Showing Off What You Love

Q: How do you recommend artfully displaying antique collectables in my home?

A: Personally, I love collections. They can help us hold on to precious memories. Organization and placement are the most important factors for creating an eye-catching display. Though, the nice thing about showcasing special items like these is that there are numerous ways to style the space.

One of my clients has a fantastic collection of antique and decorative keys I was able to display for her. I sourced a frame with an antique-style border and stenciled various white open shapes onto the frame’s dark tan background. With the stenciled circles, squares and other silhouettes serving as the foundation for the presentation, I hung the keys in and around the shapes, grouping them by type and age. This guided the display of the diverse shapes, sizes and colors of keys. We covered the frame in glass and hung it above a historic table topped with a vintage typewriter as a balancing focal point.

Your display depends upon the assortment of items you have within your personal treasure trove. If you have many small collectibles, keep the presentation simplistic and tidy. For larger collections such as porcelain bowls or assemblages of keepsakes, think thematically. Decide on a theme, and display your favorite items based upon relaxed structure.

Q: I have recently added a large painting to my foyer which uses a lot of wall space. How can I accessorize the foyer around my artwork?

A: Using a prominent painting is a great addition to a foyer, especially if the art depicts or identifies something personal and meaningful to you and your family. A sizable painting or other artwork can be breathtaking upon entering a home. However, artwork alone does not usually make for a finished-looking design space. I suggest harmonizing your large artwork with a furnishing choice and accessories that help complement and show off the art.

For one of my clients, we placed a lovely white bench below one of her favorite landscape paintings. The space under the art was not expansive enough for us to place a wall table or console. So, the bench yielded just the right look and feel underneath the painting. I selected a Louis XVI style bench with cream-white seat fabric and a natural patina finish to counterbalance the painting’s dark frame. On the bench, I placed a few pillows and a throw blanket boasting a color scheme inspired by the painting’s blue, grey and green palette.

Q: How can I brighten the mood of my master bathroom and create a calm and cheery ambience?

A: A strong use of color can help create cozy spaces with relaxing atmospheres. Bathrooms often start out as monotone, and adding contrasting or even dramatic color is a desirable design concept to brighten the room. It pulls the room together and makes it cohesive.

My design team and I incorporated bright coastal blue to set off the otherwise neutral hues in one home for which we provided interior design. Calming sea-blue wall paint coupled with dark-blue towels and blue floral floor mats added the needed color pizzazz to enliven the space’s sand-color tilework. The blue colors blended with the sandy tones of the tile, producing a tranquil beachside flair.

We added a beautiful chandelier atop the center of the bathroom to be reminiscent of the sun.

Even for bathrooms, or perhaps especially in bathrooms, chandeliers are a chic addition to evoke cheer and enliven a space.

Q: What do you suggest for decorating my wet bar so it does not appear too utilitarian?

A: This is a great opportunity to make the space your own. Do not stray away from using objects that mean the most to you. Photos of family and friends, cherished stemware and dishware, and ornamental dish and hand linens are always a great way to add personalization to a counter or bar. Group them together for harmonious impact.

Consider displaying a tray of bright-colored wine glasses to beautifully demonstrate your hosting enjoyments and befittingly utilize them when guests arrive. If space permits, I like to use an orchid arrangement as a sophisticated focal point to soften the appearance of hard tile and countertops. To finish the space, carefully disperse a variety of well-suited, decorative accessories to create a dual-sense of casual luxury and design symmetry.

About Kimberly: Kimberly specializes in interior design and home renovation. Visit her new Knotting Hill Interiors showroom at 7751 N. Kings Highway, behind her original location. To learn more, visit www.knottinghillinteriors.com.

This story was originally published October 3, 2015 at 6:31 AM with the headline "Showing Off What You Love."