Garden Pottery and Beyond

For some reason I have had a longtime fascination for large blue pots filled with brightly blooming plants, so I almost drove off the road the other day when I spotted this field of pottery just calling my name.  I had stumbled upon  Exotic Furniture and Pottery !

There were pots in all sizes, shapes and colors.

And yes there were lots of goreous blue ones too!

These French pots are my favorite.

What a beautiful rich color.  It went home with me!

What a lovely way to welcome guests.

The lighter turquiose pots caught my eye as well.

But it was still the blue pots that drew me in.

This blue fish was pretty eye catching as well.

There were all kinds of wonderful things to be found both outside and in the shop as well.

A colorful turtle is a great way to add a touch of whimsy to any garden spot.

Don't forget to decorate the walls or fences in your garden space.  

Hang this inside your home and turn outdoor rustic into indoor chic.

A handpainted sink will brighten any bathroom.  These remind me of a sundrenched field of sunflowers.

There was color everywhere I looked.  Pots like these will cheer up any place you put them.

What do you put in a colorful but busy container?  Stick with one color that is the same as on the pot!

There were also interesting architectural elements, equally effective in a garden on purched on a shelf in a bookcase.

These blue pots draw my attention to the plants and set them off from the rest of the charming garden.  Here is a great example of introducing an architectural or sculptural touch to add more interest and a focal point.
(Photo courtest of Gardenphotos.com)

Not just for a more traditional setting blue pots can work beautifully to set off any plant like these succulents in a more transitional garden.

I was not sure what this is but it intrigued me.  Using old odd elements in a garden can give it a sense of time and personality.

Inside this funky little shop were more quirky things like this froggy mariachi band.  How is that for personality?

What a pretty handpainted tile placque.  Where would you put this, on a wall outside, over your stove or somewhere else?

These handcrafted pillow covers and table cloths could work well in contemporary or traditional settings.  Could you see them in a Bohemian style? Carribean Island style? African or global style?  Now that I see them again I might have to go back and get one myself. 

Everywhere I looked there was something fun to see.

Look up and there were lanterns, pretty inside or outside hanging from a tree or porch with candles glowing through the glass.

Just the perfect touch with candles or filled with flowers.

Pure romance.

What started out as a quest for blue pots for my garden became a mini inspirational adventure.  My friend and I loaded up her car with our blue pots with big grins on our faces, delighted with our finds and vowing to visit their other location that is even bigger! 

My next adventure will be to the local Green Market to find the perfect plants for my pretty blue pots.  I am thinking geraniums.  What would you like to plant in them if they were yours?  

One of my brilliant blue pots....what's next?

My upcoming project is giving my front porch a mini makeover and guess what I am going to use?

How do you like to decorate your garden or patio?  Do you like colorful pots and flowers?  Where do you like to shop for the prettiest containers?  What inspirational adventures have you found yourself on lately?

As always I invite you to share your inspirations and experiences in the comment box.  I look forward to hearing from you.

                 Happy Decorating!

(Any photos that are not from my picture file are courtesy of Google Images)

If you would like assistance with a decorating project of your own please email me at 
pictureprettyint@aol.com 

Taking the time to say Thank You....

This is the time of year to look back on the year's events and to say a few words of thanks.  It has been a delight to take you on my many excursions, and to share my resources and inspirations with you.

I hope you have found much helpful information as well as inspiring ideas in the "pages" of Decor Dreams & Schemes.  Perhaps I have helped with some of your decorating dilemas or set a spark to encourage design projects of your own. 

Thank you for reading and for your support. It is always a lovely surprise when I get an email or run into someone who says......I love reading your blog!  It usually comes out of the blue at the most unexpected times.

I have just found out that Decor Dreams & Schemes has had over 30,000 visits from all over the world.   Wow!

It astounds me to know that so many people have found what I write about interesting and worthwhile.  I remember getting a comment from a designer in India and it was great fun getting to know her and all about what is going on in design there.  Did you know they love a contemporary style?

As the new year begins I would love to know what things you are most interested in seeing and learning about.  How can I make my blog more inspiring, timely and pertinent to your decorating?  I welcome your ideas and suggestions and encourage you to share your own experiences with me and our followers.  Do you have a burning decorating question?  Write to me, "Dear Decorator" and I will be happy to reply.

Thank you for taking your time to come along with me on my blogging adventures.  I hope I can help make your Decorating Dreams and Schemes come true in 2015.

Wishing you all the very best in the new year,

 Happy Decorating!

If you would like to contact me please write to pictureprettyint@aol.com.  I would enjoy hearing from you.

