The Art of Collecting: Applied
Case study: A Dining Room full of history and connection
When I visited the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, I was struck by more than the art itself. What stayed with me was the atmosphere - how each object felt chosen with care, layered with memory, arranged with meaning. It didn’t feel decorated. It felt collected.
That experience reminded me of something I return to often in my own work: The most personal interiors aren’t about matching. They’re about meaning.
A Case Study: A Dining Room of History and Connection
In this blue dining room, some elements were chosen to fit the space:
A striking black crystal chandelier anchors the tall ceilings.
A large black wooden dining table adds weight, grounded by an ivory rug beneath.
And a bold blue - eerily close to WGSN’s 2027 Color of the Year, Luminous Blue - was selected to highlight the ceramic artworks destined for this wall.
But from there, the room was built through layering, through objects collected over time, each with its own story. That’s where the soul of the space came in.
The white sculptural bowl was a wedding gift.
The scroll on the wall was discovered years ago in a vintage shop off Westbourne Grove in London.
The Japanese artworks are family heirlooms.
And the black lacquered Italian lion-head chair? Once the family’s Time Out chair - it now adds a bit of healthy tension in styles, and just the right dose of mischief.
None of these pieces were chosen to match. But together, they hold meaning and create a mood that’s both dramatic and intimate.
That’s the power of a collected room. It doesn’t strive for perfection. It invites curiosity and conversation.
📽️ Watch the reel to see how it all came together.
Try This: Creating Your Own Collected Room
1. Start with one object that holds meaning.
That’s your anchor. It could be a bowl, a photograph, a piece of art, a chair—anything that resonates. Place it where it catches your eye and attention.
2. Let it lead the room, visually and emotionally.
Remove what doesn’t support it. Then begin to layer:
Add pieces that echo its shape, contrast its texture, or carry their own story. Consider color, form, and feeling more than “style.”
3. Adjust until it feels right.
Play with scale, spacing, and composition.
This isn’t about decorating, rather it’s about shaping a space that feels considered, personal, and quietly layered.
You’ll know when it feels like yours.
A collected room, one meaningful piece at a time.
For more reflections from the field, join our Field Journal or follow along on Instagram @baxterhillinteriors