Hole in My Soul

I take inspiration from many sources for my blogs: magazines, clients, interns, and real life. This blog came from a surprising new source: my handydude Larry. Larry and I had just finished an installation and he remarked about the overwhelming amount of purchased accessories in that client’s home. “You know”, he said, “It seems that with some people’s houses, they try to buy s*&t to fill the hole in their soul”. My first reaction to Larry’s comment was to rush to defend the client’s acquisitions, but I caught myself before I said anything. “Thought so”, he said.

I’ve seen a frightening trend in the last few years of homogeneous, mass-produced, boring accessories filling the walls of client’s homes. Sure, it might look pretty, but it doesn’t speak to the qualities of the family who lives there. Unless you’d like to be categorized as “typical generic American family” and start replacing your photos with the original cheesy people who came with the frame, then I suggest a better option: Look for inspiration in your own life in order to accessorize. Your accessory choices should speak to three things: who you are, where you came from, and what you believe in. Ephemera (collectible paper items) is a fantastic source for décor: playbills, menus, magazine covers, and children’s drawings can all be framed to commemorate an event or a period of time that speak to one of the three hallmarks of personal décor. The use of unique ephemera accessories will instantly add personality to your home (and likely be great conversation pieces for your guests, too).

Accessorizing might seem like a lighthearted and trivial matter to some homeowners, but the opportunity to personalize spaces can make a world of difference when it comes to living well in your home. I encourage you to take a lesson from Corinne, a client who tragically lost her two teenage daughters in a recent auto accident. The most meaningful accessory piece I have ever created for a client was the detail work on the upholstered rocking chair that Corinne used to feed her baby girls. I cut the pockets from Emily and Chelsea’s jeans and attached them to the chair to create “mittens” on each arm. When Corinne sits in the chair, she slides her hands into the strategically placed mitten pockets and feels connected to her girls. Surrounding yourself with meaningful reminders of your family will not only make you feel comfortable in a space, but as in Corinne’s case, can also get you through the day.