A transatlantic move from New York to London helped Bridget Clarke and Khari Thompson (@sucasa.studio_), winners of Best Shelfie in House Beautiful's Real Style Awards 2026, redefine what home means to them. These days, their apartment brings together mid-century cool with modern style, and the careful curation of their bookshelves – with coffee-table books, an impressive vinyl collection and gleaming chrome lamps – is a masterclass in considered styling.
What’s your decorating style in three words?
Modern, warm, and cosy.
What’s the best lesson you learned while styling your home?
What works in one home may not work in another. For example, we moved from one apartment to another and even though it was the same building, we quickly realised we couldn't recreate the same vibe. This forced us to elevate our style.
What’s your best advice for styling a shelf?
Always start by gathering inspiration. You’ll know pretty quickly whether you prefer a minimalist or maximalist approach and it will give you ideas on how to recreate the look yourself.
What was your biggest styling challenge?
Finding the right balance between clutter versus intentional styling. Sometimes that means your favourite item needs a new home somewhere other than the shelf.
Did you discover any hacks along the way?
If you're struggling to style a shelf, default to grouping items in threes. Aesthetically, it will always look more sophisticated and balanced.
What to Read Next
What stage of decorating do you dread? Which makes you do a happy dance?
The stage we dread the most is the actual building of the furniture – there's always one piece missing or the instructions don't give enough information. And our happy dance moment is when it's done!
What types of items do you like to collect for your shelfies?
Records from Khari's collection, books and vases from Bridget's collection and sentimental trinkets and photos from both of us.
What’s a non-negotiable item you always want to have on your shelf?
Definitely books and vinyl. We know bookshelves have become a catch-all for everything or an aesthetic choice, but we still enjoy making them function as they should.
What does ‘home’ mean to you?
Home is a feeling. It's wherever you feel most comfortable and most authentic. Home can be a place, clothing you feel most comfortable in, or a person or people you can be around and show your true self to.
