The 6 Commandments

 The 6 Commandments

Today I reveal what it is I believe in when talking about Beauty in the home.  These 6 elements are what gives this home and my mind a place to work and wonder.  With these concepts, I have a
canvas that is ever-changing and vast.  Since I was a little boy (often lonely and without comfort) these 6 qualities have given me a world of possibilities and creative ventures that have sculpted who I am today.

Glass and Crystal:  I have always been memorized by the dancing sparkle created at the tip of every facet on any glass or crystal piece.  The essence of glass has been a mainstay in my decor simply because of its wonder and stillness.  Almost like ice on a frozen January morning.  Glass around the home can add the sense of water; for every time your eye catches the light on the curves, a magical motion happens that resembles that of running water rushing in the sun's rays.  It is stunning to see the effect the sun has on your glass so I like to position the crystal around the home so it will be greeted by the morning or late day rays.  Watching the walls and ceiling dance with glitter is almost like paying a fortune for a disco ball and lights!  I look forward to the hours of the day this occurs.  Glass has many uses around the home- but for me, it is purely a sparkle factor!


 

Glass and Crystal

Aqua:  The element of water has always intrigued me.  There is a 'white noise' that exists when water is applied to the setting of the garden or home.  The constant moving water provides the mind with a sound that is ever-calming and never stagnant.  Focus and attention are said to be heightened under the influence of running water.  I believe the current from moving water takes with it all the stale and negative energies in a home and renews them into positively-charged vibes.  Ways to bring water in without the burden of mastering the aquarium world are: bowls of water with live water plants in them (being sure to change the water weekly), tabletop fountains, or floor containers with a pump to circulate the water constantly.  These structural elements of water-based interest can really become a mainstay in the space!  I have done work with aquariums for 20 years, therefore I use them as my energy-charging force in the home.  I can use them as focal lighting elements in the home, as well as a place to grow all kinds of interesting plants.  Here is an Angelfish waiting at the surface of the water to be fed.  She is always eating!  And below her are all kinds of beautiful shades of green in all kinds of shapes...waving in the current above.  A perfect addition to the home.

Aqua

Flame and Flicker:  This element is a very important detail to me, for I prefer the light from 20 candles as opposed to the light of a lamp or a light fixture.  Not only do we use 50% less electricity when using candles and oil lamps, but the air in the home instantly becomes filled with warmth, comfort, and mystery.  Placing special lamps or candles in the home should be done so as to still 'tell the story'.  Finding two or three areas that could use a little ethereal lighting is the first step...working those elements into the existing decor is the next.  Candles in masses make a beautiful statement as they light up a vast portion of the space they are in.  And oil lamps singularly or double can really bring focal light into a particular spot of interest.  I have shown an old metal wall sconce lamp flanking one side of my mantle.  At night, it gives just enough light to liven up the stale wall it is on...and it glows behind the items on the mantle board almost as if to provide backlighting.  Play with light.  See what sort of mystery you can present with a little more flame and a little less bulb.

Flame and Flicker

 Weathered Wood:  Any piece of furniture that has lost about 1/3 of its original painting and needs new hardware is my kind of piece!  The restored look is a strong concept in the industry right now, which makes it a hard concept to want to explore personally.  I collect old, decaying occasional pieces (accent pieces) for their 'story' and their intrigue- a step back in time, where they were once used for something entirely different.  As long as it is strong enough to be used functionally, it belongs in this home.  Here is the right side of an old vanity that was once painted bright rose.  It has since been dismantled into single pieces, sanded, and restored only with new hardware.  Though this right-side vanity drawer-case no longer works as a full functional vanity, it works for me as a wonderful side table.  The rose color reveals the original woodwork below...and those two colors working alongside the dark ridges are a perfect fit for the home.  And because the rose is such a strong color here, I have chosen to use that color palette to inspire the rest of this room's decor accent color.  One find can really lead to something exciting! (like a room color makeover!).

Weathered Wood

Relics of Time Passed:  There is something very special about collecting artifacts and relics from a time before mine.  No matter the scope of your decor or the concept of your home, adding your special 'collection' can truly make a space feel that much more personal.  Honing in on a particular sort of 'find' can be tricky (especially for those of us that love to gather all kinds of special things) but when used in your home as a focal element, they really shine.  I have shown a very old Composition doll here.  Her hair has receded, her paint has chipped, and her eyes has fogged over leaving little resemblance to the beautiful toy she used to be at one point.  These cracks and flaws make her a jewel in our home.  She is a part of a growing collection here, allowing me to really give justice to their proud history.  "Through these eyes, I see the world differently."

Relics of Time Passed

Green and Growing:  Plants of all shapes and sizes add a sense of the breathing outdoors to any space.  They have curves and textures that only Mother Nature herself can supply; while softening the tones of our home with a bright vibrant hue, they give interest and wonder.  It is fun to tell a story with the plants just as you would with your furniture or artifacts.  Research which plantlife best suites the various spaces in your home...and then play!  In the below picture, I have shown a Staghorn Fern in a very tall glass Pilsner vase- it towers over the table of neighboring plants below.  It loves northern light and can tolerate some neglect.  I have paired it with other interesting foliage plants like begonias and orchids to allow me to tell the complete 'story'.

Green and Growing