Monday, June 22, 2009

Flea Market Shutters & Frames

What do you get when you find two dark smoky bluish-gray shutters, for $12 a piece?




Jewelry for your oversized mirror, of course! :-)



Kevin ("Mr.LC") has been begging me to "accessorize" the walls on either side of the big mirror in our Living Room for loooong time. And I was all for it, because it looks so lonely to just stick one flat object, up on a 'sea of wall'...



But until now, I just hadn't found the perfect, inexpensive way to do it. Gotta love the versatility and charm of old shutters!

I love the dimension the louvers create...and their color is just the direction I want to move in palette-wise.



No more navy blue (I've already re-painted the coffee table legs black). Now I'm thinking more smoky grays, light dusty grays, espresso browns, khakis, blacks, ivories and whites for this room. There's a reason I'm drawn to monochromatic color schemes, and I've decided I'm not going to fight it. I'm going to follow my heart, and let the shutters be my inspiration!

They hang down a little lower than the mirror does, so we're going to make a shelf for that area to display candles on, to make it all nice and symmetrical.

When I saw the slightly chippy, wooden, dusty gray-colored picture frame below marked just $8.75, I snatched it up faster than you can say "patina"...and the two little medium-toned wood ones were just $2.00 each...


The coordinated beautifully with each other and the rest of our furnishings...



I immediately took out the artwork that came in them, and they're now hanging to the left of the fireplace- peacefully awaiting the addition of some of our own art and photography...





My dog, Maximus, seems to like the new look... :-)



'Til next time,
Layla

57 comments:

  1. LLOOOVE it.
    all of it.
    the shutters are brilliant!

    ReplyDelete
  2. ohmygawd, awesomeness...love the shutters, the frames and even the dog. My little guy is a window licking rat terrier named Mack.He looks a lot like Maximus. They make good accent pieces don't they? :) Animated of course. As usual..love , love , love your ideas. Thank you for sharing!

    Elizabeth

    ReplyDelete
  3. I would have NEVER thought to hang empty frames! Very cool.... and I laughed outloud when I scrolled to see "Maximus"...thinking Doberman and yet seeing that very confident "smaller" guy!

    Great ideas and photos, look forward to your updates always.

    Thanx!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Love the shutters on the side of the mirror, just perfect. I put shutters on the inside hanging beside a window in a gentlemen's den and they looked fabulous. I loved them. I think they are just as pretty inside as out. Hugs, Marty

    ReplyDelete
  5. What a totally brilliant idea! You're genius!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Oh Layla, those shutters are divine! I love seeing your rooms from your different perspectives plus I've noticed that you are like me. Things don't often stay in their designated spots forever. I noticed in this post that you have moved your upholstered chair that used to live by the fireplace and as I mentioned before I really want to know where the "linen press" now lives. Good to know I'm not the only one always moving things around and finding new and sometimes better homes for them. Once again you have inspired me.

    ReplyDelete
  7. OMG, the shutters are amazing! I feel like your blog is me, organized! HA! I love each and every idea you have! Love it!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Your house is just lovely, I love the plant in the fireplace - I'm not the only one who does it, so people can stop giving me funny looks when they see mine, LOL.
    Great job with the shutters and frames, and your dog is soooo cute :)
    Great quote too, btw.
    I wish you a happy and successful week,
    Meghann

    ReplyDelete
  9. Just what the wall needed! A lil bit of true love~

    ReplyDelete
  10. Layla,
    I love the idea of the shutters. I think they are perfect for the mirror. I've been getting frames too, from GW, and painting them, or just fixing them up a bit to put pictures in. It's so cool to save money and recycle at the same time!
    Traci

    ReplyDelete
  11. You always get soooo lucky! Those shutters fit PERFECT. If you need any pillows you should check out my giveaway this week. Its my "PAY IT FORWARD" to the etsy shops. They are definately perfect for you home :)

    ReplyDelete
  12. I love old shutters as well.

