The Objects of Their Affections

Personal favorites: Cruz’s beige-and-white Lhasa apso, Hank, who is color-coordinated with the house. Blackman’s 1920s metal base violin: “When people come in and see it sitting in the hallway, they think I play.”

What’s essential: Every room needs at least one completely useless piece that makes you smile. “In my living room, I keep a giant wood ball that a circus bear once danced on,” says Cruz.

The tip: Group like accessories together for a strong presence--turn-of-the-century Kew Gardens specimen jars, 1930s American seltzer bottles, late-19th century handblown beer bottles.

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“Unusual accessories--whether a 14-foot clock face or a fun house mirror--make a dramatic statement in any room. They also add a sense of humor.”

--Adam Blackman, Blackman Cruz