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.