Decorating Tip: Displaying Antique Trade Cards

Bertie prefers—no, he demands—that his home is always elegant and interesting.  Sure, he went out this morning and rolled in something stinky in the backyard in a rare dog-like moment, but that has nothing to do with his visual style.  So, he was out talking with the four doves who live in the ceiling fan on the back porch (they went away over the weekend on a little vacation, but they’re back today) and together with the two wild cats that I feed (to keep them from eating the doves), they devised a new way to display my growing collection of antique trade cards.  It seems they consulted with my father who assisted.

We went out a found a lovely, wide antique china bowl.  My father and mother provided oasis which was carved to fit.  Then, using wires that my father bent into holders, I arranged the cards like flowers in the bowl, covering the oasis with black pebbles and colorful marbles and stones.  The result is an interesting centerpiece which is viewable from all sides.  It’s the sort of thing which you can look at for hours and see something different.  The colorful antique cards add life and vibrancy to a part of the room which was rather dull.

Needless to say, Bertie is satisfied.  The doves and cats aren’t allowed in the house, but I think they’d approve.

You can do something similar quite easily and inexpensively.  It’s a great way to display antique and vintage ephemera, certainly, however, you can also display photographs or whatever appeals to you.  

The Home Beautiful: A Custom-made Card Holder

 

So, as you all know, I’ve got quite a lot of trade cards.  Not only that, there’s a host of cigarette cards, stereopticon cards, scraps and postcards (mostly related to Punch, King George V and Queen Mary) rattling around this house.  You may wonder what exactly I do with them all.

Of course, I display them.  But, how?  Several companies make postcard holders.  These contraptions consist of metal wire rods which are bent into a curl which holds the card.  I seem to have purchased every last one of them in North Texas.  But, there were a bazillion more cards left—sitting sadly in a pile.  If they could cry, they would.

My father—being a clever chap—never shies away from a challenge.  He’s always making things out of other things.  When you see the raw materials with which he thoughts and hear what he intends to do with them, you can’t imagine that the resulting new object could be possible.  However, it always is.

He very ingeniously crafted this card holder for me to display some of the remaining cards.  Essentially, it’s wire bent into a loop.  A wooden circle was painted black and drilled with holes to hold each wire.  And, there you have it.  Sheer perfection!

This is something that you could easily do at home.  All you need is a wooden plaque.  You can buy these at any craft store.  And, then, you need bendable wire and needle-nose pliers.  So, if you can’t find any of the “store bought” card holders, give this a try.  The effect is really quite lovely and dramatic. 

Now it sits on my kitchen table like a charming floral arrangement of antique ephemera.  Yay!

Goal for the Day: Add a Splash of Luxury

We all need to change our surroundings every so often. One of the best ways to do that is to add some luxury to a space through color and texture. An easy way to achieve a new look is by adding some new fabrics to a room. This can come in the form of new drapery or even new throw pillows on your couch or bed.


Many home stores have a variety of pre-made throw pillows which will fit into your décor. However, if you want a special, more custom look that truly suits your tastes, you can always visit a local fabric store. Often, you can find remnants or scraps of elegant textiles that you can bring home for much less than you’d think. With a little effort, you can turn these fabrics into unique creations.

This weekend, my parents and I visited a lovely fabric store. The result of this visit—thanks to my father—was some custom-made toile pillows which were the perfect addition to an otherwise bland sofa cover.

So, today, take a look around your home and see where you could make a few changes to keep your environment fresh, exciting and luxurious.

Goal for the Day: Change Your Surroundings

With the Christmas decorations put away, your home may feel rather empty and dull.  This time of year can be a little drab.  But, it’s the perfect time to rediscover the beautiful things that you already have around your home.  You can change the look of any room simply by rearranging the items in it.  Try a different furniture arrangement.  Hang your pictures in new places.  Move your decorative objects to different locations.  This is a great way to enjoy what you’ve already collected and a positively free way to “redecorate.”  You’ll find that the house feels a lot more cheerful when you’re finished. 

Decorating Tip: Create Levels

To display your cherished items more effectively, you might consider arranging them in levels. By using a stand, pedestal or base, you can elevate an item in a grouping to draw attention to it and create a more visually interesting tableau.


