More Than Just a Pretty Face: Decorative Clocks With Timeless Appeal
As we turn the clocks forward for daylight saving, consider some charming timepieces to keep you right on time
Janet Dunn
24 September 2016
Houzz Australia Contributor. Former NZ House&Garden writer and stylist, and avid interior design enthusiast. Ex-restaurateur and caterer, with a Professional Certificate in Gastronomy, University of Adelaide.
Houzz Australia Contributor. Former NZ House&Garden writer and stylist, and avid... More
With a simple tweak of the clock, we’ll soon start the season of long, light-filled evenings. Daylight saving clicks in on 25 September in New Zealand and 2 October in Australia (except Queensland), when clocks go forward an hour at midnight – remember ‘spring forward, fall back’? Until our biorhythms adjust, it takes some conscious effort to make sure we’re in the right place at the right time. There’s always a handy phone, computer screen, microwave, stove, car dashboard or fitness band, but a real clock is both decorative and useful. See some stylish spots to put time on your side, with a few old favourites and a bevy of up-to-the-minute tickers.
In the kitchen
As a hive of activity, the kitchen is a convenient place to pop a wall clock. With your hands full or covered in foodie mess, just an upward glance keeps you on track, time-wise. This sleek kitchen takes on a welcoming air with warm timber and the whimsical curlicues of a showy clock.
As a hive of activity, the kitchen is a convenient place to pop a wall clock. With your hands full or covered in foodie mess, just an upward glance keeps you on track, time-wise. This sleek kitchen takes on a welcoming air with warm timber and the whimsical curlicues of a showy clock.
If you’re short on wall space, this clever clock is just the ticket, with the movement tucked behind a cabinet door and the minimalist hands unobtrusively keeping time.
In the playroom
A quirky clock in a play or leisure area is a tremendous aid for reinforcing number skills. Get kids involved in making number markers – cutting out numerals, painting them on blocks, or making animal pictures for each number. You can then tell them, “At hippopotamus o’clock, it’s time for a bath!”
A quirky clock in a play or leisure area is a tremendous aid for reinforcing number skills. Get kids involved in making number markers – cutting out numerals, painting them on blocks, or making animal pictures for each number. You can then tell them, “At hippopotamus o’clock, it’s time for a bath!”
In the bedroom
Ticking – you either love it or hate it. Like counting sheep or backwards from a hundred, a ticking clock can send you off to dreamland – or off your head. Decide what sort of sleeper you are before putting in a clock – or bury it in a drawer before bedtime.
Ticking – you either love it or hate it. Like counting sheep or backwards from a hundred, a ticking clock can send you off to dreamland – or off your head. Decide what sort of sleeper you are before putting in a clock – or bury it in a drawer before bedtime.
Above the tub
The essence of relaxation is a really long bath for winding down slowly. With a bathroom clock, clock-watching is positively encouraged. Observing the steady progress of hands around a dial can clear your mind, release tension and encourage quiet thoughts. Practise bath-time mindfulness in an utterly inviting tub and see some more tips on how to create your own spiritual retreat at home.
The essence of relaxation is a really long bath for winding down slowly. With a bathroom clock, clock-watching is positively encouraged. Observing the steady progress of hands around a dial can clear your mind, release tension and encourage quiet thoughts. Practise bath-time mindfulness in an utterly inviting tub and see some more tips on how to create your own spiritual retreat at home.
In the drop-off zone
A clock in the entryway or drop-off zone is a timely reminder for dawdlers and procrastinators. See some more ways to get out the door faster.
A clock in the entryway or drop-off zone is a timely reminder for dawdlers and procrastinators. See some more ways to get out the door faster.
In the doghouse
Puppies find a steady, repetitive sound soothing. With a furry new addition to your home, wrap a clock in towels and place it where your pup sleeps – or doesn’t. The towel dampens the tick to a muffled heartbeat, with a comforting hypnotic tempo and vibration.
With a pup inclined to chew, place the wrapped clock in a pup-proof container near their bed. Introducing the sound at a regular time signals bedtime and gets puppy into a routine that suits you.
Puppies find a steady, repetitive sound soothing. With a furry new addition to your home, wrap a clock in towels and place it where your pup sleeps – or doesn’t. The towel dampens the tick to a muffled heartbeat, with a comforting hypnotic tempo and vibration.
With a pup inclined to chew, place the wrapped clock in a pup-proof container near their bed. Introducing the sound at a regular time signals bedtime and gets puppy into a routine that suits you.
For focus in a wide-open space
A favourite design principle is the creation of a focal point in a space. It’s an important aspect of composition for a balanced room. Proportion is a consideration too, and a super-sized skeleton clock has the right scale, visual lightness and definite eye-pulling power. The minimal, abstract shape suits this contemporary home to a tee.
A favourite design principle is the creation of a focal point in a space. It’s an important aspect of composition for a balanced room. Proportion is a consideration too, and a super-sized skeleton clock has the right scale, visual lightness and definite eye-pulling power. The minimal, abstract shape suits this contemporary home to a tee.
Natural textures, safari-style furniture, tribal graphics and art combine to great effect here. The clock balances the angular arrangement where focus automatically goes, and the subtle detail of red clock hands makes the eye skip around the room to corresponding cushions and artwork.
In a mid-century modern setting
Many innovative designs emerged from this era of out-of-the-box thinking. George Nelson was an MCM luminary as design director of Herman Miller’s influential production company. He looked at clock forms with an eye for the abstract and playful, and his designs are timeless. The Sunburst clock, here in red, ranks with the classics, alongside Sunflower, Turbine, Spindle, Block and Ball, and Eye models. For MCM disciples, a Nelson clock transcends its function and becomes a sculptural masterpiece.
