When you look around your home, what do you see? Do you see your past and your family’s influence? Do you have silver, artwork, photographs, books, perhaps? Do you have new things as well, such as sea shells collected from family vacations, the bottles of perfume, matchbooks or maps collected from restaurants from your all your travels? Everything in your home tells a story – it tells your story!
Do you have things that are tucked away, unused and unenjoyed? Perhaps a set of copper pots and pans, or wooden spoons or rolling pins. These can all be neatly on display and in a user-friendly location. It’s important to note that when done properly, collections do not equate clutter. Collections are a lovely way to add your own personal style and flair to your home decor. Collected items tend to look better when grouped together rather than being placed in various locations throughout your home. Think about how elegant all your candlesticks would look upon your mantel or piano. Ceramic pitchers can be housed all together on kitchen shelves, or cabinets with glass fronts, where they can be easily reached and yet grouped together look pleasing to the eye. Look at Jacques Pepin’s kitchen below and how he displays his collection of pots and pans. Is it not to die for!
Do you have any collections? Perhaps flags or old enamelware, or mismatched silverware… Perhaps you have a collection of ceramic bud vases, Spanish wine bottles, or shells from the seaside. Whatever it is that you collect, display it proudly for it tells a story – it tells your story!