by Trudy Dujardin, ASID, and Price Connors of Dujardin Design Associates, Inc.
all photos courtesy of Dujardin Design Associates

What is it about some homes you visit that make you wish you could recreate something about them? They have an indefinable air of elegance, and no matter where you turn, in any room, there are beautiful items artfully placed to catch your eye, and sometimes catch your breath as well. Below, find some top tips to consider when you design with collections.

Top 10 Tip to Design with Collections

1.

Begin by collecting something you love. The desire to have a collection of sailor whirligigs or depression glass can stem from a trip to an antiques show (such as the Nantucket Historical Association’s annual August Antiques Show), or perhaps you inherited Aunt Sophie’s 18th-century gold snuff box, and its intricate design and diminutive size delight you. Don’t hesitate to follow your passion.

2.

Develop an eye for placement. It’s important to group collections and display them for maximum effect. Trained in the visual arts, interior designers are skilled at envisioning a room with just the right touches. Too much, and your home can begin to look cluttered and overfull. Too little, and your treasured pieces lose impact. If you’re not a visual person (and not everyone is) seek professional help to create a striking display.

3.

Support local artists. There is the wonderful Artists Association of Nantucket, dedicated to sustaining the visual arts of the island. There are craftsmen who do wood carvings (often from reclaimed wood), furniture designers, potters and glass blowers. An item doesn’t have to be old to be beautifully designed and created. By supporting contemporary artists and craftsmen and women, you’re giving them the chance to see their works of art passed down as heirlooms someday.

4.

Be inspired by where you live. Nantucket, of course, is rich in seafaring and whaling history. Trudy’s collections include whaling logs, blue and white Chinese export porcelain (used as ballast in ships), scrimshaw and British woolies, made by sailors to pass the time on long journeys. Nantucket baskets are another collectible which has become synonymous with the island.

5.

Lighting matters. Tucking precious antiques away on dusty shelves is certain to make sure they’re overlooked. Trudy has spent years developing lighting techniques to properly highlight items, whether it’s for maps on a wall, sextants on a campaign chest or china displayed above cabinets in the dining area. Once you’ve located and purchased the perfect item for your home, don’t neglect the important step of spotlighting it, if necessary.

6.

To design with collections, begin by collecting something you love. The desire to have a collection of sailor whirligigs or depression glass can stem from a trip to an antiques show, or perhaps you inherited Aunt Sophie’s 18th-century gold snuff box, and its intricate design and diminutive size delight you. Don’t hesitate to follow your passion.

7.

Be inspired by where you live. Nantucket, of course, is rich in seafaring and whaling history. Trudy’s collections include whaling logs, blue and white Chinese export porcelain (used as ballast in ships), scrimshaw and British woolies, made by sailors to pass the time on long journeys. Nantucket baskets are another collectible which has become synonymous with the island.

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8.

Think about what best fits your personality, and the personality of your home. Homes have personalities, just like people, and should reflect the individuals who live there. Modern art and glass sculptures may bring you pleasure and express your approach to a clean aesthetic; the warmth of antique wooden fire buckets may appeal to someone else. Don’t be afraid to be different! Tiffany made lampshades with wisteria blossoms; not everyone is determined to own one, but you may be.

9.

Don’t be afraid to mix it up when you decide to design with collections! A contemporary home can include aged pieces with grace and style; a glass bowl can be an eye-catching accent on a 200-year-old French breakfast table. The rules for design are fluid, and are meant to be broken, but this is where a credentialed interior designer can help.

10.

Look for items that complement the colors of your home when you design with collections. Trudy has always loved the clean look of blue and white together, so blue and white porcelain is a perfect complement for the rooms she designs. You may swoon for sapphire-colored cream pitchers, as beautiful as they are rare, or carnival glass in shades of red. Color can guide you in what to collect.

When you design with collections, you’ll want to learn everything you can about your collection. Part of the fun of collecting is understanding how the items were used in their heyday, or learning more about why they’re so hard to find. Beautiful pieces not only bring distinctive style to your interiors, they’re also inspirational for your guests. Dinner party conversation may very well center on the Nantucket yarn winder displayed on your sideboard. Trudy tells her clients that by collecting precious antiques and art they are memory keepers for the next generation. Celebrate that and tell the story!

This article has been edited. Originally published in ONLY Nantucket, Summer, 2012.