Guest Picks: Accessories for a Curated Look
20 treasures and artful pieces to give your home's interior a "collected" feel
Life is one big long renovation. I blog about design trends, inspiring spaces and my own experiences of renovating houses on both sides of the pond at FourWallsandaRoof.com.
Life is one big long renovation. I blog about design trends, inspiring... More »
Today everyone aspires to live in a curated space. Curated homes are the ultimate reflection of the owner's taste and personal experience. They are filled with treasures, carefully collected and artfully displayed.
Luckily, curating your own collection doesn't require years of traveling or antiquing. It's possible to pull together an eclectic range of unique pieces from the comfort of your laptop. Look for handcrafted or unexpected items that tell a story and look like art in their own right. With a unified palette — in this case, neutrals, brass, woods and a little turquoise — and some thoughtful editing, your curated look starts to come together. I've gathered some products to get you started.
— Lucy from Four Walls and a Roof
Luckily, curating your own collection doesn't require years of traveling or antiquing. It's possible to pull together an eclectic range of unique pieces from the comfort of your laptop. Look for handcrafted or unexpected items that tell a story and look like art in their own right. With a unified palette — in this case, neutrals, brass, woods and a little turquoise — and some thoughtful editing, your curated look starts to come together. I've gathered some products to get you started.
— Lucy from Four Walls and a Roof
by Tonic Home
»
Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
Set the tone from the entryway with a mirror that looks like a collector's item. This oval shape is a fresh spin on sunburst mirrors. I would pair this with a mid-century console for an individual luxe-retro look.
Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
This handcrafted table would be perfect for displaying smaller treasures, and it's a work of art in its own right. I'd use it to inject warmth and character into a living room.
by Tonic Home
»
Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
I'd perch these cast resin sea urchins on top of a stack of books on the coffee table.
|
by Sang and Serena
»
Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
|
| A tray is a curator's best friend. Corralling several items onto a tray instantly gives them a more collected look. I'd choose a tray in a pale color, like gray or white, so that the accessories stand out. And, because I'm obsessed with mother of peal inlay, I'd opt for one of these beauties. |
by Serena & Lily
»
Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
This antique brass tray has a unique design and intricate etching. I'd use this on top of an ottoman instead of an end table.
Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
No curated home would be complete without original art. Small works like this can be propped on a shelf or mantel for a more casual look. Choosing art is very personal, but I would opt for an abstract ink on paper and pair it with varied ceramics in similar colors.
by PLANTATION
»
Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
This play on the traditional task light would be perfect on a table with stacks of books. I love that this lamp is so functional, and yet it is like a sculpture in its own right.
Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
This tealight holder is a modern design but is reminiscent of traditional pierced tin lanterns. Just a few of these dotted around the living room would create an amazing display.
Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
A rug completes a room, and this one is pretty special. It's made of re-dyed remnants of traditional Turkish rugs, so it is one of those pieces with a real story behind it. I love the version in pale gray, but I would use this stunning turquoise one for a truly jaw-dropping living room.
Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
A good curator cycles her treasures with the season and the occasion, so a roomy cabinet for storing those that are out of commission is essential. This chest is perfect. It has a mid-century appeal and would work in any space. I'd use this in a dining room and display a couple of large vases on top for good measure.
by John Lewis
»
Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
This lidded jar looks like an antique because of its variegated color and crackle glaze. But it's actually a very reasonably priced piece from a major retailer. I'd mix eras and geographies by displaying two of these on the previous cabinet.
| Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
|
| The trick with well-curated spaces is finding unexpected objects that prompt conversation without looking too contrived. These unusual candle holders, made from brass plumbing fixtures and pipework, are a witty focal point for a dining room. |
by Serena & Lily
»
Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
Textiles that are almost like art are perfect for curated spaces. These owl napkins are designed to look great folded, rolled or flat.
Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
The Tom Dixon Beat Light range is very distinctive, but you can also mix the different shapes to create a look all your own. I particularly like the Moroccan vibe of this version and would pair it with a simple round walnut dining table.
by Pier 1 Imports
»
Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
Mixing china to create an eclectic table setting has been popular for years. But I think mixing glassware can be just as effective, and the overall result is more polished. These crackle glass tumblers in amber would work well alongside traditional wine goblets and gold-rimmed champagne glasses next to an all-white place setting.
by Niki Jones
»
Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
Natural materials and beautiful craftsmanship are a great way to inject subtle personality into a modern space, such as a kitchen. I am hankering after one of these hand-turned Sheesham wood vessels for my kitchen shelves.
Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
Kitchens can use a little sparkle too. I still think quartz tealight holders have a magical appeal, even if they are more ubiquitous these days. I would light these when entertaining.
by Anthropologie
»
Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
Ordinary bedroom furniture can be transformed with unique hardware. I would use these Art Nouveau–style drawer knobs to give a plain dresser some additional character.
by Michael Aram
»
Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
Even little bowls for collecting odds and ends can be treasures in themselves. These bronze and gold bowls look like they could be museum pieces — or like they've come straight out of the vaults of Gringotts.
by PLANTATION
»
Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
Symmetrical lamps are one of the easiest ways to pull together a space filled with different styles. I like these O lamps in pairs because of their classic shape. They would be elegant on either side of a bed.
Next: A Earthy, Elegant Master Bedroom
Next: A Earthy, Elegant Master Bedroom
Ideabook published on Dec. 8, 2011.
What are you working on?
News From Our Partners
Latest Ideabooks
People found the photos in this ideabook after searching for:
View over a million photos:
