08/14/2026
Oftentimes when the word "character" comes up, it can be mixed with "whimsy".
Character and whimsy are not the same.
Whimsy is an unexpected detail that makes you smile, usually decorative or easily changed. Character is more architectural detail with a permanent feel.
Whimsy can be an unusual lamp, a kitschy planter. A ridiculously little piece of art. A wallpaper pattern that is totally unexpected. Or a vintage find that makes no sense but somehow makes the room a little light-hearted.
Some of our favorite elements we've had in client's homes or our own include a tiny 2x3 piece of art from a photo taken on vacation. Framed and on display in a vignette, a D.C. themed George Washington wallpaper in a powder bath, a flamingo planter in a coral colored bathroom, and the tiny squirrel figurines that appear in our own home during fall (that's Mr. Z's decorative addition to fall 😉). For more on whimsy, check out our article in the fall issue of Purveyor Press, you can subscribe digitally or in print: https://purveyorpress.gumroad.com/
What's the most whimsical thing you've ever put in your home?
