Birth of Interior Design

1851 is where it all began, in London at the Great Exhibition trade fair when the gates of the world swung open to let loose the tides of art and style. For the first time in history all nations and classes were invited to come together to share their ideas and trade their secrets. Design went viral, 19th century style.

1851 was not so long ago, really. Not when you think of all that has transpired since then, from the birth of the machine to MacBooks and space travel.. Before trade routes and mass production there was no easy way to share inspiration, and no easy way to bring it home. Design was strictly for the
upper crust, and even then it tended to be almost entirely dictated by religious affiliation and geographical regions.

As the globe began to connect, there was a primal shift in the philosophy of choice, encouraging people to exercise the right to choose. The art of collecting grew in popularity. Styles diversified intensely from one nation to another, and even so from one person to another. Whether the driving force was utility or pleasure, frivolity or minimalism, there was a freedom to choose which aspects of design spoke to you. Design became truly personal.

Where Are You in Your Room?

Back to 2014, I feel like we often forget the beauty and gift of choice when we approach design. Too often I see a home that might look like the cover of a magazine, but I just can’t see the soul in the space. Who lives here? I can’t see your choice, only your trend. Family pictures can adorn the walls, but often they’re as posed as the rest of the space. I want to see your choice, your mark, your soul when I see your home.

Eclectic design does not have to mean absurdly quirky bits of kitschy design. (Though that’s the perfect idea if the soul that lives there is a quirky kitschy kind of soul.) It really is about creating a collection of pieces that tell a story about who you are.

I’ll admit it – it’s so much easier to just create a space that matches and is on trend. And for some of us, that’s exactly what we should do. Not everyone is up for the challenge of eclectic design, and that’s ok. But for those of you who do want to love your space – to feel genuinely connected to it year after year (not just while your featured trend is on the ‘it list’), give eclecticism a try. Keep reading and I’ll help you find out how.

You’ll Know It When You See It

I adore the drama and energy that eclectic design generates when it’s done well. It can speak directly to you in a secret language, creating a feeling of home and a connection to your space that’s powerful and fluid.But don’t lets forget the other hand. When it’s done poorly, it’s confusing and off balance, and can be utterly ugly. The causes for success or failure can seem elusive because, like any new talent, it must be honed. The rules can be followed and theories can be applied with precision, but in the end it often boils down to that x-factor. I often find myself sitting cross-legged in the wee hours of the morning, staring at a jumble of possible contributions to an empty space. I play, I jumble, I wait and I watch. You’ll know it when you see it.

(Insider tip – keep price tags attached during the process! You often need to take home many more bits than you actually need in order to find the right mix!)

Sewing it Up

The success of an eclectic mix requires you to look beyond the obvious qualities of an object or feature to see the more abstract, elements of its design. Consider a simple book, for instance. Imagine it’s a book on travel in India. But it is also a rectangle of elegant proportions, elongated and slim. It’s glossy, with vermilion and turquoise tones. The typeface is rounded and thin, scrolling and feminine… Becoming aware of the full list of attributes in your collection allows you to play with all of the assets to create a single, exciting scene.

Eclectic design requires you to find other ways of connecting features in your home. It’s not just about the trend or colour palette. You can connect objects in a space in many ways such as their colour, shape, the size and scale, texture or pattern, vintage, function, transparency, finish and feel… These attributes can work to tie a collection together, and are often referred to as threads.

Choose at least a handful of threads that run through your space, some more prominent than others, and you’ll ensure the concept won’t fall apart at the seams. Learning to layer the themes by using a variety of qualities to create your threads is the easiest way to achieve success. For example, choose a room that is sewn together by a feature colour, a feature collection, a feature vintage or era  and a feature shape, and you’ll be off to a great start. When establishing your thread in the space, use tools like repetition and scale to draw attention to the right elements.

Choosing the right amount of intensity for your design style is, again, a personal choice. For more drama, practice your hand at juxtaposing the elements. That simply means placing two things side by side to highlight their contrasting features and make their voice louder in your space. For example, placing a very modern chair at a Baroque style table creates instant drama. Playing your features against each other can be a tool to create friction give your featured ideas a brave, clear voice.

The X-Factor

Let’s look at a few examples of successful eccentric interiors and study the x-factor firsthand.

A collector’s haven, the architectural elements in this dining room have been made into a white canvas that simply frames its art. The collection of chairs is unified through function. A dining room makes a perfect place to experiment with an eclectic mix because of the sheer number of interchangeable pieces. The foliage reflects the outdoor scene and brings it inside, making it a part of the collection. The butterflies and floral art also help to create the garden experience, as does the sweet, primary palette and the rustic wood elements.

The tablescape (the collection of bits displayed on the credenza) is a perfect chance to firmly establish the flavours in a single expression. Done right, the tablescape can be a powerful tool.

In this room the designer plays with the horizontal line of the elements. Shape is a unifying theme. The room is built on elongated rectangles, with the exception of two tall bursts of yellow mirroring each other, adding pluck. There is an organic quality to the basic textural components,  and a natural palette unifies the elements.

Don’t be afraid to use the architectural features as a layer in the design. This room uses the industrial edge of the architectural space and plays it against a pretty chandelier. The rustic, Asian dresser in a vertical rectangular shape sends sparks when set alongside a lean, cool, modern table.

This free mix of texture, colour and scale strikes an intimate yet theatrical note. The ‘F’ presumably speaks to a personal connection, as does the feature wall. In a loft-like space, the personal touches keep the space warm and inviting. The elements are united with retro forms, the repetition of squares in various scales, and a palette that is privy to earthy tones. Though the adherence to these unifying themes is strong, there is enough juxtaposing to create drama and surprise.

The use of architectural features is paramount in this space. Rather than opting for a purely classical take on the space, the artist brought in contrast in the furnishings. The juxtaposing of the new and old, polished and rugged, organic and industrial creates a vibrant, alive space. The colour palette is important in uniting the diverse spectrum of influences, and the simple palette of grey and yellow is elegant and calming.

What strikes me most about this quirky Scandinavian collection of patterns, tones and textures is how they seem both organic and utterly manmade. In a windowless room with no natural light, an underlying sense of nature is created with tongue-in-cheek humour. The antler-esque chandelier and cowhide, the snowcapped and grassy green mountain range of chairs, a series of tree trunk cork sculptures, and of course, the earthy floor. This room tells a story.

A Reflection of Humanity

For me, eclectic style is a reflection of humanity, with our many faces and different voices. The important thing is to love your own space, and to take the time to define what it is that you want. We are made up of many layers; emotions and logic, naughty and nice, sentiment and avant-garde… The room comes to life in the sparks that fly when those layers grind. The eclectic room has a soul.