The designer, Grace Feyock, has taken images from old licence plates and arranged them into a clock face format. Near to each number you can just make out the lettering that would also have been present on the metal plate which adds to the distinctive quality and visual interest. Many of the number plates are pretty battered and weathered in appearance which brings a certain charm and historical awareness to the clock’s face. Rustic bronze detailing, in the form of the clock’s hands, central portion, and edges gives the clock a delightful antique ambiance.

A wall clock of this style will look great in interior spaces such as a games room, a bachelor’s apartment, a car enthusiast’s study, and/or in the main living room of a family who love American cultural history and good looking decorative accessories. It’s eye-catching and thus impossible for visitors to not notice where the clock is positioned. The color scheme will add brightness and life to what might otherwise be a slightly bland and boring décor scheme, much in need of a lift. It will also look great on the wall of a garage or shed where time-keeping is needed so as a much loved hobby does not run overtime.

You can buy it from here: Vintage Car License Plates Wall Clock.

Overall dimensions: 28.875″ H x 28.875″ W x 2″ D

John Adams was one of the 7 Founding Fathers of the United States and would become the second President. The New England lawyer, statesman, diplomat and political theorist represented Enlightenment values promoting republicanism. Many teachers, students and Americans interested in the nation’s birth and development see John Adams as one of the great figures of American history. It’s therefore should come as no surprise that he is represented in sculpture and art in museums and the domestic home interior.

The John Adams bust is 6 inches in height and is made from Polystone. This is a manufacturing medium used for cast sculptures which has a porcelain or “stone-like” feel. The material is highly durable and has an extremely clean finish. It’s also easy to keep clean as well and requires just a quick dust every now and then. The politically themed bust will suit a wide variety of interiors but, as mentioned before, will look particularly good in a living room, dining room or home study/library/studio/work space. Perched on a shelf or placed proudly on a table or desk, the sculptural portrait of John Adams will be a reminder of the nation’s past as well as the possibilities for its present and future with the guiding principles handed down by the Founding Fathers.

You can buy the bust from here: John Adams Bust – Founding Father.

Comes gift boxed.

The intricately designed anniversary figurine depicts the representation of a firefighter and will make a particularly appealing feature in a patriotic household with children. The American flag flutters proudly in the background whilst the bear holds a New York City Fire Department silver helmet overs his heart out of respect for the dead. The base presents an inscription reading “God Bless America”, a phrase close to the lips of all Americans and indeed people across the world, in the days that followed the terrorist attacks.

Nearly 3000 people died on 9/11 and the painful memories are often relived every anniversary year, especially this week, marking a whole decade since the tragic events occurred. It was the worst terrorist atrocity to occur on US soil in American history and touched the hearts of millions globally. The 343 FDNY firefighters, together with the 23 NYPD police officers, 37 Port Authority Police officers and 15 paramedics, who died on that day, showed bravery beyond all expectation and have since been immortalized in numerous ways. This teddy bear American Hero 9-11 Remembrance Figure is just one and a fine one it is too.

You can buy it from here: Boyds Bears Our American Hero 9-11 Remembrance Figure.

Made of Stone Resin.

The patriotic eagle sculpture which comes with two crossed “Stars and Stripes” flags, is ideal for an American patriot of any age range and will fit nicely on a table-top, shelf, bookcase or office desk. Whether you’re buying a gift for a family member, friend or co-worker, or even for yourself, this patriotic American sculpture will make the perfect present. The decorative art combined with the immense symbolism, makes it a stunning piece to look at and gaze upon.

The United States of America gained its independence from Great Britain on July 4th 1776 and has since become the sole superpower and shining beacon of democracy, liberty and progress from which the world has gained inspiration, and indeed, help and safety.

This alabastrite (a type of resin) eagle sculpture need not be hidden away after the first week of July. It’s a symbol of American patriotism for the whole year round and can take pride of place in a living room, dining room or whichever room you deem it suitable for. The eagle has long been the emblem of the United States of America, ever since 1782, when it was chosen due to its power, majesty and strength. It also represents freedom and thus is never far away from the flag, nor to forget, being present also on Great Seal of the United States.

You can buy this sculpture from here: American Patriotic Eagle Sculpture with Two Crossed US Flags.

Wood base. 7 x 4 ¼ x 7 3/8 inches high.