Lucite stands like the one pictured here are inexpensive. You can also use wooden or ceramic stands ranging from something quite simple to something very ornate. It all depends on the objects you’re displaying. You can even use books to elevate items. Not only does giving varied height to individual items in a grouping draw attention to the different pieces, it also creates a more harmonious presentation.

Decorating Tip: Beaded Fruit

Have you got a compote, basket or other decorative container on display in your home which needs a little pizzazz? Sometimes, you don’t want the look of silk flowers or plants, and wax or artificial fruit can often just look strange.  Why not embrace something a little more abstract?  Beaded fruit can be found in many craft or decorator stores. 

By arranging beaded fruit in a container, you’re adding interesting colors, shapes and shimmer to an otherwise dull container.  The best part of beaded fruit is that, unlike painted wax fruit, you’re indicating that you know it’s not real and you’re making an artistic statement.  Beaded objects play with the light beautifully and offer an elegant touch to any room.

Decorating Tip: Mix Patterns

Very often, we’re afraid to introduce new patterns into a room. While you wouldn’t want to wear striped pants with a plaid shirt, you can have more than one pattern in a room—especially if the room is large. Incorporating new patterns into your upholstery, drapes and accessories is an excellent way to define different areas in a room, and also to tie the color scheme of the room together. A floral pattern next to a geometric pattern or stripe, is an elegant choice. A bold toile throw pillow can look good on a couch with a small pattern.

There are a few things to keep in mind when combining patterns. Make sure that the colors blend together. Using a similar color palette will ensure that your patterns have a harmonious relationship. Also, try to vary the intensity of the patterns you use. Putting two busy patterns together may make for a wild, confusing mess. But, combining a busy pattern with a stripe or a more refined style can serve to make both items look even better.

Most importantly, surround yourself with patterns and colors that you enjoy and those that make you feel contented. No matter what anyone else thinks, as long as your home is comfortable for you, you’ve made the right choice.

Decorating Tip: Oversized Mats

When framing a picture, the size of the image doesn’t necessarily dictate the size of the frame. Some people purposefully choose frames that are much larger than the painting, print of photograph that they’re framing. The space between the frame and the image is filled with a mat board. Often, a picture can be over-matted, meaning that the size of the mat is far larger than the actual field of the picture. Over-matting and large frames serve several purposes. First of all, they give the image more weight and importance. Second, a large mat allows the picture to be more easily viewed and appreciated without interference from the frame. Placing a picture in a what seems to be a too-large frame creates a sense of drama between the image and the negative space of the mat.


I chose to frame this engraving by E.M. Ward (husband of Henrietta Ward and father of Sir Leslie Ward) in an over-sized antique frame with a double mat. I thought that this important engraving deserved the weight and drama of a large frame. The mat also helps the image be seen more clearly. If you’re going to over-mat an image, I would suggest using a neutral mat in black or white that will not interfere with the colors and patterns in the artwork, but instead serve to enhance them.

Decorating Tip: Bring your Space to Life

Do you have a space in your home that just seems a little flat or lifeless? If you do, one way to bring some immediate life to it is with the addition of a house plant. Many people fear plants and think that they’re impossible to keep alive. This really isn’t the case. Most houseplants only require two things: sunlight and water. If you make sure that your plant has enough light, that’s half the battle right there.

As far as watering plants, that’s really going to depend on the humidity in your area. Here, I water my indoor plants once a week. One thing I would recommend is to leave the plant in a separate, plastic container (even the one that it came in). Just place that container in the decorative object you’ll be using to display the plant. When it comes time to water your plants, remove them from their decorative homes and place then, in their plastic containers, in the kitchen sink. Let them sit there to drain for a few hours after you’ve watered them. That way, you know you won’t have any build-up of standing water. Another handy little tool is a glass water globe. Just fill them up with water once a week, and the plant can draw as much water as it needs from them.

Plantzilla likes sunshine.

