Posts Tagged ‘house numbers’

Hardware Store Holiday Decor

Thursday, December 10th, 2009

un_jbI wish I could remember how this idea came to me, but several weeks ago I bought two full sets of reflective house numbers at my local hardware store to hang from our Christmas tree.

They have a bit of that schoolhouse decor about them that I’m so drawn to right now as well as a graphic quality that has always appealed to me — bold numbers in a classic font.

cmas_house#_supplies

We put our Christmas tree on our sunporch every year, rather than inside the house. And since our house is on a busy street and the sunporch faces the road, it works really well for our indoor and outdoor decor.

Of course, decorating a tree that is exposed to the elements (it’s a screened in porch) means not risking any of our sentimental or delicate ornaments. So we always try to come up with something interesting that can’t be damaged. This year I’m using house numbers!

cmas_house#_tree

It’s such a simple detail that most people walking past will never notice, but it’s fun for me to look for the numbers as I pull up to the house in my car, and of course, the detail is prominent when we’re on the porch reading or having a cup of coffee.

I also brought a few indoors to tie the look together. I strung one number to the handles on each of my flower buckets and stacked them up the stairs. I haven’t quite figured out what do fill them with though. I can’t find a fourth kissing ball and the wrapping paper will be gone shortly. Any ideas? 

cmas_house#_interior

And because I can’t seem to shake my adoration of canvas drop cloths (also from the hardware store!), I threw one around the base of the tree for a rustic, weather-proof tree skirt. Now I just need to sweep up the pine needle mess I made last night!

cmas_house#_skirt

Any hardware on your tree this year?

Knock, Knock

Wednesday, August 26th, 2009

CORRECTION: The first image below of the painted flower pots was incorrectly credited. The original source is Roeshel from Evangeline’s Vine. And not only can you find the photo here, but instructions to DIY!

un_jb

I’m loving the use of unique typography to create unconventional house numbers. Granted, some cities, neighborhoods and communities have strict ordinances about how you can display your house number.  But if you have the freedom to express your sense of style and the character of your home, then here are some fun ideas:

front-doors

{images: clockwise, Evangeline’s Vine; bsheehy8 on Flickr, Apartment Therapy, It’s The Little Things…}

Notice how the sun shines through the etched glass numbers, above, to create a lovely reflection on the floor! I also love the edginess of the mismatched, rusted numbers hanging at various angles.

How about some of these more modern trends:

modern

{images: clockwise, lovedaylemon on Flickr; Numbers1.com; Unica Home; Chiasso}

Carved boxwood numbers…very dramatic! Illuminated numbers…very necessary! I hate it when I can’t see the numbers from the street. The top image is electrical, while the bottom two (same fixture) are powered by solar panels. Don’t bother if your house is tucked beneath the trees! And I’ve always liked the formality of spelling out a street number. This is a pretty modern application, including both letters and numerals. I like it.

Finally, a few slightly more whimsical picks: 

whimsical

{images: clockwise, Pear Tree Mosaics; Atlas Signs; Feral Glass; Eco-Artware}

The mosaic placque would be so charming in a pretty green garden outside a painted cape or bungalow. The patina whale might be the first thing I hung at my new beach house (should that day ever come!). So classy and yet free-spirited. The stained glass numbers remind me of the lampost my grandfather made for his 1901 Victorian, one of my all time favorite “urban nests.” And for that modern industrial look, how about these numbers made from recycled signs? I stumbled on them at Haute*Nature and I think they would be the perfect addition to the front of a refurbished warehouse loft.

Any unconventional house numbers in your neighborhood? How about a good “Knock, Knock” joke?