Today is the day of my Grazia shoot. The last few days have been spent gathering baubles, foliage, t-lights and a whole host of other bits and bobs and Christmas fying the house so to speak.
The most exciting thing I brought (and apologises to those of you who think this is beyond dull but I get excited about odd things) were two plaster mantle pieces to flank the fireplaces on the ground floor of my house. For years I have left them as just an open hole which was sweet but a little too boho. I fancied a change (now I have taken to wearing rock chic high high boots I wanted a rock chic style pad - sophisticated, sexy a bit Rolling Stonish if you like. I need the smoky eye make up to go with this look â Claudia Winkleman how do you do it - I am obsessed with your eye make up?? ). Anyway back on the case in point adding mantle pieces adds another layer to your walls â suddenly I have two yes two platforms to put t-lights, paintings, flowers oh and crows â beautiful black crows that I found at Caravan in East London. The walls have come to life â so excited was I by these two new vignettes on Saturday evening with a glass of wine in hand, a flickering fire in the hearth and some moody jazz I sat and studied my new latest finds (sad yes ok maybe I need help)!
Two fireplaces below tantalise the senses â both are from apartments in Paris â one grand and opulent the other interesting and a little crazy â its funny once you start layering picture over picture âor in my case crow next to t-light etc you just want to go on and on and on. Layers I cannot stress enough add intrigue and excitment, plain unadorned walls are boring and just donât cut the mustard in my book I hate to say!
![fireplace](http://abigailahern.files.wordpress.com/2009/11/fireplace.jpg)
Look how beautiful the layers are - nothing matches yet everything makes beautiful sense telling a story about the person who lives in this apartment.
![fireplace 2](http://abigailahern.files.wordpress.com/2009/11/fireplace-2.jpg)
Super grand and whilst many of us don't have apartments looking like this this image inspired me to paint my plaster fireplaces out the same colour as my walls. I have of course opted for sludgy, inky downpipe and I love how they blend into the wall yet at the same time add a grandeur ornate tone!