Adding a plant to a room brings color and life into the space. The addition of a live plant adds dimension and motion to a room. With just the slightest effort most plants will live a long time. As testament to that, I would like to point out the fiddle-leaf fig that’s called “Plantzilla.” Plantzilla lived in my parents’ house for many years before coming here eight years ago. As you can see, at ten feet tall, she’s doing quite well even though she’s about twenty years old. Just for reference, she started out life as a small potted plant--small enough to sit on an end table.  If I can keep Plantzilla alive, surely anybody can manage with a normal sized plant. 

Decorating Tip: Attractive Organization

We all accumulate little things that just never seem to find a place—especially in our offices: stamps, pins, paperclips, those little sticky notes. Instead of just dumping them in a drawer where they’ll end up in a tangle of junk, put them in small decorative boxes which you can display on your shelves and on your desk. That way, you know where everything is, and it’s easy to get your hands on it. Secondly, you’re creating visual interest in the room by adding attractive object which are also useful. From new to antique, you can find boxes in any color or material that suits your tastes. You’ll be easing your mind and your eyes at the same time.

Decorating Tip: Drama with Drapery

Your window coverings are often the finishing touch that defines the look of a room. Weather you prefer long, puddle panels, swept back swoops, swags, shutters, blinds or even just a simple shade, your windows should reflect the style of the room. One easy and relatively inexpensive way to dress up your drapery is through your choice of hardware.


A huge variety of decorative curtain rods are available in many different stores. I personally like the look of metal rings. I enjoy the Victorian feel of them. It’s easy to find something that you like. The best part is, with so many options, you’re sure to find a color and style of hardware that will fit your decor. If you like your existing drapes, but want to add a bit of drama, switch out the curtain rod to one with an ornamental finial or design. Or, add some tie-backs or other accessories. It’s an easy, affordable way to make a big difference in a room without making a big effort.

Decorating Tip: Dress Your Furniture

Do you have a shawl, a scarf or a wrap that you just love, but aren’t wearing because it’s the wrong season? Perhaps you’ve got a similar item that you don’t wear anymore, but still like. You can always repurpose it as a decorative object.

Draped over the back or arm of a chair, arranged on a dresser or table, even thrown over a banister or piano; shawls, scarves and wraps make perfect throws for your home. If you’re out at a vintage shop (or even a thrift shop) and come across something you like that you know you won’t wear, if it’s a good deal, buy it and see what you can do with it.

Adding a different texture can make a room more interesting. Similarly, contrasting a hard surface with something soft like a fabric throw, gives the piece of furniture a more inviting look. Take a look in your wardrobe. You may have just the thing in there to give your room a makeover.

Decorating Tip: Use Books as a Base

If you’re anything like me, you’ve collected quite a few books over the years. Of course, books are my business. That might account why I have so many. But, if you have a collection of attractive books, you don’t just have to line them up on a shelf. Books that you don’t use very often can be displayed in a variety of ways. Large, hardcover books make a great base for displaying decorative objects. Stacked by size and color, you can create an attractive tableau on just about any surface. You can change your displays whenever the mood strikes you—or if you’ve decided to re-read a book.

Decorating Tip: Serving your Decor

You may have decorative trays or platters at home that you only use on special occasions. If they’re attractive and you enjoy looking at them, why not unpack them from the cabinet and incorporate them into your décor?


I like to group objects on a silver tray. I usually try to utilize objects of different textures and materials that will play against the light reflected from the tray. Here, I’ve displayed a crystal paperweight and an antique costume sketch. The tray reflects light into the paperweight, making the colors pop. Meanwhile, the sheen of the metal creates an interesting metallic background for the drawing. These sorts of groupings give your objects more weight and impact and help make a tabletop more interesting.

Silver or metal trays work very well for this. Often these trays have intricate engraving or repoussé which add an extra dimension to your grouping. However, you can use a wooden or bamboo tray, a china platter or anything else you find attractive. When you need the tray, just clear off the objects and put it back into service.

Many of us use an ottoman in place of a coffee table.  If you do, you may find that you miss having a surface to rest items--both decorative and practical.  A tray placed neatly on the ottoman can be a great way to display objects and also hold the magazines and remote controls you'd put on a coffee table

We tend to collect things we like. If we enjoy seeing them, let’s use them in our daily lives. Everything has a purpose more than just the obvious one.

