So, to replace the khaki slipcover we’ve had, we bought a much nicer red one. (YAY! No more constant. tucking. in. of the old slipcover!!!!!)
But that meant the pillows didn’t match. And we’d known for a while that our wall decor needed some serious help. And the living room needed some rearranging. And the curtains looked hideous with the new couch. And…. you get the picture.
In the course of a week, we’d been to every home interior store in the city. Our house finally looked a bit more “with it” and we felt real nifty.
Now, just to clarify–I am pretty much the world’s worst person when it comes to things like, you know,
fashion and
interior decorating. I just don’t “have an eye” for such things, as they say. But
my mom does. So I just…
copy her.
But at the end of the spur-of-the-moment redecorating, there was just one last little item I couldn’t find. I needed something else for the top of this entry-way shelf.
It just looked bare in the middle there, dontcha think?
The space between the frame and the mini-lamp was not big enough to set a purse or something, but still too big to be left completely empty.
Even my mom agreed. Which is crucial, since I have no fashion and/or decorating sense.
I was thinking one of those little wooden troughs with some balls made from… whatever those natural ball things are. Twine or wood or something.
But one day recently, I was in a pretty little gift shop and spotted this:
How adorable is THAT?
And how much more perfect could it be for the times when I pass by it on my way to bed and I’m afraid of the boogie men coming to get me?
Exactly! Perfect.
I brought it home and set it on the entryway table.
I loved the look. Eh, except for one little thing. Those dog tags hanging on the mirror? The ones my Marine gave me before we were engaged? Sweet and all… but they kinda sorta didn’t match the rest of the decor.
I did leave up my hospitality pineapple, given to me by
a special friend in Hawaii. Because I love that.
Not that I don’t love the dog tags, but, well, you know.
But the next day, I walked down the stairs (See? That’s my stairway in the mirror) and wasn’t sure I like the look. So I changed it around. I put the lamp in the middle.
But then I thought–does that look like too much height on the left side, and then a weird visual drop when your eye reaches the candle holder?
I just don’t know.
So, nearly every day for the past several weeks, I’ve switched it. One way, then the other.
And I still just can’t decide.
Yes, I know I’m a bit obsessive. But, peeps, I walk by this a zillion times a day. I want it to look right. I just can’t decide which way IS right.
Which brings me to another point. Is EITHER way right? Maybe I should just move my pretty little candle holder and go back to the trough idea?
I should just ask my mom. But I forget when she’s here. It’s just when it’s quiet and we’re home, just us three–that’s when I switch it a gazillion times.
Oh, and for effect, here’s what it looks like if you’re looking down the entryway, into the living room. The lamp really does match, even if the slight sheen gives it a strange appearance in pictures.
One more thing–those dog tags. I did with them what really SHOULD be done with a deployed guy’s dog tags. See?
Kelsey says:
Oh how cute is that! Great job love that verse!
April 25th, 2008 at 9:20 pm
Nicole says:
I like the 5th picture down. Well-balanced, good colors.
I’d keep it that way.
April 25th, 2008 at 10:27 pm
C.A. Worcester says:
Put a plant on the end…..the right end (when you are facing the book shelf. I would pick a nice big ivy plant….that way it would hang off just a bit and add some closure to the end and some balance by stems trailing off towards the floor. Get a fake one if you can’t do real….in fact, I might just do that anyway SINCE you have two little boys….my little boys EAT plants. I would go for green and fake. Yep.
P.S. Looks really good though. You have an “eye” and let me tell you something else…..if John makes a career out of the military ….YOU WILL have an EYE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We are on our 17th house.
April 26th, 2008 at 7:13 am
Emily says:
I like it best with the lamp in the middle.
I think that it might look better without the pineapple, but I don’t always go with what’d look best just ’cause I like whatever it is that doesn’t look right. 
Have a great day!
April 26th, 2008 at 7:37 am
Tiffany says:
I like the lamp in the middle! I just want you to know though I dont think i am any good at decorating either.
April 26th, 2008 at 9:57 am
Jenna says:
Hi Ashleigh! Thanks for you comment on my blog! And yes, I always feel a special bond with Diet Coke supporters.
And as for the table, I think I like the lamp in the middle as well!
April 26th, 2008 at 3:12 pm
Melissa Jane Newman says:
Hi Ashleigh!
then i think a Tall Vase, with some Flowers would look great. Some fake ones. 
Some white ones, would go really well! 
Just a suggestion. I think flowers ALWAYS look great in front of a mirror. 
Hope your well! I like your post. Hehe Just a suggestion, maybe you could move the lamp back to the right hand side, and have the candle holder on the left hand side, kinda diagonal? And then have the Picture frame kinda in front of the candle holder, to the side a little.
Have fun with it!
Melissa
April 27th, 2008 at 12:44 am
delightinginhim says:
I like it better with the lamp in the middle….
The candle holder is really a neat thing,and what a great reminder to have too!
April 27th, 2008 at 10:10 am
Anonymous says:
somehow i’m not sure the answers to your question are going to get you much closer to the “right” way but in any case – i like the candles in the middle
it looks more balanced to me that way.. maybe you could put the pineapple on the door? good place for a symbol of hospitality i would say. 
good luck!
April 27th, 2008 at 3:24 pm
Heather says:
You have a GREAT eye! I love the last pic…the whole blend thing. Do you have anything the lamp can set on top of? Not a doily but like a small “runner”? I dunno…:) It honestly looks great!
April 27th, 2008 at 8:27 pm
Erin says:
I could mess the whole thing up and say I think you need a bigger lamp, or put it on something to lift it up a little.
Then I would put the lamp on the far left (but not so far to the left that it’s on the edge, on the right of the light switch) and the picture next to it but a little to the right and a little infront.
And I would leave the candle holder on the right, angled a bit (like in the third from last pic, maybe a bit more to the middle.)
Is that confusing enough?
, it might be a bit too lopsided for you, but I like the ‘not quite semetrical but balanced’ look.
But you have to live with it so do what ever you like
(Oh, and I love the pic of the 4 of you)
April 28th, 2008 at 6:24 pm
Steve n Vickie says:
No idea, looks fine either way, but I really like the tree out the window. You knew that’s what would catch my attention
Vickie
April 28th, 2008 at 9:40 pm
Hols says:
I am in total agreement with what Erin said. That was exactly what I was thinking as I looked through every photo you had posted there.
You definitely should consider a taller lamp or do as I do and place small lamps like that on a stack of books.
May 4th, 2008 at 8:07 pm