Looking Beyond the Obvious in Sourcing

Not everything in a space should come from a showroom.

Some of the most important pieces are the ones that are found along the way. They carry a sense of history, or irregularity, or something that feels slightly off in the right direction..

I spend a lot of time looking for those pieces. Brimfield, local antique shops, consignment stores, Facebook Marketplace. It’s not always efficient, but that’s part of it. You’re not looking for something specific as much as you are recognizing it when you see it.

There’s a difference between something that is new and something that has already lived a life. You can see it in the patina, the way something has aged over time. Those qualities are difficult to replicate, and they change how a space feels.

That doesn’t mean everything has to be old or rare. I use plenty of accessible pieces where they make sense. But without those more specific elements, a space can start to feel flattened.

Part of the process is also knowing how to use what already exists.

Not everything needs to be purchased. Sometimes the most meaningful pieces are already there, just not being seen clearly. A scarf that never gets worn can be framed. A fragment of wallpaper from a renovation can become part of a composition. Objects collected over time can be arranged in a way that gives them more presence.

These are often the pieces that anchor a space.

For me, sourcing is less about filling a room and more about finding the elements that give it character. The process is slower and less predictable, but it’s what allows a space to feel specific rather than assembled.