The Collector’s Edit: Daniel Barrett Mathis and His Home Full of Stories

Some of the most meaningful moments in a home are told through the objects we choose to keep. From well-loved keepsakes to quirky vintage finds, our surroundings carry the stories of our lives, spark memories, and add warmth to everyday spaces. In The Collector’s Edit, we celebrate those objects and the people behind them, exploring the collections that make a house feel like home. Through intimate conversations, we honor the legacy and personality found in the things we hold dear.

Our first feature is Daniel Barrett Mathis, a Mississippi native now living in Oklahoma City. By day he’s a lawyer; by night, he’s a maximalist collector with a love for bold color, texture, and pattern. Daniel began sharing his home and collections on Instagram in 2016 under @notaminimalist, a space that quickly became a destination for fellow collectors and design lovers alike. From vintage pottery and amateur art to eclectic contemporary finds, Daniel’s home is a playful, layered reflection of his personality and his lifelong passion for collecting.

We sat down with Daniel to chat about the treasures he collects and how they come together to create a home full of stories.

The holidays are such a special time for collectors! What first inspired you to start gathering holiday pieces?

As a vintage collector, migrating into collecting holiday pieces was a natural progression because there are so many small holiday items that come in multiple designs that lend themselves to forming collections—and you always need multiples when decorating a tree! You frequently see vintage holiday decor at flea markets, so it wasn’t long before I gave in and started my own collection.

Do you remember the very first holiday item you added to your collection?

I’m guessing it was probably a Christmas ornament because they are fairly easy to come by and relatively inexpensive. But my favorite holiday decorating item—which wasn’t intrinsically intended to be a holiday item—is my collection of vintage hand-beaded fruits and vegetables from the late 80’s/early 90’s.

There’s just something about all the intricate handwork that goes into these pieces that attracted me to them. I eventually learned these pieces were made from kits that were sold in the 80’s, and I actually found a couple of unopened kits that I added to my collection. Their shiny beads and bright colors make them perfect for holiday decorating.

How do you decide what makes it into your displays each year?

It really just depends on my mood, but also how much time I have each year. Some of my displays are really time and labor intensive, so I have to be in the right head space to make those happen. Now that I’m in my new home (from a small apartment), I have much more flexibility and less limitations on what I use—so I may just use everything this year!

Your style embraces layering and maximalism, how does that translate into your holiday decorating?

Because my home is already loaded with lots of items and color, it can be tricky to add “more” on top of that for the holidays. The way that I’ve addressed that is to select holiday color schemes that are complimentary to my home colors, and not necessarily traditional holiday colors. For example, I don’t use much red since that doesn’t really compliment most of my home colors. I also often mix vintage holiday items on my Christmas tree with newer unconventional pieces, such as small baskets or even vintage paper Chinese lanterns.

Do you have a favorite tradition or story connected to one of your holiday pieces?

One of my favorite traditions related to holiday pieces is to shop the after Christmas sales for discounted decorations!

What do you hope people feel when they walk into your home during the holiday season?

I want them to feel happy and warm and comfortable. I want them to think “wow” and to maybe see something they’ve never seen before. I try not to be confined by norms, and I think that makes decorating more fun and personal.