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DALTX Real Estate > Elle Decor > Talking With Designer John Phifer Marrs About Collecting Lust
Elle Decor

Talking With Designer John Phifer Marrs About Collecting Lust

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“I don’t judge what people collect. I find them all fascinating.”Here, more tips for displaying your favorite things.
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Marrs has been doing the book signing circuit. His next stop: Interabang Books on October 26th. (John Phifer Marrs instagram)

“Everyone should collect something,” says John Phifer Marrs. It’s educational—not to mention, fun. He should know. The Dallas-based interior designer has made a specialty helping clients organize and display their collections.

On one end of the spectrum is the wonderful corner cabinet or beautiful bookcase; on the other, an entire room or wing. Marrs has worked his magic on everything from geodes to Hermès handbags.

“I don’t judge what people collect. I find them all fascinating.”

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Each geode and mineral has its own custom-made stand. (Interiors for Collectors)
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A mirror-back display cabinet shows off all sides of art glass pieces. (Interiors for Collectors)
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A mahogany corner cabinet hold a collection of Victorian silver. (Interiors for Collectors)

Marrs believes there are two types of collectors: those who choose to collect and those he refers to as “forced” collectors. The former is drawn to things—the shape, the color, the history, the rarity. “They cannot help but acquire more than one,” he writes in his recently-released book, Interiors for Collectors. As for the latter, they’re the people who inherited or were gifted a collection. “They don’t really care about it, but they’re not going to get rid of it.”

Case in point. One client had a collection of turtles made of everything from marble to malachite. “When I saw it, I asked if she like turtles. She said, ‘No, but I live on Turtle Creek, and everyone gives them to me,’” says Marrs.

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The book chronicles the joys of collecting.
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The first chapters feature Marrs’ personal collections. (Nancy Nolan)
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An old secretary holds Marrs’ collections of Chinese export porcelain and mudmen: “I love having it the bedroom because it’s the first thing I see when I open my eyes in the morning. (Nancy Nolan)

The book showcases his personal assemblages: Etruscan Vases, parian busts, tole trays, Italian marble stone fruit, Chinese mudmen,p and ceramic glove molds, among others. Since its release, the designer/author has been spotted around town signing copies for fellow collectors. His next scheduled appearance: Tuesday, October 26 at Interabang Books.

Here, more tips for displaying your favorite things.

After all, there’s a fine line between avid collector and outright hoarder, according to Elle Décor.

Find a central location for pieces. For the biggest impact, concentrate your collection in one area. “It’s not just building the collection and putting it someplace. It’s living with it on a daily basis in your home,” says Marrs.

Choose an appropriate backdrop. Contrast is key. A bright color, for example, will make more neutral-colored objects pop.

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Wooden shelving provides a neutral backdrop for shiny copper pudding molds. (Dana Gallagher)
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Dramatic lighting accents a collection of ducks. (Hadley Interiors)

Don’t overlook lighting. It can add impact and drama. Marrs offers a word of caution: Some collections—think artwork, papers, manuscripts—can be damaged by too much light or sun.

Experiment with different positions and adjacencies. Shadow and light can give pieces in a collection an entirely different appearance.

A unified color scheme creates visual impact. Simple, but powerful.   

Use containers to display items. This works especially well if your collection has a common theme, but includes a variety of shapes and elements.

Learning to edit is an important part of collecting. It can be hard to do, Marrs writes in his book, but it will make for a finer collection. “When I first started collecting it was just about quantity. When you run out of space, you become more discerning.” An added benefit: the item you’re parting ways with may be exactly what another collector is looking for.

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TAGGED:Dallas Interior Designersdesigner collectionsDesigner's Cornergeode collectionsHermes handbagsJohn Phifer MarrsTurtle Creek
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