Frequently Asked Questions

Private Client Collection Building

The Collection Building Experience

  • Collection Building begins with an intake questionnaire and consultation to understand your space, existing furnishings and objects, aesthetic direction, goals, timeline, and sourcing budget.

    Rare & Respair then researches and acquires a curated collection of objects, which is presented together in the studio for your review before the collection is prepared for its new home.

  • Rare & Respair’s research and sourcing expertise centers on European and British Isles material culture, American Mid-Atlantic and New England decorative arts, domestic objects, folk art, paper ephemera, and architectural salvage. I am particularly interested in objects whose histories reveal connections to place, craft, everyday life, and the people who used them.

  • Rare & Respair sources antiques, vintage objects, and historical material culture selected for their craftsmanship, character, history, and ability to contribute to a cohesive interior. Collections may include decorative arts, domestic objects, folk art, paper ephemera, architectural salvage, textiles, and other objects appropriate to the client’s goals.

  • Yes. Meaningful inherited or previously collected objects can provide an important starting point for a collection. Existing pieces may help establish the historical, material, regional, or personal direction for newly sourced objects.

Fees, Budget, & Process

  • Collection Building includes a non-refundable Curatorial Service Fee based on the scope of the project, in addition to the budget for object acquisition. The appropriate service tier and object budget are discussed during the initial consultation.

  • Object budgets vary according to the size, scope, and goals of each collection. Your object budget will be discussed during the initial consultation and used to guide research and acquisition.

    The Object Budget is invoiced after consultation and used specifically to acquire objects for your collection. Any unused funds will be returned after the final presentation via original payment method.

    The Object Budget is separate from the non-refundable Curatorial Service Fee.

  • Consultations are available virtually or by appointment in the Rare & Respair studio in Aldie, Virginia. Completed collections are presented together in the studio, where clients can review the objects, discuss their histories and relationships, and take the collection home.

    Virtual presentations and shipping will be considered on a case by case basis.

  • Timelines vary depending on the scope of the collection, sourcing goals, and availability of appropriate objects. A projected timeline will be discussed during the consultation before research and acquisition begin.

  • No. Collection Building is designed around Rare & Respair's independent curatorial judgment. Once we have established your aesthetic direction, project parameters, and acquisition reserve, I independently research and acquire objects that I believe are appropriate for your collection.

    The collection is then presented as a whole in the Rare & Respair studio, where we can explore the individual objects and their relationships before finalizing the collection.

Deliverables

  • The collection is conceived as a curated whole, but the presentation provides an opportunity to discuss the selection together. Once the collection is finalized, any unused funds from the Object Budget will be returned via original payment method.

  • Following the collection presentation, the final value of the selected collection is reconciled against the Object Budget. Any remaining balance is refunded using the original payment method.

    Unused funds do not automatically carry forward to a future project, though additional sourcing can be arranged if you would like to continue developing your collection.

  • Collection Building currently includes virtual or studio consultation and presentation in the Rare & Respair studio, located in Aldie, Virginia. In-home placement and styling are not part of the standard service, though onsite consultation may be considered for select larger projects.