Things that Add Character to Any Home
Those finishing touches that make a house feel like home
As an interior stylist, my focus is on the finishing touches that make a room sing. More specifically, I’ve always believed that objects with a story give a home its heart and soul. In fact, that’s the whole premise of this newsletter.
Objects with color, texture, and interesting design details make a strong visual impact. But it’s so much more than that — they also create a sense of warmth and belonging you can feel when you walk into a room. I’m immediately at ease in a space that’s filled with personal touches, the kind you know people were drawn to, that say something about them.
It’s not to say that the furniture and big design decisions like window treatments, wall color, etc aren’t important, but rather that all those small details can have an outsized importance. That reminds me of the Charles Eames quote, “The details are not the details. They make the design.”
Chic Lists have been popular lately, so I thought I’d adapt that idea and instead of what I find chic, I’ll share things that I find characterful for home. If there’s a room that’s looking/feeling a little flat, maybe you’ll find some inspiration or a special new addition to breath new life into it.
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sense of spen• cer
noun [sɛns, əv, ˈspɛnsər]
Reflecting one’s identity through their interiors
A home with character and soul
When a house becomes a home
So here it goes…
One-of-a-kind pottery - I’m a big, big fan of pottery for its power to breathe life into a space. It’s probably the #1 thing I collect when vintage shopping, and it’s not just vintage either — there are so many talented ceramicists working today all over the world. I love bowls and pitchers as decorative objects on tables and shelves — plates look great as wall decor.
1. Drip jug. 2. Marbled plate. 3. Antique bowl. 4. Mochaware bowl. 5. Horenzu plate. 6. Antique slipware bowl. 7. Slipware jug. 8. Astier de Villatte heron plate
Art from artists - This is a pretty obvious one, but the type of art matters. It doesn’t need to be original, but it should be art from an artist (and not a computer or a corporation) — it looks and feels different. Also mix it up with different sizes, types of frame, and dimensionality.
Decorative objects - I truly think you can never have enough accents including objet d’art or sculptures, vide poches, figurines, boxes, faux plants, candles that act as decorative objects, you name it. This category is perhaps the most interesting to look at and almost always has a story behind them of what gives them meaning.
1. Seated woman sculpture. 2. Ceramic pomegranate. 3. ‘Magic’ box. 4. Casa Gusto tole beans. 5. Sunburst vide poche. 6. The green vase geranium. 7. Loewe candle. 8. Pietro box. 9. Metal violet sculpture. 10. Vintage frog censer. 11. Ginore x Luke Edward Hall vide poche. 12. Schoolhouse x Clare V catch all.
Cool lighting - No boring lamps! Lamps afford you a way to bring in texture, color, or interesting shapes. So, if a space is lacking, and there is a socket, a lamp is a good solution. They’re especially good in unexpected places.
1. French art decor lamp. 2. Rattan lamp. 3. Mid-century lamp. 4. Metal table lamp.