fill out.

Brooke Astor’s dog portrait still holds pride of place at the base of the stairs but plenty of other pieces have come and gone in this ever-changing display.

Many smaller pieces have been added above and below the larger ones to help fill in the gaps and emphasize the stepped diagonal lines of the total composition.

Among the little jewels that help to strengthen the visual diagonal are a small collection of handcrafted collages inspired by the decoupage panels we created to adorn our antique cabinet last year.

The collages include intricately hand cut illustrations and advertising imagery mixed with poetry and even sheet music, all taken directly from antique Harper’s Magazines dating from the 1860’s to 1880’s and decoupaged directly to the backside of the glass.

These completely one-of-a-kind works of art, reminiscent of the scrap folk art so popular in the Victorian era from which the magazines date, are currently available here in our eclectic online shop Knickerbocker Antiques and Vintage along with many other items seen along our gallery wall.

Photos by KS&D.

Decorating with Houseplants

The pair of unexpected cacti in our last post got us thinking about houseplants and how much life and interest they bring to a room, especially when paired with antique and vintage pieces.

 

The big marble coffee table in our loft is styled with a trio of Phalaenopsis or Moth Orchids potted in Spanish moss, bringing some much needed height and vertical drama to the otherwise horizontal display of trinket boxes, small porcelain accessories, books, and sculpture scattered around them.

A column makes for a chic and elegant plant stand that can fit just about anywhere. The fluffy looking plant happily perched near this sunny window is known as a Ming fern, though oddly enough it's a relative of the asparagus and not a fern at all, while the vintage birdcage on the windowsill keeps company with a sweet African violet cheerfully basking in the sun.

The little sunroom through the French doors to the left is packed to bursting with all kinds of plants, palms, and vines. This tiny high ceilinged glass room could be thought of as sort of giant walk-in terrarium, but its come to be called simply the plant room, as it’s proved a perfect spot to winter palms or rebud orchids, including the pink and white ones in the first shot.

Antique Baltimore chairs flank a juniper bonsai tree atop on a Moroccan style accent table in this eclectic vignette. Produced mainly in Baltimore from 1820 to 1840, this style of chair incorporates Classical influences, like the curved back of the ancient Greek klismos chair as seen on the left, and elaborate hand painted and gold gilt details that result in a fantasy of the ancient Greco-Roman world by way of early American folk art. In its more heavily distressed condition, the chair holding the mandolin harp with its elegant deer-like legs and graceful gold gilt details almost resembles a relic from ancient Rome.

Many of the plants featured here including the orchids, Ming fern, and even the cactus that got this whole topic started have been purchase over the last few years from the Parkside Orchid Nursery in nearby Upper Bucks County, our favorite source for orchids that often carries other interesting houseplants as well, and definitely worth a visit if you're in the area.

Styling and photos by KS&D.

Shop the newest items and many of the ones pictured  here in our online shop.

Abstract Modern Art in a Traditional Eclectic Room

Mixing and matching periods, styles, materials, and textures is essential to the eclectic aesthetic and adds much interest and life to a space.

This mainly traditional living room furnished with a bohemian mix of antique and vintage pieces is centered around a large contemporary abstract oil painting with calming almost impressionist style colors and brushwork that blends beautifully with the eclectic mix of art, accessories, and textiles.

The constellation of rustic metal barn stars mounted on the wall above once decorated the exterior of our carriage house in rural Bucks County. The play of primitive folk art against modern art makes for an interesting juxtaposition, while the colors of the rusted metal and patinated copper pick up the same hues in the painting.

The pair of large oxblood red Chinese ginger jars also compliment the hues in the painting and match the color of the rusted stars above while providing an elegant foil to their rustic texture and perfect companions for the small classical sculpture that adds a final grace note to the vignette.

 

The neutral fabrics in the room let the art and accessories take center stage but still keep the eclectic theme by contrasting a simple white Belgian linen slipcover with a luxurious cut silk velvet throw blanket and a vintage tapestry pillow.

Click HERE to shop the newest arrivals in eclectic antique and vintage accessories and fine art in our online boutique Knickerbocker Antiques and Vintage!

Styling and photos by KS&D.

An Uncommon Autumn Vignette

Orchids may be an uncommon source of inspiration for an autumn vignette, but the rich red and orange hues of these delicate petals are bold as any fall foliage.


A trio of hand carved wooden folk art figures sit surrounded by deer antlers and an elegant pair of French rococo style sconces, adding an unexpected touch of glamour that echoes the curving lines and points of the antlers. Even the humble pumpkin, a most traditional symbol of the season, takes on a twist displayed under a bell jar.


The whimsical figure of an elegant turbaned hunter stands with rifle at the ready and a charming Staffordshire style lion resting at his feet. The rustic folk art figures of a horse and rider are carved in a primitive style with movable hinged arms.


Looking over the scene is the regal figure of a brightly plumed folk art Indian maiden specially adorned for the occasion with delicate strands of vintage glass beads.

Photos and styling by KS&D.