Decorating Tip: Up-lighting

If you’ve got a dark corner in a room, or wish to draw attention to a particular object, one solution is up-lighting. A canister light placed on the floor behind a piece of furniture or a pedestal will cast a pleasing glow on the wall and serve to spotlight the details of the objects around and above it.

Up-lighting can be used to dramatic effect. Whether you’re highlighting a work of art of even a potted plant, an up-light is a subtle way to draw attention to a particular area. We should consider using more indirect lighting in rooms. Often, it’s a cost-efficient way to give warmth and interest to a space without the glare of bright lightbulbs.

Decorating Tip: Windows to the Outside

We spend so much time decorating the insides of our homes, we often forget that the outside spaces are just as much a part of the house. If you have a front or back porch that could use a little color and excitement, you might consider hanging some salvaged windows from the porch beams, facing the outside.


Many antique stores have stained and leaded glass windows that have been rescued from old homes that have been, sadly, demolished. These windows are quite beautiful, and, often can be purchased in expensively. While you can display them within your home, I like to hang them outside from heavy industrial chain. They gently sway in the breeze, catching the light and sending pleasing colors around the porch. It’s a great way to add charm and elegance to an outdoor space without a lot of work and expense.

Decorating Tip: Stenciling

You want to add some interest and architectural detail to a room without the long-term commitment and complicated labor of adding molding. The solution is stenciling. Your local craft store will offer you a huge selection of stencils which, with a little creativity, can be applied to many different surfaces.


You can stencil a border along a chair rail or crown molding. You can stencil a pattern onto a wall in lieu of expensive and hard-to-remove wallpaper. You can even stencil your floor or ceilings.

All you’ll need is some clean artist’s brushes, the stencil of your choice, some painters tape to hold the stencil in place, and paint in a color that works with you room. If you don't find a pre-made stencil you like, you can even make your own. You shouldn’t feel constrained. I have even had good results using metallic paint—silver and gold, to add a little interest to a room. The best part about stenciling is that if you don’t like it or get bored with it, all you have to do is paint it over.

Decorating Tip: Make Your Bed

Your bed should look inviting and comfortable. It should look like a place where you’ll be able to relax and escape the rigors of the world. One way to make your bed look and feel more comfortable is to add a few throw pillows. Be creative and play with different colors and textures. Of course, you’ll want to move all of them before you go to sleep, but the look of a sumptuous bed is worth a little extra work. When food looks good, it tastes better. So, I figure, if your bed looks good, you’ll sleep better.

Decorating Tip: Cord Covers

I hate electrical cords! Nothing is more unsettling in a room than the sight of a tangle of exposed wires. Of course we need them, but do we have to see them? Most of the time, a cord can be tucked away behind a piece of furniture. Sometimes, however, you’re stuck with a situation where a wire just sticks out.

For example, this week, I recommended picture lights. If you use the variety of lights that have cords, you’re faced with the dilemma of a wire trailing out the bottom of the painting like a tail. This is not the most attractive thing in the world, unless it’s a painting of a mouse and the wire completes the ensemble.

The best solution I’ve found is fabric cord covers. They come in a variety of sizes and a wide range of colors. Some of them even snap or zip on one side so you can get the cover over the cord without having to unplug the fixture. These also work well to cover cords and chains on hanging light fixtures and chandeliers. Just pick the color that best blends into your room, and your cord problem disappears!

Decorating Tip: Picture Lights

In much the way that a painter uses the contrast of light and dark to model a subject and make certain features more prominent than others, we can use light in our interior decorating to give importance to the structure of the room. One way to subtly add warmth and elegance to a room is with the addition of picture lights.


These long, tubular, lights either screw into the wall above the picture or into the back of the frame itself. By lighting a painting or picture separately, you’re automatically drawing attention to it. You’re also going to accentuate the colors and make the picture seem sharper. These low-wattage lights also provide gentle, interesting indirect lighting for the room. At once, the space will seem warmer, more elegant and more energetic.

Picture lights are inexpensive. You can find them online or at your local home improvement store. They can be purchased in a variety of colors and styles so you can pick the one that best suits the picture you’re highlighting and your decor.