Styling Shelves: The Art Of Curation —
OUR HOMES TELL OUR STORY
We all have things in our homes which we’ve collected along the way. As a matter of fact —I can guess you almost feel overwhelmed by all of the little pieces that have come with years of great experiences, lots of mishaps and mis-chosen items, and various compilations of things from friends and family members.
Don’t worry, you are not alone. Every home I go into has plentiful décor items that need a place. Despite the almost pressure in recent years to focus on the “look” of a display —it’s ok to realize that these things are more important than that. Namely, they mark occasions, milestones, or experiences we’ve had. So rather than just place things together because of a look you are trying to achieve, I recommend taking it one step further.
LET’S LOOK AT THE WORD CURATE
It has long had a standing, mostly in the fine arts community, and is defined as: to pull together, sift through, and select for presentation with care. Even though it has become the word du jour, it is still loaded with a thoughtful effort —or at least it should be. I see that as a very personal thing. As a designer it is my job to really understand my clients, who they are and who they want to be. You might not imagine a little bit of that can take place upon a shelf, but it’s all part of the bigger picture of making a house a home. Let’s linger on that….making a house a home…
CURATION TAKES TIME
It takes understanding and culling and cutting through into what is important. When my team and I pull together a shelf, or any display space, it’s really an ode to the person for which we are creating it; an inspiration point for how they want to feel. It serves to delineate them and separate their home from anyone else’s. It’s meant as something dynamic. Something that grows, and changes and lives. Things on a shelf should be picked up, moved around and have stories told about them. They should be beautiful and attractive in the sense that they invite us to engage. They should generate visual interest in height and texture and playfulness so that one can easily imagine delving into collecting something and turning into a connective hobby with a child or spouse or just plain with oneself.
Our homes tell our story and if they fail to do so, they don’t feel right. Let’s take a look at some of the edits we’ve done over the years and why I arranged them the way I have.
BOOKS CAN BE BEAUTIFUL
I never seem to tire of books and as you can see, this library made that a dream. By organizing the collection as a whole, publications are easy to find. By arranging them each by color, they become a stunning site to see.
DISPLAYING COLLECTIONS
Keeping this grouping clean on a black and white background allows everything to be seen and all to be engaged with. While shelves should always look beautifully inviting, they should also be functional, so that one can easily access all the treasures that are on display.
The glass floated butterflies shown above provide subtle shots of color along-side a vintage glass bottle collection. And barware is easily accessible in a hutch under a display of colorful art prints. Keeping collections layered but visible and uncluttered is key to an eye-catching arrangement.
THE ART OF THE ART COLLAGE
This art collage is meant to be on rotation. For this custom piece, I set out to create a space that encourages artwork change-outs and regular inquiry and conversation around my clients’ collection. Bright colors balance well with the clean-lines of the built-in and books intermingle to highlight origin or expertise where possible. All and all a wonderful place for enjoyment and discussion.
WOODEN BUILT-INS BRIMMING WITH BOOKS
When wood comes into play, we have to be mindful that shelves are well balanced, so as not to overwhelm. Here I focused on a rich color palette, meant to pull the eye through the continuous space, so that one can see and enjoy the many facets of the space itself. Interspersed artwork throughout, give this study a wonderfully lived in (and enjoyed) look.
AN ARMOIRE FILLED WITH FORM AND FUNCTION
Don’t underestimate the beauty and practicality of an armoire with shelving either. For the example above, placed as part of a kitchen, I used the opportunity to gather a strong collection of cookbooks, alongside favorite bowls and plates for playful service. By keeping this visually appealing, my client will use their beloved pieces more often, which is a very important thing.
OPEN SHELVING PUTS YOUR FAVORITES ON DISPLAY
Open floating shelving is always a great space saver and allows one to highlight moments large and small. Cookbooks and glassware collections find an easy home, with the added practicality of guest being able to easily grab a drink when needed, or place a glass down during conversation. In a space by seating, there should never be a shortage of surface space to put down a beverage or a good book.
Whether I’m styling a beautiful hutch, a custom built-in I designed, or floating shelves, curation is key. The edits I make are what transforms a house full of “stuff” into a home full of inspiration that truly represents my clients and who they want to be.