For anyone who has fond memories of living in this region, the throw will make an excellent addition to their home. One of the oldest states, New York is often fondly known as ‘The Empire State’ and gained its name from James Stuart, the 17th Century Duke of York who would later become King of both England and Scotland. As the tapestry throw shows, there are many landmarks shown that will be familiar to both New Yorkers and people across the nation and indeed worldwide.

The World Trade Center towers, so cruelly taken away from the skyline of New York city, are represented with pride as is the Statue of Liberty which inspires the forces of freedom and democracy across the planet. There’s also a geographical outline of New York State with Long Island shown at the bottom. The tapestry throw also shows other well known landmarks which will be identifiable to Americans from the state.

The New York State tapestry throw will be suitable for any type of interior setting and will look nice placed on the floor, on a bed, on the wall or draped over a sofa or armchair. It can meet both functional and aesthetic requirements whilst the warp and weft threads of this Afghan make it a textural gem which will make a positive impact on your décor.

You can buy this throw here: New York State Themed Tapestry Throw.

Price: $41.99

This ewe sculpture is made from shredded sweaters amongst other things.

The Blue Fleck Doe is one of her more recent creations and reminds me a lot of the wooden abstract trophy heads I wrote about a few weeks ago.

This wonderful little sculpture is named “weight” and is composed of cast lead bird perched upon a found rear view mirror.

Wander over to the website of Rachel Denny where you can peruse the various other sculptures she has made.

The Stars and Stripes rug as seen in the picture above is made by the proud American Milliken textile company based in South Carolina. Dating back all the way to the year 1865, the company has since grown to become a leading force in the textile industries, not only in the United States, but also the world. They’ve received numerous awards and accolades including the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award and entry into the British Standards Institute for Excellence in Quality.

This premium quality nylon fiber rug is a perfect gift for a proud American. The colors are tastefully toned down to avoid brashness and the design is understated yet imbued with the passion of the stars and strips. It really is a great rug to have in the same room where one would watch a football or baseball game.

You can buy this patriotic rug by following the link below. It comes in three different sizes depending on how big or small you want it.

Click here to buy the American Stars and Stripes Rug

The handmade cutting board shown in the picture above is the creation of the widely respected wood artist Spencer Peterman. Each and every one of his boards is unique and made with genuine care for quality and safety. From his art studio in Turners Falls, Massachusetts, Peterman carefully chooses the right kinds of hardwood that will provide quality to the finished piece.

Maple cutting boards will fit naturally in most types of kitchen. They will go especially well with marble counter tops, as seen in the image, plus rural style interior design. When not in use they can be hung on the wall or rested against a vertical surface to provide an extra decorative accent.

This particular handmade wooden cutting board can be found here: Handmade Maple Cutting Board

Price: $89.00

Did you know?: Maple is also known as Acer which is derived from the Latin word meaning “sharp”. This name was given due to the sharp looking points on the leaves. Maple can be found across the globe including in North America, Europe, parts of the Middle East and also in East Asia. The Sugar Maple tree (found only in North America) also provides the ingredients for maple syrup via its sap.

The umbrella chandeliers are the creation of New York designer Shelly Sabel. Each umbrella lamp is made from umbrella pieces, some of them found, along with aluminum and porcelain sockets and parts. So far this year they have been displayed in numerous galleries but they will soon be put into mass production and sold in stores.

One might say it is bad luck to open an umbrella indoors but when the result looks as stunning as these creations, it’s a case of folding away old wives’ tales. As can be noted in the images, these contemporary chandeliers come in a variety of colors. To read more about the designer and browse through more pictures of her creations, visit the website of Shelly Sabel.

What do you think of these umbrella lamps?

H/T: Yanko Design

Michelle wants Smith to create a family orientated feel whist at the same time adding new perspectives of American art and design from past and present. It’s expected his first job will be to decorate the bedrooms of Sasha and Malia, Barack Obama’s two young daughters.

A grand total of $100,000 is alloted per presidential term to the president for spending on his family’s private quarters. Compared to the other clients of Michael Smith, this is not a lot. Hollwood actors and directors including Dustin Hoffman, Michelle Pfeiffer and Steven Spielberg have all had their homes decorated by the Los Angelies based interior designer.

Widely considered to be one of America’s top home designers, Smith’s style is heavily influenced by the English country-house look which can be seen in many of his works. His knack for combining the historical and classical with modern family items and decor is part of why his popularity has soared. After all, it’s not often a designer can work together a Sultanabad carpet and guilded screens with a television, monopoly board and a games station, as successfully as Smith can.

