I love to travel but mostly I love to find new design ideas, new color combinations, experience other cultures’ artwork and style. Design can be seen on the street, in galleries, museums, clothing, window displays and in the food we eat – simply everywhere, just look and absorb.
Elle Decor goes to Brussels popped up on my Facebook page and reminded me to to put an end to my sabbatical from blogging and get on with a new post of my recent trip to Europe which included Brussels. I had never been to Brussels and as the Elle Decor article suggests Brussels is a city unlike other major European cities, no official national language or specific identity. Over the past few years I have observed that most major European capitals have become very much a mix of nationalities, religions, and cultures. Certainly a sign of the times…
Another sign of the times is alternative modes of transportation. Yup, you got it, two bikes with a paper mache Tyrannosaurus Rex on the back of each. My good friend Delores “Chrissy” Peck (on left) accompanied me on this exploring adventure and given her facility with language, she is fluent in French, Italian, Russian and English, she negotiated with the two young people from the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Science who were in charge of the T-Rex bikes to let us give them a try. So off with city map in hand, trying to decipher the French and Flemish street signs – way to many letters to take in on the fly. Finally we arrived at the neighborhood of Rue Blaes where we discovered many wonderful shops.
Our tour begins…
Stefantiek was a store full to the rafters of anything and everything you could imagine. I was looking for metal signs and doors that could be used as bed headboards. Also any table-top decor and wooden accessories that would fit the bill as that special “something”.
The London street signs were a bit out of context but a must have.
Wish I had a home for the antique car, but I do have a home for the martini sign. Cleaned up it will make a fabulous sign at our beach house. Friday night martinis on our deck are a real draw for our friends – my husband is partial to a gin martini, not-dry with two olives and two onions. I prefer the pink cosmopolitan! So this is the perfect find.
Window displays should be eye catching and provocative. Wish I could employ this design technique on one of my projects…
The random assortment of chairs certainly caught my attention as well as the wooden benches and wooden grain bins.
Hidden in a corner in the basement we found these tiles from a country home outside of Brussels. Chrissy was gracious enough to model with our favorite.
Ever wonder what to do with the kids bikes. Hang them on the stair rail going up the stairs or on the wall above the stair rail. Interesting idea! I tell you design is everywhere…
Our quest for signs or doors to use as bed headboards turned out to be very fruitful. Here are a few that we found interesting…
Colorful wooden carousel gates will make a whimsical headboard for two twin beds which will be perfect for any kid’s bedroom. Touch up the paint and give them a fresh look. The lower end might fall on the outside of each bed.
These tall, narrow door panels have tin inserts that will serve as a most charming headboard when hinged together. We found four matching panels that are in great condition and when combined will support a queen sized bed. The head board will come out to about 8′ off the floor so a very dramatic statement.
The iron inserts in the two matching doors will give enough rigidity for these doors to be used as a king headboard. Marry them together in the center and repaint. The detail at the top of the doors is very interesting and will sit about 9′ off the floor. Again not your stereo typical headboard. The paint color of choice is a silvery gray with either gold or wrought iron colored inserts. Pair these up with fabulous custom Belgian linen bedding.
We found three identical oak doors that have wooden grids which will give enough support for a back rest behind a queen bed. The glass will be removed and a decorative panel of punched tin will be inserted in the place of the glass to give it more stability. Given the height of the doors is slightly over 7′ a very simple yet elegant statement is made. Just imagine Libeco Lagae’s vence linen in ivory.
Thank you Chrissy for joining me on this looking, seeking and exploring adventure. More to follow on our Brussels adventures…
This past week I was asked on two separate occasions what I thought about family photos and do I display them? Also, did I have any tips for hanging them and where should they be used? Family photos are tricky, because to many little frames of you or the kids everywhere in the house can be too much – YET what’s a home without pictures of who lives in it.
Or you can forget all the rules and just go for it. I always admired the traditional or as my daughters might describe the look, “old fashioned” collection of family photos going up the stairs. The four generations of family completely arranged by happenstance which adorns the pine green walls of the Odence household has become quite a conversation piece as guests congregate in our front entrance. Some may say it is messy, I like to think it has character, certainly in keeping with the 1910 house.
