Collections | Napkin Rings

I know we mentioned that we don't really "collect" anything, but I realized while I was home over Thanksgiving that we do have a collection.  When I was little, my great-grandmother gifted me and Heath a sterling napkin ring for Christmas or special occasions every year.  They always were different, one of a kind napkin rings that she picked up in different places over the years.  After she passed away, my grandmother continued on with the tradition.

We have home videos of me as a three or four year old excitingly opening my napkin ring, and J.D. thinks they're so hilarious.  All of these years later, this collection of napkin rings is one of my favorite things.  They all sit stacked in one bowl at my parent's house.  I love setting the table at my parent's house for holidays every year looking through them.  Some of the napkin rings are thick, some are thin with tiny patterns, some are rounded, others more rectangular, and they're all engraved with our initials and the year that she gifted them.  She found a few of them at estate sales and they technically belonged to someone else before belonging to us.  Those are some of my favorites - they have a strangers initials and date "SVR 1931" on one side, and then my initials and year "MKW 1985" on the other side of the napkin ring.  It's really cool to see. 

Sure enough, when Virginia was born, her great grandmother had a beautiful silver napkin ring for her on her first Christmas and her baptism and I know she'll treasure these when she's older.  I think it's kind of cool.  Very random but really super special to us.  What about you guys?  Do you have everything you collect or a gift you receive annually?  I'd love to come up with something different but clever like this to put in Virginia's stocking every year.  Any ideas??!

~Mary Keller

Collections | Cocktail Glasses

Do you guys collect anything?  For some reason, in my mind I think of collections as kind of an old fashioned thing, like everyone used to collect something random, but people don't really do that anymore.  Am I wrong?  I was thinking the other day, I think I started a collection without even realizing it.  I LOVE tumblers - you know tumbler drinking glasses.  You can use them for juice, water, wine or my favorite, an interesting cocktail glass.  I have a handful in my "collection."  We have the standard clear with J.D.'s monogram that we received as a wedding gift, my aunt has gifted me and Heath with beautiful tortieshell tumblers for years, my mom and dad brought us a beautiful set of colorful handblow glass tumbers from a vacation in Maine, and recently I bought a set of quirky, crooked tumbers at Tulu in Turkey.  They aren't necessarily expensive, but they're all different and they're all fun, and I switch them up for my Friday night cocktails!  I can't get enough!

Do you collect anything random, intentially or not? 

~Mary Keller

p.s. J.D. and I also have a dorky collection of café mugs, but those are less glamorous and less fun to talk about.  We basically can only find them at fattening southern restaurants. :)

image via glitter guide

Starting a Collection: Convex Mirror

image via Harper's Bazaar

The idea behind the Starting a Collection Series is for us to take a look at pieces to decorate our/your home that we really will use forever; timeless pieces that will stay with you even as your style changes and evolves.  I love homes that are full of items collected over time, and talked about that here when we first kicked off this series.  A Convex Mirror fits the bill perfectly!  You can use them almost anywhere, over a dresser, bed, fireplace, lonely wall, the list goes on.  Since they are a mirrors, they don't necessarily "match" anything which means you can change your fabric and wall colors a million times and a convex mirror will still work in your decorating scheme.  They work in more formal settings as shown above, but they're also perfect in casual rooms.  They work in both traditional and super contemporary spaces so as you get older and your tastes change, it's a purchase I don't think you'll regret. 

The key when really starting a collection of pieces you want to keep forever is to buy the best you can really afford.  Splurge on a beautiful convex mirror this year, and fill in the rest of the room with less expensive Target Threshold finds.  (You'll be happy in 20 years that you're still enjoying your mirror!)  To find one you love, search ebay, craigslist and antique shops.  Another good idea is to go to a high-end local frame store in your town and ask them to make one for you.  They will often have frame styles to select from and can build a custom one for you in the style of frame that you love. 

image via House Beautiful

Image via Apartment Therapy

Image via House and Home

Image via Habitually Chic

Image source unknown

p.s. other collection pieces include a demilune table and original art

~Mary Keller



Current Crush: Shark's Teeth!

Has anyone else noticed a trend lately of beautiful shark's tooth objects?  Sounds a little strange, but I've been seeing a handful of beautiful jewelry designers with amazing shark's tooth pieces and just recently on Instagram I saw the coolest framed shark's tooth series by artist Kate Roebuck.  I think I'm really loving all this shark's tooth action.  They're graphic and a little edgy, and these framed pieces almost remind me of a series of Hugo Guinness pieces.  I think these framed pieces would be the perfect quirky item to add to a bookshelf or gallery wall, and they're really well priced.  I'm considering one for a little powder room.  What do you think?  Weird or cool?!

