Curation 101 With Grant K. Gibson: Is Less Really More?
Your guide to mindful design.
California-based designer Grant K. Gibson has garnered quite the following due to his pared down, less-is-more aesthetic. He’s a fan of classic, timeless fabrics, crisp, white walls, and adding only objects that have a meaning. His new book, A Curated Home, A Fresh Take on Tradition, centers around the notion that every home should reflect its owners, using thoughtfully sourced and curated objects.
Curation is at the heart of what we do here at Clare, which is why we’ve chosen the 55 best paint colors for a beautiful home. So naturally, we turned to Grant to get a few simple tips on crafting a mindful space. Should we adopt a one in, one out rule? Is less truly more? Here, Grant speaks.
Kathryn MacDonald Photography
Rule 1: Spend some time thinking about how you want your space to feel.
Here’s a trick to help you hone in on your style: take a look at your closet. Do you prefer tailored pieces, or do you prefer looser and more comfortable items? Do you gravitate toward certain colors or patterns? The way you dress will reflect that space you want to live in. Another way to determine your style is to think of keywords that define how you want a space to feel. Traditional, formal, elegant? Playful, humorous, inviting? Monochromatic, streamlined, modern?
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Peggy Wong Photography
Rule 2: Take note of design inspirations in every facet of life.
I often use these as a starting point to discuss with clients: Recall a hotel in which you’ve stayed or a restaurant in which you’ve dined that particularly struck your fancy. Perhaps it was a minimal interior from your trip to Japan or a clubby bar in New York furnished with worn leather chairs.
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Kathryn MacDonald Photography
Rule 3: Be honest about what you don’t like.
Think about this: It is a lot easier for people to express what they do not like. By putting dislikes into the equation, we can eliminate some things and narrow in on others.
For example, a bold large-scale print might remind you of something in your childhood that you do not want to see in your own space. Or a wingback chair might bring back memories of being sent to time-outs for pulling your sister’s hair. Likewise, a certain color might evoke feelings of a past design trend that you aren’t eager to repeat. These memories and reactions are very personal and individual, but also define our tastes.
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Kathryn MacDonald Photography
Rule 4: Prioritize your paint choice.
Paint selection is one of the most important and cost-effective decisions you can make, do so mindfully. Proper paint choices harmoniously connect spaces. Consider the house as a whole. You risk creating disjointed rooms if you paint one room at time. Take into account how colors affect our mood. Some colors make people feel happy, calm, or even agitated. I have been known to paint interior doors a bold black for a contrast against crisp white walls.
Do your due diligence before committing to a color by sampling colors on your walls when looking at options. Observe them in natural light, morning light, and at night. Often a go-to color that worked well for one project will not work for another. What might work at your friend’s home might not work at your home.
With white paints, pay special attention to the undertones. The outside surroundings strongly affect the temperature of the light. The vegetation and the sky can create reflections of greens and blues on your interior walls.
Grant K. Gibson's "The Curated Home: A Fresh Take On Tradition" is available now.
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