Every room can use a bit of fun. Something a little unexpected that challenges the status quo is often the critical difference between a merely pretty room and a really interesting room. There are all kinds of people in the world and they fall in love with different, and sometimes challenging, things…statement pieces.

Can a good designer incorporate them? Or at least work around them?  There are limits, of course. There are some things that no amount of creativity can salvage.  But here are a few challenges and how to meet them if they fall into the category of “too big to subtly style behind a plate on a bookshelf”.

The Statement Sculpture

These are forever showing up in the center of the aisles at Homegoods and they have a sort of whimsical quality.  Even though ‘Touch of whimsy” is right up there with ‘Pop of color” on my list of phrases that make me want to urk up my lunch, whimsical seems the most apt description.

Here is one such sculpture I encountered not long ago which I filed in the folder labeled ‘don’t do’.  Seriously.  It’s one of my image folders in dropbox.  But CAN you do this?  In the right place? Maybe….

So, say this handsome and haughty 65” larger-than-life brass and bejeweled peacock followed you home.  Step one, he needs a name – you’ll have a much better time if you create a personal rapport with your statement piece.  I’m joking, more or less, but my facebook plea for a name turned up Frank and my friend Cath suggested Howard.  I’ve settled on Perry the Peacock for the alliterative value. If you get your own peacock, you may, of course, name him whatever you want!

And I think in the corner of a conservatory or garden room, he could be a rather nice conversation starter.  Worst case, you can use him to knock out intruders.

What is imperative, is that you let him be a star…do not go full peacock themed with peacock fabric or peacock wallpaper or, heaven forbid, peacock feathers trimming…whatever you might want to trim!  One statement in a room is enough - no need to bash your guests over the head with a peacock theme. A more thoughtful approach would be to incorporate the blue and green peacock colors as a subtle nod to your statement peacock. And add to the inspiration of the tropical with the addition of bamboo furniture and plenty of plants.  By the way, I found the SAME 65” peacock on Chairish for $975 (sadly, no longer available) so he’s apparently a real bargain at Homegoods for $299.99!

Click on each image for link:

The Statement Lamp

Lamps are often times the Statement Piece in a room and a relatively easy one to deal with, so if you aren’t ready for a 5 foot peacock, this is a great way to add a little something surprising to your room.

In honor of the University of Miami, we’ll call him Sebastian (after the mascot), Seb for short.  Does he need friends?  No, I think.  As all ‘statement pieces’ should stand alone, Seb will have to deal.  But where to put him?  Honestly, he’ll fit in pretty well anywhere you need a little attitude, because Seb definitely has attitude.  You maybe don’t want him glaring at you while you sleep, but paired with an offbeat color like chartreuse in a living room, family room, library, or foyer, he would be smashing! 

Click on each image for the link:

The Statement Mirror

Okay, this one is much more difficult.  Purely from a design standpoint  the frame is way too heavy for the mirror, and the rectangular shape slapped onto a hulking oval piece…covered in mirror acne…no words.  I generally love anything scalloped, but this pushes the limits of that statement into heck NO. If you have $800 to spend on a mirror, there are MUCH better choices. Like this one!

This would look outstanding in a black powder room.  It requires care to keep it from looking juvenile with its bevy of butterflies (more correctly, a group of butterflies is called a ‘kaleidoscope’ of butterflies but when they are all in gold that doesn’t seem to fit!).  Thus the dramatic pairing with black and the grown up pendant lights and seriously gorgeous console sink.  Avoid pairing it with sugary pastels or anything cute with ruffles or bows unless you are, in fact, using this in a child’s room.

Click on each image for link:

To recap

Interesting: a 5’ brass peacock sculpture / Overkill: a 5’ brass peacock sculpture against peacock wallpaper and vases filled with actual peacock feathers

Interesting: a butterfly mirror / Overkill: a butterfly mirror surrounded by butterfly, bug , and caterpillar themed accessories (OR pastels and unicorns)

Interesting: a quirky ibis table lamp / Overkill: an ibis table lamp amid an assortment of bird statuary and artwork

So that wraps up the first round of Design Challenge: statement piece edition. The most important advice is to let your statement piece shine. Turning it into a theme for your room totally dilutes the impact of the statement piece, defeating the whole purpose.

Now, what’s your favorite statement piece in YOUR house?

XO,

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