~Mary Keller

Entire framed Shark's Tooth series via Kate Roebuck; Gold shark's tooth necklace and earrings via Christina Jervey Jewelry;  Silver Shark's Tooth necklace via Bauble Bar; Top interior stairway image via Popsugar Home; Bottom interior art wall grouping via Interior Design Musings

Starting a Collection: Demilune Table

A few months back, I did a post on starting a collection featuring artist Teil Duncan.  I love the idea of being really intentional about certain things that you purchase and bring into your home.  Not every piece of art can be a real piece of art, and not every piece of furniture can be expensive, but I think it's important to be intentional, think long term, and try to be smart about certain pieces you buy.  (Otherwise, every decade or time that you move you'll be starting from scratch.  It's better to over time collect quality pieces that you love!)

One furniture piece that I think is worthy of an "investment" is a demilune table.  If you save and decide to splurge on one piece of furniture to begin building your collection, I think a demilune table is a safe purchase.  You can use a beautiful demilune table in a million ways.  They can be used in a tight entry hall, in a den, in a narrow hallway, or even as a bedside table.  Take a look at all of these examples below:

Love this image!  This demilune table is clearly a gorgeous piece that is timeless and will never go out of style, but it still manages to look youthful and hip when paired with quirky accessories.

This image is from the same apartment as the first image.  This demilune table is in a completely different finish and works so well in this tight hallway.

Again, same shape table, but a completely different look.  The iron base and stone top have a more French look, but the table is equally timeless and could be used anywhere.  (LOVE this paint color too, and love how the door in the background is painted the same color as the hallway, trim and all.)

Beautiful wood demilune used as a beside table in this bedroom. 

Another demilune (with a dropleaf that is propped against the wall) that certainly doesn't feel granny or stuffy when paired with the convex mirror and awesome coral orange lantern.  (Notice the amazing tortoise shell trim at the ceiling?!)

Love this entry, with an understated little demilune console.

Another nice thing about a demilune table is that you don't have to spend a million dollars to get a quality piece that you'll keep forever.  (It cost a lot of money to purchase a chest, dining table, or buffet table that is a high enough quality that you'd actually want to keep it forever.)  But, for a few hundred dollars you should be able to find a demilune table at an antique store in a beautiful finish that I promise you'll use forever.  To find one, take a look at Craiglist, online auctions, ebay and local antique shops.  Look for classic lines and a wood finish that is good shape.  I think you will actually spend less on ebay and in an antique store than you would at any major big box store, and you'll have a piece with history which always gives a space a better feel.

So, moral of the story, instead of buying 2 mediocre furniture pieces with the money you've saved, purchase one quality furniture piece (maybe a demilune if you like these looks!) and then turn to Craiglist, buy something inexpensive and add a fresh coat a paint for your second piece.  I promise 20 years from now you'll be happy to at least still be using this one quality piece that you added to your collection!

~Mary Keller

Images: First image via Lonny magazine January/February 2013; Second image via Lonny magazine January/February 2013; Third image via Lonny magazine; Fourth image unknown (if you know the source for this image, please let us know and we will credit asap); Fifth image via House Beautiful;  Sixth image via Canadian House and Home

Starting a Collection: Teil Duncan



I love art and beautiful antiques, interesting accessories and furnishings.  Don't get me wrong, I love fashion, purses and jewelry as much as the next girl, but my priority tends to be on interior design and things for the home.  I think things collected over time for the home add history and warmth to homes, and home purchases last MUCH longer than fashion purposes.  (Truthfully, other than maybe a Burberry Trench or Chanel purse, not many fashion purposes last for years and years as art and furniture does.)

Budget doesn't allow for most of us to fully decorate our homes all at once, but I think that's a good thing because rooms should not be "done" overnight.  This gorgeous home tour of Hanna Seabrook on Glitter Guide has me feeling like I'm not crazy or the only one who appreciates items with history.  I'm really lucky to have a husband who appreciates my love for art, antiques and a beautiful home, and he supports these types of purchases trusting me that when we are old our home will be filled with pieces that tell our story. 

We put a little money away each month while budgeting to save up for one piece of our "collection" each year.  Truthfully, it doesn't matter how much room you have in your budget, but if you make a plan and put a little money away each month, it adds up.  Just $20 a month (less than one pedicure!) will add up to an original Michelle Armas piece at the end of year.  Don't shy away from small original pieces if that is what your budget can afford.  I actually think that small pieces are easier to use.  They can be added together to create a larger gallery wall, tucked in bookshelves, or used on a quirky small wall. 

The next artist I have my eye on is Teil Duncan in Charleston, South Carolina.  I would love one of her Figure Study pieces.  I love the color and playfulness of them, and I think they'd add life to an otherwise traditional interior and can be equally at home in a contemporary setting.  She has beautiful smaller Figure Study pieces starting at just $140 and they go up from there.  Let me know if there is another artist or item you have your eye on to begin or add to your collection!

~Mary Keller

P.S.  I'll let you know which piece we end up selecting!

All images via Teil Duncan