When I was an interior designer, I often described my work as approachable and well-appointed. I wanted rooms to feel layered and thoughtful, but never precious. Sophisticated, but comfortable enough to live in.
I believe collecting art should feel the same way.
Over the years, I’ve noticed that the most enduring collections are not built quickly. They are built slowly, piece by piece, through instinct and observation. A thoughtful collector does not chase trends. She pays attention to what lingers.
The difference between decorative and collected is intention.
Decorative art fills a wall. Collected art shapes a room.
When someone begins collecting, the first instinct is often to match — to coordinate colors, to find the “right size,” to complete a space. There is nothing wrong with harmony. But harmony without perspective can feel flat.
An intentional collection is not about matching. It is about point of view.
It might include patina next to restraint. Movement beside quiet. A bold gesture across from something almost imperceptible. What ties it together is not color alone, but sensibility.
The collectors I admire most allow space between acquisitions. They live with their work. They let it speak before adding more. They understand that collecting is less about quantity and more about discernment.
Original art changes a room differently than reproduction ever can. It carries the mark of the hand. It holds the time it took to create. And over years, it gathers its own story.
If you are beginning to collect, start with what moves you — not what feels safe. Notice what you return to. Notice what stays with you long after you close the browser or leave the gallery.
A collection that feels intentional does not happen by accident. It happens through attention.
And attention, in my experience, is the beginning of taste.
Warmly,
Amanda
Photo Credit: Lisa Furtado Interiors
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