Quite how exactly he will design the Obama’s private quarters in the White House is yet to be seen. However, the following images will give some hints and clues as to what the American President and First Lady might expect to see upon completion.

Encinal Bluff, California – This interior comes from a Palladian villa which overlooks the ocean at Malibu. The walls have been decorated with Venetian plaster in the style of the original Palladio villas in the city of Venice, Italy. The floor is made from pietra serena stone which was the same material used to construct most of Florence. A lovely 17th-century Persian carpet compliments the stone flooring.

Notice the fireplace. There are actually two at each end of the room which provide a focus point for two seperate seating arrangements. These are seperated by a large wooden table in the center of the space acting as a kind of pivot. The sofas are made from custom-woven hemp whilst the fabric on the Georgian-style chairs was inspired from antique Indian textiles.

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Japanese-style Kitchen – This modern looking kitchen is in fact partly inspired by old feudal Japanese palaces. Smith then hit upon contrasting this theme with that of the European castle designs as can be seen with the wooden ceiling beams and cream-tinted plaster walls. A healthy dose of 21st Century Minimalism has also been added.

The island in the middle is made of stainless steel but with a walnut wood covering. There is also an inset of stone surrounding the sink. Up against the wall is an absolutely beautiful 18th Century Japanese Tansu Chest. These versatile wooden cabinetry pieces date as far back as the 7th Century in Japan.

Up above you can see two lampshades. These were actually salvaged from a department store in Japan during World War Two. They are made of fabric over a wooden frame.

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Dining-room in Santa Barbara, California – A small part of Michael Smith’s creation can be seen in this dining room picture. The wall looks like a hand-painted mural, which Smith has been known to create. However, this particular one is actually a hand-painted mural wallpaper by the British firm De Gournay.

Have a closer look at the chair and you will notice that it’s covered in a damask linen. I’ve written about this style in a previous post which you can read here: Damask Linens, Prints and Fabrics. Again, a very Mediterranean feel has been created with the northern Italian-style furnishings.

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Michael Smith’s Library – This picture is from the home of the famed Interior Designer in Los Angeles. A wonderful array of deep rich colors are paraded on the furniture of Smith’s library. The light yellow English Regency sofa is covered with a quilt of a traditional Indonesian style. These are superbly matched with cushions in both Indian fabrics and Turkish ikat.

In case you’re wondering, Ikat is a special style of weaving that uses a resist dyeing process. The different colored threads are woven together in various patterns and designs. The name comes from the Malay word “to tie” or “to bind”. This style and process can be found in various forms including in East Asia, South America, India and Turkey.

It’s quite delightful how Smith has contrasted the bright sofa with the darker painted leather screen behind. The coffee table you can see poking out from the bottom left hand corner is a 19th-century Chinese table which was especially adapted for this interior by being reduced in height. A wonderful sense of charachter is imbued with the additions of porcelain, vases, a marble obelisk and antique French maps.

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Guest-room in London – Eaton Square has to be one of the most charming and attractive squares in central London. This guest room is actually quite small but Smith overcame this with a cunning solution. He wrapped the walls in a fantastically original wallpaper called grisaille by Zuber. The country scene with trees and rolling hills expands the narrow space creating an illusion of grandeur.

To the right, you can see a neoclassical Russian secretaire which adds a sophsiticated feel to the rest of the interior. Claret-red curtains contrasts well with the grey-blue of the walls, adding a crispness and romance.

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Michael Smith’s Bedroom in Los Angeles – We spend around a third of our lives in bed which means the decoration of the bedroom should be an important part of your overall interior design. Here you can see Michael Smith’s very own bedroom in the Californian city of Los Angeles. The four-poster bed is in fact build from four Georgian wooden posts with a framework to hold the mattress, built to match. A decorative fabric canopy is hung above.

The room receives a lot of natural light which is further enhanced by the various mirrors. Comfortable thick cushions and pillows adorn the bed. As with previous interiors, personal items, vases, books and wall decorations have been added to create a more homely ambiance.

You can see much more of Smith’s work and his collaberation with Christine Pittel in his book Michael S. Smith Houses which the Washington Post has described as being “like an extended issue of Architectural Digest, and, like that magazine, it leaves you with a mix of envy and desire”.