DESIGNING FOR CLIENTS AND THEIR COLLECTIONS

by Zoe Newman

Designing a space for a client all comes down to personal details that function for their lifestyle.  When our designers have a client with a particular interest, hobby, or collection it is time to put our designs to work to blend the old with the new.  Creating beautiful storage or designing a room around a client’s beloved collection allows for true customization and is the final touch that captures the client’s personal taste.  We asked our designers to give us their best tips on how they manage to design for clients and their collections. 

Rozit Arditi - ARDITI DESIGN

One of my clients was a 1900s American painting collector. We designed the lighting around the apartment to accentuate his collection.

Clara Song - CLARA SONG DESIGN

I love when a client is a collector and it's a wonderful way to incorporate their collection as part of the decoration. I want to properly show it off and make it a conversational piece by displaying it in a room instead of putting it on a bookshelf. If it's art, making the piece the focal point in the room. 

 Francisca Trujillo - FRANCISCA TRUJILLO INTERIOR DESIGN

A huge collection of magnets they bought from their travels. We did a custom desk with a floating magnetic backboard where he could display and appreciate his collection on a daily basis.

Julia Blanchard - BLANCHARD DESIGN LLC

I had a client who liked to collect taxidermy animals.  Mostly ones they hunted themselves. 

ARTWORK

Have beautiful artwork but not sure how to display it? Mounted hanging systems like these make that easy and beautiful.  Looking for something a little more casual to display your art? Try a floating picture rail. 

KITCHEN

Is the kitchen your favorite room in the house? Whether you are there just to eat or you are there to cook and serve your guests, the kitchen remains the heart of the home.  While many kitchen gadgets never see the light of day and are stored in a drawer, kitchens are always in search of new and useful storage.  If you also have a beautiful collection of knives, pans, or statement teapots you may be looking for a more artful way to display your favorite pieces.  Try a brass hanging rack to keep your pans on display and always within reach. These can hang over an island or be affixed to a wall, try wall-mounted or ceiling mounted.

FURNITURE

Looking for a piece of furniture that not only houses your most cherished items but is also a statement piece of its own? Try these in your living space.

This end table adds a little glamor to the space while keeping the focus on your collectibles. This gorgeous statement coffee table is a focal point on its own but an even more perfect place to display your favorite books or collectibles.  It has a light, airy, summer vibe and the storage on the bottom is perfect for anything you need to store close at hand. Another beautiful surface to showcase your favorite plants or collectibles, sure to start a conversation. 

SMALLER COLLECTIBLES

For delicate collectibles, try arranging various clear lucite display cases on a beautiful end table.   

BOOKS

Looking for an artful way to display your books and collectibles without the expense of floor-to-ceiling built-in shelving? Arrange a few of these IKEA bookshelves with glass doors next to each other for a built-in effect for around your home for storage that does the job but disappears into the background so your collection is the main focus. We also love this honeycomb shelf and have our eye on this one too! Mounted storage isn’t only for books, this shelving gives the look and feel of built-ins with a minimalist vibe.  This is a bookcase but is perfectly suited to show off all of the beautiful greenery in your space.