One of the things we’re best known for at SMDS—an element of our signature style, if you will—is our easy eclecticism.  It’s our tendency (compulsion?) to mix high and low, cultivated and cutting-edge, to create interiors with identities all their own.  While it may seem a faux pas to some to combine, say, Kartell and Crate & Barrel or Limoges and Lucite, we say, if it works—pourquoi pas? The resulting spaces are generally more interesting to be in, more expressive of their inhabitants, and have a longer design shelf-life (think “green”!). The well-curated eclectic space doesn’t look wacky or forced; in fact, it looks chic, authentic, and lived-in.

Recently, we were asked how we did it—and we thought we’d share some tips with you. Happy mixing and matching!

• Choose objects that speak to you:  If something has a strong character or history, it may be able to hold its own comfortably with seemingly disparate things.

• Create vignettes: Choose a part of your space and organize it by theme, color, texture, or provenance. An interesting assortment of objects speaks to a specific aesthetic better than a more traditional grouping of similar pieces.

• Don’t go it alone: Too often people will select one notably different piece to make a “statement”—but that object comes off too often as foreign and isolated (the lone “accent” is as difficult to pull off in interiors as it is in fashion). Instead, look for other pieces that complement it, put it into context, and let it shine.

• Make connections: Often pieces can bridge aesthetics, blending them seamlessly. We love pieces that mix different materials. A good example of this is the graceful, transparent plant stand we used in our dining room at this year’s San Francisco Decorator Showcase. This sleek Lucite piece might have seemed out of place in the artful elegance of the rest but for its travertine top—two looks were combined in this one piece, and the stand had pride of place in the room.

Remember:  Rules are meant to be broken—or at least suspended—in the creative process. Enjoy!

Best wishes,
All of us at SMDS