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Begin by collecting something you love. The desireto have a collection of sailor whirligigs or depression glass can stem froma trip to an antiques show (such as the Nantucket Historical Association’sannual August Antiques Show), or perhaps you inherited Aunt Sophie’s18th-century gold snuff box, and its intricate design and diminutive sizedelight you. Don’t hesitate to follow your passion.

Be inspired by where you live. Nantucket, of course, isrich in seafaring and whaling history. Trudy’s collections include whalinglogs, blue and white Chinese export porcelain (used as ballast in ships),scrimshaw and British woolies, made by sailors to pass the time on longjourneys. Nantucket baskets are another collectible which has become synonymous with the island.

Think about what best fits your personality, and thepersonality of your home. Homes have personalities, just like people, andshould reflect the individuals who live there.Modern art and glass sculptures may bring you pleasure and express your approach to a cleanaesthetic; the warmth of antique wooden fire buckets may appeal to someone else. Don’t be afraid to be different! Tiffany made lampshadeswith wisteria blossoms; not everyone is determined to own one, but you may be.

Support local artists. There is the wonderful ArtistsAssociation of Nantucket, dedicated to sustaining the visual arts of the island. There are craftsmen who do wood carvings (often from reclaimedwood), furniture designers, potters and glass blowers. An item doesn’thave to be old to be beautifully designed and created. By supporting contemporary artists and craftsmen and women, you’re giving them thechance to see their works of art passed down as heirlooms someday.

Lighting matters. Tucking precious antiques away ondusty shelves is certain to make sure they’re overlooked. Trudy has spentyears developing lighting techniques to properly highlight items, whetherit’s for maps on a wall, sextants on a campaign chest or china displayedabove cabinets in the dining area. Once you’ve located and purchasedthe perfect item for your home, don’t neglect the important step of spotlighting it, if necessary.

Develop an eye for placement. It’s important to group collections and display them for maximum effect. Trained in the visual arts, interior designers are skilled at envisioning a room with justthe right touches. Too much, and your home can begin to look clutteredand overfull. Too little, and your treasured pieces lose impact. If you’renot a visual person (and not everyone is) seek professional help to createa striking display.

What is it about some homes you visit that make you wish youcould recreate something about them? They have an indefinableair of elegance, and no matter where you turn, in any room, thereare beautiful items artfully placed to catch your eye, and sometimes catch your breath as well.

by Trudy Dujardin, ASID, and Price Connors of Dujardin Design Associates, Inc.

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87 Use your antiques, even the fragile stemware. Crystalstemware and porcelain dishes may break, that’s true, but using them provides a deeper pleasure in owning them. Don’t hand them to your five-year-old nephew to carry to the kitchen, but don’t let them languisheither. The weight of the glass in your hand, the cuts in the crystal and thereflection of a deep burgundy wine in the glass provide an experience thatcan never be imagined when you keep it on the shelf.

Look for items that complement the colors ofyour home. Trudy has always loved the clean look of blue and white together, so blue and white porcelain is a perfect complement for the roomsshe designs. You may swoon for sapphire-colored cream pitchers, as beautiful as they are rare, or carnival glass in shades of red. Color canguide you in deciding what to collect.

Don’t be afraid to mix it up. A contemporary home can includeaged pieces with grace and style; a glass bowl can be an eye-catchingaccent on a 200-year-old French breakfast table. The rules for design arefluid, and are meant to be broken, but this is where a credentialed interiordesigner can help.

Learn everything you can about your chosen collection. Part of the fun of

collecting is understanding how the items were used in their heyday, or

learning more about why they’re so hard to find. Beautiful pieces not only

bring distinctive style to your interiors, they are also

inspirational for your family and guests. Dinner party conversation may

very well center on the Nantucket yarn winder displayed in the center of

your sideboard. Trudy tells her clients that by collecting precious antiques

and art, they are the memory keepers for the next generation. Celebrate

that, and tell the story!

with collections

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Elegance in entertaining is assured with this 19th-

century French balloon-handledfish service. The introduction of a seashell is a

casual complement to the 19th-century blue and

white Staffordshire plate.

An antique ship's model makesa stunning backdrop for this elegant living room.

Chinese export porcelain jars from the 18th cen-

tury were made into lamps. On the cocktail table

are antique, English, carved wood candlesticks

with a sea captain's Trinity Box.

This striking vignette is

created with a custom table made by a

contemporary craftsman, which is beautifully

complemented by the David Bareford painting, a

piece of art glass by Dale Gilhuly, and glass floor

tiles, laid out as a piece of art themselves.

TTrudy Dujardin, ASID, has been designing homes that blend beauty and grace for more than 25 years, on the

island and off, and she’s learned a few things about what makes interiors zing with personality. One of the

secrets to her success is adding unique accents and one-of-a-kind

character to the rooms she designs through carefully selected antiques and artwork, often reflecting the history

and geography of the home’s very special location.

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This 19th-century Chinese-influenced étagère shows a collection of blue and white porcelain, both

Chinese export porcelain and Staffordshire English pottery. Hotel silver has been added for sparkle.

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Collections should be displayed properly in order to highlight their unique beauty; a credentialed interior designer can group items into

a meaningful statement. Nautical antiques create a seaworthy ambiance in this room, with an antique

telescope, antique prints, a cast iron antique doorstop on the mantel along with a ship model, and a ship's barometer on the wall.