Fortune Teller

This beautiful wagon is decorated in gorgeous Romany style ("gypsy" is not correct, I understand).

The photo comes from a blog post at Interior Divine about designer Jeanne Bayol - who loves l'esprit tzigane (okay "gypsy" style) and restores old Romany caravans. Follow the picture-link to more great photos.

Notice the wealth of textures and the draped fabric.

Building this yourself - if you're a cabinet-maker level woodworker - is possible. And just imagine how much fun to own!

This site (a good site anyway) has terrific inspirational photos of Romany style caravans and wagons.

Quick! Go look.

These caravans are fantastic and I want one desperately!

Unfortunately, it might be a bit, um, ambitious to build one just for Halloween, but you can catch the style in almost any small space. An entry hall might be perfect: you could greet guests, tell fortunes, or hand out candy in a small area by the front door. Use drapes or curtains or folding screens to partition off a Fortune Teller's corner.

This Moroccan style room might inspire your Fortune Teller's corner. Notice the exotic fabrics, the gleam of brass, and the jewel-like colors. Look to India and the Middle East, look at China and Asia.

You want to create a mood of exoticism, mystery, magical possibility...

(Do you think, in the East, that they decorate to evoke the mysterious West? Could be.)

If you have a small room you can devote to housing your Fortune Teller, this is what I as a theater set designer and and architect would suggest:

Paint the room a dark color.

I suggest a dark PURPLE because: purple is reputed to have a good psychic "vibe" (this IS a mystical room, right?) and because it is changeable and interesting under colored light. What's more, I'd paint it purple by scumbling together two other paint colors - a dark royal blue and a raspberry or maroon red. If your walls are just ordinary, I'd use flat latex paint. (Consider low VOC paint, it's less smelly.) If your walls have interesting texture, like brick or wood paneling, an eggshell or low gloss would be fun.

Paint the ceiling dark too.

Cover the floor with dark rug(s). Look for something interestingly ethnic and rich looking. Old Turkish or Persian carpets would be perfect! A scrap of old indoor-outdoor stuff will work. You want the feeling of lushness underfoot and the hush it will add to the room.

Find rich looking hangings or fabric - old velvet curtains or such to add to the walls. Absolutely! drape the doorway with dark, heavy curtains. Maybe even beads. If you like, stick glow-in-the-dark stars etc. on any wall left showing.

Hang the most "gypsy" looking lamp you can find from the ceiling above the table. The easiest way to do this is to put the hanging light on a long extension cord, add a couple ceiling hooks and - presto! - light where you want it. This could be a Turkish lamp you wire up, a store-bought Chinese paper lantern that's already wired, a cheap Home Depot "trouble light" with a paper lantern jammed over it, or your existing chandelier tricked out with Mardigras beads... Keep it fun and easy.

Be sure to add some other dim lighting. With purple walls red and/or blue light would be great. Maybe a string of Christmas lights or candles in colored glass votives. (Beware candle flames and all these draperies.)

The furniture can be almost anything. If the chairs are old-fashioned looking and wooden and you can paint them - do. Add as much faux peasant decoration as you feel like. (Remember it'll be pretty dark in here - so go for it!). If the chairs are not quite right, just drape them with fabric. Drape a small table with one or several table cloths and shawls.

Add a few pieces of set dressing to add to the mood. Add a crystal balll (even if you don't use it) and Tarot cards (ditto). Then, depending on which theme you want, try adding:

For "Gypsy" Fortune Teller - embroidered fabrics; painted and decorated chests and cabinets

For "Witchy" - an old-fashioned broom; bunches of herbs; jars with more herbs or potions; incense; candles; a skull maybe; crystals perhaps

For Sorcerer/ess or Seer - runes; books; skulls (this IS Halloween); celestial globes; anything with stars, moons, etc.; mask;, carved figures; and a stuffed crocodile is standard!

Go to my other Lenses below to learn more about painting a scumbling technique (Fun! Easy!) and for hints on thrifty shopping for fabrics and furniture.

If you enjoyed this page on designing with the (Fortune Teller's) stars, please click the "LIKE" button below.

(Squidoo-ers only, alas. Want to join? Fun. Easy. Potentially profitable!)

Or "LIKE" to Facebook, tweet, tell your Mom... All forms of approval gratefully accepted.

Wow! Ask and receive! This Lens was just awarded a Purple Star award. Thank you Squidooers! Tip o' the hat to you - much appreciated.