Book excerpt: Fascinating collectors open their homes to reveal the weird and wonderful world of natural objects. From the nineteenth century’s cabinets of curiosity to today’s interest in sustainable de´cor, obsessive collectors of natural objects have long filled their homes with their finds—everything from fossils and feathers to seeds and dried flowers. This book offers a glimpse inside twenty homes of the most interesting and creative contemporary collectors, revealing the stories behind their collections and how they celebrate their love of nature in their everyday spaces. People have always collected mementos from the natural world: amateur and professional naturalists of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, foragers, beachcombers, and taxidermists today. A new generation of naturalists are using their collections to craft creative careers and decorate their homes with their finds. From a German manor filled with antique taxidermy to the Paris apartment of a sculptor working with feathers and an Italian beachside retreat that showcases foraged shells and pebbles, this book provides a wealth of inspiration for celebrating the beauty of the world around us. Full of practical tips on everything from curating a shelf of objects to intricately decorating walls and surfaces with ecological finds, this volume offers plenty of ideas readers can apply in their own homes. With our ever-increasing interest in finding new ways to reconnect with nature and sustainability, this is inspirational reading for all those who want to bring the outdoors in.