The home office and guest room had been renovated—featuring a custom-built-in cabinet in deep petrol blue and oak shelving: a look that was very clean and modern. Beautiful, certainly, but also a bit cool. The client wanted something for the shelves that would break up this coolness. She loves vintage items—with a history and a patina—eschewing high-gloss finishes and perfection. A few books and family photos also needed to find a place.

Selection

The first step was a joint walk-through in our shop. Which objects appealed to her? Which would fit into the room? Which had the right proportions for the height of the shelves? During this process, we deliberately selected more items than would ultimately be needed. After all, whether an object truly works only becomes apparent on-site—interacting with the room, the lighting, and the other pieces.

Delivery & Setup

We packed everything up, drove it to the client’s home, unpacked it on the spot, and got to work. We styled various iterations—rearranging items repeatedly and creating new combinations. Sometimes, a single object—simply by changing its position—transformed the entire look and feel of the shelves. Any items that didn't ultimately fit into the styling were packed back up and returned to the shop.

The Result

An old wooden mortar with plenty of patina; a piece of petrified wood on a metal stand; a glass cloche filled with seashells; an old wooden board serving as a pedestal; a mirror crafted from salvaged architectural elements; a textured ceramic vase; and a small, battery-operated lamp with a brass base—all combined with a selection of the client’s own books and photographs. The contrast needed to offset the room's cool aesthetic was achieved. And now, the shelves tell a story.

And here the Pillow Blogpost, where we describe the selection of the pillows for the study which is also used as a guest room.