Well, I haven't had internet in what feels like forever, but I'm on the ferry between Tsawassen and Swartz Bay, on my way to Victoria so that means I have some spotty internet! Yay!

When I last had internet I spent my time perusing ARTERIORS from activemerchandiser.com . I went through all of their PDFs and picked out my favourites.

Quite often I find things I love BUT could or would not ever incorporate into my home. Almost all of the pictures below fall under these categories.

Super cool. Not totally in love with the shade but shades aren't hard to change. But look at the craftsmanship in that flower! Gorgeous!

I'm a fan of mirrors. I thought that I loved the sunburst mirrors that have been so popular over the last few years but over the last few months I've been finding my love for them waning. I'm very happy I decided to wait on making/buying and installing one.  This, though, seems softer and a little more classic. I think it will go out of fashion more slowly. How cool would this be on the ceiling. I would totally consider puting a potlight right in the middle of it.

I recall my stepmother has something like this. And I have to say, that woman knows style. This, like hers, is fantastic in a walk-in closet.

I totally don't remember what these are. Are they vases? I know that they will get dusty, but I love them. Can you imagine the white one just blending in while still adding interest to your entrance way or living room?  Need a pop of colour in a bedroom? 

I'm going to make these. Maybe. No, no I won't because the moment I go to do it I'll remember that the knit will get dirty. I would however absolutely use this as a cozy for old cans and tins of coffee that I use to hold stray pens and pencils.

This definitely falls into the cool-but-not-in-my-house category. I love the candle holders. They remind me of candle holders that would have been in someone's home in Constantinople during the Ottoman Empire. I don't know how I'd ever use it or where to put it?
I love terrariums. I would especially have some in my dream library. But, I don't really like these - they just kind of remind me of the terrariums that I do like. They make hanging ones now as well!
I don't know what the things on the bottom left are. I like the wood bowl but not enough to keep it.

Ah, come on. These are cool. I know they're just wooden hoops on feet but still the little kid in my wants to play around them. I would stick these in my back yard and just let my nieces and nephews hop, jump, dive through them and play tag around them. The most simple props always create the most complicated (and fun) children's games.

I like the horns but I think they're made of glass. I'd much rather have a real one. Where to put it? who know.
Ya, I love agates. I would use them as paperweights or bookends.

Who doesn't love these? I like the giant Jack. It makes me nostalgic for times that I never experienced. I do remember how the faces of my aunts and uncles and grandparents would light up whenever they came across one (unless they stepped on it! Then I remember running). 
I love the carvings of the bonzai tree. They make me feel relaxed but I think I would just keep a bonzai tree.
I have no idea what the thing on the bottom right is and it feels like something I would find under a pile of stuff at the salvation army. Not a bad thing, just not something I'm likely to enjoy.
I do however adore the bronze flowers on the top right. They're gorgeous. I don't know where I would put them but my goodness do I love them. They just make me feel happy inside.

I don't think I even have to explain why these are cool. I could easily find a place for the bowls but I think it would be harder to find a place for the candle holder. They draw the eye so much that I'd definitely need a second in order to balance what ever room it ends up in.  If this had a patina it might be easier to decorate with, otherwise the room would just end up too busy.  Maybe a few of them along an long gardenfloor deck? In a bathroom? So many ideas!

I don't really want any of these in my home but they are neat. I just love round tables. They just feel homier.

I'm sure everyone has seen the bed frames that matches these (or seem to match them) and just like the amazingly amazingly lovely sylvan bedframe, I don't know if I'd want them in my home. If I had them, I would work it. But as I don't I feel like I have so many more options. By using these I would really limit my decorating options because they are the total focus of the room. Anything else I could do would have to be very calm and unnoticeable or the room would be far too busy.

Neat, but I don't like them for me. I love wardrobes - they are great for everything from storage, hiding televisions and computers away to holding clothing and linen. I really enjoy that they are textured. That, and the deep rich colour. 

Look at that wood. Look at the solidness of the wood and the metal. Gorgeous. Made to last. Made to pull up for chats in the kitchen. Made for backaches. I know I sound like a grumpy old woman but you'll have to trust my experience on this one. They look gorgeous and for a short while they feel gorgeous. But having to sit in one of these for any period of time over 5 minutes will be frustrating. No back support except in the most unhelpful place. Trust me, I've sat through cocktail parties in these.

Not sure I want one of these. Maybe in a guest bedroom? They're cozy, not overly stylish, and they look well made. What do you guys think?

I like these because they are "big chairs" by which I mean they make anyone sitting in them feel petite.  I enjoy that. I enjoy furniture that makes me feel larger than life even if they make me look small. On the same note, small furniture - small couches in particular - can make their inhabitant seem incredibly grand. Take a peek at some of your favourite old timey moviestars. They're pictured on the same little couches or giant armchairs.

Very cool. But where would this go?

I really like these especially the top right lamp. I would probably use it in my dream "Moroccan room."

I stayed with my stepmother for a few months during my first year of college and I remember her glasses. They were a lovely rounded collum set of glasses with lovely little air bubbles throughout the glass.

Really not sure why I like the one on the left so much. I don't think I'd ever use it but I still feel nice when I look at it.

I LOVE ocean life based lamps. I just do. The one on the right reminds me of a long jellyfish. On my next update I'll be sure to add my favourite lamps.

Lovely

Gorgeous again. but again, where?

These are just neat but I'd have a hard time incorporating them without making the room feel more full than I want it to feel.

This one I would use, maybe with a shorter shade, if I could find a place for it.

these are neat.

You know me and ocean lamps. I like the top left

These I would buy. Where I would put them, I have no idea but that wouldn't stop me from buying them.

mmmm steampunk-sh lamps. I will own these. My favourite are the accordion lamps.

weird but cool. kids room?

neat

oooo. I like the flower one but I kind of wish it were a torch. :(

That's right! I love mirrors. Especially rounded ones. I feel like they're very useful for pulling together a room and creating a focus. Love them.

Well we're almost at the port! So I need to head back down to the coach lines bus. Back down to the car deck with THREE horse carriers. UGH. This wouldn't bother anyone else but I'm allergic to horses and the ferries don't carry benadryl. I'm just going to start carrying it with me always.