Oh My Gosh Interiors

The Artist

Judy — Tue, 15 May 2012 12:00:29 +0000

My daughter claims to have NO artistic talent whatsoever… at least compared to her boyfriend, who can draw, paint, sculpt and create just about anything. To prove that she too could produce a piece of art worthy of hanging on the wall, he brought a large canvas, along with 5-6 jars of acrylic paint to our back yard one day. Dressed in disposable painter coveralls, they spent the morning throwing paper plates full of paint at the canvas, and then at each other. Awww… it was very cute… so very “Princess Diaries!”

Yes… they had a blast, AND look at what they were able to create! This work of art now follows her from apartment to apartment. It provides a focal point, instant color, and a reminder of the great time she had that day.

Need something big and dramatic for a wall in your home? For under $100 you too can create your own personal work of art, complete with fun and fond memories. Pick out your favorite colors and give it a try. And don’t worry about the mess… it’s washable!

The Space Beneath

Judy — Tue, 01 May 2012 12:00:51 +0000

Decorating a room in your home? Don’t forget…. the job isn’t finished until the accessorizing has been done.

One area that is often neglected when accessorizing: the space beneath… beneath coffee tables, side tables, sofa tables, etc etc… Put together a fun little combination of pieces to go beneath your tables and you’ll have something much more interesting to look at than the blank floor and wall behind it. Leggy tables are especially perfect for a little extra accessorizing.

Decorating beneath the furniture makes your room look more interesting… at every level.

And from every angle.

And sometimes, these spaces beneath provide the perfect place for storage… for those things we don’t need everyday like books, toys or an extra seat or ottoman.

Remember to finish off those decorating projects.. and fill in those crazy little spaces beneath.

Handmade. Unique. Priceless.

Judy — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 12:00:35 +0000

There is something extra special about stuff that is hand made by artists, especially those that use and reuse old fabrics, textiles and furniture. If it is stitched, embroidered, patched, quilted, or hand painted, so much the better! The final effect is new, unique and inspiringly fresh, oozing personality and soul.

I recently discovered (and fell in love with) these puffy blue pillows at JUXTAPOSITION in Newport Coast. I first thought they were made of old blue jeans, but upon touch, could tell the fabric was much much softer and very fine. When I saw the price, I knew they must be something special indeed. (around $480 each)

They are made of “Boro”… vintage hemp and cotton fabric woven by Japanese farmers to make their everyday clothing in the early 1900′s. Washed, worn and eventually torn, bits and pieces of this fabric are now very rare… and valuable. You can see more examples, read about it and even buy from this ebay dealer here…

Anthropologie does a great job of ferreting out the unique, especially considering they are a large corporation. MOST of their furniture is so distinct, especially that with hand stitched, quilted and patched together fabrics. These gorgeous pieces might not be one of a kind, but they are distinct and not something normally seen in other furniture shops.

I first saw this chair made of vintage denim bits and pieces right after seeing the Boro pillows at Juxtaposition, so they immediately caught my eye. Such a casual, cool, and rough look for this a formal chair. LOVE.

Beautiful fabric collages were everywhere… Anthropologie IS known for this sort of look. How about this ottoman?

AND… sofa:

Anthropologie is currently showcasing the upholstery work of Serbian artist Draga Obradovic… unique, one-of-a-kind pieces created when she reupholsters vintage frames in coated-cotton canvas fabric that has been layered with rich pigment ,then screenprinted and hand-distressed. The final product has a durable, leather-like finish. This is my favorite… I’ve always been a big fan of polka dots.

Another example of Obradovic’s one of a kind, repurposed vintage pieces.

I’m drooling now… time for some more upholstery classes! What has caught your eye recently… anything unique or handmade? Please share!!

Pillow Fight!!

Judy — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 14:57:58 +0000

Are you a pillow lover, or a pillow fighter? It seems like every household has someone who makes a stand against throw pillows on the furniture… someone who proclaims to not like them, not want them, and will not even consider the potential beauty they provide. Reasons abound, but pillow fighters mostly think these soft poofs serve no purpose whatsoever and are always in the way, making it impossible to sit or lie down easily.

Really?! I guess it can be time-consuming to swipe pillows onto the floor before retiring to bed at night (approx 15 seconds) and especially to place them back on said bed the next morning. (close to 30 seconds) Worse yet, is the necessary adjusting, fluffing, moving or tossing of pillows when lounging on the sofa, (takes 10-20 seconds) and then putting them back when the movie is over. (40 seconds, start to finish)

Hmmm… too much work?? Absolutely not! Worth it? YES! Adding pillows is, by far, the easiest and cheapest way to brighten up and accessorize a space. Just imagine what all of these rooms would look like without their pillows.

Yes… BLAAAAH would be the word to describe these spaces if pillow-less.

Always opt to finish off your rooms with a few throw pillows. It’s easy. BOOM… toss them in and you’ve got instant personality, color and fun!

Building a Focal Point

Judy — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 12:00:05 +0000

With no fireplace in this living room, it was in desperate need of some kind of focal point . Shelves would have worked well, as would a hutch or armoire, or even a very large piece of art. But for this project our job was to use what was already in the house… nothing new. None of the pieces alone would be big enough for this very tall wall, but in combination, they will work beautifully.

To start… a bamboo sofa table, the perfect base and grounding piece for the arrangement we are building above it. The art and mirror go high on the wall, leaving room for other pieces to sit on the table.

Next, we kept layering art, leaning some of it on the table and against the wall. Accessories were added, providing color, texture and height.

One last layer under the table… 2 ottomans, ready to pull out and use for extra seating.

The final product… this wall has now become a beautiful focal point for the room!

The secret… layering. Lots and lots of it, from high to low, front to back, and left to right… and all with items found around the house and in the garage. It’s always surprising, and rewarding, to see how great a room can look…. without spending a dime on new things! Give it a try!!