Talking With Designer John Phifer Marrs About Collecting Lust

“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.”

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.

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.

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.