When accessorizing, I like the idea of mixing clean lines with elaborate pieces. It takes some experimenting, but it is definitely worth the effort. Take a look at a stainless-steel cocktail mixed with a Kilim rug, leather ottomans, and a very traditional sofa covered in chintz.
To add to the eclectic feel of the room, I wanted to keep mixing it up with accessories on the cocktail table. For height, I used a Baccarat piece made of crystal and an exotic stand covered in stamped aluminum. I then added a bird’s nest filled with delicate eggs centered on a celadon bowl for texture. To add some whimsy, I layered a peacock made of horn, a vintage purse all hand-beaded, and a Chinese figurine made of porcelain on the exotic stand. The eclectic mix really works, because it is all tied together through color.
Initially, I placed the tall Baccarat piece in the center of the cocktail with the stamped-aluminum stand on the left and the celadon piece with the bird’s nest on the right. I noticed that the composition was unbalanced for some reason. With a simple tweak, I corrected the imbalance by moving the Baccarat piece from the center and creating a high point with it on the left side of the cocktail. Using the other accessories, I filled in with different heights like stairsteps coming off the crystal. Very assymetrical. Sometimes, all it takes is a little tweaking. Experiment to find your best style.
Recently, my husband and I went on a summer trip to California. Our first stop was Malibu. I always wanted to go. It was early one Saturday morning when we found ourselves wandering through the nestled neighborhood by the Pacific. Of all places, we started to see garage-sale signs. I was curious. We decided to stop at one of the sales. I am glad that we did. To my excitement, I found a small cache of beautiful leather belts. The homeowner told me that one of them was once sported by the actress, Alfre Woodard. Kind of a fun story that you would only hear in Malibu. Even though I didn’t need five belts, I bought them all. As I was making the purchase, I struck up a conversation with the owner. She told me that there was a really big garage sale at Our Lady of the Lake, a church in Malibu. Evidently, Martin Sheen had just dropped off some things there for the sale. I got caught up in the celebrity of it all and went straight to the church. The hunt was fun.
Instead of buying man-made accessories, I love to bring nature indoors. Think about using branches in all shapes and sizes. Place them on cocktail tables, in vases, and on shelves. Branches are great for dinner parties too mixed with other design elements on the table.