A Bit of Styling: Trays

When I checked the stats of my blog, some of the most popular posts were those on "A Bit of Styling..".  The one on cake stands being number one.  I'd like to think I am able to effectively share some inspirations and ideas on how to do a bit of styling, using things that you already have at home.   :)   So today,  I thought I'll share another styling idea...  TRAYS!  I have a long time affair with trays.  Just like plates, cake stands, lamps and bed linens, I can't seem to have enough of them.  I'm actually not sure how many I have but one thing for sure, I get to use all of them.  I'm that kind of collector who actually uses her collection, instead of keeping them  locked in the shelves. 

Take a peek at some corners of my home...

This lacquer tray was from Myanmar.  A gift from my BFF.  It has retired from serving, and now this orange tray keeps some of the coffee table books and a mini mahjong set neatly stacked together on the coffee table.  

Now, this breakfast tray...its been used for it's purpose during birthdays, father/mother's day or when someone is sick in the family.  So it's not very often that we get to use it, so I thought why not make it into a side table?  And the height fits perfectly with my favorite chair!

This one was originally a sand tray, you know that thingy that comes with a stick-like rake that you use to create patterns on the sand?  It kinda calms you down, very therapeutic!    Over time, the sand disappeared so I thought it would be nice to keep my collection of cow bone decors.  And the emperor couple actually looks happy on it!:)  Together with them is an old opium jar and two bells (yup they're bells!)

A lacquer tray from Vietnam holds an Iris plant and some coasters on the dining table.

This one is not really a tray but an Indonesian wooden scoop for measuring rice.  Holds fruits on the kitchen counter and sometimes  I also use it to hold pillar candles!

Three more Vietnam finds...

An eggshell lacquered tray (actually its called a spathe) to hold keys and mail at the foyer.

A ceramic blue and white plate with rattan trimmings on the side holds my pretty white hand towels (from Petit Blanc!..go check our FB site!)

And an irregularly shaped (bent!) bamboo tray is used to hold bathroom essentials.  I used a vase to hold the toothbrushes and a sugar container holds the cotton pads/swabs.  

There are still un-photographed trays around the house, but for the meantime, I hope you got some inspiration and ideas on how to use your own serving trays around your home.  Remember it only takes a bit of styling to create a vignette or prettify a corner.  :)  Your serving trays need not be exclusively kept in the kitchen. :)

I would love to hear your thoughts!

A Bit of Styling: Egg Plate

Have you seen an egg plate?   I don't see this around often and I'm glad a cousin gifted me with one.  I seldom use it because just like most people, I put my eggs in the ref.  So this pretty plate only comes out to hiding when we host brunches at home, to hold boiled eggs.

But a bit of styling made this egg plate an instant ring plate!  Tadah!!!  Now all those cocktail rings are easily accessible.  Sits nicely on my vanity table too :) Whatchathink?  Pretty cool eh?!  Now...the daughter wants one too!  :)

I would love to hear your thoughts.

A Bit of Styling: Drawer Liners

As I was checking my linen closet, I realized I am a hoarder of pillow cases!  Wow!  I just have too many for the number of pillows I have around.  So I picked three and proceeded to do a bit of styling with my bathroom drawers.  These are the ones I chose.  I think I used them for the kids' room when they were babies.

This is how my drawers look like.

In just a few minutes and without any cost, the drawers were "prettified"!

I'm loving it and what's another plus?...It's washable and I can change it with another pillow case anytime!

What are you waiting for?  Check out your own closets and see if there's anything you can use as drawer liners.  A pretty tea towel is another option.  'Til the next styling!

I would love to hear your thoughts!

Tablescape: Simple & Elegant

If you know me personally or have been following 40 and beyond, you would know that one of my interests is table styling.  Some women collect bags and shoes.  I collect plates, chargers, platters and bowls.  I love plates, candles, coasters and flatware.  I love plates, glasses, linens and napkins.  Oh did I say I love plates already?  :-)  I would like to share with you some of the past (and future) seatings and settings (that's how hubby calls it!)  I have done.  This first one was a tablescape done for hubby's Birthday last May. 

I knew there will be a lot of chatting that would happen that night, so I opted to dot the table with low vases and candles so my guests can see each other eye to eye.  The green oregano from my herb garden and some purple statice brought just the right amount of color for a setting for the male celebrant.  

Gold chargers on an embroidered ecru table linen invokes elegance and the round candles, wrapped with rattan added texture and shape to the otherwise all glassy candle holders.  Female guests get their own personal little glass vase with a single stem of flower.  Take a closer look at the photo below, can you see it?  It's hanging on the charger.  I call it my little pacman vase.

I hope you like this post and I should be sharing more of this kind regularly.   Stay tuned for more tablescapes!

I would love to hear your thoughts.

Related articles

• Tablescape Thursday: Dinner for Two (dreammom.blogspot.com)
• Put some new ideas into your holiday decorating scheme: Full House (cleveland.com)

For Keeps

I love stationeries, cards and pretty paper.  For me, you can't have enough of these stuff.  And I have collected boxes full of cards and letters all these years.  Then there are the gift cards that are too dear and pretty to toss away.  So what do you with them?  To keep them neat and easy to retrieve (when you get sentimental, and would like to read and reminisce :-)), I bundle  them together using the same ribbons and gift charms.

