By Sarah Reiss
Blending handmade with store-bought décor—how do you do it seamlessly?
When it comes to interior design, you could say that necessity has caused us to become the mothers of our own stylish inventions. Crafty chic-sters turning out gorgeously textural handmade items—chunky knitted throws, painted furniture, and kitschy needlework—have come out of the crafty closet and are making a play for the design spotlight.
Handmade on the home front
What started as a way to refurbish on a dime has become a trend in its own right. Events that serve as a hub for handmade goods —like the Etsy bazaars popping up in metropolitan areas around the country—make it easy to collect enough woodcut prints, hand-thrown ceramics, and hammered tin to redo your home from stem to stern.
But what if you’re not ready to go whole hog on the handmade trend? What if, like the majority of folks out there, you’d prefer a mix of designer goods, on-trend accessories, and traditional décor that complements (rather than overwhelms) your one-of-a-kind, hand-spun, alpaca throw?
Mix it up
Toronto and New York-based interior design firm Yabu Pushelberg may be high-end—their projects include the St. Regis Bal Harbour and the show flat in the Frank Gehry residences in Hong Kong—but that doesn’t make them immune from having to find ways to blend their clients’ sometimes-quirky personal treasures in with a larger design vision.
Tell the story, keep it clean, make it timeless
Hyper-trendy items can quickly feel dated. So whether you’re incorporating textiles or turned wood, go for combinations that will feel timeless. In order to create a multifaceted, yet cohesive, vision that will stand the test of time, the team at Yabu Pushelberg recommends the following:
- Take a clean and classic aesthetic and then add a layer of personality to tell a story.
- Within that story, any mementos and handmade items you add should evoke an emotional response and a layer of personality.
- Consistency is key; always be sure to keep the emotion consistent and honest to create a unique and clear design.
Shop with your instincts
If you’re craving that pop of quirk but have nothing of your own to show for it, there are thousands of artisans out there waiting for your interest. Keep your eyes open, no matter where you are. In the meantime, score some handmade items that promise to add depth to your décor at one of these spots:
- Etsy, if you haven’t visited it yet, is an online global network of independent crafters selling everything from knitwear to knotty pine furniture.
- To check out hundreds of by-hand crafters in one place, head to a Renegade Craft Fair near you. They take place from London to Los Angeles, so there’s bound to be one a quick drive away.
- Made By Hand Clay Studio claims to be shaping the future of ceramics. With so many independent artists offering so many disparate styles through their e-portal, it’s hard to imagine a better place to get started on that new obsession.
No matter what you choose or how you choose to display it, follow your instincts. Expert suggestions aside, the best way to piece together a design scheme that’s 100 percent you is to follow your instincts. It’s more powerful than your brain and will give you better advice than any expert.
Blending handmade with store-bought
Blending handmade with store-bought décor—how do you do it seamlessly?
When it comes to interior design, you could say that necessity has caused us to become the mothers of our own stylish inventions. Crafty chic-sters turning out gorgeously textural handmade items—chunky knitted throws, painted furniture, and kitschy needlework—have come out of the crafty closet and are making a play for the design spotlight.
Handmade on the home front
What started as a way to refurbish on a dime has become a trend in its own right. Events that serve as a hub for handmade goods —like the Etsy bazaars popping up in metropolitan areas around the country—make it easy to collect enough woodcut prints, hand-thrown ceramics, and hammered tin to redo your home from stem to stern.
But what if you’re not ready to go whole hog on the handmade trend? What if, like the majority of folks out there, you’d prefer a mix of designer goods, on-trend accessories, and traditional décor that complements (rather than overwhelms) your one-of-a-kind, hand-spun, alpaca throw?
Mix it up
Toronto and New York-based interior design firm Yabu Pushelberg may be high-end—their projects include the St. Regis Bal Harbour and the show flat in the Frank Gehry residences in Hong Kong—but that doesn’t make them immune from having to find ways to blend their clients’ sometimes-quirky personal treasures in with a larger design vision.
Tell the story, keep it clean, make it timeless
Hyper-trendy items can quickly feel dated. So whether you’re incorporating textiles or turned wood, go for combinations that will feel timeless. In order to create a multifaceted, yet cohesive, vision that will stand the test of time, the team at Yabu Pushelberg recommends the following:
Shop with your instincts
If you’re craving that pop of quirk but have nothing of your own to show for it, there are thousands of artisans out there waiting for your interest. Keep your eyes open, no matter where you are. In the meantime, score some handmade items that promise to add depth to your décor at one of these spots:
No matter what you choose or how you choose to display it, follow your instincts. Expert suggestions aside, the best way to piece together a design scheme that’s 100 percent you is to follow your instincts. It’s more powerful than your brain and will give you better advice than any expert.