Atticmag - Part 7

I’m Dreaming of a Round Tree Bench

by Jane F on March 30, 2012 in Outside

With prime season for garden ornamentation here, a decision is needed. Advice and comments, please.

Spring arrived early this year and the entire town has been at peak ornamental shrub and tree color for about 10 days now. It’s distracting to drive as my eye is continually drawn from neon yellow forsythia to white pear trees, mottled magnolias, and the pale pink weeping cherry and flowering plum trees. You may not know this about me but I Hate Gardening and never gave a moment’s thought to any tree for three-quarters of my life. However, after the freakishly heavy February snowstorm in 2010 that broke almost every branch of our flowering plum in the front of the house, the trees got my attention. My posts on that Storm Damage Aftershock and the Repair showed the debris and how things were trimmed back on the bet they would rebound.

So when I saw the profuse pink blossoms in front and back this week, it seemed time to turn my attention to garden furniture. We don’t have any and it’s been a low priority because it’s basically an ornamental vs. a practical issue given our location in the heart of the Lyme disease belt and the evil bambis who regularly prowl the property. Then I made the mistake of browsing Barbara Israel’s site, one of my favorite places to drool over rare and beautiful garden antiques. And suddenly, there was this pair of English wrought iron, Regency style “tree seats,” ca. 1940, that fit around a medium-size tree [top]. Instant love.

I could really envision a circular bench around our flowering plum, in front of the house, even though it’s asymmetrical now.

Our weeping cherry — seen here through my kitchen window — is not a great candidate since it leans, though a bench would enhance the overall view.

Since the antique bench is out of the question, additional research turned up a small number of contemporary choices, all somewhat affordable (under $500). Each requires assembly and only two provide a critical dimension for a circular seat – the diameter of the donut hole.

The Toscano Roundabout, from Home Depot, fits a tree less than 30-inches in diameter. Check. It has three sections, is described as powder-coated 7/8-inch tubular steel and heavy duty.

Napco’s Tree Hugger and Plant Stand bench bears a glancing resemblance to the golden oldie but also is the most costly. A full 63-inches across, the interior section looks huge.

Longwood Gardens Wrought Iron Tree Surround is the least costly but comes in six pieces. Too many moving parts? The center measures 24-inches across, which would be a good fit for a medium-size tree. It’s modern and handsome though a trifle generic looking.

If I actually bought a bench I suppose it could be placed around each of the trees to see where it looks best although I can see how that strategy might lead to double trouble.

(Source: Barbara Israel Garden Antiques, Home Depot, Amazon.com, alloutdoorbenches.com)

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Indigo Zebra Carpet

by Allison on March 29, 2012 in Allison Shops

The combination of rich color, luxurious silk and a timeless pattern create a glorious floor covering.

The creative dynamic force behind Carini Lang carpets is Joseph Carini, world famous for his signature animal designs due to their realistic nature. The newest color in the zebra collection is genuine indigo, which is not commonly used in textiles as it is not only scarce, but expensive.

indigo Imperial silk zebra Carini Lang carpet detail Pure, natural Imperial silk is hand spun and small batch dyed in the botanical indigo. The zebra stripes are rendered in the hand knotted silk. The incredibly rich color is tricky to work with as indigo is a living dye. But as you can see, practice makes perfect.

If blue is a favorite color, don’t miss Jane’s informative post Woad Blue.

(Source: Carini Lang)

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Royal Plush

by Jane F on March 28, 2012 in Color

After decades as the “what were they thinking?” color, purple’s been rediscovered by a new generation.

Making a bold statement with a color as strong as purple is not for everyone. But it can be. Upholstered chairs seem like the perfect vehicles for using this hue, whether it’s in grayed down tones of violet or full on eggplant. And the surprise is that it works so well – plain or print – for chair styles that range from ebony- frame fauteuils upholstered with a thoroughly contemporary ikat [top] to the most old-fashioned velvet.

The same Madeline Weinrib fabric looks much less focused, but equally charming, on traditional upholstered armchairs.

I have a soft spot for tufted plum velvet, especially in this ultra-classic klismos silhouette.

Who would think a pair of mid-20th Century walnut-frame armchairs would work this well with seat and back cushions covered in such a straight purple? They are usually so burnt orange.

Then there are the iconic Arne Jacobsen 1952 swans, which look fabulous in wool and especially punchy in Warhol purple.

Contemporary toile should be purple on white. Or neon. Or something to signal it’s so not French, even on a French side chair. (Look closely at the image on the back. I see a gun and what appears to be a coonskin cap. So I fear this may be Daniel Boone toile).

(Sources: Diane Bergeron, Antonia Hutt, Meghan Linghan via Pinterest, Michael Penney Style, One Off Magazine, Eclectic Revisited)

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Inviting Entrance Decor

by Allison on March 27, 2012 in Accessories

Designer Steven Gambrel created an inviting outdoor space using unconventional decorating items.

Covered outdoor areas lend themselves to decorating, and many do decorate the back or screened porches – but many overlook the front entrance. While the white shingles and blue shutters of this 19th century cottage are charming on their own, Gambrel added unexpected details to create a welcoming entrance. The gnarled table, woven wicker basket and container plants bring textures, as well as soften the structure and stone patio. What better way to welcome home family and guests than with an enchanting entry.

(Source: Garden Design)

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High Wire Acts

by Jane F on March 26, 2012 in Home Decor

Chicken coop wire mesh works perfectly for display.

The French way of idealizing farm house life has long included chicken coop wire on cabinet and armoire doors. The mesh is open and relatively flexible so — unlike protective screening found on pie safes or bread boxes – it’s great in dry spaces and quite elegant on a shallow white glassware cabinet tucked sideways onto the end of a kitchen cabinet wall [top].

There’s no denying poultry cage charm in any room, as this stack of green-painted coops used to house a collection of ceramic chicken egg-nest casseroles illustrates. Can’t you just hear all the rooster-lovers out there cackling about how to create something as stunning as this?

On a practical note, there’s nothing like an authentic weathered gray farmhouse cabinet used for dishware storage in this vintage French kitchen. To protect one section, just tack a small tablecloth to the door!

I’m a bit stumped by the notion of putting garden-y accessories in a wire wall shelf as sweet as this one with its peaked room topped by a finial. But the two crafty sisters, who showed it as a DIY tutorial on their blog, had other ideas. I’d be looking for little chicks or decorated eggs to show off on those shelves even though I don’t have any. My house somehow escaped the lure of the barnyard, except at the dinner table. “Are you a chicken person,” Julia Child asked me the first time we met? “Absolutely,” I replied, “it’s one of my favorite foods.” On walls though, I’ve always gone for fish, fruit or flowers and my ceramic casseroles are plain. Perhaps I’m not chicken enough.