ideal solutions

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I have one.......I have had this collection of 1920's & 30's compacts. It began when I would visit my very ancient mother. As she napped, I would visit the local antique stores. One day I came across a compact in the shape of a hat. My Mother loved hats and fell in love with this wonderful reminder of her. I bought it. Next thing I knew, I found I had something to look forward to seeking out when I was visiting Mother and on all my vacations. I sat a goal to only spend ex amount of dollars and only one from each trip. By the time we got around to putting on a first floor 100 sq. ft addition for a powder room and much needed space, a hall closet, I had 45 wonderful compacts. Going online, I found a company that sold 5 x 5 silver shadow boxes. I purchased 20 frames. Through a process of elimination, I selected my 20 best. Framed the 20, but, I "kinda" OD, so I did another elimination to 15. Still too many, and I can now say, my 9 best stand out and look perfect on my powder room wall. Yes, my hat compact is amongst the 9.

The bedroom: old-fashioned romance

The delicate, whimsical patterns of toile weave a romantic spell over bedrooms, where the images of cherubs, pagodas and shepherdesses take on a dreamlike quality. Echo the detailed figuring of fabrics and wallpapers with gracefully curved furniture, wrought-iron accessories and crystal chandeliers. Take care not to let old-fashioned charm slip into overblown grandeur - limit the palette to a single, harmonious background colour, and combine toiles of different scales in subtly varying shades. Introduce a few areas of plain colour, too, to calm the pattern and create a more restful effect.

• Make sure that the background tone is unified, so the only contrast is in scales of pattern. Don't mix white and cream backgrounds, as this will highlight the differences between the fabrics and give a muddled effect.
• Combine varying shades of your main colour to echo the tonal differences in the patterns.
• Mix different scales of design, rather than creating an expanse of one pattern. Less busy patterns make good backgrounds, while a panel of a more detailed narrative could be framed to make a picture.
• Introduce areas of plain colour to break up the mass of pattern and to create a variety of textures. Add plain white bedlinen for crisp simplicity, and colourful quilts for a richer effect.
• Include romantic touches, such as elegant dressing tables, day beds and intimate lighting for a classic boudoir look.

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