This is my latest bunch of gift cards from my Birthday.  

So you see, if you do not have the interest of making a scrap book, this is an easier alternative and equally pretty, plus, you get to recycle the ribbons and charms!  You might want to start doing this in the coming Holidays.  I'm sure you will be receiving lots of nice Xmas cards.


I would love to hear your thoughts!

A Bit of Styling: Cake Stand

Do you have a collection?  I know most women keep a collection of shoes, bags and jewelries.   I like those stuff too, but there's another thing that I'm fond of...plates, dinnerware, bowls, anything that will make dining more special!  This morning, I was putting out a set of plates to change our everyday plates (yes, I change plates for daily use every other month!  That way, I get to use all the plates.  No special plates for guests.   Everyday dining is always special!), when I saw my pretty cake plates.  Let me share with you how I use them, aside from holding cakes and pastries.

My favorite vintage dome glass cover, with 'PASTRY' etched on it.
(cake stand from Dapitan; glass dome from Tangs,Singapore;
tea set from Jenggala, Bali)

This one is perfect to hold candies, chocolates or after dinner mints.
(hand-blown glass plate and dome cover from Bali; 
pillow behind from Arab St., Singapore)

Works as a fruit platter too!
(cake stand from Dapitan)

The humble sweet potatoes in style...
(cake stand from Bangkok)

Transport it to the bathroom, and you get a pretty towel holder!

Oh, and I also found these...I use it to hold sauces or vegetable sticks.
Both from Jenggala, Bali

And now, I thought it will make a good holder for my dangling earrings.  

Perfect on my vanity tray!

All the earrings are neatly hanging, no more lost pairs!  Plus, they all look pretty on the dresser table.  Loving it!  Now it's your turn, check your cupboard and bring out all those pretty pieces.  I'm sure you have something there that you can re-purpose to prettify your space.  It only takes 'a bit of styling!'  Have fun!

Suggestion:  Pretty tea cups can also serve as a nice earring holder!

Who said White is Boring??

I just discovered a  brilliant interior designer, whom I think will be my favorite for a long time!  Her name is Tine Kjeldsen, from Denmark.  Her creations are a mix of different styles,  (I won't call it eclectic.)  and not confined to a particular look.  Such talent to be able to put together lovely pieces of different texture  and yet complement each other!  It's contemporary, clean, and organic!  It's WHITE but nothing close to boring!  It would be a shame not to share this with you.  This is her HOME...Enjoy!

The two black round thingy on the wall are old baking sheets used as blackboards now. 

How creative is that? 

This is the dining room.  I love the contrast of the white table next to the bamboo chairs.  Very organic!  The chairs look like Filipino pieces, right?  I won't be surprised if they come from here.  Tine owns a store  with outlets around Europe, Japan and Philadelphia, USA.  When I was reading about her store, I started to miss KAYU (home store in Eastwood I used to co-own with 4 other friends.)!  Been thinking of putting up another home ware shop soon!  Calling Annette and Aura! 

I don't mind having this for my study!

Another play on texture and color...brown leather handles on wooden cabinets. 

Such a delight to work in this kitchen!

Can you tell this is a bathroom counter at first glance? 

What do height, texture and a bit of color bring??

Understated elegance!

White on white...I was never a fan of an all-white interior.   But this one I like!  It's modern, but not spartan-white.  It's organic, but not country-white.  The whole thing just spells

L-O-V-E-L-I-N-E-S-S !

Hope this brings inspiration to your weekend!

Beautiful photos credit here.

A Bit of Styling: Bathrooms

Today, I thought I'll let you peek at a couple of rooms in my house, and share with you some simple touch ups to spice up those little corners in your own home, that are sometimes neglected. 

The guest bathroom -- as it is, the counter looks good already because of the hard-wearing block of wood.   Clean and simple.  But I still feel it lacks the warmth I want my guests to feel when they use it.  So I added some greens to make it look and feel warmer.    And it made a difference!

I didn't even have to spend on anything.  I found those greens about to be thrown away by my neighbor who just trimmed his plants.  At night time, candles are necessary to complete the warm,cozy feel of the powder room!

Next is our master's bathroom. We have a his and her sink, so there's really space to fill up on the counter.  If my husband will have his way, this is the perfect counter for him.  Clean, uncluttered, with just a potted plant at the corner.  But for me, it lacks personality.  It can be any one's bathroom.  So, scroll down and see how our counter really looks like.

A bamboo tray in the middle holds the aroma sticks, a bowl of hand towels and a starfish tealight holder made out of bone.  Now that feels homey!

 

This tray is pretty and functional at the same time.  It's something that I change from time to time, depending on my mood.  It can be a group of candles, rolled towels, my Chinese hanger of accessories, or maybe a jar of collected shells.  I'm sure you also have your own stash of little bits and pieces you can use to spice up your bathroom.  You only need a bit of imagination to make a personal space look appealing and inviting.  I hope I was able to inspire you to do a bit of your own styling.   Have fun!  :-)