Apologises for the lack of post yesterday - a night of no sleep and a crazy day shoved me off kilter, coupled with a night shift in the store on the weekend displaying all the new stuff and so many problems with paneling the tiniest loo or earth I was feeling a little sorry for myself. Today as they say is another day and onwards and upwards we go!
I've been thinking quite a bit recently about the art of displaying stuff, you know those possessions you own, collect and plonk around the place and the powerful, emotional effect they have upon a room- expanding it both visually and emotionally. They give us the visitor a window to your world as well as adding depth, colour, intrigue and oodles of personality. No matter how large or small your pad the bits and bobs you scatter around the place are the finishing touches turning rooms from ordinary to extraordinary. My approach to displaying stuff is rather ad hoc - there isn't a lot of symmetry going on it tends to come from the gut, so I've got a bunch of faux gelda on my mantle piece next to a bronze head which hangs out next to a porcelain parrot. Crazy? Sounds it but it actually works as those coming along to the master classes will see. For me its about diversity and following your own identity, one of the reasons I am so excited about launching my new alternative design school next year is because I want to bang on (till the cows come home probably) just how easy it is to decorate in this way. I'm not interested in trends follow your own trend ignore everyone elseâs its individuality that is important. A few things to point you in the right direction are as follows - vary the height, on shelves, mantles, tables you want different heights otherwise its uber boring, flat and unimaginative.
Depending upon your colour palette (remember mine is inky and sludgy with big shots of colour in lamps and furniture) so I keep many of my accessories quite neutral or at least to a restricted palette - I think on the mantle in question I've three things in varying tones of bronze (actually four) and a big burst of lime green in the flowers. I don't want anyone coming in here feeling anxious I want to tantalise seduce and get the heart rate beating just that little bit faster but at the end of the day I want my space to feel lived in, comfortable and relaxed!
Some design schools and books will bang on about negative space when displaying stuff in order to give your collections room to breathe. I tend to ignore this too, varying the height I find adds enough negative space and creates a gentle interesting rhythm.
And here is what I am talking about- the display feels relaxed, paintings of varying sizes are propped against the wall on a console in a vary relaxed fashion, heaps of books on a table with a sculpture plonked in the middle. Yes this interior is an expensive one but that's not my point, forget the amazing stuff and instead concentrate on the accessories. They are laid back nothing repeat nothing is worse than uptight displays (are you listening US Elle Decor the days of the perfectly styled home where everything is just so is over). Life, style, design is all about being easy going, uplifting a little tongue in cheek even to put us all at ease.
Hang a crazy picture on a wall, prop art against the floor the best homes show life going on, show the personality of the people living there - are spirited, charming and fill me with joy.
