Styling with Intention 

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When I was little my greatest joy was to adventure in the woods collecting pretty stones and small oddities from nature . I would meticulously arrange them in my forts and on the windowsills of my childhood home. It is no wonder as an interior designer I truly enjoy the finishing touches of styling a room and I do so with utmost intention and care. 

 

At FORM we treat styling furnishings, collections and accessories the same way an artist approaches a painting or a florist an arrangement. A room is a living composition. You have to start with questions. What do you want to evoke? How do you want this space to make you feel? What is its personality?  

 

Some rooms can be serene, relaxing, cozy and well lived in, or more formal and symbolic. Other rooms such as your kitchen can be functional, a welcoming place to gather with upholstered seating or bold, adorned with bright blue or classic orange cookware. 

 

In furniture layouts and accessorizing a living room, there must be a careful balance of objects to give them all the proper space to be viewed, experienced and appreciated. Just make it unique. Hand made items and authentic artworks always stand the test of time better than any object sourced from a chain store. We are always collecting, from flea markets, independent makers, far away travels and right here on the beach of Lake Michigan. 

 

You don’t have to purchase all new furnishings to breathe fresh life into your home. Simply rearranging the furniture or highlighting a new vintage piece can lead to transformation. It’s often the space between, or the negative space of a composition that is most important. It will define how the forms are used, what the flow of the room will become or even how your eye will travel from one item to another.

When styling your kitchen, for example, if you have glass cabinets a good rule of thumb is to stagger a shelf of several multiples with a single large item such as a crock or serving dish. On a book shelf, leave space around those personal items you want to stand out. Oftentimes, less really is more. Intentional use of color and texture will complete a look. When using primarily neutrals in the furnishings we like to add a bright piece of art or a deep-toned rug as a thoughtful complement. If you have the perfect vintage mohair chair we may bring in another soft natural texture like throw pillows on the sofa with shearling or silk trim. Don’t be afraid to mix patterns, this can give any room a layered playful look. From the rug and accent pillows to a well curated wallpaper and drape combination, the possibilities are endless. 

 

This process should be joyful. Nothing is sacred here. Play with your treasures. Move them around. Watch how they interact with one another. With careful positioning the simplest objects can lead to refreshing change.