Icons of mid-century design explained
Many innovative designs emerged from this era of out-of-the-box thinking. George Nelson was an MCM luminary as design director of Herman Miller’s influential production company. He looked at clock forms with an eye for the abstract and playful, and his designs are timeless. The Sunburst clock, here in red, ranks with the classics, alongside Sunflower, Turbine, Spindle, Block and Ball, and Eye models. For MCM disciples, a Nelson clock transcends its function and becomes a sculptural masterpiece.
Icons of mid-century design explained
In a garden or courtyard
Move time outside. A covered courtyard wall with a clock framed by symmetrical greenery forms a beckoning view from the dining room.
Move time outside. A covered courtyard wall with a clock framed by symmetrical greenery forms a beckoning view from the dining room.
Sundials cast nostalgic charm over flower-filled cottage-style gardens – think a worn flagstone path winding between lavender, buttercups, peonies, delphiniums and fragrant old roses. Sundials are an enduring favourite as garden accessories in cottage and modern gardens. They won’t get you to work on time, but they have character in spades.
An armillary sphere, or spherical astrolabe, is a traditional timepiece with a striking and dignified presence. The intricate symmetry of a globe of entwined metal rings set on a pedestal deserves to be admired from all angles. Standing where paths meet or framed by a graceful arch in a formal garden, an astrolabe is a calming reminder of the passage of time that governs gardens and all of nature.
Browse more formal gardens
Browse more formal gardens
Where age doesn’t matter
A hallway is the perfect place for passing traffic to take a quick time check. Few modern homes have the high ceilings and wide hallways of yesterday, but grand old homes restored to former glory just cry out for a grandfather clock quietly ticking and bonging away the hours. Beautifully crafted pieces are more affordable than ever in auctions and antiques shops. The fact that these old darlings have stoically ticked away the centuries with only the power of a pendulum is a lesson in patience.
A hallway is the perfect place for passing traffic to take a quick time check. Few modern homes have the high ceilings and wide hallways of yesterday, but grand old homes restored to former glory just cry out for a grandfather clock quietly ticking and bonging away the hours. Beautifully crafted pieces are more affordable than ever in auctions and antiques shops. The fact that these old darlings have stoically ticked away the centuries with only the power of a pendulum is a lesson in patience.
An old-style clock with proportions more suited to modern homes is the Swedish Mora clock. With Nordic design riding high, their curves and folky charm make them luxury statement pieces to covet. Never out of style in Sweden where they originated in the town of Mora in the 1700s, originals are much sought after. Maybe on your wish list?
Mora clocks were communal projects between several of the town’s families – some made cases, some the hands, and so on – and were usually painted timber, with rustic decoration. Reproductions can be found, and because of their slender shape and shallow depth, they stand elegantly in smaller spaces.
Mora clocks were communal projects between several of the town’s families – some made cases, some the hands, and so on – and were usually painted timber, with rustic decoration. Reproductions can be found, and because of their slender shape and shallow depth, they stand elegantly in smaller spaces.
Where metallics mix
There’s a trend today for putting metallic elements together in surprising ways. A popular eclectic look is to pair vintage industrial metals with shiny, modern steel-toned features. This room gets it spot on.
There’s a trend today for putting metallic elements together in surprising ways. A popular eclectic look is to pair vintage industrial metals with shiny, modern steel-toned features. This room gets it spot on.
In a vintage vignette
Clocks – and parts of them – are a favourite item for collectors of quirk, no matter if they work or not. Even the rustiest old clock dial or time-eroded hands are things of beauty to vintage treasure seekers. However, even a dog-tired clock can tick again with a new movement. Display your vintage booty in a fetching vignette.
TIP: Clock-making supplies are a few clicks away – search ‘make your own clock’.
Clocks – and parts of them – are a favourite item for collectors of quirk, no matter if they work or not. Even the rustiest old clock dial or time-eroded hands are things of beauty to vintage treasure seekers. However, even a dog-tired clock can tick again with a new movement. Display your vintage booty in a fetching vignette.
TIP: Clock-making supplies are a few clicks away – search ‘make your own clock’.
Where time stands still
What better place for a timepiece than in a house where time means nothing! Holidays are for forgetting about time, diaries and appointments and surrendering to daily rhythms and your own body clock. A big down-at-the-heel clock – such as this beauty in faded denim blue – in a prominent spot is a great reminder that, at least for now, time doesn’t matter.
TELL US
Do you have a favourite clock in your house? Share a clock story with us in the Comments section.
MORE
Read more about seasonal decorating ideas
What better place for a timepiece than in a house where time means nothing! Holidays are for forgetting about time, diaries and appointments and surrendering to daily rhythms and your own body clock. A big down-at-the-heel clock – such as this beauty in faded denim blue – in a prominent spot is a great reminder that, at least for now, time doesn’t matter.
TELL US
Do you have a favourite clock in your house? Share a clock story with us in the Comments section.
MORE
Read more about seasonal decorating ideas
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Or change husbands to this man, just so I can always see the time!
Hi Janet........ :) It was some time ago now so I don't really remember what the main reason was, but I imagine it's to do with the fact that most people didn't want to extend the length of the daylight during the long hot summers, simply for the convenience of being in line with the rest of the country.
Commonsense showed us that we needed to keep our early sunsets (around 7.0pm - ish ) in order to enjoy some cooler temperatures in the evening...! The West Australian population was asked.....and they made their choice, I'm happy to say.... :)
At our beach bach we have a day clock with a single hand and the days of the week round the clock face. Also a tide clock. Thats really all the information we need on holiday.