{"id":245623,"date":"2017-10-10T17:30:47","date_gmt":"2017-10-10T21:30:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.1stdibs.com\/blogs\/the-study\/?p=245623"},"modified":"2021-12-15T07:49:41","modified_gmt":"2021-12-15T12:49:41","slug":"minimalist-ceramics","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.1stdibs.com\/blogs\/the-study\/minimalist-ceramics\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Decorate with Minimalist Ceramics"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Family room of a Hollywood home by Consort. Photo by Laure Joliet<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

For millennia, ceramics<\/a> have been the tactile answer to art that you can only touch with your eyes. In our current era of potted succulents, indigo rugs and neo-Victorian wallpapers that much has stayed the same.<\/p>\n

Anticipating that you might be hoping to get both hands on some streamlined vessels that won\u2019t dramatically alter your Pinterest-perfect space, we talked to the pros about how to decorate with today\u2019s most coveted minimalist ceramics to achieve a room that\u2019s both timeless and of the moment.<\/p>\n

A Human Touch<\/h2>\n
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Family room of a home in China by Kelly Hoppen. Photo by Shenzhen Lv Feng photography ltd<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cCeramics are definitely seeing a resurgence in the decorating and art worlds,\u201d says the team of Mat Sanders and Brandon Quattrone of interior design firm Consort<\/a>. The personalization of handmade craftsmanship has served as a sort of anti-Internet to screen-weary decorators.<\/p>\n

\u201cWith how big and pretty scary our world is feeling right now, these little moments of human connection, communicated through physical craftsmanship, feel more precious than ever before,\u201d they add. The less decorative the work, the more this touch shines through.<\/p>\n

Melanie Courbet, founder of the New York gallery Les Ateliers Courbet<\/a> agrees that reaching for a well-made ceramic vessel is different from gripping your phone. \u201cIt\u2019s sort a grounding moment. You feel the hand of the person behind the piece,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

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Black glazed bowl by Lucie Rie and Hans Coper Studio<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

Need and Want<\/h2>\n
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Bedroom of a home in China by Kelly Hoppen. Photo by Shenzhen Lv Feng photography ltd<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

If you fall in love with a ceramic piece, Consort has several ways to justify adding it to your space. Don\u2019t fret over placement and instead consider function. \u201cFind a piece that’s beautiful to your eye and fits a practical use, like pouring water, holding salt or organizing a nightstand, and you won’t have to feel that classic minimalist conflict between \u2018want\u2019 and \u2018need.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe wonderful thing about ceramics is that there will always be something to suit whichever style, color, size that you are looking for,\u201d says South African interior designer and author Kelly Hoppen<\/a>. She recommends visiting markets to find \u201clittle hidden gems.\u201d<\/p>\n

Stay Grounded<\/h2>\n
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Mantel in a Hollywood home by Consort. Photo by Laure Joliet<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

Staying grounded isn\u2019t just about the way minimal ceramics make us feel. It\u2019s also a nod to their organic origins, textures and colors that are in direct contrast to the synthetic resin coffee table or neon sign stealing the spotlight in your home.<\/p>\n

\u201cCeramics don\u2019t have to be a big, loud feature piece,\u201d says Hoppen. \u201cNeutrals are always a fantastic place to start \u2014 grays, beiges and taupes, as well as off-white. I love simple little vases<\/a>, bowls<\/a> and ornaments as they make such lovely little touches. I particularly love using white ceramics in the bathroom.\u201d<\/p>\n

If you are indeed a maximalist, don\u2019t fret. You can make simple ceramics work for you, too. \u201cFlowers, leafs and branches are the easiest way to add a little \u2018oomph\u2019 to an otherwise quiet piece,\u201d says Consort.<\/p>\n

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Porcelain coral plate by Ted Muehling for Nymphenburg<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

The Stars<\/h2>\n
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Sitting area of a home in China by Kelly Hoppen. Photo by Shenzhen Lv Feng photography ltd<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

There are a number of stars in minimalist ceramics. Hoppen favors Lucie Rie<\/a>\u2019s style and approach, while Courbet points out Aldo Bakker<\/a> and Ted Muehling<\/a> among Les Ateliers Courbet\u2019s curated offerings. \u201cI love Aldo Bakker, there\u2019s a great attention to the ergonomics of the piece with a whimsical twist. It engages the user,\u201d says Courbet, adding, \u201cThere\u2019s something similar between Ted\u2019s creations and Aldo\u2019s creations in that they reference the organic world.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Particles Gallery Collection porcelain carafe, jug and cup by Aldo Bakker<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

Bring Home the Look<\/h2>\n

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