Captivating and collectable.. What more could you want?!

January 06, 2018 by Nina Neimarlija

Probably the number one question that clients ask us is 'how do I know what I should start collecting?' And the truth of the matter is, it should be 'something' that resonates with you. It doesn't have to be this well thought out strategy of what will go with my current interior decor or do I have the proper cabinet for this.. and I'm sure you can come up with the rest of the 'what if' questions yourself. The number one takeaway always seems to be that the things we fill our homes with are specific and unique to us - and frankly, that is what makes them eclectic. In other words, unique.

Within the last few years we began collecting Oriental art, figures, objects.. because we personally found them captivating.

Asian craftspeople have been making ceramic, clay, or porcelain figurines and vases for thousands of years. Figurines are typically cast in the desired shape and then refined with hand carving. Most pieces require layers of glaze to be applied to enhance the beauty of each piece. The porcelain or ceramic most often associated with Oriental pieces is that of a paper-thin consistency. For example, if you were to hold up the vase pictured above to the light you could see right through it. This type of craftsmanship adds to the complexity of this art form and of course, increases the desirability and value for such pieces.

Now, you know we love anything and everything with meaning. And not only do these Oriental pieces have a deep and rich history that follows them but they also have little hidden meanings. The children figurines are symbolic of a gift you would give to someone on their birthday. And instead of their little boards saying 'happy birthday' they say 'long life'. And in our home, we'd probably like to call that good juju for your home! Bring it on!

Finally, it's important to recognize that like anything - Oriental figurines, vases, art has been mass produced. Many are considered to be a far cry from originals while there remain few that are exemplary craftsmanship - reproduction or not. For us, although we try to do our best to authenticate pieces and purchase from trusted sources - you never really know what it is that you are collecting. But if you're like us, half the fun is the hunt for new pieces, the research into the history and meanings of each and then the very last bit is the authentication process. So we encourage you to enjoy the process of collecting - regardless of what you choose to collect! And remember, more is always more!

Setting the stage..Merry and Bright!

December 17, 2017 by Nina Neimarlija

We believe that there is much more to holiday decor than just the Christmas tree! And fortunately for us, that means surrounding ourselves in holiday cheer. Of course, setting the stage or scene in your home can mean different things at different points in your life - think little hands grabbing everything in sight! Since that doesn't apply to anyone in our home, we like to utilize the mantel to set up a little Christmas village!

These little homes were found in our favorite Vancouver store - The Cross Design. And we may be bias but we think they just scream joy to the world! Not only do they turn on to light up the sweetest little sight but they are covered in glittery sparkles for a reflective surface once night falls. These homes are used to anchor the mantel and we've chosen to add some tiny ornaments in and around them to really contribute to the idea of a village - they not only have their own little Christmas tree but they also have a deer frolicking around and a Santa leaving one of the homes!

If you can't tell already.. this is a really great space to let your imagination run wild. Get your little ones involved and let them add to their favorites to a corner or mantel. Even if there aren't any village homes, you would be surprised at how easy it is to group holiday decor to look plentiful.

Now, further the down this mantel - next to the little village, you will find a miniature, second Christmas tree. Although, we aren't fans of 'themed' Christmas trees, we are fans of having more than one! And here's why..sometimes a family Christmas tree can become all too serious, all too fast..for example, it can have pricey glass ornaments that have been collected over the years, or it can have fragile pieces handmade by the children in the family, or you can have ornaments that have been passed down from generation to generation that would be heart wrenching if any of them were to break. As a result, this can sometimes lead to the smallest members of your family don't participate as actively in putting up the holiday decorations on the tree - and we think that's a shame!

So to combat all of that, we've always had a second little tree that only the kids decorated. They got to pick the ornaments (we've always been a family that loves animals..) and they got to put each and every one on exactly where they wanted. What we soon discovered is that this little tree had so much personality, so much sweetness - we almost started to love it more than our larger Christmas tree!

And we'll admit, there have even been very busy years when we only put up the small tree. But it didn't matter because to us and our family it was just right! So however you choose to 'set the stage' around your home, make sure that it involves as many members of the family as possible. Because the more hands that get their hands on those decorations, the more personality and life your surroundings will scream - and that itself, is always the goal. Your things, your treasures, your surroundings and your people should make you feel something. Feel something good!

Ornaments, trinkets, baubles, knickknacks!

December 16, 2017 by Nina Neimarlija

You guessed it.. we just LOVE Christmas ornaments. And then again, who doesn't? Ornaments are used to decorate tree's across the world with stories and memories. They are filled with 'firsts' - think, Baby's first Christmas, Newlywed's first Christmas.. or that time you're child comes home from school with a decoration they made in art class for the tree.. and the list goes on. We believe that your Christmas tree should be personal, it should mean something to those who live within your four walls and it should mostly make you happy each time you look at it!

The ornaments above are special to our family - they tell the story of Cinderella, one of our favorites! These ornaments are handmade in Poland by the Mostowski family. And they've been manufacturing the finest glass ornaments since 1945. Not only are their ornaments hand painted after being treated to one of a kind hand processing methods - they are also meticulously placed in handcrafted wooden boxes that tell help tell their story (and provide the best storage year round so that none of them break!)

Now, Christmas tree's weren't always decorated with glass ornaments. In fact, they were adorned with apples, candy canes and pastries in the shapes of hearts, stars and flowers. Ornaments were originally made in Lauscha, Germany, by Hans Greiner who produced glass beads to serve as garlands on trees and later, tin figures that could be hung on trees. Although, we think that those glass ornaments create for a prettier tree we certainly don't mind that idea of fresh baked goods on tree's either.. just saying!

It may surprise you that we're more than just skeptical on any type of 'themed' Christmas tree. In fact, we don't believe in 'themes' when it comes to tree decorating.. but we PROMISE we have a good reason for it! Often our clients need assistance with holiday decorating, and the first thing they want is for us to throw away all of their Christmas ornaments and start fresh. As if, they had been doing it wrong this entire time.. And almost always, we cringe at the very thought. You're not doing anything wrong! It's all about finding common elements and placement.. and maybe, just maybe, a little newness.

Although, Christmas tree's or holiday decorations are understandably 'projects' that you undertake once a year - and you'd like to start and finish it all in one day, we assure you that going to a few stores in the same day or sticking to only one store to purchase the same color theme for all of your ornaments is the absolute worst thing one can do!

Keep in mind that your tree can be consistent and tell a story without every part of your tree trying to match the other. You ideally want to have a mix of ornaments you've collected over the years along with some new additions each year to 'spruce' it up!

So go ahead and have a little 'fun' with your last minute decorating.. and if you weren't feeling adventurous before, hopefully you are now! Finally, remember the closer we get to Christmas, the more retailers will be reducing the prices on all decorative ornaments - so the time to buy is NOW! You will always have next year to continue enjoying your sweet little treasures!