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Three times a year antique dealers from around the country stream into Brimfield, Massachusetts for the Brimfield Antique Show. Once a year Rena Paris (Wallovers co-owner) and I come, rain or shine, to trudge through a mile of fields for ideas for Wallovers and hidden treasures for our Connecticut customers. So, in case you can’t get here…This year we thought we’d blog from the fields and share some of our discoveries with you.
You don’t have to travel to Pakistan to see some of the most colorful and unusual textiles of that region. Just stop through the Shelton’s field at Brimfield where pillows and bags shimmer with mirror, beads, tassel and other antique embellishments. And speaking of pattern…
Ever wish it was still the 60′s? The color and patterns of vintage clothing is everywhere this year at Brimfield.
Although it was raining we felt pretty colorful hanging out amongst these antique vendors. How about this Emilio Pucci like shirt for $20.
Color was abound on furniture of all kinds as well, from hand painted eastern influence……
To Retro ….
To Modern.
Dealers are getting more creative than ever with textiles. Covering chairs with old carpets pieces, making frames out of tin, and creating jewelry from scraps of uphostery. The theme this year is SALVAGE, SALVAGE, SALVAGE.
While the trend in home decor may be to go gray… you’ll always catch us around color! Rena discovered these fantastic enamel-coated, stackable bins, perfect for storing brushes, rollers and rags!!! or legos, matchbox cars and blocks??? (She has 3 kids under the age of 4!)
Imagine a summer table set for dinner with this colorful fiesta ware?
(hand-painted antique leather suitcase)
Don’t throw away your old buttons, especially those shiny and translucent ones. Although this finish is not quick or inexpensive, it is DROP DEAD GORGEOUS for a small backsplash or panel area. Start by creating a dragged texture on the surface using plaster and dragging it both horizontally and vertically with a wallpaper brush. Once dry, trowel plaster through Wallovers Ethnic Grid stencil. While the plaster is still wet adhere small shells to create the pattern. Shells can be ordered from US Shell Company on line.
Once the shells are thoroughly dried into the plaster, adhere flat, antique, mother of pearl buttons using a craft adhesive. Alternate the pearl color with the silver inside open areas. You can purchase just about any antique embellishments from Sandy Schor bead company.
Continue to fill in the empty spaces or use just one color leaving the plaster background as a contrast. Here I am filling in all the space.
Once the buttons are fully applied and dry, use a tile grout to fill in the gaps.
Grout the entire surface, let set and then wipe away the excess to reveal the sheen of the buttons.
I am definitely getting ready to do a bathroom backsplash in this one!!!!!!!! But remember when applying those buttons and shells……..Patience is a virtue!
Everyone from the mailman to the high school kids have said “I love your house”, So I thought I would start a small series on home decorating. Starting in the kitchen, I will share some of the cool tricks that have made this room unique. Not only are these design elements different, but usually they can be picked up from a tag sale for under $25, painted and introduced as something new. You just have to be willing to eyeball every junk pile at the side of the road and stop into every tag sale and estate sale you can.
So here goes…..Old Gate handles used for Refrigerator door handles. $25 for the pair.
Old baby grand piano legs were made longer by a woodworker then painted with an antique copper finish. each leg at tag sale $25.
And an architectural rosette from a tag sale is added onto the hood for ornamentation. $5
.
My personal favorite for decorating is antique area rugs. They are like artwork on the floor.
Here’s a big tip though….
Don’t ever buy 2 of the same rug in different sizes just because you love the rug. This just screams “This rug is machine made”!
If you love a machine made rug, buy it… but only once.
This rug happens to be special because I chose it on a trip to Morocco and shipped it home. Decorative items with meaning and beauty are the best kind! Ok…. the rug was incredibly inexpensive for hand made- wool at $250 but I did have to fly to Marrakesh to get it! It was worth it!
Here are some photos of the finished room.
I am a lover of pattern and texture so you will never find space in the house that doesn’t have one of the two.
Wall surfaces tend to be the last thing people care about after counters, appliances and floors but they make the biggest statement of all. They are usually the largest surface area in the room. A Tavern look is created here with textured red venetian plaster and tones of copper and Gold with an embossed stencil design to frame the french doors.
