Handmade pottery has always been one of my favourite staging accents and, while always classic, it was just listed in House and Home's 2013 list of
Editor's Must-Haves. Whether the look you want to achieve is playful, modern, sophisticated or even industrial, carefully chosen handmade pottery can add an organic touch or a touch of colour to finish the look.
In my staging arsenal, I keep a mixture of colours and glazes. I am often drawn to larger statement pieces with interesting layered glazes. I am also a sucker for interesting textures, although a smooth finish can be perfect in the right room. Apartment Therapy often features work by independent artisans and this list of
10 Handmade Clay Creations is a fabulous example. I have also compiled a list of my own favourites from online or Etsy shops:
1. Burlap Textured Tapas Plate from
Leif.
2. Conversation Piece in White No.4 - Sculpture in White from
Kimwestad.
3. Serving Bowl from
One Clay Bead. (Note- I love this artist and the pieces featured below are custom works which I commissioned from her Etsy shop.)
4. Set of 3 Modern White Small Bottle Vases from
Sara Paloma Pottery. (These are on my wish list.)
6. Sepia Ceramic Lace Damask Bowl from
DGordon. (I love her use of lace to create texture. She also has some lovely pieces stencilled with dragonflies which made me think of
Kate Spade's June Lane Collection of formal china.)
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Pottery adds a pop of colour in my
modern kitchen. |
Now that my condo is listed for sale, I am using some items from my staging closet for my own home. My twist on the traditional bowl of fruit in the kitchen incorporates unexpected fruits like citrus (instead of just apples, although I use those too) and some colourful pottery nesting bowls (all three are shown left) from Lee Wolfe of One Clay Bead. I had them commissioned a couple of years ago since I wanted nesting bowls that could also be used for staging. The variety of sizes and glazes makes them versatile photo props for many of my listings and I also use them constantly for baking and serving.
My kitchen is very modern with black cupboards and stainless steel appliances but I like it to feel warm as well. Part of this is achieved through the butcher block counters but the colourful accents help draw the eye in. Once I saw my nesting bowls, I contacted the same artist asking for something larger with a lace textured detail. The lace bowl (left) is asymmetrical, rustic and huge and yet, it (for some reason) looks perfect in my modern kitchen.
Finally, I think the trick is choosing a fun contrast between the other accent colours in the room. I've never liked a room to be too "matchy-matchy" and, the kitchen lends an excellent opportunity to experiment with colour as we are still following a cohesive theme: food. My green apples in my blue and brown bowl don't technically match anything in my home and yet, they look great on my counter! And if you're curious about how often I buy fruit for staging, the answer is... never! We only buy fruit to eat...or bake with. The fruit in these pictures is the frighteningly realistic (I have to remind clients not to eat it) faux fruit which is usually available online from Crate and Barrel. Great trick, right?
