My first job out of college was at an art gallery on Newbury Street. I’ve always loved art- whether creating it myself or studying the works of others- but that did not necessarily mean I was great at SELLING it. My favorite times in the gallery were when we’d get a new shipment of paintings in and design the layout of the show- opening boxes of work like Christmas morning. But when it came to selling, I always felt like people would let me know when they wanted a painting. After all, to me, you fell in love with art the same way you fall in love with a beautiful face or smile of a stranger. You just know and you can’t help it. So I never pushed people or tried to convince them that a piece was a great addition to a collection or something that would increase in value over time. I always asked them how it made them feel and told them to go home and if they were still thinking about it and desirous of it then it meant they should have it (to the dismay of my boss). I find art to be a very personal, emotional purchase- especially when you’re talking about original pieces that cost as much as a Honda!
Now, as an interior designer I have a new frame of reference when it comes to art. Some galleries hate it when I come in and say “I need a painting that matches this fabric” and wave a swatch of bright blue velvet in front of the sales person. But hey, sometimes that is what I need! There is nothing wrong with looking for art that matches a room you’ve already decorated! But you can also base an entire room ON a painting too! If you have a piece you absolutely love, why not use that as your inspiration and palette? I saw this fabulous piece by one of my favorite artists Amanda Talley and decided to design a room around it.
Here is the piece, a very large work great above a long sofa:
Sources: rug, sofa, side table, chandelier, coffee table, ikat pillow, mongolian lamb pillow, lamp
Other images that makes some great points about art in the home-
You CAN hang pattern on top of pattern:
Use fine art in an unexpected room, like the kitchen:
Use it INSTEAD of furniture- like this piece as a headboard:
Hang pieces NOT on walls, like on bookshelves to help calm clutter:
Hanging small pieces in a grid or randomly gallery style each look amazing:
Love that rug (in the room you designed). Where is it from?
Love the headboard idea!
Teresa
The the art headboard idea and the art on the bookshelves.
http://singaturestyle.blogspot.com/
These images make me happy! Beautiful spaces. I especially loved the white kitchen because of the art and the stools!
Where is the chandelier and blue lamp from???Love it!!!!!!
This post is informative and original, and the room inspired by the beautiful work of art is genius. Where is that carpet from? I love it!
I always love your design boards! I think we need to start a trend back towards artwork. As lovely as photographs and botanical prints are, there’s something about a real sketch or painting that you can’t recreate!
I absolutely love Amanda Talley, and I love even more that she’s a gal from Louisiana! Fun post.
Your design boards are amazing!! Any chance you can provide sources for the coffee table?
I’m sorry, but I have to point out that people actually go to college to become an Interior Designer. It’s a professional degree. There is an exam called the NCIDQ that people take after they obtain their degree and work for 2+ years and THEN you can call yourself an Interior Designer. You can call yourself a decorator, you can call yourself a stylist, but you should not be calling yourself and Interior Designer. A nurse cannot call herself a doctor just because she’s worked under one for few years and thinks she has a good knack for it.
I love the long, gold piece. Moving on…Great advice and thanks for the examples. Don’t forget that re-imagining a broken piece of furniture or mirror can be adapted as wall decor.
Please post links for the coffee table and rug!
Where, oh where, did you find that white side table/nightstand?? I have been searching everywhere for it, and have had only one elusive sighting.
That headboard is amazing and by all measure UNIQUE. Love the idea of using art instead of furniture. Lovely.
Erin,
I completely agree that’s it’s fabulous to design a room around a piece of art and equally as fabulous to find that perfect piece to complement an already great design. Interior decorators/designers/ stylists are artists in their own right. As someone who comes from a family full of working artists and artists, I don’t find the latter offensive in the least- just another way of being creative.
As far as interior design school goes- I respect and encourage the pursuit of degrees but perhaps I respect someone that has found their own path and successfully made their own way a bit more. Instead of falling in line, following the well traveled road, and waiting for something to eventually be handed to you (intern, design assistant, jr. designer, sr. designer), you’ve gone out and taken it!
There are top designers in the industry with no formal schooling that refer to themselves as such and while it may ruffle the feathers of some who have shelled out big bucks for their titles it doesn’t change the fact that there are people (without massive debt over their heads I might add!) working as designers with clients lining up at the door. In these cases it is up to the client to decide as they are the ones holding the checkbooks. As long as someone is upfront about their experience there is no harm done. I find the “nurse/doctor” comparison a tad extreme as we’re not exactly saving lives here are we? Improving yes, saving no.
My humble opinon, but I thought I’d share. Erin keep up the good work!
I love that design board that you made. We are moving soon I think I may need that rug for our new place. Granted, our own stuff has been in storage now for two years with cross-country move(S), so who knows if I really remember what I have, but if memory serves me right, it would be just perfect!!! Thanks Erin for sharing the link!
I LOVE everything about this post! I know nothing about art, other than I know when I feel something for it. My husband grew up with art, and art-knowledgeable parents, and it has opened up a world to me I never realized CAN be attainable. One of the greatest things for us living here in Brazil is the incredible art we’ve encountered. HUGE, full-of-life pieces at very fair prices. We’re trying to stock up as we go!
Interesting debate. I graduated with a degree in ID from a FIDER accredited school but I never saw the value in sitting for the NCIDQ for my career. If you have the talent, it’s there, and ultimately it’s up the client to decide what’s important to them.
That aside, it’s funny how many interior designers come from an art background. The two definitely go hand in hand and I’m surprised nt see more of an intermix between the two worlds.
Lastly, all the sources from the design board are provided in the links.
I loved this post. I love art and thanks for all the great ideas about where to hang it.
Does anyone know where I can find more info on that photograph used as the headboard? It’s beautiful!!
As a former Newbury Street gallerina myself, I completely relate to the “love the art but not the selling” experience. However, I will admit that I’ve held on to a bit of the snobby art world perspective that one shouldn’t buy art to go with a room. This post has made me reconsider that, so thank you. I think I can now get on board with the idea that it doesn’t matter which comes first: be inspired by the room or be inspired by the art–just don’t be uninspired by either.
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Erin,
I LOVE this post! I am currently trying to find the perfect piece of large art to hang above our long sofa. I love Amanda Talley too and the size of that piece on your post is perfect. I browsed her site but didn’t see it. By chance do you know the name or # of that particular piece so I can email the gallery about it?? thanks!
Staci
I ADORE that rug! Where is it from?
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LB – Did you just compare ID to a PHD? That is not a good comparison. One you need a degree and one you clearly do not.
Interior design is something you can try and teach, but the truth is it is style and taste…which you cannot teach. And more importantly, everyone is different…so it takes all types. What you are suggesting is more akin to an MBA grad getting mad at someone who didn’t go to Grad school but was still running a business. If you have it, why go to school for it? Some people need the formal education and some don’t. She is not practicing medicine or building bridges…she is picking colors and furniture…and damn well.
Lauren – good comment…
[...] Lighting, Decorating Themes for Kids, Decorating Tips | No Comments A post on Erin Gates’ design blog makes an interesting point. It’s just as easy to design a room around a piece of art as it is [...]