How to decorate with embossed leather

 Are you looking for a way to give your home a touch of the exotic?   Do you want to add a luxurious texture to your decorating style?  Take a look at some of the beautiful embossed leather patterns I discovered at a local leather furniture manufacturer and beyond.

This platinum leather is spectacular!  

Leathers come in a variety of metallics.  Some even have patterns.

Paisley is a favorite design for embossed leather.  Wouldn't this pattern be fabulous on a chair or barstool?

The colors on this faux alligator hide add a new dimension.

This is one of the most unique "skins" I saw.  It would look outrageous on a sofa!

This collection of "skins" is in a shiny finish that really brings the design alive.

While many embossed leathers replicate animal skins such as lizard, elephant, alligator, crocodile, ostrich etc. there are many designs available like geometric, floral, aztec, and even patterns like those found in ceiling tiles.  You can even custom design your own with a company called Barbarossa Leather.

This motif is similar to those in ceiling tiles but I have never seen them in  these rich exciting colors!
(Images from Barbarossaleather.com )

Leather in a lacey pattern though less exotic would still have a lovely impact where ever it is applied...maybe on a wall?

Let's explore some of the ways embossed leather can be introduced in home furnishings.

An antique chair upholstered in teal embossed leather with an alligator pattern takes on a whole new look.

I don't like to use the word stunning very often but that's what I would call this faux alligator chest by Ralph Lauren.  I would also describe it as elegant and dramatic. It is definitely a statement piece.

Embossed leather can be found on contemporary furniture like this incredible Yarelli accent chair.

This artful chair designed by Gary Knox Bennett also incorporates embossed leather on the seat and back.

You might think this executive chair is new on the market however, it is a Paul McCobb Mid-Century Modern piece dating from the mid 1950's.

Incorporating a leopard patterned fabric with an aged alligator leather certainly lends an exotic feel to this chair.

Embossed leather does not have to be exotic.  The soft French blue medallion embossed on the chair seats of these dining chairs is so pretty.  

What if you don't want to cover your sofa or chair with embossed leather but you still like the look?  How can it be used in other ways to add interest, texture and style?

The Spanish screen above is hand painted as well as embossed. 

Here is a close up of a similar handpainted embossed leather. How elegant!

Sometimes an entire piece done in embossed leather might be overdone, but what if you used it as an accent like the cabinet above?  This would be a fun way to refinish  old furniture.

Above is a console/desk by Butler Specialty that combines wood and embossed leather. Great mix!

Ottomans like these from Napastyle.com bring a warmth and texture where ever you place them.  Add them to a contemporary or traditional style, Use them in an office, family room,  or living room.  They actually remind me of an old saddle.  

Though these tables have an antique quality, embossed leather can be used on any table top. 

Morrocan painted embossed ottomans are a colorful way to brighten up any space.

These Karl Springer tables from 1stdibs.com are sold but I found a pair in red faux lizard at a local consignment shop.  I bet these were a lot more expensive.  The pair my client bought are going in her den as bunching tables in front of a sleep sofa.  Perfect!

I wonder if this croc would be so playful if he knew what that lampshade is made of?

It is not uncommon to find trunks covered in embossed leather but this 17th century antique Spanish Colonial treasure would set you back $5,900 on 1stdibs !  Now that makes me want to dig through my local consignment shops to see if I might find a suitable imposter.  If I came across something that was not so aged or intricate perhaps I could add some shoe polish or color it with paint or stain.  Hmmm....

Look closely and you will see the wall is upholstered in embossed leather.  Brilliant!

A gold Fendi embossed leather pillow?  It makes a statement all on it's own.

So where would you use embossed leather in your home?  Would you add a few accessories like this pillow, a covered box, picture frame or ottoman?  What about using it to recover the back of a wing chair or the doors or drawer fronts on a chest or armoire, or maybe a headboard?  As you can see the possibilities are endless. Whether your style is contemporary, traditional or somewhere in between; exotic, elegant, fun or fabulous introducing embossed leather is bound to add that one extra layer that will make your space special.

Do you have anything in your home that is made with embossed leather? Are you tempted to recover

something with this unusual material?  

However you might choose to incorporate it, I invite you to share your ideas and experiences in the comment box. You can even email me photos at the address below.  I look forward to hearing from you.

                                        Happy Decorating!

If you would like assistance with a interior decorating project of your own, please email me at

pictureprettyint@aol.com

(While the first photos are courtesy of Picture Pretty Interiors, the remainder are courtesy of Pinterest and Houzz.)