Blesbok are a South African antelope which was brought back from the brink of extinction and are now listed as Least Concern in terms of species survival. We’ve made this mount, which we’ve named Emerson – after the famous author, a focal point in The Quest living room. Framing him in this way has caused many visitors to say something akin to, “I’m not a taxidermy person – but I love this.” There’s a design principle behind that reaction and its something you can use in your own home.

One of the biggest lessons in design is that we don’t simply see objects – we see them in context. A blesbok mount displayed on a wood plaque tells one story, while the same mount surrounded by floral wallpaper and framed in an oversized gold frame tells quite a different story. The frame quietly says, “This is art, ” while the unexpected contrast, the softness of the flowers, and the intentional space left all around transforms it from hunting trophy into something whimsical yet still noble, elegant yet grounded.

The object has not changed, only its surroundings have. This one display perfectly captures both this design philosophy and the philosophy of Then Is Now: the right setting doesn’t just showcase an object – it changes the way we experience it. That’s the design behind the display.