This homeowner chose a rather unique piece from us -- a sofa table that folds out into a full size table -- and is using it as a laptop desk in her beautiful sage green den. The rich orangy/golden tones of the wood in this work great with the color scheme she has going on in the rest of the room (salmon & gold mixed with the green). The prints above it are also from Artifacts and they are matted in a nice neutral that work in nearly any room. The metal urn is another Artifacts purchase, all beautifully done!
 
The two photos above show how you can use some of the great metal wall decor we have. At left a homeowner's favorite print was made more dramatic by hanging the metal piece just above it - what a great way to make an everyday frame look like a custom piece! At right is a dramatic wall piece centered over a homeowner's bed. A piece like this doesn't give the "heavy" feel that a painting or print would over a bed -- by being open, it still feels "light" even though it's quite large.
 
I'm delighted to be able to share photos of some great pieces from
Atifacts in the new home of a young couple! The photo Above Left shows the
perfect addition of a baker's rack/wine rack to this kitchen. It seems many builders
are now leaving room at the end of cabinets for accent pieces like this, and it is a great compliment to the wood tones in the homeowners' cabinets. Directly in front of it are the two barstools Above Right which are a great addition to the owners' table tucked into the bay window that's letting all that light stream in!
 
Above Left: Large great rooms found in today's homes often need that extra piece
tucked into a corner and the use of this mirrored curio was a great idea. Its dark tones are offset by the beveled mirrors in the back and the glass shelves and it makes a great place for the homeowner's collections.
Above Right: The homeowners' did a great job of selecting items to carry
a look throughout the house. The ironwork seen in the baker's rack of the
kitchen is mimicked in the ironwork on this coat rack. Another nice touch
for new constructions -- finding pieces that make them look more like a home
and less like a catalog or furniture showroom. The use of this crackle-finish
accent table adds the look of an aged, collected piece to a new home and
was a great idea to put a personal stamp on the house.
Below Left & Right : This is another example of how the homeowners' carefully repeated a motif throughout the living room. The leaf/vine motif on the
accent piece in the entrance (above) is repeated again in the selection of
these lamps which have leaf/vine designs either on shades or in the base
of the floor lamp. it can also be found in the palm leaf design of the
bombe chests which will be used as end tables and accent pieces in
the great room. This is a great design tip -- one you can borrow for your space!
Even though they're not quite finished with the decorating,
we appreciate this couple for letting us photograph the beginning of their
decorating odyssey. They are off to a great start. Another photo
coming soon of the entertainment center they accented beautifully
with metal accent pieces!
 
Above: Okay, this is officially the cutest photo of a customer's home ever
on the Artifacts website!! Don't you love the young, fresh, hip look of this??
I think Caroline, the teen who said, "Mom, how would those wall pieces look turned
sideways over my beds kind of like headboards?" has a future as a designer,
don't YOU!?? I mean, WOW, Caroline -- great going with the whole thinking outside the box there! And they could not be more perfect with her bedding!
Above: Beautifully decorated for Christmas, this customer's dining room
features a popular curio cabinet from Artifacts holding a large collection of
crystal. The plate rack over the door is also a recent purchase from the
store. We love seeing our furniture decorated for the holidays! Below: The
homeowner's lime green walls are the perfect backdrop for this rich
cherry bombe. She has further played up this color combo by her holiday
additions to the bronze/green vase & platter that normally top the bombe. 
Below: Just a few clever touches like the snowflakes, ribbon and trees are
all it takes to turn an already stunning room into a holiday delight. This beautiful
king poster bed with black leather panels on headboard and footboard is
complimented by the black chair with zebra print. 
Below: When we started looking for items for these homeowners' game room,
these pieces were not what initially came to mind. I was helping the homeowners
search the store for a couple of "purposeful" pieces for storing games, etc.
then my eye caught these two and a third matching secretary.
Since I knew the walls would soon be a "peanut-buttery" color, I suggested
these painted pieces with that color as an accent. They will also be great if
they decide to use them in their daughter's bedroom, or turn this room
into a home office/media room later.
 
