Old Lady Chic

Knick-Knacks and tchotchkes get a bad wrap! I happen to be a fan of a little bit of old lady flair, IF it is done well. One of the greatest decorating compliments I get from people is not that they love all of the whimsical items I have in my home (they obvs say that though), but that they notice that I have managed to create a clutter-free look, while not skimping on the details!

Candles, framed pictures, small antique items and sculptures are all over my house, and I think they bring so much personality to the space. 

Here is a peek at my desk, which gives you a taste of what I like to do with my knick-knack collection!

Here is a rundown of what we have going on here:

• 'I'm Not Bossy' cross-stitch from Naughty Little Stitch on Etsy - I found this little treasure and knew I had to have it for my desk. At under $20, complete with frame, this is Old-Lady Chic at its finest.
• Nordstrom clearance vase with Pier 1 silk flowers. Some people will tell you that silk flowers are for actual old ladies. Those people suck. Unless you are stupid rich, and not only have someone to go out and get you fresh flowers, but also to tend to them and regularly replace them, then silk flowers can be a great option. This adds some height and fullness to the desk corner, and I love it.
• Turquoise lamp- picked this sucker up years ago at Home Goods. Always a great place for finding a lamp.

• Nate Berkus Dachshund Gold Tape Dispenser - blingy weiner dog desk accessory... I don't think we need much more of a description here.
  
• Candle- Any candle will do here. Just be sure that you choose something that works with not only the colors you are using, but the height of the objects it will be around. This one needs a good cleaning, but I actually work when sitting here, so that gets neglected sometimes!
• Wishkeeper- I picked this up at Canyon Ranch a couple of years ago and I love it so much. There are small leaf-shaped pieces of paper that come with it, and you write your goals/wishes on them, and place them inside. I not only do that, but I write the date they were met/came true on the pieces, and keep them inside. It is a great source of positive thinking, and a wonderful way to keep your goals in mind.

Like any good puppy parent, I have to have reminders of my child on my desk. Never mind the fact that he is sitting on my feet as I sit at the desk... These are two of my favorite Dog Lady items!

• Disclaimer, this was a gift: Austrian Bronze Dachshund on Two Pillows this little guy from Scully & Scully is the stuff Old Lady Chic knick-knack dreams are made of, and I love it.
• Tiny Mighty Instagram Frame from Photograph & Frame. My favorite San Francisco frame shop just opened a second location in Hayes Valley. This amazing store carries these fab frames that allow you to take your memories back from the online world. Remember framing photos? Yeah, you can still do that. You should still do that. If you need some inspiration for getting back into the frame game, head to Photograph & Frame (on Hayes or Chestnut). They have tons of options for custom or ready-made framing.

Next phase: Sassy Old Lady Chic.

• Framed Card- I got this card from a friend sending me a thank you note, and it was too amazing not to keep. So, I popped it into a frame I had laying around, and BOOM. There is a whole set of these cards, and I need them. Find them here.
• Yes, this was a gift too: Baccarat Paperweight- Nothing says Classy Old Lady Chic like a fancy AF paperweight. A nice balance to the framed F-Bomb, I love having this here.
• Williams-Sonoma Personal Embosser with Stand- I love this thing. As a bit of a bibliophile, I think it is really fun to be able to emboss all of the books in my library. I love the history of a book, and love getting books that were written in, long ago, when given to the recipient. I also love to give these as gifts to people who are big readers.

There you have it... #OldLadyChic
Now, go forth and collect knick-knacks!