Friday, January 8, 2010

do this!!

i have always loved this stairway/hallway/landing area from muriel brandolini. the soft aqua walls, the glossy, white floors and painted stairs and sheer power and impact these hanging lanterns make. i'll bet when it's all lit up it's awesome. and what's really great is this could be done on a budget so easily. i mean lanterns are super cheap (not these i know) and you can find them virtually everywhere. all you would need is either a really handy friend who knows electrical things or the money to hire an electrician. and while i know lanterns could look cheap and dumb...it is important to note that these look great not b/c they are expensive but b/c there are many in this small area and nothing else. the palette, the simplicity...that's why it works. this is in my future country house file...


these lanterns from india rose are nice and relatively inexpensive at $43 each..



these from cost plus are REALLY cheap at $14.99 each, plus they are battery operated! could you paint a paper lantern? tell me all you crafty broads..


these are from anthropologie and they are not cheap..at $398 each. but they are gorgeous!!




it's hard to find interesting lanterns this time of year but come spring i am sure more will become available.

17 comments:

Southern Aspirations said...

love these. I'm NOT a crafty broad but I do think you can paint them. Another source is Luna Bazaar (I'm in no way affiliated with them, just my source for parasols and fans for my wedding)

Jaime Rogers said...

Love this idea, I can't use it in my space due to the fact that I live in a single story condo with 8' ceilings but will keep it in mind for clients. Pearl River in Chinatown is a great resource for many kinds of inexpensive lanterns as well. Oh and you may purchase from them online as well;)

Brittney said...

Love the paper lantern look. Especially the first. World Market has a great selection on the cheap.

ginger said...

Wow! I think I love you! I just bought a house (built in the 40s) that is hola ugly - but the worst part is the dark staircase that leads to the second floor. I was just telling my hub that it would be a dream if we could put a window seat/window at the top of the stairs - and this! Can you tell me where you found that photo?? I want to keep a copy for inspiration.

(PS. Thanks!)

bluehydrangea said...

The India Rose lanterns are awesome..trying to think of a spot for one right now!!

hand pecked debb said...

I have painted a paper lantern not too long ago and I used just plain acrylic paint. The only pic I have right now is on twitpic. http://twitpic.com/pbj1f

DO IT!

MFAMB said...

hey ginger...you can go here http://www.murielbrandolini.com/

or you can just save the page on my blog or copy the image straight from my blog.

Duel Living said...

Yummy....love the different shapes. Plugging all those lanterns in would be a bitch, and and the electrician would be effing expensive...love the battery operated one...brilliant...do you think they make a "Clapper" lantern?

jennifer said...

once upon a time I did lanterns in my daughters room.
enchanting when lit but, THE DUST, maybe it was just my house. paper lanterns are impossible to dust!

Marsi @ The Cottage Cheese said...

Love lanterns, especially fun to use the paper lanterns outside. But I really, really want one of those Anthro lanterns. Really.

High-Heeled Foot in the door said...

So pretty! I love that hallway. Now if my hallway wasn't teeny tiny I would love to do it!

I am thinking of adding some lanterns to my office so that's for all the resources!

Have a fab weekend darling!

Anonymous said...

There are pierced metal lanterns at zgallerie for under fifty dolllars a piece, for those who love the anthro look! :)

LindsB said...

That would make a beautiful set of stairs to climb everyday- I love the three dimensional look it gives the open space.

Brandi@ Flights of Whimsy said...

What a beautiful shade of blue! I wish my housr were this light filled. You can def paint lanterns and for those of us artistically challenged you can find great stencils to do it. Home goods also has metal lanterns usually in all shapes for a good price.

Bailey @ peppermintbliss said...

Lanterns are magical. And now you have my wheels spinning about all of the fab things I can do with my previously unthought about halllwayysss

nelya said...

That is surely one of the most beautiful inspiration photos I've ever seen. And you know I've seen a hella lot. It's ethereal. The palette is sublime and the lantern configuration magical. I have super high ceilings in a number of spaces. I wonder if the electrical is doable. Hmmmm, Mr. P will not be happy about this. ;0)

Robin said...

Love that hallway. PearlRiver.com has lanterns galore and they are cheap...