Below Left: I love the way this customer thought outside the box and used
this chest with metal panels on the front in a dining room. It is perfectly
functional as a buffet with plenty of room on top for serving and the
drawers offer storage for tableware and linens! Below Right: An upstairs
interior hallway gets plenty of light through the use of this mirror over
a small console table. Draping the fabric across the top was a great way
for the homeowner to add a ltitle color to the spot as well.  
Above: The stunning tray ceiling and cool-toned walls could leave this
bedroom feeling empty & cold, but the homeowner's addition of warm
wood tones and red and gold as accent colors and in the cozy chair
prevents that beautifully. Below: Against a bank of sleek glass doors,
a heavy chest in addition to the comfy chair would come across as too "weighty". Instead, this pretty, carved accent table with an open base works well.
 
Above: The addition to this scroll accent piece above the bed
(which isn't from Artifacts!) helped this homeowner achieve better
proportion in her bedroom. The bedside tables with the same
finish & style but different sizes are also cleverly used to keep the
bedroom from becoming too "matchy-matchy".
Above: This bedroom suite is now discontinued, but I just received this customer's photos of it in her new home. I am excited to share them with you because of the decorating tips that can be gleaned from them. In this photo, you see the basic color scheme for the room -- black, gold & red -- set in the custom bedding by Mrs. ruth Cole of Calhoun City. These colors work well against the neutral walls and carpeting. Note how the homeowner used the black from the bedding in the sconces and frame over the bed. One other detail to note in this photo -- the homeowners chose a mis-matched side table for the bed, not the matching night stand for the suite. A great way to make their room unique. Below left: The red from the color scheme is nicely spread to another area of the room by the use of these decorative vases on the chest of drawers. Below right: The restraint in not adding the red or gold to the dresser, just inside the entrance of the room, is such a smart choice! Because its mirror reflects those colors from the bed, accessorizing it with neutrals is exactly the right strategy.
  
Above: The pretty wire baker's rack in the back center of this photo is from Artifacts. The homeowner chose wisely, as this small piece keeps a lightness to the room and doesn't fight with the weight of the antique drop-leaf table or the vibrance of the red and wood-toned table and chairs. Below: Subtle touches like choosing a decorative scrollwork easel and lamp to echo the openness of the antique table base can make a big statement in a room.
Above: This homeowner has mastered the art of for mixing neutrals and vibrant colors as you can see in this photo and the one below. In rooms with bold wall colors, she chooses neutral accessories like the brown/tan plate and vase at left in this photo. her serpentine front chest and armoire from Artifacts also have dark neutral tones to balance out the rich red walls. I have heard that since this photo was taken she has changed the wall color to khaki and gone with vibrant accessories! Below: This is one of our most popular baker's racks and serves as a great break between the living and dining areas of a large room. If you have one of those "great rooms" a baker's rack can help you make the transition between functions in that room.
Below: The large scane of king-sized bed and the height of the ceiling made it a bit difficult for the homeowner to find just the right thing for over the headboard. She finally came up with a great solution in this set of 4 metal tiles that echo the squares in the bedding and nicely balance the rounded lines of the headboard.
 Below: This nicely detailed counter height table with four stools
was the perfect size and tone for the breakfast area of this young
couple. They homeowners have just started remodeling and decorating, and
they have created a very effective bridge between the pretty,
light-toned wood floors and the vibrant walls with this table set and
the colors in the placemeats and dinnerware. And, as she said, "We have really
enjoyed them. It's the first time since we've been married that we have gotten to sit together and eat at our own table." I love my job. :)
Above: The homeowner says she isn't finished accessorizing, but I
wanted to show you how we were able to solve a problem she had in
her kitchen. This spot just inside her door is where she wanted something
to hold her collection of cookbooks, but she needed to access a
light switch so a tall piece was out. This nice medium sized baker's rack
was the perfect solution. I can't wait to see it when she "does a little better decorating" as she said, because I think it already looks great!
 Above: This small curio was a piece that our customer wanted to go between these bold graphic chairs she had purchased from us earlier. However, it had gold/brown tones and she thought that would fight with the black/white/silver theme she had going. A few touches of silver paint and two mirrors cut to fit the removable
tray top and inside the cabinet were all it took to transform it into the perfect piece for her space. These chairs are a nice solution for someone who wants a bit of a modern edge, but doesn't want to go for the zebra print. It's the exact same
chair frame, but this fabric has a more traditional feel to it. Below: This great
little apothecary chest in an off-set niche is another way to carry the clean lines
of the homeowner's modern style throughout the room. She has balanced the
strong graphic lines of the piece with traditional accessories on top.
 
