Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Giant Ball or Clam? in my fireplace


Me: I think I want to put one of the giant balls from the backyard into the fireplace?
Dan: What?
Me: The giant clam has been done before; it's even appeared on a magazine cover. I'm just copying.
Dan: Nobody who comes to our house will know that.
Me: Yes, they will.
Dan: Didn't you just spend hours arranging all those shells inside the clam?
Me: Are you going to help me or not? I think I can roll it in if you aren't.


Me: I like this better. Don't you think it's odd and funny in a cool way?
Dan: It looks like a meteroid fell down our chimney.
Me: ...walk away...

Me: ...return to living room later to be greeted by a happy, smiling giant ball

What do you think? Ball or Clam?

(Concrete clam and hypertufa ball from Flat Earth Designs, www.flickr.com/fedatl)

65 comments:

Ann said...

Both.

Change when you tire of the current selection.

I like having options!

Luciane at HomeBunch.com said...

Wow!!! Really fun! Both look great. What about you use the ball until you get tired of it and then, you bring the clay back? You can have both...

xo

Luciane at HomeBunch.com

Post of the Day: Interior Designer Brad Ford's Home.

pve design said...

Ball. I love the shape. circles bring love into a room.
I also love your husbands sense of wicked wit.
pve

Boxwood Terrace said...

Oh, that is funny. I like them both, but maybe more so the clam. I know what you mean about "it's been done before", but if you like it, keep it. It looks great.

Party Resources said...

I like both - but vote for the ball! Bit more modern and unexpected.

alison giese Interiors said...

That's SO something that would happen at our casa, too! Honestly, though, I like the clam shell for the fireplace - the ball somewhere else - under a console table???

Janell @ House of Fifty said...

omg, thanks for the laugh this morning! You know, when first reading I thought, oh no, I love the clam. But I think the strong simple shape of the ball has quite the graphic elements in the space, paired with the (gorgeous!) sconces.

Janell

Kerry Steele- Design du Monde said...

The shell is a more complete look but it has been done before. I like the originality of the ball. Perhaps it needs an accompaniment?

I really love the painting above the mantel.

Renée Finberg said...

me thinks:
the ball is better

xx

Red Door Home said...

I like the shape of the ball and the visual height - fills up more of the fireplace. I would probalby keep both however and switch them out with the seasons.

Ashley said...

Hilarious! I often wonder what my fiance is really thinking when I make decor suggestions...personally, I like the ball (err...meteroid).

lime said...

Ball. For sure.

A Perfect Gray said...

ball.

I adore your sconces. The ball is a perfect balance with them.

Matters of Style said...

Clam. Maybe it has been done before, but it's definitely not the Imperial Trellis of fireplace fillers...

Anonymous said...

hysterical!
I like the ball

Unknown said...

Too funny- Although I like the ball, I have to vote clam- the sublte hit of extra colour would be lovely in your space. Ps, loving your artwork and sconces! Another idea, how about books or logs?

Pigtown*Design said...

hysterical! i like the ball. it's very strong.

Haven on Hanover said...

I love those little moments in life! I vote for the ball - when you tire of it, roll it back to the yard!!!

katieo said...

I like the ball, but I think you should paint it. Maybe a blue from the painting, or silver?

vicki archer said...

Love your sense of humour....the clam for me if I had to choose.....xv

mb said...

Either. The ball for me.

bingata744 said...

I like the ball as well -- simple yet adds a touch of whimsy.

Love Your Homes said...

Like the ball and it's concrete structure.
Your sconces becomes more solid with the round shape inside the fireplace.

I guess our husbands never know what to expect....
funny meteroid!

Danielle Sigwalt Interiors said...

I do like both, but I think I'm diggin' the clam more for sure. And if you decide on the ball, then definitely keep the smile face...so chic ;)!

for the love of a house said...

BALL!!!!!!!!!!!!! love it.
and I think your Dan is very, very funny!!

joan

Unknown said...

Whichever you choose will be great. I just love your husband's sense of humor!!!! That's what my husband would probably say!!!

Jenny Castle Design said...

I love the humor in this post :)
Personally, even though the clam/shells have been done before, it seems a little warmer...the ball is certainly more edgy, so if anything, it's good to have options!!

Erin said...

At least he plays along - it would be no fun if he didn't. But I vote for ball - it's clean, and unexpected. I love it!

LindsB said...

haha, I like the convo between you and Dan best- too funny.

I think I like both choices. But, I get what you mean about wanting to be different- I think that way too. So in that case I think the ball is fun.

The Down East Dilettante said...

Take the clue of one and apply to the other: The strength and simplicity of the ball by removing the shells and displaying the clam, which is a strong enough shape on its own.

And the smiley face is just brilliant

Kristin Forbes-Mullane said...

hahah! love it!

Elizabeth said...

haha - ok the smiley face made me laugh out loud which I never do while reading. I like the ball

Capella Kincheloe Interior Design said...

Ball. Thanks for the giggle.

Anonymous said...

Consider the clam, perhaps vertical, for the summer. And the sphere in the other times when it is not creatively stacked with white birch logs.

