AdornmentCraft

Recently I’ve noticed bead strands being used to dress up sample rooms in furniture and decor catalogs. Old-looking, ethnic-looking, or over-sized beads appear to be the most popular. Sometimes they hang from pegs on a wall, but often they just sit on a piece of furniture or overflow from a vase or bowl.

Here are some examples from a recent west elm print catalog. west elm offers primarily modern style furnishings with simple, clean lines and in bold colors or basic neutrals. But with this collection they have softened the look with a “Rustic Modern” theme - tag line: “organic shapes for today’s living.”

It’s a neat idea. Use beads as they are - temporarily strung, and not made into anything else - as a design element.

If you decide to try it yourself, consider adding interest by re-stringing the beads onto ribbon or fancying them up with a tassel or two. Or fill a clear vase with beads instead of stones or marbles. If you have especially collectible or valuable beads for display, try hanging them behind glass in a deep-set frame or shadowbox.

eBay is a good source for finding very affordable, rustic beads in larger quantities (like full strands). Here are some current examples:

CLAY HEISHE MUMMY BEADS 36 INCH STRAND

Sherpa Inlaid Yak Bone Mala 108 Beads Coral Turquoise

6 STRANDS OLD CHRISTMAS GLASS TRADE SEED BEADS

OLD RARE MIXED AFRICAN DOGON (Dutch) GLASS~TRADE BEADS

Speaking of beads (which I’ve been doing a lot of lately), here’s something else I recently discovered online at onlyhangers.com: Glamhangers.

According to the supplier:

“Glamhanger” is a new generation of hanger. It transforms a typical way of displaying clothes into a decorative art form. Glamhanger is based on a French decorative concept, which can be described as original, sophisticated and chic. Glamhanger expresses originality into all closets and adds style and glamour to your clothing collection. Glamhangers are as durable as they are beautiful . . . . Glamhanger: The creativity to change an ordinary object into a must-have decorative tangible, the hanger becomes a jewel!

I believe these are beaded hangers! How funky and cool. If I owned a clothing boutique I’d definitely give these a try. Of course, you can use them to glam up your own closet, too. (Why not? You’re in there every day.)

As far as making your own version of a beaded hanger - that would be a bit of a challenge. You would need a strong metal frame, and beads with holes large enough to fit over them.

If you have you own ideas for dressing up hangers, with beads or otherwise, please share!

Lately I’ve been on a quest for a Moroccan style hanging lamp, but I haven’t found just the right one for my space. However I did find some amazing bead fringe lamps on a site called Wunderly.

The tops are intricately pierced brass, and the fringes are long and striking. Some models are even tiered for a sort-of refined waterfall effect. (Wow.)

The process for making beaded fringe is pretty straightforward, but it’s also time-consuming - especially on this scale. I’d be interested to know how many hours each piece takes to complete.

Here’s some stunning Wunderly inventory:

(Inspired?)