Tips for "Softening" your Room - Part Five

Sometimes, even if you have all the other elements in place in a room, you may still find a spot or two that could use a little more "softening"....hard to believe, huh?  It's true and most times it is our tabletops that need a little more attention.  

Even though this chest has the softening effects on it from the lovely flowers it still could use a little more...and a great way to do this is by...adding a tassel.  Here we've put one on the lamp to soften it as we often do.  It's just a simple touch!

You might can see it a little better here. (I take such blurry photos sometimes - sorry!)

Let's take another lamp...a little less traditional, shall we?

See sometimes lamps, no matter how pretty, can look a little 'hard and cold'.  Can you tell?

Let's find a tassel that would work well with this lamp...even if you didn't want to pop an accent color but just soften it.

Voila....."Softened" and beautiful with just one easy step!

A much more formal style here...this lamp actually comes with a tassel.

Another one just for fun! Step 1 - find the right tassel

Step 2 - Place tassel on lamp base

So there, you have it, yet another simple way you can "soften" and make the room a little more cozy and appealing. Decisions, decisions, which lamps with YOU tassel?

  Oh, and by the way, another great tip for softening with tassels is to hang one on the front of  your secretary, buffet, hutch, etc...it makes for a great look.  I bet you've seen that done before but just maybe didn't realize that it was actually "softening" the space as well. 

 Or, you can simply lay one on top of books...another little "trick of the trade" we sometimes use to soften a hard surface!

Thanks for stopping by...

Have a "Simply Irresistible" Day!

Image Credits: Alpha & Omega Interiors, WW Lamps, Robert Allen

Does it seem true that...

For some reason...it does!  Especially after a long holiday weekend.

I hope everyone had a safe and happy Fourth of July and enjoyed spending time with those you care about.  It's nice to have an 'excuse' to slow the pace down and just...BE!  That's a hard one for me usually.

Today I'm sharing a couple of little projects we just did for a client to help make a few spots in her home a little "happier"...per her request.  Keep in mind, we always try to design with our client's personality so this fits hers...

She wanted to keep her little doggie front and center (under TV here) since she recently lost her little "Charlie".  She wanted something new for the mantel.  I knew we needed to KISS - 'keep it so simple'...so we used two topiaries in just the right shade of green to tie in with the room and surrounding areas too.  Simple, adds height...just right. 

(Sorry I didn't clean off the top of this ice box before taking a photo with my phone!)

She originally had all of these photos in individual frames sitting on the rustic coffee table in the morning room...but she and her hubby wanted to clear out the clutter so they could enjoy that unique coffee table instead.  Well, I knew how much she LOVES family photos and displaying them all around her home...so this is what I came up with and installed.  They were thrilled!  The "B" is the first letter of their last name...ta da!  Again, not a major design project at all, but well thought out to suit the spot and the client's personality!

Here is the old rustic table now (I believe this came out of an old ship, if memory serves me correctly)...with a new accessory we created for her in an antique wooden bowl we found.  The colors pick up the colors in her rug (as you can see here) and in her draperies (that we also did a couple years ago).

Another fun little project was for this newly acquired table they bought at a fund raiser event...I just loved it and it works perfectly in this spot (between that morning room and the kitchen).  She wanted something to sit on it though...that's where we come in.  

Here is a close-up shot of the framed art above it, which they already had.  Sorry for the blur, but hopefully you can tell it's the Cat in the Hat!  

With all of this being 'hard' surfaces I knew we needed something to soften the area...and she had this Wake Forest University keepsake that she wanted to use somewhere to surprise her hubby with...so, I took it with me.  This was where I was going to use it...the perfect spot.

I selected a certain greenery (once again keeping in mind the other areas around this) that would be light and airy and just the right height we'd need...and of course I HAD to add a few butterflies peeking out!  

Oh, and the hubby was so surprised and he loved it too!

So...keeping it simple today as we try to enter back into the world of design with project deadlines, installations, price quotes, workroom orders, etc.  Hope YOU enjoyed a peek into these little simple design projects today!  Thanks for stopping by!

Have a "Simply Irresistible" Day!

If you'd like help creating a home that you absolutely love, please contact us about the design services we offer.

All photos are the sole property of Alpha & Omega Interiors.  If used, please link back to this post.  Thanks!

All interior design by Alpha & Omega Interiors

How to "Dress" Your Coffee Table

No doubt it's late in the week, but I am glad to be back on here with a chance to share some design tips with you. I have been pondering that we'd like to share with you some great "tips" on how to dress up (yes, meaning decorate) your coffee table.  Many time I find that  our clients just don't have any idea what to put on it (unless it's just ONE thing right in the middle of it which doesn't really complete the look most times). I already had some ideas and photos put together for you, but then...along came this great article from Southern Living.  Who can say it better than...Phoebe Howard herself.  So, I ditched my article/blog post for a better one!  This is her "fool proof formula" for it...

The Formula: Using these elements, you can apply Phoebe’s chic and simple method to any space or tabletop.

1. Something Tall
Hurricane vases or candlesticks are great because when you light candles, they add sparkle and make everything festive.

2. One Oddball Object
Choose something that’s sculptural and quirky to express your personality. Some ideas: a piece of coral, a glass orb, or a small ginger jar.

3. Something Fresh
A nice pot of ivy, a fern, or some fresh-cut flowers add life and easy-to-change color to the room.

4. A Stack of Books
Use a few large, pretty art books to make a stack, and top it off with something decorative.

There...you now have a simple formula that will work for most any tabletop space.  Funny thing is that it is almost exactly the same ideas we were going to share!!  It's the same "formula" we use many times too. Imagine that! So, there must be some truth to it, right?  I love her work and Southern style...and I knew YOU would too.  Thanks Phoebe!!

Enjoy "Dressing" Your Coffee Table

and

Have a "Simply Irresistible" Day!

Photo Credit:  Southern Living, Phoebe Howard

*I TRY TO CREDIT ALL IMAGES, IF THERE ARE ANY PHOTOS OR IMAGES HERE THAT ARE NOT CREDITED CORRECTLY OR YOU WISH THEM TO BE REMOVED, PLEASE LET ME KNOW AND I WILL GLADLY OBLIGE. THEY ARE BEING USED HERE FOR THE SOLE PURPOSE OF DISCUSSING INTERIOR DESIGN. THANK YOU!