The Stylist’s Edit: How Kira Corbin Sources Whimsy and Texture at ABC Carpet & Home

For over 15 years, Portland-based stylist Kira Corbin has been the invisible hand behind the polished, lived-in aesthetics that define high-end advertising and editorial photography. Her work, which spans the realms of celebrity lifestyle features and sophisticated commercial campaigns, relies on a keen eye for material and texture—an expertise that recently blossomed into her own line of ceramic dinnerware and linens, Standard Affair. As a professional who spends her days crafting environments that feel both aspirational and deeply human, Corbin has developed a reliable "little black book" of resources. Among her most trusted destinations is the iconic New York institution, ABC Carpet & Home.

ABC Carpet & Home has long occupied a unique space in the design world, serving as a playground for industry professionals while maintaining a retail presence that feels like a curated gallery. While the store is celebrated for its expansive in-house collections of furniture and decor, it is also a vital hub for sourcing the smaller, defining details—the incense holders, the linen tea towels, and the sculptural vessels—that turn a room from a catalog set into a home.

In a recent collaboration with Domino, Corbin opened her toolkit to share the specific pieces she turns to when a scene needs that final, elevated touch. Her selections reflect a philosophy of intentionality, where every object, no matter how small, is expected to provide contrast, personality, or a sense of history.

The Allure of Sculptural Ceramics

At the top of Corbin’s list are the ceramics from Astier de Villatte. The Parisian brand’s work, characterized by its delicate, milky white glaze and distinctive, irregular forms, has become a staple in professional styling. For Corbin, these pieces offer more than just functionality; they bring a sophisticated whimsy to a space that is hard to replicate.

She points specifically to the brand’s incense holders as a prime example of artful design that transcends utility. These items do not just hold a fragrance; they command attention through their sculptural quality. Similarly, she finds immense value in the Astier de Villatte "Peggy Cup." Rather than using it strictly for beverages, she often employs these pieces to hold small objects, such as vintage matchbooks or dried botanicals, adding a layer of tactile interest to a side table or a bookshelf. The brand’s ability to inject a sense of "special and unique" character into a room is, in her view, unparalleled.

Creating Contrast with Decorative Accents

Styling is as much about the "in-between" spaces—the piles of books, the corners of vanities, and the edges of consoles—as it is about the primary furniture. Corbin is constantly on the hunt for small, decorative items that offer a shift in material. A room composed entirely of soft fabrics can feel flat; a room composed only of hard surfaces can feel sterile. The key, according to the stylist, is the introduction of contrasting textures that signal a personal, collected life.

Among her current favorites for achieving this are the shell-shaped dishes from Shelton Metal. These pieces provide a subtle, organic form that works well as a resting place for jewelry or small trinkets. By placing a metal shell dish atop a stack of books or near a floral arrangement, she introduces a metallic sheen and a unique geometry that breaks up the monotony of standard home accessories. It is these "little moments" of design that, when executed correctly, allow a space to feel lived-in rather than staged.

The Role of Textiles in Softening a Room

When it comes to soft goods, Corbin’s approach is defined by a search for quality fabrics that do not lean too heavily into the "flouncy" or overly decorative. She frequently turns to Maison de Vacances for pillows, noting that their approach to color and fabric is ideal for modern interiors. Whether she is styling a streamlined sofa or a plush, layered bed, she needs pillows that provide a textural anchor.

The appeal of the Maison de Vacances line, she notes, lies in the details. The edge hems and the placement of the zippers at the bottom of the covers provide a subtle, edgy, and modern finish. These are not pillows intended to be hidden behind more decorative cushions; they are meant to stand on their own as substantial, tactile elements. By using high-quality textiles like the Kilim Jacquard or the Pollock Chenille, she can ground a room, ensuring that the softness of the space feels intentional and sophisticated.

Corbin extends this emphasis on texture to blankets, which she views as essential tools for adding depth to a room. Her go-to for these is Society Limonta. For a stylist, the weave of a blanket is paramount. Society Limonta’s offerings stand out because they maintain a variety of textures that photograph exceptionally well, whether draped over the back of a sofa or layered at the foot of a bed. Because they are available in both throw and full bed sizes, they offer the versatility required for different types of interior setups.

Bringing Life to the Home with Glass and Ceramics

"Flowers soften a room and make it feel more alive," Corbin explains, highlighting her constant need for vessels that can hold fresh stems or branches. She relies on Artel for glassware that possesses both vibrant color and sophisticated, engraved motifs. These vases are rarely just containers; they serve as sculptural elements that add dimension to dining tables, bath vanities, or sideboards. Because the glass is so distinct, it allows her to style flowers in a way that feels understated yet deliberate, ensuring the vase is just as much a part of the composition as the greenery it holds.

Similarly, she is a proponent of using large, handmade serving bowls to curate produce. A bowl filled with in-season fruit or vegetables is one of the quickest ways to inject warmth and color into a kitchen. Corbin favors the porcelain bowls from Jan Burtz, noting that their handmade quality gives them an "intentional" feel. Because they often come in neutral palettes, they are highly adaptable, functioning as a centerpiece that can bridge the gap between various decor styles.

The Art of the "Rumple"

Perhaps the most revealing aspect of Corbin’s philosophy is her take on linens. When sourcing tea towels for a shoot, she looks to Linge Particulier. For her, the perfect tea towel must have "the right amount of rumple." In the world of high-end styling, an item that is too stiff looks fake, while an item that is excessively wrinkled looks messy—or worse, unhygienic.

The pre-washed linen from Linge Particulier strikes the necessary balance. It conveys a sense of honest, real-life usage while still appearing "classy." It is a small detail, but it speaks volumes about the level of scrutiny Corbin applies to her work. For the stylist, the goal is to create an environment that feels as though it belongs to a person, not a showroom. By carefully selecting items that balance utility with a high level of craftsmanship, she continues to define the aesthetics of modern, elevated living.

Through these professional picks from ABC Carpet & Home, Corbin offers a glimpse into the process of creating a home that feels both curated and comfortable, proving that the secret to a well-designed space often lies in the texture of a towel, the weight of a bowl, or the specific weave of a throw.