Using the things we love...

If we are honest, there are things in our homes that might not fit everyone’s idea of the ultimate in interior design. In Alexandra Stoddard’s book Creating a Beautiful Home, she talks about surrounding yourself with the things you love to truly create a home. She gives us “permission” to break the “rules” and include personally revealing items. Here are a few examples of the challenges we face when we do just that.


Recently, a Charlotte, NC client had a dilemma that we had to solve. Her husband collects autographed sports memorabilia and lots of it. The question that we faced was how to create a gallery style installation on the wall of her husband’s home office. The question wasn’t how to create a beautiful display, the question was how to select from such an abundance of beloved options. I recently found a photographer that photographs and compiles hard bound books for homeowners. I am going to share this with this client as a way to document this amazing collection.

My daughter recently asked me why we have a baby carriage in our foyer! The reason, I explained, is that it is from the 1800’s and has carried 5 generations of Maxwell babies. It is a lovely old piece with iron wheels and a rattan carriage. It fits perfectly in my foyer and there is no other option in my home. Is it appropriate to have an item like this in the foyer? Maybe not, but we love it and enjoy it every day.

Another client’s husband brings home treasures from his travels around the world. He is very sentimental about these items and wants them displayed. We chose two display cabinets in which to show these pieces and make them work. Do we love all the items? No. Do they make an impact as a collection in a showcase? Absolutley. Is the client enjoying the fruit of his travel? You bet, and isn’t that the point?

Keep the following in mind for the key to displaying one or more special items:

Focus  -  Create a prominent spot for one of a kind items.  Spotlighting, framing or otherwising highlighting these items gives them importance and impact.

Balance—objects placed in relation to one another in order to create visual stability using symmetry or asymmetry.  A rule of thumb; if you think that the physical weight of each side would balance on an actual scale, you have likely acheived the balance you neeed.

Proportion—objects grouped according to size and distribution of forms.

Visual focus/hierarchy—objects arranged in order to create focal points which attract the eye, utilizing shapes, sizes and colours.

Repetition—objects repeated in a grouping to create visual interest and unity by considering spatial relationships, colours, shapes or textures.  Grouping like items creates impact.

Contrast & dynamics—objects placed in opposition or tension in order to create visual interest, involving elements such as colour (contrasting colours like red/green, blue/orange, yellow/purple), lightness and darkness, size or visual suggestion of movement (rhythmic, arrhythmic, random or directional).

I have always admired Alexandra Stoddard’s philosophy that your home should reflect you and the things you love, not a trend or what anyone else says. It is only by using personal items that we create the unique environment that we call home. So find a way to use those items that you are not sure you should. Display them with purpose and you will enjoy your home all the more for it!