    Cheri
    www.itssoverycheri.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  13. Hi Layla,

    I love the direction you are going in with your room. Just beautiful! Enjoyed the quote-isn't that truth. Take care.

    Julia

    ReplyDelete
  14. Love the shutters. You can't be the price ! So love the quote too. Thanks !

    Kate

    ReplyDelete
  15. You seem to be pretty good at tuning in, being true to yourself and following your bliss. I really admire that about you....along with your fab sense of style :-).

    Thanks for the inspiration...in more ways than one.

    ReplyDelete
  16. That quote about responding with purpose is AWESOME! I copied it and posted it in the notes of my FB! I have many younger relatives that have one life trauma after another. I love the simplicity of how this is stated. I am in control of myself, my behavior and my response! Thank you.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Aaaah. Poor Maximus' ears are bigger than the rest of him. He is SO ADORABLE!
    Love the shutters. I wanted to put shutters on either side of the French doors in my guest room, but DH didn't like it. The shelf under the mirror sounds like a great problem solver.
    I'm ever amazed by your creativity!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Layla, those shutters look amazing! I love the color of them. I just finished up some last minute projects that I stuck out on my patio...woo hoo! You'll have to stop by and see my estate sale finds......before pics are up and the afters are soon to come.
    Hope you're having a lovely day!!

    ReplyDelete
  19. A husband who BEGS you to accessorize???? hmmmm, wonder what that's like????? LOL....
    Love the shutters!!

    Suzanne

    ReplyDelete
  20. I love those shutters! What a great idea. :) Cute pup too.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Love the shutters. Bought the sugar mold. Yup! See, you're shopping for me!

    ReplyDelete
  22. Love everything! And thank you for the quote - It is what I believe as truth - I just have to be reminded of it often~

    ReplyDelete
  23. That looks awesome... you always find the coolest things and use them in ways I would never expect or think of.

    {{Big Hugs}}

    Cathy

    ReplyDelete
  24. Layla, love the shutters and the quote is exactly what I needed to read today. Thank you!

    ReplyDelete
  25. Oh wow, the new shutters look absolutely fantastic!!!! matter a fact i love your whole room.
    hugs
    janet

    ReplyDelete
  26. Little Maximus belies his name...
    He's so cute! I had imagined you with a larger dog, a standard poodle perhaps?
    Love the shttters! Great idea to put them beside the mirror. The shelf underneath is another great tip!

    ReplyDelete
  27. After reading your email I was eager to read your post and of course you delivered yet another fabulous idea! You have just helped me solve one of my current decorating dilemmas. My sofa currently suffers from "a sea of wall with a lonely mirror" syndrome. This is just the kind of cure I've been looking for! Thanks for sharing your ideas.

    ReplyDelete
  28. love love love the frame mosaic!

    ReplyDelete
  29. I think I would have a heart attack if my husband begged me to accessorize something... Your Kevin is one awesome dude.

    ReplyDelete
  30. OH, Layla! I LOVE shutters, but I just don't think they fit in my house. That is the PERFECT spot for those in yours! That picture where you can just see the guestroom in the background is gorgeous! It shows off the house so well, and it displays how it's tying together so nicely. You go, girl!

    ReplyDelete
  31. I love that idea. I never know what to put on the sides of pictures or mirrors besides candle sconces. Lovely shots!

    www.thesouthernnest.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  32. *sigh* I really needed this quote today. Perfect timing. Thanks, Layla! Those shutters are perfect, and your dog is awesome. Maximus - such a handsome boy! =)

    ReplyDelete
  33. Again, brilliant!!!
    I LOVE old shutters and have been watching out for some myself...for a rennovation we're doing in our FROG.
    Reid

    ReplyDelete
  34. WOW...I came here for design inspiration and instead I am touched by your quote by Ralph Marston. I am going through a larger than life, rather difficult trial right now and those words were just what I needed to hear at this moment. So...thank you Layla. I love your blog and visit almost daily. You have become such an inspirational figure to me. I've changed my whole style because of you! lol Thanks again for the words of wisdom today...you can rest soundly tonight knowing that you touched someone's life very deeply today. :)

    ReplyDelete
  35. Your house is so cute! I love the shutters. It was a great find. They look fabulous by the mirror.

