The Art of Sourcing: How I Find Pieces with Soul and Story
I'll never forget the moment I walked into a tucked-away gallery in New York City and spotted an 19th-century French transforming table that quite literally took my breath away. The table told stories of generations who had probably taken a moment to style their hair for the day or adorn themselves in jewelry, and the hand-carved details revealed the artisan's dedication to his craft, and something about its presence just felt... right. I stood there for a few minutes, running my hands along the worn edges, imagining the life it had lived and the new story it could tell. The entirety of the showroom housed pieces just like this one, all crafted with time and care from various time periods and places around the world.
That's the thing about sourcing, it's never just about finding a beautiful piece. It's about discovering something with a soul, something that will become part of the fabric of someone's daily life and create meaning for years to come.
When sourcing pieces for a home, I always think about the design of the piece and how it will fit in with their lifestyle. I get up close. I run my hands over it. I look at the joinery, the finish, the way it's constructed. Can I feel the hand of the maker in this? Is this something that was created with care and skill, or was it churned out on an assembly line? There's something about touching a hand-carved detail or seeing the patina that only comes from decades of love and use. This is why I'm so drawn to European antiques and heritage pieces. The level of craftsmanship from earlier eras…it's just unmatched. You can feel the difference.
I try to imagine this piece in ten years. Twenty years. Will it feel dated? Or will it still have that quiet elegance that never goes out of style? I'm not saying everything has to be safe or boring, not at all! But there's a difference between a beautifully proportioned linen sofa with clean lines (timeless) and something in this season's trendy color that's going to make you cringe in three years (not timeless!!). I've learned to trust my gut on this one.
This is the hardest one to explain, but it's maybe the most important. Some pieces just... have a presence. They make you stop. They make you feel something you can't quite name. I've walked through showrooms where everything is technically gorgeous, but only one or two pieces make my heart skip a beat. That's what I'm chasing, that inexplicable pull, that sense of soul.
Many of the showrooms I visited in New York contained pieces from all over the world, each with their own unique touch and story. Homes are not just spaces my clients live in, they’re part of their story and legacy, and a huge part of building that is creating a space they will love for many years to come.