Hardware makes all the difference! I also believe in the power of typography. The font of a house number, a room number, or an address plague, gives the façade its "caption" as it does in magazine spreads. Wrought iron address numbers spelled out in cursive letters have a nostalgic charm and complement quite nicely with Cape Cod or Ranch stylet homes. It can be fairly affordable if chosen from ready-made fonts and sizes. Custom made signs typically cost few times or more, but can be made in a font or color or your choice - maybe even matching that on your family letterhead.
Fabulous Italian Fine China
We walked by Richard Ginori's shop on our first day in Florence. Although it was closed, we all fell in love with the colorful window displays of fine Italian china. When we went back, we made sure to explore every collection in every corner of the shop, which took up three storefronts in the historic center of Florence. "Aurea," a geometric and very architectural collection, particularly captured my attention. I took home a square catch-all (vide poche) and a round salad bowl, with a pattern that is reminiscent of the dome over the pantheon in Rome.