Cindy Hattersley’s Signature Collected Style at Home
I apologize for speaking in the third person (google calls). Many of you know that my signature style is a collected look that combines timeless pieces, antiques, treasures from my travels, and natural textures. I love a home that feels warm, personal, and uniquely curated. I love mixing classic design with lived-in charm, and embracing the beauty of imperfection and the stories behind each piece. From my well-loved antiques to my favorite textiles and organic elements, my home reflects my relaxed aesthetic—one that celebrates history, craftsmanship, and a bit of California casual, and most importantly tells my story. Let’s visit Cindy Hattersley’s Signature Collected Style at Home (that’s me!).
The post that best captures my personal style is The Collected Look: How to Get It—you can find it here.
Cindy Hattersley’s Signature Collected Style at Home
Many new readers have asked to see more of my personal homes. For over 30 years, we lived in what we considered our “forever home” on the central coast of California, while enjoying a second home at the lake. Eventually, the upkeep of two properties became overwhelming, so we decided to sell the lake house. However, despite a strong market, it wasn’t moving. At the time, we didn’t plan to sell our primary home for a couple more years, but our kids suggested we list it anyway, assuming it would take some time to sell.
We planned to transition into retirement by moving into the lake house.
But in an unexpected twist, both homes sold within a week! Fortunately, we owned a few rental properties in Salinas, including a charming Spanish Revival home in a lovely neighborhood—one we had purchased when our children were very young that we all renovated together ( our kids claim slave labor). With the tenant having recently moved out, we saw the perfect opportunity to renovate and make it our next home.
All the while, we had our hearts set on moving to this area. I had my eye on a fixer-upper downtown, dreaming of a place where we could walk to dinner and enjoy the neighborhood. Steve, however, had no interest in tackling a major renovation or building a new home from the ground up—understandably so. After several years of searching, our current home came on the market. It was smaller than our envisioned “forever home” and sat on less land, yet it still was way more square footage and property than we had initially planned for. So that is our story, and here we are!
Today, in this blog post, I will share some of my past posts that express my personal collected style. I hope they will inspire you if you too love a collected look in your own home.
The Collected Look-How to Get It
A Collected Look has personality, interest, and history. If you would like your home to reflect your own personal style and taste, a Collected Look might be for you. I originally created the bones of this post back in 2014. I would consider this one of my signature posts so it is important to keep
Ten Tips to Finding and Mastering your own Decorating Style
This post was written several years ago, but has continued to be one of my most read. It was time to redo it and dig a little deeper. Let’s talk about Ten Tips to Finding and Mastering Your Own Decorating Style. TEN TIPS FOR FINDING AND MASTERING YOUR OWN DECORATING STYLE I often think about
Five Simple Tips for Decorating and Enjoying Antiques
Antiques add story, character and create a sense of history. They can add unique charm and timeless elegance that modern furnishings often lack. Combining antiques from different periods and countries creates an interesting mix. It’s fun to give an antique new life with an interesting fabric or repurpose it as something else. A house filled
Podcast Interview Outtakes-The Collected Look
Mary Ann, Annie and I are so excited to let you know that we are being interviewed on the fabulous podcast Decorating Tips and Tricks with Kelly Wilkness and Anita Joyce. We are big fans and are so honored! Today we thought it would be fun to answer the questions that we were unable to
Five Simple Ways to Refresh your Family Room for Summer
Happy Thursday all! I am joining my besties Mary Ann, Annie, Kim and Juliet for a little summer home refresh. I have to be honest. I was planning on sharing one of two really great collabs (for my outdoor space) that I have coming up. However, the goods did not arrive on time. It forced
13 Easy Spring Living Room Decor Ideas to Freshen Up Your Home
Switching up your home decor with the season can instantly freshen up the vibe in your home. Spring is the perfect time to give your home a quick update. especially after you have done some major Spring cleaning and decluttering. The living room is the perfect place to showcase your decorating talent and creativity so
Simple Ways to Refresh Your Living Room for Spring
If you are ready for Spring raise your hand?! Today Mary Ann, Annie, and I are joining an amazing group of home decor bloggers and we are going to show you how we zhush up our living rooms for Spring. I don’t honestly have a living room but have two family rooms but let’s take
Fixer Upper Bedroom Reveal
Hi everyone. I am finally sharing some of our new old house. If you are new, we moved from our 5,000 sq ft homeinto a charming rental (that needed love) that we have owned for over 25 years. We sold some of our furniture with the home but brought many pieces with us and many
Fixer Upper Living Room Before and After
I have been meaning to do a post on our new old living room for a while but there are still a few things that aren’t done like some window repairs etc. but I decided I may as well go ahead. Let’s take a look at my Fixer Upper Living Room Before and After. Here
How to Create a Cozy Globally Inspired Den
Happy Friday everyone. Today I am sharing our completed (almost) globally inspired den. We sold our upholstered family room furniture with our former home, so we had to purchase new foundation pieces to compliment the antiques and accessories we already own. Let’s chat about How to Create a Cozy Globally Inspired Den. The former owners
The Collected Look in My Dining Room
Today I am so happy to announce that my pals Mary Ann (Classic Casual Home) and Annie (Most Lovely Things) are sharing photos of my home and garden on their blog. I have never really done a home tour on my blog so this is something new for me. They each will be sharing different
You might enjoy my Pinterest Board Collected Style for More Ideas here.
