From House & Home · Aisha Duldul · · 1m
Sean Symington on Curated Home Design
Designer Sean Symington explains how to create layered, well-collected homes with thoughtful contrasts.
In brief
Designer Sean Symington explains how to create layered, well-collected homes with thoughtful contrasts. Designer Sean Symington advises mixing hard and soft surfaces, using scale contrasts, and pairing textures to create curated homes. Originally reported by House & Home.
Quick answers
- What is a well-collected home?
- A well-collected home uses thoughtful contrasts and layering to avoid clutter while feeling intentional.
- What is the key takeaway from Sean Symington on Curated Home Design?
- Designer Sean Symington advises mixing hard and soft surfaces, using scale contrasts, and pairing textures to create curated homes.
What is a well-collected home?
A well-collected home uses thoughtful contrasts and layering to avoid clutter while feeling intentional.
“We love the glossy Carrara marble top combined with the plush softness of the upholstered banquette.”
Key to curated rooms
Start with a strong anchor like a hero print, then layer complementary tones and textures.
“I always start with a strong anchor, usually a hero print from a fabric, artwork or a rug with a beautiful mix of pattern and colour.”
Mixing hard and soft surfaces
Combining glossy marble with plush upholstery creates a balanced, dynamic space.
“We love the glossy Carrara marble top combined with the plush softness of the upholstered banquette.”
Scale and pattern balance
Use large-scale prints with medium and small-scale prints to create rhythm without chaos.
“Use a large-scale print, combine it with a medium-and small-scale print and think about motif and colour. It simply works.”
Adding warmth to kitchens
Muddy pink paint with deeper red cabinets and antique brass hardware creates a warm, lived-in kitchen.
“The muddy pink paint shade is inherently warm, so combining it with a deeper red on the cabinet interiors, that plummy raspberry against the pale pink, makes the whole space glow.”
Eclectic textures
Mixing vintage bamboo with mid-century tulip tables creates layered, thoughtful spaces.
“We’re all about the eclectic mix, like a textural vintage bamboo side table sitting alongside a mid-century tulip table.”
Why this approach works
Layering textures and scales creates calm within richness without tipping into chaos.
“It’s the layering of print sizes that creates that sense of calm within the richness.”
The main idea
Designer Sean Symington advises mixing hard and soft surfaces, using scale contrasts, and pairing textures to create curated homes.
