weekly design inspiration: collected stories
The most compelling homes don’t follow a formula—they unfold like a story. They’re layered with meaningful objects, vintage finds, and beautiful imperfections that speak to the lives lived within. But the line between collected and cluttered is a fine one, and when crossed, even the most well-intentioned vignettes can start to feel visually noisy.
At Candace Plotz Design, we believe in creating Tailored Homes—spaces that reflect your style while offering comfort, beauty, and function. So if you're drawn to layered interiors and meaningful pieces but want to avoid visual overload, here’s how to achieve a curated look without sacrificing serenity.
curated foundations
Before you collect, you must edit. A truly curated space begins with a strong foundation—pieces with presence, patina, or provenance that quietly command attention. This could be a hand-carved console, an heirloom oil painting, or an understated armchair in the perfect mohair. These anchors act as visual stabilizers, setting the tone for everything that follows.
When sourcing foundational pieces, consider:
Scale: Does it suit the proportions of the room?
Weight: Does it provide enough visual presence to ground the space?
Longevity: Will you love it ten years from now?
From there, resist the urge to fill. Let the room breathe. A well-collected interior isn’t created overnight—it’s a slow layering of pieces that hold meaning, not just mass.
Source: Ashley Montgomery Design
Source: Emma Sherlock
intentional display
The hallmark of a beautifully collected home is restraint. It’s not about how much you’ve gathered—it’s about how you display it. Think in terms of composition, not decoration.
Styling tips we live by:
Vary materiality—mix ceramics with glass, metal with linen, wood with marble—to add richness without chaos.
Group objects by tone or theme to create harmony across a room.
Use the “gallery trick”: every object should either contrast or complement—never compete.
One of our favourite practices? Rotational styling. Keep a curated collection of objects you love and switch them seasonally. It keeps your space fresh while preventing over-styling. Much like a capsule wardrobe, this method encourages versatility and intention over volume.
Source: Hart Equestrian
Source: Chris Loves Julia
artfully edited
Perhaps the most overlooked (and most essential) element of a collected space is editing. It’s easy to fall into the trap of displaying every object you’ve acquired. But a refined room knows what not to show.
Here’s how we approach it:
Prioritize scale: A mix of large and small pieces keeps the eye engaged, but avoid too many small-scale objects in one area—they tend to read as clutter.
Embrace negative space: It’s not empty—it’s elegant.
Think of each surface as a composition. Whether it’s a coffee table, console, or bookshelf, let one hero piece lead, and build around it.
Editing is a skill, but it’s also a mindset. It asks you to be honest about what you truly love—and to let go of what no longer serves the space.
Source: Chris Loves Julia
Source: Jamie and Lisa Green
If you're drawn to that sense of layered ease but aren’t sure how to bring it to life, we’d be honoured to help guide the process. Through thoughtful design and intentional styling, we create homes that feel timeless, personal, and beautifully tailored to you.
