Beautiful Glass Urns Add a Romantic Flare

I saw these urns and fell in love.  They are made by Juliska and can be found by going to their website at www.Juliska.com.  There are a lot of you who love to spend money to collect these.  They are a bit pricey so I think it would be a blast to go to flea markets, thrift stores and estate sales to recreate the look.  Here they are:

http://www.juliska.com

Aren't they just gorgeous? Can't you see them on a distressed white dressing vanity?  How about on an accent table with flame less candles in them? Potpourri? Candy dishes on your round accent table, end table or sofa table?  You could tie a soft wire transparent pink, blue or sage ribbon gently around their base.  This is what I love so much about the shabby elegant look, it is so versatile. I get excited when I am looking for a specific item and even become quite obsessed that it does exist exactly as I picture in my head and I WILL find it...today...this week...soon.  To sum it up, think of using clear glass urns in your style and you can pick the one's that fit your taste, the simple or the "foo foo". Just a quick tip and style I wanted to share.

Shabby elagance coined, as shabby chic style has been trademarked???

“Shabby chic"/elegance "is a form of interior design where furniture and furnishings are either chosen for their age and signs of wear and tear or new items are distressed to achieve the appearance of an antique.Shabby chic"/elegance "items are often heavily painted with many layers showing through obviously worn areas. The style is imitated in faux painting using glaze or by painting then rubbing and sanding away the top coat to show the wood or base coats. Fabrics tend to be cottons and linens, with linen being particularly popular, inspired by old French linens. Whites and worn or bleached out pastels are favorite colours. Fabric is often stained with tea to give it the look of old fabric. Bleached and faded are terms often applied to the style.”–Wikipedia (shabby elegance inserted and the definition is still in quotes).

We use the term Shabby Elegance instead of Shabby Chic as there is a trademark claim on the term "shabby chic".  Shabby chic is all over the internet and said to have started long ago with the french. The style is also called Bohemian, Cottage Chic and Country French.  They are all styles so trying to trademark one is near impossible for everyone to understand as the term as been used before the trademark.  The New term for the style is Shabby Elegance and that is what we will use to refer to the style as we want no part in the fight over "Shabby Chic".  To read about this trademark see Racheal Ashwell from HGTV.  Her site for Shabby Chic is termed the official site.  I will leave it up to you guys on what you want to call the style, after all it is just a style.  We love everything about Shabby Elegant.  Below are some pictures that demonstrate the style.  Don't you just love it?  There are a million ways to create a room in this style.  It is so much fun.  Please let us see your rooms.  I will post them on the site for all to see.

I love the room's walls and the large mirror .  I also like how low the mirror is hung for a comfortable look.

This room is one of my favorites.  Everytime I look at it, I find more decor that draws me in.  I love the sofa with the oversized pillows.  The stripes, flowers and solids are a perfect example of shabby elegance.  I love the sage green that also carries over to a chair.  I think it is so eclectic that even with so much going on, it isn't cluttered. The curtains are different, the trunk for a coffee table, the worn rocking chair with an over sized pillow that matches those on the sofa. The color of the trunk pulls to the bucket of pastel blue flowers by the arm chair.  The candelabra on the trunk is wonderful.  I could go on, and on, and on.  What draws you in?  Can you come up with ideas for rooms inspired by this pic?  Let me know, I want to help. lol  I change my rooms frequently with seasons, new inspirations or an idea that won't leave me alone. lol

The "Hand Rule" of Decorating

              This is a quick tip for decorating your fireplace mantel. Use odd number of items as this keeps the style from looking too formal.  I like to use 5 of my items with various heights on the fireplace mantel. The "Hand Rule"... hold your hand up in front of you, extended outward with palm facing fireplace mantel. Look at your fingers and thumb.  Now take your five items and arrange them by height according to the different lengths of your fingers.  Your tallest item would be in the middle and your shortest on one of the ends (depending on which hand you are holding up). You can also use this for your items on shelves.  It looks awkward when you first attempt it but when you stand back and look...it has a unique style and draws your eyes attention.  Just a little rule I use.  I also use it in the garden when I am planting flowers or shrubs.  Odd numbers for the "shabby elegance" look and even numbers for a formal look.  Try it yourself and see what designs you create.

Lesa, Simply Shabby Elegant