"COLLECTING" DESIGN INSPIRATION
3 Tips to Help You Find Your Style
Greetings from the Tampa Bay International Airport! We're currently on a ground stop, so what better time to crank out a blog post?
My friend Madison and I spent the last six days in St. Petersburg, Florida, enjoying the sunshine and visiting with her mom, Tracy. Aside from the tropical climate, visiting is always a treat because I get to collect design inspiration from ✨Tracy's house ✨.
Tracy's style is an eclectic, yet chic, take on French Country, and now that she's lived in Florida for a couple of years, its also taken on a little bit of a coastal flare. The thing I love most about her style is that it's so uniquely her.
It's a shame that some of us default to basic decor simply because we don't know what our own decorative personalities are. Even worse, people don't even try to explore it! Decorating is such a fun outlet for self-expression, and Tracy's house is a perfect example of how injecting yourself into your design results in something extra special.
For those of us still searching for our design style, here are three tips to help guide you along the way:
Go window shopping. Head to your local home and decor stores and take time to just look around. What catches your eye? What do you subconsciously gravitate towards, regardless of what your brain tries to talk you into or out of? Even if you don't buy these things, they can tell you a lot about what styles appeal to you most.
Emphasize antiques. Incorporating vintage items is key to achieving a timeless look. While vintage pieces may be more expensive than what you'd find at a big box store, investing in quality instead of quantity (i.e., something that will only last a year before you have to buy it again) is always a good choice.
Start collecting. Once you find something you undeniably adore and gravitate towards, start collecting more of them. No matter how obscure or odd, these pieces add character. I recently discovered a new obsession with Warren Kimble farm animal folk art. They're so ridiculous and amazing, I just can't look away!
Warren Kimble "Vermont Cow" and "Black & White Pig"
Tracy collects dogs!
Ultimately, discovering your design style isn't about replicating what you see in a magazine, or following every trend. It's about finding what genuinely speaks to you and bringing those pieces into your home. Like Tracy, allow your space to evolve over time and reflect your own unique story. When you do, you'll create a home that feels not just beautiful, but truly your own—a place that inspires and embraces you every single day.
Thanks for reading & have a great rest of your week!
Such a fun week!! (Minus flight delays😒🤪)