Above: This stately credenza works beautifully beside the front door
or this elegant home. Note how the painted panels of the doors on the
credenza work so well with the subtle gold of the walls and even the
gold tones in the beautiful floors. Little touches of mossy green and gold
in the chair, the rug, and other accessories pull the look together.
Above: You'll see these handome corner cabinets several times on the
customer photo pages, and I'm especially glad to share this one with you
because of the creative space this homeowner found to use it -- on a stair landing!
It is just the right accent piece for a difficult spot and it's classic lines and rich dark color are a great balance against the brick red walls. Below: Another great use of a piece with heavy black accents is used in the homeowner's bath as a unique medicine cabinet. Providing great detail, this piece and the accessories the homeowner added to the top are a great bridge between the crisp tile and the wall color.
Above: Themed rooms can sometimes be overdone, but this
homeowner used just a few touches of palm -- in the print, the
wallpaper border, and the sofa cushions -- to create a comfortable and
elegant room. Her use of the wood tables is perfect with the show wood on
her couch, and the black ironwork on the tables goes well with the black
border in the print, the wrought iron sconces, and the border of her area
rug. She has used simple touches of color here & there (the
gold of the sconces, the green, terra cotta, and cream of the large
ceramic plate) to accent the room.
Above: The homeowner's round mirror is used to
great effect over this unique
bombe chest with black granite
top. The curves of the serpentine drawers and
the sweep of the
legs "mirror" the lines of the mirror! Below: A drop-leaf
table
works perfectly for this small space that needed a table but
didn't
offer much room for one. The black shade with ribbed
sides brings out the
texture in the table's decorative
edging.
Above: Until
the homeowner pointed it out to me, I didn't even notice
that she had
used this piece to separate two paint styles where her foyer
meets her
living room. She accomplished this very effectively with the
use of an
antique door behind this massive bombe chest with marble top.
Below:
The only thing from Artifacts in this photo is the large charger on
top of the armoire -- but it does look great on her amoire, doesn't
it?!
 
Above: Before & After! To begin with, the
homeowner had this table and lamp as unique accents in a dining
area. The creamy base of the lamps mimiced the tones in the chairs,
and the black shade ties in the black piece (below) which is across the
room. BUT.... I was looking at her photos on FaceBook one night
& apparently she was looking at mine, because when I said, "You know
what you need in that corner? A black corner cabinet," she said,
"Girl, get out of my head -- that's what I was just thinking!!" So,
she ended up with the one on the right! It gives her even more room for
display in this classy, eclectic dining room. Also ties in beautifully
with the black piece below. Beow: I love how this homeowner is not
afraid to mix and match --
who would have thought a black mirror-backed
credenza would be what she
needed with these formal white-washed chairs in
her dining room? But the style
of this piece, even the
lines and detailing are exactly the same as the chairs
and that
is why it works!
Below: The leaf piece is
just the right scale beside the desk in the living room. The wall
space is filled visually, but is not crowded by another piece of
furniture.
Above: This piece is so new to the homeowner
that we didn't even let her get the tag off it before Brett snapped a
photo! We had heard about the beautiful new dining room she
had been working on to accomodate the stunning table and chairs she had
bought from us earlier (see below). The beautiful rich red walls really
compliment the wood in this furniture. Notice how the rope edge on
the table works well with the turned columns in the marble-top credenza
she will be using as a buffet. And don't you love her mix of chair
styles? It helps to keep the room from being overly formal and just says
"come on in!"
Below: The other side of this
gorgeous dining room showing the planter set and the large wall leaf piece
also from Artifacts used to accessorize this room.
Above: This
homeowner purchased a new credenza from us this weekend to go in her
hallway. Brett took the camera on the delivery and shot this
piece she had purchased from us earlier and was using as a flatscreen
cabinet. It worked great in her living room with functional display room
below inside the glass doors. But, when he went back to
take her some brackets for the shelves in the new piece, voila! She had
moved the new piece to the spot where the old piece was (See Below) and I
think you'll have to agree the scale of this piece works even
better. She isn't finished accessorizing but her addition of the red
encyclopedias to the center really was an excellent way to ground this
piece with the red furniture.
Below:
The new home for the former tv credenza -- in the hallway where she needed
a piece of furniture!
Above: This smaller scale desk is just right for bedside in
the master bedroom and allows the homeowner a quiet place to do paperwork.
Below: Used in a dining room, this curved buffet with metal accents is a
unique alternative to a more traditional china cabinet. There is plenty of
display room for glassware and dishes and the drawers are perfect for
napkins and silverware.
 
