Accessories are intensely personal statements of who we are. They reflect our interests, priorities, ambitions, knowledge and personal tastes. Ornate gilt mirrors and Dresden figurines in a room tell a very different story from bean pots and brightly colored advertising tins. A successful interior is one where the architecture of the home and its interior creatively combines with the occupants’ personality and interests.

A heritage home presents special challenges because its architecture speaks so strongly. The most important thing to remember is that accessories should harmonize with their surroundings , especially in the “public” rooms such as the entrance, the dining room and living room or parlor. A collection of contemporary sports banners would be better suited to a den, office , bedroom or family room. However a collection of antique embroidered samplers or English hunting prints would probably work.

I am not suggesting that heritage homes should contain only antiques, but rather that the items chosen for these rooms reflect the feeling or designs of popular style at the time the home was built. Research is the key.

For example, many heritage homes in this province were built with detailing made popular by the Arts and Crafts movement. In a previous article on color for heritage homes, I discussed the grayed, muted “back to nature” colors that were so popular at that time. Upon further research, one would find that pottery, called art pottery because of its natural, free form shapes and muted colors were popular at that time . Buying original art pottery today can be prohibitively expensive, but there is no reason that contemporary pottery cannot be used as long as it “feels” right. Other choices for these interiors include items made of hammered copper, or pewter items. Shiny brass appears garish next to its more rustic cousins.

In the 1920’s, although still influenced by the arts and crafts movement, interiors became “lighter”. Heavy woods and muted colors gave way to clearer, pale colors and painted woodwork.. The “colonial” look was in and accessories reflected that style. Retro furniture styles were also popular, emulating everything between English Tudor to Queen Anne, and accessories followed suit. The beginning of the modern movement created a need for simple shapes in both furniture and interior accents. Any good book on period design will provide you with a great deal of information.

Whatever style of accessories you choose to collect to embellish your environment, eventually the issue of how to display them comes up. Here are some tips:

- A grouping of objects has much more impact than single items placed helter skelter around a room.
-The objects should be in scale with their surroundings. Two six inch plates placed on a wall above a large Morris leather recliner would not be in scale
-A collection should have a central theme or thread that connects all the objects, regardless of what they are. Here are some ways you can connect and display your items:

This is the most basic and easiest way to tie in a collection. Simply collect different versions of one thing, be it horses, needlepoint pictures or cushions, Hummel Figurines, glass bottles, etc.

Collecting art pottery from the Arts and Crafts era, Art Deco Bar ware, Victorian shawls, Southwest terra cotta pots, Moderne furniture all have style in common. They represent a certain look or combination of details and lines characteristic of these styles.

Color is a great way to connect disparate pieces. Red and white and black checked tablecloths, red beaded fruit, a red clock, and a modern black teapot would all work together in spite of their differences because they have colors in common.

This is a fun way to connect collectibles. Often, one collecting interest will spill over to another related area. For example, a Western or Cowboy theme collection might include a framed print of a famous cowboy, or western landscape scene, tin mugs from old fire pits, spurs, equestrian trophies – you get the picture.

This is sometimes a bit more involved. It may include a collection of objects through the ages. For example. “Washing Clothes” may be the idea. Soap boxes, washing machines, washboards, wash tubs would show case this theme.

This simply means collecting items that suit a specific room , such as kitchen collectibles displayed in a kitchen, vanity dresser items displayed in a bedroom etc.

Spend time looking at interior décor magazines for ideas on how to show off your treasures. In time your collections and your home will truly reflect the interesting people living in it. Happy Hunting!!

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