Find a friend and discover
how to be fearless about what you hang on your walls…
Every once in a while, I thought it would be fun to take a
bit of a field trip to another Saratoga House to explore home décor . Part of this is somewhat selfish… hopefully
this will avoid the inevitable boredom that
could ensue for you as one of my faithful readers if I only blabbed on about my
own house, and another part is practical, because I believe no one point of
view is ever the only one to listen to (of course the last part is that it
is an excuse for me to head out the door to visit with some of my favorite people, but that’s besides the point).
Sometimes we get so set in the way we do things that we limit ourselves
and our design potential. Rules are made
to be broken, and styles are meant to be challenged, and what better way to
open your eyes to a new way of thinking and living than in the company of a
good friend? With that said, let’s take
a little walk over to Laura’s house.
When I originally approached Laura about highlighting her
space online, I thought I would focus solely on the unique way she has blended her
Texas roots with the Victorian elements and features her home is filled
with. But once we started talking and I
got my camera out, I realized that would have to wait for another post, because
I found myself very strongly drawn to the way she integrates art into her home.
Does art scare you a bit when you decorate? I will admit that at times I’m a little afraid. Most of us fill our first homes with framed prints
and posters that could be found in anyone’s post-college place, but making that
leap from the MOMA gift shop to unique, one-of-a-kind pieces can challenging
and intimidating. I feel like sometimes
I’m stuck using mainly photography in my own home as opposed to taking more of
a risk and hanging original artwork.
Photos are of course wonderful and an essential part of any design, but
they are usually very linear and controlled, and so we can easily hide behind them
instead of being bold and making a statement with another type of artistic
expression. So how do we break out of
our box and dive into the world of original art like Laura? Here are a few thoughts:
Great art doesn’t have to scream at you. This intriguing piece in the center doesn’t fill the entire frame it’s in, but invites interpretation as to what it is depicting. It was created by a friend’s babysitter, who has ironically gone on to design for national retailers, but was relatively unknown when Laura acquired it. I also really like the way she has arranged the rest of the items on her mantel around it–they are all quite different in style but get along well!
Don’t Necessarily Get
out the Checkbook. Does real art
have to be expensive? The answer is no. A lot of it is, but that’s not the only great
stuff out there, and there is no reason to spend your retirement fund on one or
two pieces if every time you pass them in your hallway you feel nauseous from
buyer’s remorse. Search out unique
pieces at flea markets and craft fairs, ask friends and family if they know of
any budding/struggling artists within a stone’s throw that might be looking to
sell some selections, or check out coffee shops and restaurants that rotate
local artists’ work in their establishments–these artistic creations are often
very reasonably priced, and could be just the thing you are looking for that
won’t break the bank.
This photo does not do justice to the colorful display this series of paintings make…and since this collection is the first thing you see when you enter Laura’s house, it is a great appetizer for what else you might find inside.
Cluster, Cluster,
Cluster. Intimidated by that 3’X3′
art installation you saw in a gallery downtown? Then start small with several
pieces of artwork that can be layered next to or on top of one another to make
a display that packs as much punch as the one big statement a single item might
make. This also gives viewers a path for
their eye to travel from one piece to the next, which is usually much more
interesting.
How do I Know it’s “Good”?? Here’s a little secret: there is no supreme art council that deems
art priceless or crappy. When it comes
to art for your home, it really is what you like, not what someone else has
decided is a masterpiece. Look for something
that evokes an emotion in you–reminds you of something special, makes you
smile, intrigues you to look longer and more closely. That is the type of art that you want in your
home…something dynamic and interesting that you see different things in each
time you look at it. And if your dinner
guest takes one look and makes it clear he/she is not a fan? Then at least it is a conversation-starter!
Great art doesn’t have to be modern…Laura picked these up locally, and while they have a traditional flair about them, the texture from the fabric backgrounds in the silhouettes looks fresh and interesting on her neutral but traditional staircase. They are also a fun nod to her Texas roots, as well as the Saratoga scene.
Make the Connection. Now I know this may not be one that everyone
agrees with, but for me, I like to have one subtle thing that makes a piece of
art feel like it fits in a room or on a particular wall. It might be a certain color included, a style
that to me plays nice with the other things going on in the space, even the
function of the room–for example, I tend to hang vibrant, colorful art in my
kids’ rooms because energetic, fun things are going on in those spaces on a
regular basis–whatever works for you and your comfort level.
So lunch at Laura’s ended up being not only enjoyable
because of the great company, but educational for me as a decorator…because
seeing her artistic vision helps me to hone my own. So good luck dipping your toe into the world
of original art–take a risk and I am sure you will be pleased with what you
discover!