All available items from my homes can be found on my Shop My Home Page here.
Mixing vintage finds, textured layers, and organic elements creates a home that feels both inviting and uniquely yours. Whether you’re drawn to a love of patina, antique accents, or a seamless blend of old and new, there’s no denying the warmth and character a collected look brings. I hope this post Cindy Hattersley’s Signature Collected Style at Home might encourage you to tell your own story if you haven’t already. Send me an email or comment in the comment section if there is an area you would like me to cover in the future. I am working through all of your wonderful suggestions. This is what makes this such a great community. I am so grateful for each and every one of you.
I know that anywhere you go will be brilliantly styled and comfy. what a talent you are Cindy!
xo
Debra
Thanks pal! We have got to get together soon!
Cindy, I love your collected style! It is what drew me to your blog, that and your always positive, kind attitude and beautiful smile!
I have been a collector since I was a child and still have some of those pieces today. My husband may even be a bigger collector than me as was his mother. We have moved many times as children and adults and in each home find a place for all of our treasures, they are comforting and tell our story, what we like, where we have been, our interests, adventures and so much more.
My style is dark and moody, like an English library and a curiosity shop combined and it makes me smile every time I walk in the door.
I just made a hot chocolate and I am going to spend time perusing your links to other collected style posts.
Have a wonderful day Cindy.
Hi Eliz
I hope we get to meet one day! I feel like I already know you vicariously! Your home sounds just like you…I love that! Not the dark and moody part ha ha!!
I’m new, but loving your posts! I, too, have antique pieces, sentimental items and collections from nature that give me joy. Your style of mixing and displaying the different textures is truly inspirational and lovely! Thank you so much!
Hi Paula
First of all welcome! I think it is important to embrace what we love in our decor!
How great was to wake up to find your story and timeline of your signature style collected for your readers in one post. Of course I pinned it for my reference library!
Thank you, Cindy!
Hi the best friend I have never met (we need to do something about that). I respect all that you do so much Lynne!!
I love how you have pulled your home together. I enjoy using family treasures with my newer pieces but have one troublesome piece. Years ago we bought a small sofa in a blue flame stitch pattern for a small living room that was closed off from the rest of the house. In our new home it is in the open formal living room but just looks tired and dated but still in very good condition. How do you make a dated pattern look fresh without starting over?
Hi Harriet
This is what I would do slipcover or reupholster it. You are never going to be happy with it. We have all been there and done that. I had a beautiful flamestitch on my sofa at one time as well. If it is a good piece it deserves to be recovered or slip covered!
Cindy Thank you for today’s post. I am looking around seeing things I have had for years; I started finding things in 1967 to use as decor. My taste has altered very little in retrospective. One of my favorite items is a mirror my neighbors were going to throw out! It didn’t fit in their VW van when they moved of all things. I also early on found a Van Gogh copy in an old frame..a keeper. I have moved into about 20 different rentals as a military member. My decorating required that all fit into containers and wouldn’t break hopefully! I finally made a fortunate home purchase over 30 years ago. I am still editing and doing slight changes to keep a fresh view and thank you for your suggestions. Donnie
OMG Donnie I love that story about your mirror. My kids were always horrified by what I salvaged (a great wing back chair that I still own with great lines in pink velvet with cat barf) Another chair that I rescued from a resale shop with great lines (not currently using but hoping to). Would love to see pics of your home. I bet you have gathered so much from your travels.
Love this and love reading the story.
Thanks so much pal!
Dear Cindy, love this post.. I’ve been staring at my house – trying to decide what I want to do for spring. I have a collection of Papago Baskets that I keep trying to pull together and make them a focal point. You always inspire me… Anna in Arizona
Hi Anna
I wish I had a collection of papago baskets!! I have a couple. I am sure you will find a place for them!
Am enjoying all the photos: lots of inspiration to behold. Learning about Collected style and appreciating the story it conveys. The luscious pop of green apple (?) color is vivid and provides enough visual excitement to keep the eye moving about the space. The addition of various textures, patinas, and finishes prove that neutral decor doesn’t have to be bland. If it is, it’s not being done right. Years ago, I wouldn’t have considered that joyful shade of green, but it has been slowly creeping into my closet, home, and garden. It’s a perfect foil to my blue and white collection.
Hi Kim
I know what you mean about that color of green. I would have steered clear as well. I love it now!