Perfection Found - Tea Sized Storage

I go absolutely nuts for collections - especially lovely photos of collections incorporated into a home's decor - so naturally I flipped my lid over this fantastic custom shelving, perfectly sized to display a gorgeous collection of tea pots, cups, and saucers.

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The entire house tour is quite nice, if you've got the time to peruse here.

Enjoy!

Calli

Cake Stands Galore

Are cake stands the new owl craze? Or does that technically have to be replaced by another animal fixation? Cake stands are definitely gaining in popularity - store bought and DIY versions are popping up absolutely everywhere.

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Although I bought my first cake stand last year (second hand, it was a great find!) my love for this little display piece started years earlier. After the passing of my great-grandfather and the necessary clearing out of his house, there were a few mementos and family heirlooms for my mom and her siblings to have, among these items was a gorgeous green cake stand - It was love at first sight. It wasn't completely useful or practical, and it didn't hold any special meaning for me, but it was beautiful. 

I pointed it out to my mom, nudging her to bring it home with us, but she didn't pay it much attention and in the end chose something else; I honestly couldn't tell you what that was. We left the little cake stand behind and I later saw that my Aunt had taken it home - I was glad someone thought it was as pretty as I did but insanely jealous that one of my cousins would get it someday. Every now and then I still give my mom a hard time about that cake stand but it isn't her fault, no one expects an elementary school aged kid to have such great taste.

The little green cake stand may have slipped through my fingers years ago but my collection had only just started. I guarantee the next pretty little stand I see will be coming home with me.

Enjoy!

Calli

Not-So-Conventional Books Storage

In my humble opinion there are few things less enjoyable than spending a sunny summer afternoon with a good book - I'll leave you to your own thoughts on what constitutes a "good" book.

Unfortunately I am currently purging my book collection, however if you are busy stocking up on summer reading material here are a few unique ways to keep all those books organized, easy to find, or at least out of the way so they won't be stepped on. 

I like the rough stacking of these books and use of some unconventional storage space in the fireplace. I'm assuming this fireplace has been sealed up, so why not use it as a catchall for books in the summer? Switch things up for the winter holidays with some tall pillar candles and you've got another lovely little reading space.

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I am extremely envious of the owner of this vintage display stand and immediately want one of my own. These stacked books look wonderful - if you get a chance check out the house tour via the link below, the entire place is enviable.

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This may be one of my favorite storage style coffee tables - I love that the books are all on display and not just tucked away somewhere. For me this is perfect for a cottage or cabin; vintage, rustic, easy to clean around, and any small dents or dings only add to the appeal. 

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If your book obsessions edges more towards the hoarders end of the collection spectrum you may need a larger scale storage solution. The nice thing about these books, stacked and stacked and stacked, under a kitchen island, is that they are part of the decor. The room is paired down, with a clean band of colour on the walls, which makes the space look modern and tidy.

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Isn't it nice to step away from the conventional bookcase for a bit and explore all the other options out there? 

Enjoy!

Calli

Plant Police

I'm making my boyfriend pare down his growing plant collection - on a side note, is it puns that are the lowest form of humour? 

I know I've shared oodles of plant friendly interiors before and I've discussed at length in at least one post how much I adore oversized, ceiling scraping, lush, leafy varieties so I won't blab on and on - just grant me this one little indulgence... 

isn't she lovely? (via)

What I will say is that my boyfriend prefers cacti and succulents - on every windowsill in our house - and while I love him, I do not love cleaning up dirt from yet another spilled pot that managed to blow off the sill while we were airing out the house.*

I also do not understand the need to have a half dozen cacti that are all exactly the same; is a little variety too much for a girl to ask? So I'm making him purge, but before you make me out to be a wicked, awful person you should know that I'm not getting off scot-free (did you know that's how it was spelled? Me either.). My closet, including shoes and purses, has had to pay the price for this plant-less lifestyle. I'm sure I'll regret it tomorrow.

Enjoy!

Calli

*This sounds absurd, I know, but you wouldn't believe how often it happens - the plants a tiny, the pots light, and because they need little to no water the soil blows around instead of clinging together.

Have A Heart

Yeah, Yeah... I missed Valentine's Day - at least here in blog land. Sue me. 

Sorry, that came out a bit more sour than intended. It's not that I don't not like Valentine's Day, it's just that I don't care enough to put in the effort - get dressed up, go out, buy gifts, write down how I feel...

Although, I should be honest and say that my heart melted a bit when I got home from work to some lovely red roses. Oh, and I like the chocolate part of the day. 

Always the one to jump on the bandwagon at the very last possible moment, here are some lovely Valentine's-esque ideas. 

Quite possible the absolute best thing I've seen on Pinterest in awhile, these cheesecakes are mirrored after those adorable little message candies!

via Hungry Happenings

Perfect size, fun shape, great colour combo, and quirky graphic element, this ring has it all if you ask me - plus it would look great with almost anything. 

via Etsy

This heart shaped rock collection is so lovely - what a neat idea. I can only imagine the story behind each individual rock.

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Every ounce of childhood wonder I still have has me asking - how'd they do that? This shell pendant is gorgeous, and the heart detail adds the perfect touch of whimsy! 

via Etsy

Easily DIY-able with some scissors or a heart shaped punch, I love this simple Valentine's Day card. Imagine using patterned, printed, or embossed paper for the little hearts!

via Etsy

Well there you have it - oh, and Happy Belated Valentine's Day.

Enjoy!

Calli

Collectables

Love this Chalkboard Display via Pinterest

I believe that if you are going to collect something then collect it. Go for it and don't be shy. However, collections can walk a fine line between cool and weird/tacky/overdone. If you want your collection to look more modern than cluttered here are a few loose rules to help.

Collect with purpose. It's really easy to collect by purchasing every single item you stumble upon - ever. Although for some rare items this may work, in most situations you will end up with too much stuff and nothing really interesting. Instead, try and be selective and add only items that are special, unique, or have meaning.

Keep an open mind and collect what you love. So what if you haven't seen anyone else collect chewing gum? (and we all know there isn't any money in it) I believe in surrounding yourself with what you love - not what is popular or worth a lot of money.

When it comes to displaying collections I prefer them grouped together compared to spread out throughout the home. Almost anything can look cool and modern when grouped purposefully - I've seen it with Nutcrackers and those things scare me. However, when a collection is scattered all over the place people mistake the collection for clutter and think you have a weird fetish for Nutcrackers which is never good.

If you're looking for inspiration the internet is a wondrous place...

Glass Bottles - why not collect one main colour or opt for tiny antique medicine bottles?

via Pinterest

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Old school globes naturally lend themselves to a perch on-top of white cabinetry. 

via Pinterest

When not in use, this vintage milk glass collection acts as art in a monochromatic kitchen. I don't know if I love this so much because of my soft spot for milk glass or chandeliers...

via Pinterest

The colours in these teapots work well with the rustic display. I really like that this is in the living room instead of the kitchen.

via Pinterest

Do you collect anything? 

Enjoy!

Calli