As the Garden Grows

What's blooming today?


You are here: Home / Archives for home decor

Chosing a chandelier for our dining room

by

I’ve been keeping an eye out for sites that specialize in lighting so that once we are finished our dining room and living room renovation I can replace the current light fixture in our dining room.

The current lighting fixture is too modern for the style of the house, and will more than likely clash with the renovations that we’ve made to the room once they are completed.

I’ve just been introduced to the company of Barnes & Wagner and I’m currently browsing their dining room chandeliers section.

Barnes & Wagner specializes in lighting for every room of your home and office with items ranging from table lamps to wall scones to chandeliers. They also sell home decor items such as lovely wall mirrors, clocks and stained glass windows.

I’m still not sure exactly what kind of chandelier style I’ll want to use in the dining room. I think I’ll have to wait until the room is almost complete before I finalize my decision, but it’s nice to know that Barnes & Wagner has a selection of 13 different chandelier styles from which to make my choice.

We’ll probably choose a traditional or transitional style, but I might find a contemporary design that works with our new tin ceilings, ornate molding and venetian plastered walls.

With luck our reno will be finished by the end of summer and I’ll be able to make all my lighting and decor choices and purchases.






Seashells can be used to create interesting decor accessories

by

My parents used to be what I’d call winter Texans. Yes, they were snowbirds, but instead of going to Florida like many of the other snowbirds they found a place to call a home away from home in Texas.

My mother liked to do various crafts while she was in Texas and she’d bring them home when they came back in the spring. She made decorative plant pots and even hanging patio lights.

However, my favorite types of things that she made were made with sea shells. She’d get nice glass wear and fill them with shells and believe it or not a pretty glass full of attractive shells is quite nice. She’d also use plain glass jars and glue shells to the outside. The jars could then have tea light candles inside them. This made simple yet attractive candle holders.

She also used shells and starfish to decorate the outside of plant pots. She wouldn’t cover the whole pot with shells, no, she’d just make an attractive pattern on the pot.

When I visited Quality Shells a few minutes ago, memories of my mother and her craft projects came rushing back to me. All those memories got me thinking that seashells, sand dollars and starfish could be used to create decorative items for table center pieces, or candle holders at weddings and other party settings, or then could be used as I’ve described my mothers use of them.

I have some shells that I just leave on top of a mantle piece. I like the look of them lying loose on the mantle. Their colorful shells catching my eye as I pass them during the day.

If you’d like to use shells for your own craft projects why don’t you visit Quality Shells and select some of their beautiful shells for your next project?

Meta