Anonymous said...

LOL.

I like the ball better, but without the happy face. ;)

The Ancient said...

The ball is all wrong.

I want to see that clam made part of a gas log set -- The Burning Clam!

Hollywood forever, Kevin said...

I too, have a giant clam shell, in fact a pair. I came very close to placing one in the fireplace, and stopped because that very same reason. It looks great but it's been done. The circle shape or ball is fabulous, and even better, I have never seen it done. Good for you! Now go get your Husband some Advil.

S and N said...

You know, that ball (pre-adornment, and even moreso after), has a certain quiet menace--as though it may roll out at any moment. But then the next second it looks so calm, serene, zen-like...and then again. I can't decide. But I'm pretty sure that if I were in that room for any length of time, I'd keep glancing over.

1 Funky Woman said...

I'm so laughing here. That is something my husband would have done. I like the ball but thinking more the clam. Who cares if its been done. Someone mentioned putting the ball under the coffee table and I like that idea.

Janet said...

Love the more contemporary look of the ball. The clam just seems like a newer version of birch logs. Done to death.

Dumbwit Tellher said...

Another thumbs-up for the ball. And..I think you should leave the smiley face on it! Great person that Dan : D

AnneHH said...

Grrreat post! Oh, either one is wonderful. I disagree with those who say not to pick the clam because it has been done before. The reason you considered it is because it looks beautiful with the clam so that definitely should be your choice sometimes. But, I also love the sphere and think you are brilliant to have tried it. Love options. Love the dialogue with Dan.

Unknown said...

LOL! I had to SMILE... I like both! The clam is certainly fab, but the ball has an austere beauty!

Coincidentally I posted on clean burning materials for fire places....

xoxo
Victoria

Windlost said...

Too funny. I honestly think that neither of them belong in a fireplace. But the ball is nice and graphic.

How do these men put up with us??

xo Terri

My Notting Hill said...

Thanks everyone - this might just be the largest response I've ever received! You all made my day. Forgot to mention Dan did say, "What about plain wood logs? It is supposed to be a fireplace."
Again - it's been so much fun reading all these comments! Michele

Teresa Hatfield ~ Splendid Sass said...

Love the ball. Funny story.
Teresa
xoxo

Anonymous said...

Ball all the way.

Anonymous said...

lol...no brainer...the ball. But I would find another two objects and go through the whole thing again next month...
a great connector topic for the two of you.. !

M ;)

Connie in Hartwood said...

You made my morning. Dan is a keeper!! The cute smiley face is genius.

Alcira Molina-Ali said...

The clam is indeed comely, but that ball is a simple statement-maker.
Alcira

nerochronicles.com

paperwhite said...

I love the ball, it has a classic look to it...

Hill Country House Girl said...

Love the "Why not wood?" comment - such a husband thing to say! I like the ball in the fireplace - simple and bold with the sconces and the painting, which I love. The clam shell is wonderful, too, though, so find it a happy home.

A.J.Barnes said...

Very funny. Do both. I vote for the clam in the fireplace...but how about also placing the ball on the hearth just outside the opening!

www.ajbarnesonline.blogspot.com

Unknown said...

I love the giant ball in your fireplace!

The Goads

Stitchfork said...

FireBall!
xo Cathy

Summer is a Verb said...

Ball in winter and clam in summer. Of course, that ball's gonna need a knitted beret :)

ArchitectDesign™ said...

definitely LOVE the ball - the clam is cool but the ball just looks RIGHT: classical. Sounds like it was a workout getting it in there!

Susan said...

I like the textural aspect of the clam shell, but the ball does have a simple elegance about it.
Or you could place the clam shell on top like the hair on a Lego person and then the smileyface wouldn't seem so inapproprate. Hee

LiveLikeYou said...

Hysterical!! Makes me think what do men really think of us when we go in to our design obsessions? My vote:The ball (with eyes..) Shape is nice and clean, it's unusual and cool. Thanks for your suggestion on recovering lost blog posts. I'm saving some via google cache. My former webguy made a mistake setting it up on the new server. Ahh tech issues...

Unknown said...

Oh, the ball! Very strong visually. Your husband sounds like mine...is he an engineer?

Ashley said...

I understand the thought process behind wanting to replace the clam, but I like it! That said, the ball also looks great.

Lauren said...

Hahaha love how funny you both are...

I like both options. Love balls so the off strangeness is amazing but the clam is beautiful too. I'd say switch it up when you tire of either. Ball reminds me a bit of a Magritte

Xoxo,
Lauren

Ps- still covet your sconces. ;)

J.Covington said...

Brilliant!! Cracked me up.

Go with the ball.

Alex

Nita Stacy said...

I just saw this post and it made me laugh. Too funny. I'm like that too...I don't want to do what I've seen before. I feel like its cheating or something or if I do do something I've seen...I have to switch it up somehow.

The meteor in the fireplace is definitely unexpected. Then to come back in and find it with a face...

That said...I kind of like the big shell better....he he

But you get points for originality.

Kurt said...

I love to use the ball.

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