One of the first pieces of decor to get unwrapped in our new house were seven glass insulators that I found at a local thrift shop. These aqua-color Hemingray globes were made somewhere between 1893 and 1920 (some people even collect them). I picked up the set for a cool $7 from the Barkin’ Basement.

I bought them right before we moved in, and they were destined for the mantle over our gas fireplace. They have been sitting there, rather innocuously, since.

It wasn’t until my shopping cart happened by a sweet set of flameless candles that they were transformed into something cooler. My mom showed me the trick of flameless candles under glass insulators a few years ago, and I think they add just the right amount of visual interest (real candles won’t work, as there isn’t enough oxygen in the globes to fuel a flame).

Other items in this image:

  • vase filled with river stones and driftwood
  • vase filled with wine corks from Di Vine
  • vintage looking globe from TJ Maxx
  • metal hexapods from CB2 (no longer available)
  • Mo man tai Design’s Tweet