Welcome to our newest series on Chairish, #FoundAndChairished! We’re constantly hearing from designers who’ve found incredible pieces on Chairish, and now we’re sharing some of their stories with you. Be on the lookout for new #FoundAndChairished stories here on the blog as well as on our Instagram account.
How often can you say a piece of art or an accessory inspires design decisions, not the other way around? That’s exactly what happened for designer Beth Diana Smith, who knew she wanted an African mask for the wall of her home office. After locating the perfect piece on Chairish, she had found she liked it even more than expected, and let it inspire other design decisions for the room. Read on to learn a bit more about her search and find a mask of your own right here on Chairish.
What Chairish item did you buy that you’d like to share a story about?
An African mask from the Fang tribe of Gabon
In what room did you use it in?
In my home office
In a few words, how would you describe your interior design style?
Eclectic maximalist with a love for boho and global influences
How did you find the item you bought on Chairish, and what made you choose it? Did you have a specific search or were you just browsing?
I specifically searched for African masks and fell in love with this oversized piece.
Did you know where you’d put this piece in your home when you bought it, or did you figure you’d find the right spot?
As soon as I saw it, I was inspired and I knew it was going into my office which I’m in the process of redesigning. And when it arrived and I pulled it out of the box, my mouth hit the floor. The online photos did this beauty no justice. It literally inspired other design decisions.
Why do you love shopping vintage? And how does sustainability factor into your choices of new products vs. vintage finds?
I think there’s beauty in vintage because the piece itself has its own story. And my eclectic style likes to mix the old and new on top of different styles.
Are there any dream vintage or antique pieces you wish you could have?
Many more African masks and shields.
Photo courtesy of Beth Diana Smith
