About Art and Your Home

What do designers know?

  Designers know that the most successful interior designs start with inspiration.  You may think you are sure of the style and colors you like but now what? 
  You can accomplish the best design from finding a piece of art that speaks to you.  Call it your "inspiration piece" then use the very same color pallet in the image to decide what your wall color(s), couch, throw pillow, planters and so on will be.  Attempt to not only pick up color but also harmony in composition and theme with other elements in the space. Many frustrated collectors have tried to match art to the furniture and bring me throw pillows and paint chips.  Truth is that it's nearly impossible to find art to match.  Let's face it, art can consume a chunk of your budget (although you will get the best deals on this site) so consider starting with art first then pull "your colors" out of the piece.

  Proportion is key. Consider where you want to display or hang your new piece.  The size should relate to the space you plan to put it.  While you think you need to fill a wall with a large piece for over the couch or sideboard, a grouping of pieces may be more appropriate.  Ask me for input as I have sometimes suggested shelving, mirror(s) or three dimensional constructed pieces which can add interest and variety.

  Try not to have flat art on each wall in a room.  It's much more interesting to mix things up!  Consider a pedestal with sculpture, a vase (either empty or filled with flora). Surprisingly, sometimes the best solution is to actually leave a section of a wall blank rendering visual space for the room to breathe.

What Is Feng Shui?

  Feng shui's meaning can be broken down into the Chinese words "feng," meaning wind, and "shui," meaning water. The concept is derived from an ancient poem that talks about human life being connected to and flowing with the environment around it. By definition, feng shui is the practice of arranging pieces in living spaces to create balance with the natural world. This is what it means to feng shui your home. The goal is to harness energy forces and establish harmony between an individual and their environment. 

  This being said, the placement of your furniture tells a story.  I'm often asked to 'stage' properties before we begin showing them to prospective buyers.  The welcome feeling one gets from entering a well laid out home is something we have all experienced but not necessarily been conscious of.  Upon entering many a living room, I have seen the couch, the largest and bulkiest piece of furniture, positioned with its back to me.  If the couch could talk, and in feng shui speak it is, it is rather loudly screaming, "DO NOT COME IN".  Even worse it's saying that you're not welcome here.  Conversely, when the couch is on a far wall facing you, it's congenially saying "Come on in, you're an invited and welcome guest, sit down and join the party!!" I've seen the mistake as well in many a bedroom where the headboard is on the wall opposite the far wall in front of you once again giving a much less than inviting message.  It should be inviting you into the room.  In office settings, the desk is aways perfect facing the door since you enter and greet the seated professional.

  Tall mammoth pieces should be on the wall(s) that you don't see upon entering rooms and spaces.  So place your armoires, dressers and office file cabinets accordingly. They tend to be light and sight blockers and also dwarf the perceived size of the space.  Similarly, as you enter a room there should never be a piece of furniture to negotiate around so leave open space near the entry door.  Elementary yet so worth stating!!

  These are things to consider before determining where and what you wish to feature on the walls and surfaces in your home.  When you do you can accomplish a feeling of peace, tranquility and balance that feng shui is essentially about.
Choosing art shouldn't be hard
  If you’re not an art curator, gallery owner, or artist, chances are buying art does not come naturally. Galleries can seem intimidating at first. You may be worried about choosing the right size or the right colors to fit your space. As it turns out, choosing art for the home is much more intuitive than one might think if you follow a 3 simple rules:
A] Learn About Paper Works and Framing- Paper works are often much less expensive than canvas, but keep in mind that many paper works are not sold in frames. If you want to save money on framing you can buy inexpensive frames, but make sure that the mats touching the actual artwork are acid-free because acidic mats, found in budget ready-made frames, can quickly deteriorate or discolor artwork.
B] Buy on the Secondary Market- Previously owned works of art are often already framed and can avail art that the artist or gallery is long sold out of.
C] Pick What You Like-Your home décor be about investing in neutral couches or flooring so consider using the walls for more irrational or eclectic choices. Art is an opportunity to express yourself through color, content, and texture. 
Payment Plans or Trade May be an Option- You can always suggest a payment plan or a trade. It If you fell in love with a piece that’s slightly above your budget try negotiating.