I am always intrigued by the nuances of design and how interior decorators create atmospheres. I once asked a designer friend, “How do you do it?!” And she asked me back the same thing! So I guess we are all built (or learn!) to do our thing. But seriously, there are so many choices! There is transitional, modern, rustic, or rustic chic, combined with a bit of french country, contemporary, traditional, eclectic, etc....are you following? So which one are you? Can you pick a style and stick with it? I love them all and if I could, I’d design a home of each, for every one of my moods(please). So…thank G-d for these blessed designers who enrich our homes and make our homes look like an extension of ourselves. I’m in awe of how a good designer can literally capture a person’s personality and dreams and lay it out through color, texture, and furniture choices.
In honor of all those awesome designers out there, I asked a few prized designers for their thoughts and input on the art of incorporating ART into their fine homes.
To frame or not to frame?
Yes! Float the frame at the very least. It’s a great finished look. (Yali Katz)
What’s your go to frame color?
There is no universal frame color which complements all art pieces; the room tones need to be taken into account. As a general direction, light art pieces stand out with darker frames, and dark art gets even bolder in a lighter frame. If I had to select one color which is the most complementary, it would be a black frame, which consistently makes art seem more vivid.(Susan Strauss Interiors)
Does art need to match the decor?
I believe that art need not match the décor, but it can if you want. While art is actually a separate component and layer to designing a room, it is one of the most important elements in making a room personal. But above all, the rule is: there are no rules with art—that’s why it’s called art. (Michelle Gerson interiors)
Does big art make a room look larger or smaller?
It would obviously depend on each room and what elseexists in the room. I think any space can handle any size art if you do it right. For example, if the room is small and you decorate it with a very neutral pallet (and there is a wall in the room that can handle a large piece of art) I would go big and bold all the way and make a statement. For a really large room, even a large piece of art can get lost. Instead, sometimes it's nice to have a gallery wall or a picture light above the art to highlightthe piece. (AlizaGabay )
What’s your take on a gallery wall?
I love a gallery wall! I think it can be the focal point of a room when done correctly. Usually I would create a gallery wall in a casual space like a Family Room, Den, or even a second floor open hallway. It’s important that the area be more clean and monochromatic in design as opposed tobusy with mixes of many patterns and varying objects. Let the gallery wall shine and be the main focus. To do that,use similar frames with matching color mattings for a cohesivelook and choose a grouping ofartwork that willrun along the same theme. Vary the heights and sizes for a more interesting overall vignette. Be sure to tape out your plan beforehand to be sure it’s balanced! (Esther Ben Hamu)
Keep it simple or many paintings throughout the home?
Many artworks! Every piece adds personality.(@tkdesigns)
How does your client know when the piece is right?
When a designer is confident that she has found the perfect piece for her client, her job is now to encourage the client and reassure the clientthatit is the right piece. Hopefully the client hired a particular designer because s/he likesthe designer’s taste and trusts her judgment! (Esti Felder)
