The Finishing Touches: Polishing a Home’s Personality
Big design is about the little details that bring a home together and make it feel finished. This Huntley townhome gave us the chance to do just that.
After a couple of previous consultations, my client had already been busy. He’d tackled the list of updates we discussed, including fresh paint, a kitchen update, new window treatments and more. He had also purchased new furniture, so the foundations were already there. What was missing were the layers that would pull everything together and make the spaces feel more personal, collected and complete.
And there was no shortage of personality or beautiful decor to work with!!!
One of the real standouts was his curated collection of sketches by legendary Hollywood costume designer, Edith Head. He wanted help figuring out how to re-display them after the painting was finished, which gave us the perfect opportunity to rethink the entire arrangement. Because when you have something as fabulous as an Edith Head collection, there is absolutely no reason for it to look like you just hung nine pictures on a wall and called it a day.
There were nine black & white sketches and three color pieces. While a 3-over-3 grid would certainly have been easier, it also would have been…well, a 3-over-3 grid. Instead, we created a more interesting, stair-step arrangement which helped fill the wall, kept the artwork lower for easier viewing and gave the individual pieces the illusion of a single statement piece. And perfection takes time! Spaced exactly an inch apart (side to side and top to bottom), the entire arrangement took 2 hours to install!
Next, the three colorful sketches got their own treatment, but on the wall between the windows. We added picture shelves beneath them, which brought in some warmth, gave the artwork more presence and created a nice visual distinction between the colorful pieces and the black-and-white collection.
The rest of the project was all about layering. A new area rug helped anchor and define the living space, while a new, extension dining table and chairs gave the dining area better presence and function. New lamps added warmth and highlighted the artwork, and greenery brought softness and life into the space. With plenty of accessories to choose from, we simply re-envisioned those in different places.
DESIGNER TIP: It’s easy to become eye-blind to things that never move. When we see them in the same spot for years, our brains basically file them under “nothing to see here.” Editing, rearranging and repurposing the “same old…same old” can give your space an instant, noticeable refresh. And the best part? It won’t cost you a dime!
Living Room Before
Living Room After
Dining Room & Living Room Before
Dining Room Living Room After
Living Room Before
Living Room After
Then there was his wonderful collection of carnival glass and other pieces gathered during travels. These were the kinds of things that could easily end up scattered around the house without much thought, but they deserved better than that. We incorporated a few of them throughout the space but the majority were kept together on an etagere, in the front hall, where they couldn’t me “missed”. Mixing them with the new furnishings and other additions made the home felt collected over time rather than decorated all at once.
DESIGNER TIP: If you have a collection you love, don’t be afraid to let it take up some real estate. Grouping collectibles together creates a stronger visual statement and makes the collection feel intentional rather than scattered throughout the house looking like visual clutter. Think of it as giving your collection its own moment to shine instead of making each piece compete for attention.
Collectibles Display
Interior decorating isn’t simply to select pretty things and put them in a room. It’s about creating a space that reflects the person who lives there, whether that’s through artwork, objects collected while traveling, a favorite color, or even a slightly unexpected way of arranging a gallery wall.
In this home, the finishing touches weren’t just finishing touches. They were what brought everything together.
And sometimes, all it takes is looking at a room a little differently to turn a collection of beautiful things into a home that feels distinctly, and wonderfully, like its owner.
Happy Re-Imagining and Decorating from Decor Designs. 815-245-2433
