A Curated Vignette Inspired by a Vintage Barkcloth Panel

Is it encouragement or peer pressure when a fellow thrifter tells you to JUST BUY IT when you are thinking about and looking at an item at the thrift store?

Well, whatever it is, I am glad a gal encouraged me to go ahead and buy this lovely, vintage, barkcloth curtain panel even though I had no idea what I might use it for. In talking with the lady, we came up with a few different ways I could use this gorgeous piece. Here is one--as a tapestry or wall backdrop. 

I created a simple vignette with the panel and other recently curated items. Keep reading to learn more.

First of all, did you notice that I did not center the fabric piece in the vignette, but rather chose to hang it to one side? This adds visual interest and help the items in the white wall to stand out a bit rather than being lost against the pattern. 

The vintage art piece pulls colors from the barkcloth. The simple floral does not compete with the bust pattern. The wood beaded mirrors introduces a different shape in the vignette. The small square, antique, leaded glass mirror was a great find. The faded gold on the square mirror frame is repeated in the print frame and on the lamp.

I loved finding the old label on the back.

This sweet lamp is a soft bluish green color and it came with the linen shade. 

On the little green table (also recently sourced) I placed a vintage "wood" tray with a little inlaid ski scene on it. I covered up the skier with the books since it is summer, but you can still see the mountain behind the candlestick and lotus seed pod.

Use natural elements in vignettes--wood, rattan, plants. Real plants are always better, but sometimes not possible. If that is the case, use a GOOD faux plant like this jade one. This is a fake plant that I am sure my hubby may try to water. And, PLEASE, no cheesy fake silk flowers or fake variegated ivy from 2002. You aren't fooling anyone with those and they date your space, and not in a good way.

I placed the plant on a couple books to ground it. Remember--repeat colors, elements, materials and vary heights.

Use the triangle rule to keep the eye moving and to make displays visually appealing. In this vignette I created three triangles.

There is a triangle on the tray with the plant, seed pod, and candlestick.  There is a triangle on the wall with the mirrors and art. And there is an overall triangle with the wall pieces, the lamp, and the tray.

I love using this vintage fabric on a wall. It adds color and pattern to a space without making major changes--I am glad I was told, "YES, you need to buy that." The fabric panel can be used as a runner on a table, as a curtain pulled back on one side of window, or as fabric for pillows and upholstery. Today's tip--remember to look at the curtains section at the thrift store and listen to shoppers when they tell you to buy it!