    ReplyDelete
  36. P.S. Where did you find your mirror over your fireplace? I love it...that is exactly like something I talked to you about! Looks awesome!

    {{Big Hugs}}

    Cathy

    ReplyDelete
  37. Hi Cathy!

    I got it at Pier One about a year or so ago. Well, actually Kevin bought it for me...he's such a good shopper! :-)

    Layla

    ReplyDelete
  38. I love the shutters! :) I like the color scheme you are moving toward as well. I'm glad you posted these photos because I see you have chocolate brown curtains and are also using black on the mirror and shelves. I have the brown curtains in my living room and I was just about to paint the mirror over the mantle black. I didn't know if I should but it seems to work for you.

    ReplyDelete
  39. Love the shutters and frames! Thanks for the little thought, it's just what I needed today.

    ReplyDelete
  40. Hello Layla - Love what you did with the shutters! I also think the frames are cool. Thank you for sharing such great inspiration! I have some old windows - what would you do with them?

    Blessings,
    Marie
    http://emmacallsmemama.com

    ReplyDelete
  41. What a fantastic quote. It's like it was meant just for me. Thank you for sharing.
    And of course, the shutters look great!

    ReplyDelete
  42. You and Mr. Lettered Cottage are a great design team. Perfect and inexpensive solution! (I like the looks of Maximus, too. So cute.)

    ReplyDelete
  43. Love the shutters!!! Thanks for the poem, it's exactly what I needed today :)

    ReplyDelete
  44. Brilliant as usual, Layla!!! I've carted around 2 old shutters from my parents house for like 5 years now, waiting to do something with them! Just haven't figured out the best use of them in our space. I looove them on either side of the mirror, its add such an additional architectural detail, and it sort of brings the outside in.

    I'm a huge fan of gray, so I'm excited for your new color palette. Although lmao that you already painted your coffee table again!!

    You rock!

    ReplyDelete
  45. I get such inspiration here- sometimes I think it's just not fair that one person can be so creative- thanks for sharing your talents.

    ReplyDelete
  46. I love the quote. This is something that I need to remind myself of daily! I have a wonderful 2 year old and I need to remember that responding positively directly influiences her response. Life is too short to be negitive all the time. I copied this and will keep it with me to remind me! Thank you so much!

    ReplyDelete
  47. I just love what you are doing with your home, you are so talented! :)

    ReplyDelete
  48. magnificent maximus! i love your puppy ...
    and your 'empty' photo frames ... and of course ralph is right ~ we always have a choice ~ and it's how we react that makes a difference ...
    purposefully positive,
    prairiegirl

    ReplyDelete
  49. what a GREAT quote! thanks for sharing that one. i've already saved it. :)

    ReplyDelete
  50. love your blog, you always have so many great images of fireplaces and pretty tablescapes, so inspiring! Dd

    ReplyDelete
  51. I love how the frames look. I'm so symmetrical and the alignment of them just looks so nice and calming to me.

    That poem is pretty, darn powerful. I think I'm going to have to print this one out. Maybe make a little daily reading/mantra. Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  52. The shutters are a PERFECT find. Love the frames and how you hung them.

    ReplyDelete
  53. Don't ya just love shutters!! Looks great with your mirror!

    ReplyDelete
  54. I love your home, you have an amazing taste and creativity.

    ReplyDelete
  55. Oh I am lovin this quote in every way and the shutters...what a very wonderful idea.

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for stopping by The Lettered Cottage!
We love reading your comments, so thank you for taking the time to leave one!

Kevin and Layla Palmer

(PS- You can find answers to our most frequently asked questions in the "FAQs" section in our sidebar) :-)