Above: This armoire is working in this space for several
reasons -- first, the wood tones are similar to the floor and the wood
table to the left. Secondly, the scrolls on the door panels echo those in
the drapery behind it. And, thirdly, the black background of the door
panels works with the solid black piece to the right in the photo. The
large tray on top continues the color and feel of the drapery panels.
Below: This woven storage cube is perfect for a couch-side table. Just
enough room for a few accessories and a great place to stash pillows and
throws out of sight.
Above: A small
painted accent table with drop-leaf end panels doesn't
detract
from this homeowner's beautiful plantation shutters but
instead acts
to ground them and serve as a transition between
white woodwork & built-in
tv center and darker furniture
pieces in the room.
 
Above Left:
This black cabinet with 2 doors and 2 drawers is the balance
of light
and dark needed in this bedroom. Using a piece like this instead of
a
more traditional night stand can really perk up a bedroom. Above
Right: Beatifully
accessorized with McCarty Pottery and an arrangement
from Tammy Hellums of CreatedDesign (in an Artifacts conainer!) this
lovely serpentine-front cherry finish chest is a great spot to drop mail
and keys out of sight in this Oxford homeowner's entryway.
 
Above Left: Finding the perfect proportion is so important
as this piece in a customer's den shows. The narrow width and taller
height of this metal-front credenza create the perfect balance between two
recliners. The width of the print above it, and placement of the
accessories also work to make this piece fit the spot. Above Right: The
sunny yellow in this office is a great backdrop to the
rich luster of
the wood desk unit. Earth-toned accessories (atop the desk) create this
work environment from becoming too vibrant and distracting.
(Note: The desk
wasn't an Artifacts purchase, but we wanted you to see how great accents
like the plate and vase which we do carry can look with your other
purchases!) Below: A
rich citrus yellow in this homeowner's kitchen makes these gorgeous red
canisters pop. What you can't see is the stunning oil painting on the wall
to the left -- it ties the whole kitchen together with tones of lime,
lemon, and bright red. These canisters carry that color across the
breakfast area & into the kitchen area.
 
ABOVE LEFT:
Finding the right lamp for a room can be tricky, but this Artifacts
customer recognized the importance of a lamp with some mass for this large
sunroom with a vaulted ceiling. On the other hand, a lamp with a base too
heavy would look out of place in a room as airy as this one. These lamps
(also pictured on the right) were the perfect solution. They are large,
but with an open cut-work column base. ABOVE RIGHT: This unique accent
table is perfect beside French doors because it offers convenience without
blocking light like a cabinet might.
 
ABOVE LEFT:
This distressed red-rub-over black buffet is not used in a conventional
way (in a dining room) but is the perfect piece for this spot at the base
of the stairs. The homeowner's collections join a large charger from
Artifacts in a unique and attractive display on a piece that also offers a
good bit of practical storage. ABOVE RIGHT: An accent chest with
metal-front drawers offers the perfect place for keys, purses, etc. in an
entryway. The rich red walls and stunning floors are beautifully balanced
by this rich piece. BELOW: In this lovely vaulted-ceiling living room the
homeowner felt the need for something to help balance out the large art
piece over her couch. These sconces from Artifacts worked wonderfully, and
prove that pices like this don't have to have candles or arrangements on
them -- they work perfectly fine as strong architectural elements in a
room.
Don't miss the furniture photos on
Customer Photos Page
2 and Customer Photos Page 3 and
Customer Photos Page
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