Roundabout: New Hope and Lambertville

Northwest of Philadelphia and on the banks of the Delaware, New Hope may be steeped in history, but exudes an artsy, beachy vibe...maybe because of all the outdoor cafes... There are a ton of hand-crafted decorative arts, clothing and jewelry shops reminiscent of a bricks and mortar arts festival.  A two minute drive across the bridge to Lambertville N.J. lies the more serious antiquing offerings... you'll be hard-pressed to see it all, but are guaranteed a lovely, satisfying outing. Here are the standouts:

'Topeo' on North Main has an incredible collection of art glass , including sculptures, fountains and wall decor; if you can't find the perfect accessory here, you don't want one...

The store 'A Mano' has an eclectic selection of handcrafted clothing and jewelry and fabulous customer service. A sister store in Lambertville  has the space to display their 'live edge' wood tables with rivulets of turquoise inlay - love it!

If you only get to one antique store, make it 'Antiques on Union' in Lambertville...incredible selection on three floors from all periods in lighting, rugs, furniture and accessories - especially loved the over-sized jardinieres. Nothing snooty about this store, the partners were a lot of fun!

Need: Rogues Gallery

Family photos are usually the first thing a realtor tells you to lose when selling your home; here are some ideas to elevate them to art status that will survive the staging cut...

Frame continuity

Frameless and large scale - Would love to see some little feet in here!

Silhouettes are the purest form of negative and positive spacing; fodder for another post...

Lay out on the floor first and move around till you like the arrangement

Drama created by wide mats and white frames

A successful gallery wall; note the distribution of warm tones that enliven the gray wall

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...aaand they're off!

Besides mint juleps, the Kentucky Derby is all about hats...which look a lot like lamp shades...hmmm, no chicken and egg here... (and if historians are right and mans' first item of clothing was a hat, then we need to revise our notion of the oldest profession...)

...ooh, this brings to mind the intrigue of half hidden things...stay tuned for a room accessory post next

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