My current home is small - this is no secret, as it has been mentioned in past blog posts and I tell pretty much everyone I know. Basically, my bedroom closet is the size of an average coat closet. That is about 75% smaller than the closet I had as a child. Hell, it is even smaller than the closet I had in my studio apartment when I was living in Washington, DC.
Being that my closet barely holds my clothing, the problem when I moved in was finding a place to store my jewelry. Since I fall into the "out of sight out of mind" category when it comes to my accessories, I knew that I would have to find a way to make everything easily accessible or risk never really wearing any of it again.
One option was to get an armoire that allows me to keep these things hidden yet seen when needed. Since I refuse to get a smaller bed and storing my grandmother's bedside tables is never going to happen, there really is no room for aforementioned armoire. I considered getting one of those standing jewelry pieces that is about the size of a small podium, but again, where would I put it. Using dresser drawers was not really an option, since those are packed full of clothing that did not fit in the closet. The only real conclusion was that my jewelry would need to be displayed out in the open, turning something I would wear into home decor.
Other than a few big furniture pieces, very little in my house is new or straight from the catalog. Most things are vintage, custom made or somehow altered from it's original concept. My approach to jewelry display would be no different: vintage items with new purpose.
The letterpress drawer, which takes center stage on the wall, was purchased from etsy with hooks already in place for hanging jewelry. You can find tons of these for sale, but I opted for an unpainted version with less hooks on the bottom. I figured I could always add more hooks if I more necklace storage is required, but I prefer having ample space between each hook. The look is less jumbled and allows my larger statement pieces to really standout. By hanging a few similar style necklaces on one hook, I was also able to leave room to hang little momentos, like the little thumbprint owls my mom gave me a few years ago.
The slats, that in another lifetime housed actual letterpress pieces, hold my earrings and other small keepsakes. I changed out a few of the black hooks that came with it for some brass teacup hooks from Home Depot. Some of the hooks were odd for holding fish hook earrings (the majority of my earrings have fish hooks) and I like the contrast of having both black & brass hooks.
Some of the slats are larger than others, which left space for both earrings and little keepsakes. Now my favorite Alex & Ani earrings can find a home next to some of the smurfs my father gave me way back in the day when he sold toys.
My grandmother's vanity tray is where I place my own fragrances, vintage perfume bottles gifted from my mother and an old champagne coupe that holds my brooches; a vintage green depression glass candy dish keeps all my extra buttons; a tiered brass stand from the flea market is where I put my rings; and my mom's old glass & brass box is where I put my bangles and watches. Of course, I still keep my nicer stuff that is not worn on a regular basis in a jewelry box out of sight.
Seeing all these things each day makes me happy, and it definitely is a conversation starter when people come over and want a tour of my humble little home. I mean, who doesn't love Smurfs hanging out amongst a little bling-bling....
Don't you just love when a problem leads to a really fabulous solution?
Seeing all these things each day makes me happy, and it definitely is a conversation starter when people come over and want a tour of my humble little home. I mean, who doesn't love Smurfs hanging out amongst a little bling-bling....
Don't you just love when a problem leads to a really fabulous solution?
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