Rearranging Accessories

One movie is known for it's quote "Build it and they will come". The same is true for your home - "If there is a surface it will inevitably collect stuff". The urge to put something on a ledge, shelf or table top is greater than the ability to resist putting anything there at all or at least suspending wanting to put the very first thing you find there.

The "Before" and "After" photographs above are an example of too many things on a surface that have no relationship or cohesiveness. It is also an example of how to scale the appropriate size artwork above a desk this size. Not only is the artwork too large with the piece of furniture it is hanging above but it is also too large for the wall (notice the french door to the right and the window to the left). The space between the door and the window is minimal and calls for smaller scaled art. Notice the width of the artwork in the "Before" picture - it is almost the same width of the desk. This kind of spacial relationship creates tension between the artwork and the desk. Both artwork and desk are vying for the same attention and presence within the room. In this struggle for attention the desk wins out - being the more prominent furnishing in the mix. Now that the desk has been identified as the chosen piece to work around everything else on the wall must bow to the desk - support the desk and not dominate the desk. Identifying this kind of hierarchy early on is important to layering the secondary and tertiary furnishings later. The desk is the primary furnishing for this composition therefore the artwork must be smaller scaled.

Changing the scale of the artwork not only supports the hierarchy of the desk but also gives the accent lamp a bit more attention. Before the accent lamp was struggling to stay on top of the desk as if the picture was slowly nudging it to the edge - waiting for it's fatal drop to the floor below. Now the accent lamp feels grounded and permanent within the composition of pictures and silver tea set. In addition to the smaller artwork the wall color changed from a dreary off white to a fresh yet historic golden yellow (Benjamin Moore - Waterbury Cream - HC 31). The new paint color highlights the white enameled woodwork and makes the antique wood and brass accents come alive. Now the desk top becomes a true focal point with a curated mix of antique gold and silver accessories - more feminine, more thoughtful and more suspenseful. Makes me want to stand in front of the desk and actually study it's components.

Funny how in the "Before" picture I would have not given the desk a second look - it holds no interest for me. It simply looks like an old piece of furniture I would never have any interest in. But now, with a few simple changes the desk reclaims it's glory within the company of some distinguished friends. Loving What You Have can be as simple as changing a picture, changing a wall color or changing an arrangement on that old desk. Love what you have and it will love you back.   Jay Nuhring