So my amazing friend Amy is a floral designer for Branching Out Designs and besides constantly providing me with the most gorgeous fresh flowers for parties and everyday decor, she also offered me this ladder that her studio was about throw out! It’s cracked on one side, but please, how could I possibly resist this beautiful freebie? Thanks again Amy!
I’m going to began a new column for the blog entitled either “Ways to Decorate” or “Ways to Wear,” where I’ll take an item, like this ladder, and give you three or four different ways on how to decorate it. It’ll also consist of fashion as well, not that I’m any expert, but it’s always nice to have a visual example of how other people wear a chambray shirt or black skinny pants. To keep it short each title will be called either “3 Ways” or however many ways I decide to play with the featured item. Without further ado, here’s three ways to decorate a vintage ladder:
1. MIX IT UP: I combined my favorite mags and catalog covers with a dish towel (gifted from Anthro), a pair of heels (Gianni Bini) and my Allora Handmade necklace (yes, I do love it).
2. SHOW OFF YOUR HEELS: If you’re like me, my heels are normally hiding in my closet, but I love the idea of sporting them on a ladder to show off your collection and give them a little attention. (REALITY CHECK: They did come off of the ladder and stub my toe a few times.)
3. DRAPE WITH PARTY DECOR: For those of you who follow the blog, you’re probably sick of my sea foam green, coral, newspaper and gold polka-dot pom poms, but you’ll have to live somehow because they’re here to stay! I simply draped the ladder with two strings of pom pom garlands I made a for a party way back when. They’re the strings of garland that simply continue to give! They’re still sitting on my ladder as we speak because I love the contrast of the fragile tissue paper against the worn wooden ladder.
WANT TO SEE MORE OF MY HOME? The beautiful Lillian from Unstitched (seriously, an incredibly well done blog) is featuring my home on her Personal Museums column! Check it out and show Lillian some love! Thanks Lillian for the honor of being on your blog!
What are some other ways I should decorate this ladder? I’ve considered vintage books, tea towels, streamers, ribbons and belts but I’d love to entertain more ideas. If I get a good response, I may just do another ladder post (that is if Jon doesn’t think I’m too crazy when he sees the house in shambles because I’m tearing everything apart to shoot a ladder).
{photos by The Eclectic Author}
25 comments
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May 3, 2011 at 7:15 am
Brandi {not your average ordinary}
Viv, this is fantastic! I would have never thought to put a vintage ladder in my home, but it really does make the perfect shoe rack! And all the other things you can do with it too! I can’t wait to see you home on Lillian’s blog. I’m dosing up so when I move, I can also start to decorate.
May 3, 2011 at 7:51 am
Gabriella {sensiblyluxe}
I love the shoe rack idea. (I liked all of them, but I’m obsessed with shoes, so that caught my fancy the most.)
May 3, 2011 at 8:01 am
Maddy
I’m excited about this new series!! You see…I would see an old ladder and you see all the possibilities! I have a much to learn from you 🙂 I look it used as a shoe rack. It’s pretty and functional! Now I have to work on having a shoe game that’s as fierce as yours!
May 3, 2011 at 8:26 am
theEclecticLife
Maddy! I’m so glad you’re just as excited about the series as I am!
May 3, 2011 at 8:32 am
Hannah (Culture Connoisseur)
I think I would hang a variety of different vintage picture frames on each rung filled with friends and family pics. Could be a really cute way of showing off pics and frames without cluttering a table.
May 3, 2011 at 9:16 am
alicia
This looks great – I love all the arrangements. I’m going to start hitting up flower shops for new friends, too 🙂
May 3, 2011 at 9:50 am
Eva @ Four Leaf Clover
You are so creative – love it! The shoe idea is genius and makes me wonder “why didn’t I think of that?” Ha! I’m excited for this new column.. definitely looking forward to what you think of next!
May 3, 2011 at 9:51 am
lizzie
love this inspiration! looks great all of those ways!
May 3, 2011 at 10:48 am
travelkate @ travelmoon
I love this blog series idea! So inspiring!
May 3, 2011 at 11:35 am
Amy @ Lovely Nest
love the ladders! I just did a post last week about my search for one to hang blankets on! I really like the idea of hanging shoes to be able to see all of them! If only I had enough room!
May 3, 2011 at 11:37 am
Shari
Hello there… visiting from Lillian’s blog! The ladder looks great in all the various ways you show it… it could be a changing arrangement! My ladder is tucked away in a corner… maybe I’ll have to get that sucker out and figure out a cool way to use it as a display… it’s chipped yellow paint, and quite old, so kind of perfect!
You have a lovely blog! Glad I stopped by!
May 3, 2011 at 12:06 pm
Gloria
This new series is fabulous, can’t wait to see more! ! I LOVE the idea of adorning this shabby chic ladder with shoes – pretty & functional 🙂 Lillian’s feature of your beautiful home was so exciting to read! You’re totally inspiring me to post more personal photos of special trinkets in our home
May 3, 2011 at 2:28 pm
mary
i love this! what a great design idea. portland has a wonderful rebuilding store for re-purposed goods- i have been looking for a good vintage ladder for exactly this purpose! xo
May 3, 2011 at 4:56 pm
Erin Lian
I love this, the shoe rack is my fav because shoes aren’t appreciated enough 😛 Looking forward to seeing the clothes posts!!
❤
p.s. your blog AMAZING.
Tank you for stopping by mine, it was exciting 🙂
May 3, 2011 at 6:21 pm
jaclyn @ thelateafternoon
there are so many things that i absolutely adore about this post! first off, i am incredibly excited for your new blog column – this ladder was the perfect way to start it off! i love each of the looks (i need a ladder like this for my shoes!), but my favorite has to be the one draped in your pom poms. no matter how many times you feature those pom-poms, i don’t think i’ll get sick of them – the colors are fabulous and they are adorable!
May 3, 2011 at 9:21 pm
heather j
How fun! I’m loving this and everything you did. I’m a fan of seeing how other people use and style things. Lucky you got that ladder, I’ve wanted one for a while.
May 3, 2011 at 9:24 pm
theEclecticLife
If I ever happen to across another free one (or if Amy has an extra) I’ll let you know. Fellow Dallas-site bloggers need to help each other out, right?
May 4, 2011 at 12:53 am
classiq
An interesting new series. This is ingenious! I love the shoe decorated ladder. Have a beautiful day! Ada
May 4, 2011 at 1:08 pm
AlphabetCityStudio
Awesome ideas!! ..and I love that you give visual examples! I look forward to more posts in your new column!
May 4, 2011 at 1:52 pm
rebecca
why haven’t i thought to use it for shoes?? duh.
May 5, 2011 at 1:53 pm
Emily Josephine
I love decorative ladders! I’m glad someone else recognizes this random beauty. Never thought to use it as a shoe rack. Those pom pom garlands are great, too
May 11, 2011 at 3:24 am
oomph.
i’ve always thought they would be useful for magazines, but never thought shoes! what a fun and fabulous idea. much better than those over the door racks!!
thanks for your comment on [oomph.]!
May 18, 2011 at 2:21 pm
Brynn
i LOVE this post! and those pom-poms are gorgeous {great color combo!}…how could anyone tire of them? 🙂 have a lovely day!
July 25, 2012 at 5:43 am
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