If you haven’t noticed, my design aesthetic, or point-of-view (as my beloved Tim Gunn would say), has really been turned upside down as of late. I used to find comfort in decor that I felt was very safe. I started taking chances a few years ago when I painted an entire room mural in my son’s room, and I’ve found more confidence in making bolder statements as time has gone on.
Are you ready for my next crazy idea?
Yep, that’s a tree. A dead one. A really tall one. And it’s just stone cold hanging out in my entry way.
“Um, why?” I’m sure you are asking yourself. It’s a good question. We lost this tree at the beginning of the summer to some sort of burrowing insect (which is now gone, so no worries about it being in my house). We decided we needed to cut it down, and when I saw it laying there in the backyard, I cried.
No, the tree isn’t going to stay there. It’s actually going to move into my living room – all dead and scraggly and standing tall underneath my 2-story ceiling. I may end up painting the tree, but we’ll have to wait and see how my living room redesign goes (which is coming after my master bedroom design, so don’t hold your breath on when I’m actually going to get started on it).
Until then, it’s going to greet my visitors. They will think I’m insane, and that’s okay with me. I just hope the tree doesn’t poke someone in the eye.
What’s the boldest statement you’ve made in your decor?
I really like it! =) I don’t have a tree like that But i do have a few bundles of branches around the house. Painting it is a great idea too! Never thought of that!
That tree is awesome. I love it! I think it’ll look great in your high-ceilinged living room. I’m a big fan of your eclectic aesthetic as of late. Embrace it, girl!
haha your guests will probably think you’re insane…but I think it’s a totally fabulous idea that will make a big impact in a room! And pretty much free–even better! 🙂
I love your thinking outside the box idea! I’ve concluded you can’t go wrong when decorating with nature.
You’re not insane. That tree is awesome and I would keep it too! I can’t wait to see it in it’s final spot!
What a coincidence – On my walk yesterday I came across a very large branch that a storm brought down, and I had to have it. I can just imagine what that looked like, me dragging this “tree” home! I don’t know what to do with mine either, so I hope you get to your ideas sooner or later so I can get some inspiration from you!
What’s my boldest statement I have made in your decor? Before I answer your question, painting the tree is a fabulous idea! What kind of paint do you think would work best? What color? Would it be too bold to use more than one color?
Now back to the question – My good friend and neighbor has a 7 year old daughter who loves bells. When I say love… i mean obsession. why? no idea. Anyway, although not my idea, I spent a few days helping to redecorate the daughter’s room in more than one painted Desk bell. I wish I had a photo to share. Nevertheless, we glued the pink and purple carefully painted desk bells along the trip of one side of her room. It turned out beautifully and they also make sounds…. maybe a bad idea on the parent side of things. 🙂 Keep the great ideas coming!
You’re not crazy! Or perhaps we both are. I recently cut down ~10 small trees from my dad’s property to use as a designer statement behind my headboard in my bedroom. I was looking at them last night (I was getting ready to trim off most of the limbs and apply some polyurethane) and I thought to myself, am I crazy? Is this going to look awful and then everyone will know I’m crazy? Got online to see if anyone else was doing it – glad I found you! Good luck with your relocated bit of nature!
I love it!! I can’t wait to see it’s final placement!
Ahhh! I really love it! Way to bring the outdoors in–literally!
I’m in good company – I have a tree in my downstairs bathroom, just propped up in the corner!
Love it! Better than my dead tree pictures on the wall. Haha I think my husband would like that too. The things you could do with it decor wise are endless…
Hey… William & Kate dragged a bunch of trees into Westminster Abbey for their wedding. If it’s good enough for them…. LOL
I think it’s going to look great… a statement piece. Can’t wait to see what you do with it.
love it. Seriously love it. Makes me kinda want to go kill a tree. 🙂
Pam
I LOVE IT! I would totally do this! I used a white outdoor lighted tree for a Christmas tree in the house one year. It was great!! I don’t mean the spiral tree. I have one that looks like a small tree with bare branches. I’ve also hung an old iron head board on the wall in my entry way. I can’t wait to see when you have your tree all finished!!
Ok, the tree or stick, or whatever cracks me up…and my turquoise bedroom is probably my boldest move.
What’s so funny is that I didn’t even notice the tree. I thought you were going to say you were taking risks by painting the inset areas a different color, then you said ‘the tree’ and I had to go back and look at the picture. Long story short, it fits in. 🙂
I love your tree! I brought in a dead tree for Thanksgiving and when I took it back out to the garage I kind of missed it. Others think my design moves are bold but I don’t. I would like to take even more deign risks.
hah…I love it!!!
Get It Girl! Love the earthy/nature feel…brings in some texture!
As a person who has painted branches before I would say don’t. at least not for a year or two. the bark will start to naturally fall off as it dries out and if you paint it within the first year over time it will crack fall off and generally look like garbage. I generally wait a year (aka find some old fallen down tree that I then take branches off) then power wash all the dry crumbly bark off. however this will break off some smaller twigs so maybe just a good scraping.
My college house had a dead birch tree in the entryway. It was a 2-story entryway with a landing halfway up, and someone had tied the tree to the landing railings AND put twinkle lights on it and left it there. It was actually surprisingly chic, kind of delightful and a really great way to signify “tonight we are having a party.”
Metallic Silver. Paint it metallic silver and you’ll love yourself forever. I was recently in the Renaissance Hotel in DC and they have a huge stump as a coffee table and its metallic silver and I found myself taking (sneaking) pictures of it on my phone from all angles, and touching it, and trying to see how heavy it was…obsessed. I’m too chicken to ruin my own stuff so I vote you try it! 🙂
Abolutely love it! Great way to bring outdoors in, especially if you are a nature freak like me!