Today, I thought I would do the final installment of my series that I started a few months ago on how to get a “collected look” for your home. So far, I’ve touched on four essentials for achieving this:
1. Have at least one modern piece in a room 2. Have real antiques or vintage furniture, not just newly made pieces 3. Have some sort of collection 4. Have at least a few pieces of real art Now I’m going to touch on the fifth (and possibly, final) thing I think you need to give your house that collected look, and that is a “style mix.” In order to get the depth and character that you want here, you have to have a collection of different furniture styles and finishes. That means no dining room or bedroom “sets,” and that you should definitely not care if all the woods in the room are matching. In fact, it’s better if they don’t match. The best rooms, and probably most of the ones you admire in magazines, are a wonderful mix of eras, styles, and woods, creating a personal and eclectic space that is unique. And by it’s very nature, if you mix styles and finishes, it will look like you’ve acquired the pieces over time, something that buying a “set” could never achieve. Let’s look at some examples of a style mix….A favorite room! I see two different brown woods, gold and glass, and a gray wash on the chairs – but it all works beautifully together! Design by Billet-Collins. |
Dark and medium wood here, as well as painted white chairs and a grey table. Home of the artist John Monks. |
One of my all-time favorite rooms! Designer Donna Temple Brown’s spaces feel so collected and lived in, as if they’ve always been there. French and Swedish styles as well as different finishes all meld into one beautiful room. |
Love this contrast of the antique gold mirror with the clean modern lines of the coffee table and side chair. Via House Beautiful. |
This room seems so approachable to me! Couches are clean lined as is the modern console table, but then they have a dark brown wood traditional demilune table and an antique French barometer. Love, love, love this mix! Via Veranda magazine. |
Via Veranda magazine. |
Designer Dana Lyon. |
Via Veranda magazine. |
Via BHG. |
There is literally every shade of furniture in this room! White painted surfaces, greys, dark woods, gilt chairs, as well as different styles and eras. Via House Beautiful. |
By Madeline Stuart. |
I’ve included this photo to illustrate my point about timelessness. This room could be today, but it was designed in 1999! Would you ever have guessed that?! I love it, and I think it all still looks as good today as it did then. Designed by Babs Watkins. |
By Suzanne Kasler. |
Here designer Tara Shaw uses two different night stands, as well as several different wood finishes and a very contemporary canopy bed. |
Designed by Tara Shaw. |
Two different night stands again, and both different than that gorgeous bed frame. By Suzanne Rheinstein. |
Very pretty! Luxe Living Interiors. |
Design by Shannon Bowers. |
I’ve always loved this bedroom! An antique armoire mixed with a vintage painted wood wine table and a metal nightstand. |
Via Elle Decor. |
Just stunning! Design by Tara Shaw. |
Yawn Design Studio. |
Designer Jane Moore. |
This is another image that is very old. I have an actual paper tear out of this from years ago (I’m not even sure of the date, but at least 10 years ago!) Love the mix of the white painted chairs, the burl wood buffet and that glass table. Via House and Home. |
Love light chairs with a dark table. Design by Loi Thai. |
This dining room is so cute! Love the mix of finishes in this room. From the blog Nubury Lane. |
Via Ballard Designs. |
xo
Joining at these fabulous blogs this week: