So progress on the house has been moving a bit more slowly than I would like this summer and I am struggling to find the pieces I want to finish up the bedrooms. We had a dead and empty corner in our bedroom that I planned to furnish eventually, but it was not a priority and I wasn’t sure what I wanted there anyway. But the emptiness had been bothering me.
I checked in at a few of my my usual haunts and picked up this simple Doric style wood column. I’m not sure whether it was an interior or exterior architectural feature or perhaps more likely from a piece of built-in furniture, but I didn’t care. I had to have it and it was a bargain to boot! I brought it home with the idea stirring in the back of my mind that it might be just what I need to balance the French chaise and fill the dead space with some vertical interest. And I was right! It’s worth clicking to see the large photo for details.
The patina on it is lovely, although it is slightly rickety and needs a bit of love and tightening. I can’t date it for sure, but it seems to be late 19th or early 20th century.
Like I said, I hadn’t planned on one for the space, although I do recall this page from the winter issue of Lonny magazine catching my eye. This fluted column pedestal, in case you can’t read the fine print, is almost $1500. And good antique ones can be even more than that.
Now the big question about mine is whether I should add a plant…
…a bust…
…a vase or urn…
…or just leave it plain?
Any thoughts on my column today?
Related Post:
Finding the Thread…Between Boston Ferns and Japanese Spools
Image Credits: 1-2. me, 3. Lonny December/January 2013, 4. via Design Chic, 5. Suzanne Rheinstein via StyleBeat, 6. House Beautiful December/January 2012, photo credit: Amy Neusinger via Mark D. Sikes, 7. Lonny June/July 2010, photo credit: Patrick Cline.
a bust for sure!!!
not al all surprised to see you vote for a bust!
Lovely column! I’d top it with a plant to tie in to the green outside the window.
That’s my front running choice – certainly easiest to get too!
Excellent column. Not sure if it’s sturdy enough, but it would also look great with a plant on it — a maiden hair fern maybe? Although I’d understand your reluctance to buy a plant that might only last the summer.
Anyway, great find for that space. Perfect, actually.
Camille
That’s my first choice from the post too – I have a fern downstairs already so was wondering about other choices – that’s why I chose the photo with the ivy….
A Boston fern would be classic and very Victorian — the Ladies’ Auxilliary sells spectacular ones at the plant sale in the spring. But they are pricey and finnicky — they need misting periodically to look nice. Most Ocean Grovers do just throw them out when the summer is gone after a summer on the porch.
If you are not afraid of something falling off the column (and I would be!), you might use one of your beautiful blue and white bowls/vases and force tulips or other bulbs in it. Or bring in some of your lovely hydrangeas, perhaps in a basket with a plastic vase hidden inside. You might even put together an arrangement of dried flowers in a basket or metal container.
My fern always does well here – and I like the idea of seasonal rotation – although that will need to wait until I am here more than one season!
Im with Beth! Definitely a plant – maiden hair fern would be pretty. or asparagus fern like you had in Tokyo. What about putting the plant pot in ceramic -white something like a soup terrine repurposed with a bit of a pedestal feature of its own? like this one..?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Large-Soup-Tureen-in-White-Color-Lenox-Bulter-Pantry-/171092257771
Love the idea of a tureen or urn shape for the plant. Love even more that you went and sussed one out on ebay :-)))
I vote a plant, or anangement of silk flowers …
Either a bust or plant but I am not sure an urn would suit.
In case you haven’t learned your lesson about asking other bloggers for their opinions, I say you should definitely leave it alone.
Why am I not surprised that you vote for it plain?!!