Tabletop

Porcelain ashtray by Hermes, $620

Dora Maar vase by Jonathan Adler, $295

It seems like people struggle the most with selecting decorative objects for their homes. Furniture and wall color and curtains are easy, but tabletop items are a little bit more tricky. Decorative items should have both aesthetic and sentimental value. So, ideally, you collect pieces as you travel, and thus each piece also stores a memory of where you were, who you were with, and how you felt when you bought it. But if you're on a deadline and just want to furnish a room, my advice is to find a few starter pieces and save space for additional items to add later.

For a while there, it seemed like everyone had these Dora Maar vases and Hermes ashtrays, but I still think they can look great. I know Jonathan Adler gets a bad rap with design gurus--they say he is too whimsical, and some of his stuff really is. I hate whimsical, but this vase is interesting and adds just enough levity to brighten up a bookshelf or coffee table.