Obelisks are everywhere!

Obelisks are everywhere! You can't go wrong placing a pair on a mantel, on a shelf, or on a table. If you want to mix up your decorating look a bit, move them around!

 High Gloss Magazine - Designer: Elizabeth Dinkel

The designer of this LA home, Elizabeth Dinkel, placed a pair of obelisks on the kitchen counter for a simple decorative element with lots of style. 

Designer: Alexa Hampton via All the Best blog

Alexa inherited her father, Mark Hampton's, great taste. Here she creates a quirky design on the mantel, combining a classic pair of obelisks on one side, and a some interesting objects on the other. Balanced design, but not really!

Designer: Mario Buatta

Mario Buatta knows that obelisks look great anywhere! In this comfortable library, he places a pair on the coffee table, adding decorative interest.

Obelisks are everywhere and anywhere!

More obelisks on mantels

Designer: Alexa Hampton

It need not take much to finish decorating the fireplace mantel other than adding a pair of obelisks. Alexa Hampton uses a very chic pair of light colored marble with black bands at the top and bottom of the plinth. The columns balance well with the round sun burst mirrors flanking a modern painting. They provide a further frame to the art work without distracting from it.

 Designer: Richard Keith Langham via Splendid Sass blog

In this cozy library cum dining room the designer Richard Keith Langham created a balanced design on the mantel using one of a pair of striped marble obelisks on either end. He next used some decorative round marble globes, and then groups three ceramics in the center. A lovely classic design.

 Designer: Steven Gambrel

In this Hampton's home, the designer, Steven Gambrel, includes an obelisk on the mantel adding chic framing to the round mirror. The combination of the round with the linear is always a good choice.

Even if you don't have a mantel, a pair of obelisks will add a 'frame' to a piece of art when placed on either side, enhancing it in the process. 

Obelisks work anywhere!

Adding an obelisk in any room adds interest.

Elle Decor - Designer: Susan Forristal

In this comfortable family room designed by Susan Forristal, she adds a single obelisk to the window sill which serves to draw the eye through the room, and add an element of style. 

Architectural Digest - Designer: Mario Buatta

Mario Buatta knows classic style! He adds the most classic of all obelisks to the fireplace mantel - rock crystal. Just one of the many wonderful finishing touches.  

 Designer: Michael S. Smith via Splendid Sass blog

Michael S. Smith can be counted on for luxury. This Manhattan apartment has wonderful plastered walls and French antiques. The obelisks on this table are almost over the top! They are highly decorated, and work well next to a modern statue to create a wonderful tableau. 

Elle Decor - Designer: Celerie Kemble

The latest issue of Elle Decor includes a feature on an apartment in Manhattan designed by Celerie Kemble. She places a pair of obelisks to one side of this mantel creating a chic asymmetrical design. Also, what a fabulous mirror!


Think of the many ways you can use an obelisk! Use them to draw the eye to a corner of the room, or to create a chic tableau on a table or mantel. Obelisks work anywhere!

 

London loves obelisks!

We were in London, and wandered down Kings Road to visit antiques and decorative objects shops we like. It seemed that obelisks were everywhere!

These fabulous Russian 20th century obelisks were in Guenevere Antiques. They are fluorspar veneer with gilt bronze decoration.

I love the cute paws at the base of the obelisk, and the decoration on the plinth. Very smart looking.

This console display at Guinevere includes a pair of Italian Grand Tour alabaster obelisks. These are 19th century. They have wonderful patina, and the sign of wear one would expect in a well loved antique. These are classics that work anywhere. 

Up the Kings Road at the corner of Lots Road is a group of dealers in a building called the Furniture Cave. There were these whimsical shell decorated obelisks that look a lot like the ones made in to lamps in the previous blog entry. They were flanked by a pair of smaller marble obelisks that were quite the contrast in their simplicity. 

At Guinevere they also had this pair of Italian Grand Tour marmo rosso obelisks, circa 1850. Quite classic, and chic anywhere!

A dealer in the Furniture Cave had a pair of specimen marble obelisks. The marble decoration was on one side of each, with the rest being black. These are 20th century, and had a nice slender presence.














Clearly London loves obelisks!

Obelisks as lamps

Obelisks make great lamps. It's a classic shape, and subtle details can make all the difference.

Canadian House and Home - Designer: Betsy Burnham

This hallway setting designed by California based designer Betsy Burnham includes these fabulous shell encrusted obelisk lamps. These are more decorated than most obelisks, but what fun!

 Homes and Gardens, UK

This wonderful console display includes two elegant black obelisk lamps. The shape is simple and modern, and looks fabulous with the other classic decorative objects. I love the red lamp shades to finish them off.

 Designer: Phoebe Howard

The designer, Phoebe Howard, put together a wonderfully balanced console display anchored by a pair of white obelisk lamps.

Just like you might convert a porcelain vase in to a lamp, think about turning a pair of obelisks in to some fabulous lamps that are classic and elegant.

Obelisks 'at work'

Where we work should be welcoming and have as much consideration as to decoration as the rest of the house. If you work from home some or part of the time, your work space should be beautiful!

Canadian House and Home

This bedroom has a wonderful French Empire secretaire topped by a fabulous Chinoiserie decorated obelisk. I could easily see setting up my lap top on this desk, surrounded by beautiful objects, and getting some work done!

 Designer: Timothy Corrigan

In this classically designed office, the designer, Timothy Corrigan, placed a single obelisk on the desk. It doesn't take up much room, but it adds a smart decorative element.

Here is my own loft office space with one of my obelisks on the desk. I love this simple chic obelisk, and it gives me pleasure when I sit down to work.

Adding an obelisk is an easy way to decorate, and if you are looking for a change with the season, take one away and replace ir with a different one for a fresh new look!

For chic console display, add an obelisk!

Obelisks are the perfect pieces to add to as table vignette. It might be an entryway, or a table against the wall in a living or dining room. Add a pair of obelisks, and a few other mementos, and perhaps a lamp, and you've created a wonderful work of art!

 Elle Decor - Designer: Aline Chastel

In this contemporary Paris living room, the owner, Aline Chastel, used a vintage oak chest as the base for her tableau. She added a mixed set of obelisks, a large rock (!), and a pitcher with a large leaf against a great mirror to make a great focal point for the room. It just take a little creative courage to put that all together, and have it look so great. 

 Designer: Robert Couturier

This is a great way to fill in a blank corner in a room. The unused space is turned in to something with lots of interest. Robert Couturier used a big mirror and a decorative mirrored obelisk on a simple console table to make a big statement in an otherwise empty space.

Canadian House & Home - Designer: Luce Gayrard

The rock crystal obelisks on this lovely gilt console table are paired with lamps to make up the vignette. The mirror behind reflect the look back into the room, and adds depth. Add something low in between, and you have created a great look.

 Designer: Robert Couturier

For more ideas using rock crystal obelisks, this tableau design by Robert Couturier uses four! There are two tall obelisks, and two shorter ones below. I love the asymmetry of this grouping of objects on an ornate console table. There is a lot of contrast between the black bulky bust, and then the translucent obelisks. The balance is created by the pictures on the wall behind. Masterful!

 Designer: Alexa Hampton

Alexa Hampton inherited her father's excellent taste! This lovely, comfortable living room looks back to a console table filling an alcove. The table is topped with a pair of obelisks placed on the left side, balancing flowers on the right.

Obelisks are a natural for a console table. Think of balancing the display with a pair obelisks on  either side of the table, or place them on one side and balance them with another decorative element on the other. I like this latter option because it's a bit less traditional.