I know that I have written about this before, but it just keeps coming up in my client’s life and I have to say I love it! What is it you ask? It is the movement back to rich full spaces. The pendulum is swinging back! While minimalism, Marie Kondo, and Swedish Death Cleaning philosophies dominated for years, there’s been a distinct shift toward intentional décor with the idea of keeping meaningful pieces rather than just getting rid of things to have clear surfaces. The movement is toward curating a space that feels personal and celebrates the display of beloved objects to create visually rich environments. It is my personal belief that displaying things that make you happy and represent a memory is living life! Let’s peek into the living room of a Lily Model that demonstrates the curated art of display and reminds the homeowners of their full life every day, somewhere in the heart of The Villages.
• Inheritance
The homeowner has a deep appreciation for beauty, both in pieces she has collected and those passed down from her mother. While she loves to display these treasures, she also values an open, uncluttered home. Striking the perfect balance, we carefully selected display areas that highlight meaningful heirlooms while maintaining a sense of spaciousness. Don’t be afraid to showcase family heirlooms that bring you joy, whether they spark memories or invite conversation with visitors.
• Built in
The Lily features a combined living and dining area, but this homeowner took full advantage of the layout by enclosing the lanai and relocating the formal dining room to that space. This well-planned adjustment created a generously sized living room while also making room for a built-in unit designed for both storage and display. Positioned opposite the sliding glass door, the built-in maximizes natural light by reflecting it back into the space. A large mirror at its center enhances the view, further integrating function with aesthetics. This design strikes the perfect balance with a seamless blend of practical storage and bright, open space.
• China Hutch
The beautiful China Hutch that the homeowner inherited from her mother is Chinoiserie, a decorative style that is an interpretation of Chinese and East Asian artistic traditions. This style often features intricate patterns, and exotic scenes in furniture, wallpaper, and ceramics. The China hutch is filled with all the glass that she and her mother collected over the years. The case is well lit and when the light shines on the glass it highlights the colors beautifully. Each day the China Hutch invites admiration, drawing the eye, inviting a moment of appreciation.
• Top of the hutch
We did not want to overlook the display potential on top of the hutch. This surface is perfect for combining a gaggle of ginger jars, creating a striking focal point. Ginger jars were once the official storage containers for spices exported from exotic China. At the time, these jars were so unique and coveted that they became a staple in décor as early as the 1800s. Today, they make a stunning display, especially when grouped tightly together atop China hutches or large armoires.
• Wallpaper
The Lily Model has a large wall shared by the dining room, often calling for a treatment to unify the space. The homeowner loves blue as an accent but prefers not to have blue walls. However, she enjoys wallpaper, which is making a strong comeback! She chose a wallpaper called string cloth, a material that mimics grass cloth but is made from actual string. The blue and white strands are woven into the paper, creating a delicate soft blue hue. This wallpaper is so beautiful and textured that it naturally invites you to run your hand across it.
• Large Buffett
The homeowner owned a large buffet that she preferred as a TV console, and it looked fantastic. To create a polished, seamless look, we hung the TV on the wall and concealed the wires. Since the buffet was so spacious, we were able to add a lamp, bringing extra illumination to that side of the room. Don’t hesitate to use a large buffet as your television stand, they offer more height and provide significantly greater storage than a traditional TV console.
• Large Gold Pineapple lamps
Large statement lamps shaped like golden pineapples anchor the seating area, which consists of a sofa and two recliners. The homeowners don’t entertain very much, but when they do, they play card games in the dining room, which was moved to the enclosed lanai.
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Before and After Pics Below