Paintings
Go overboard on artwork This is no scientifically curated collection of artwork, bought for its investment value and perfectly positioned. The packed gallery wall is a labour of love, with mismatched frames and a mix of mediums – and the elegant room, designed by Sascal Studio, looks all the more homely, interesting and welcoming for it.
Artworks Size of the piece Choosing artwork that’s the wrong scale for a room is a common mistake, with most people erring on the small side. Checking to see whether a gallery will allow you to bring a piece home on approval is the best way around this. If you fall in a love with a piece that’s too small for your room, try having it reframed with a larger mount. Position on the wall Another common mistake is to hang artwork too high on the wall. If it’s too high, it will have no connection to the furniture below it, and if it’s above eye level, it can ruin the look of a room. Ideally, artwork should be hung so the centre of the piece is at average eye level, or about 150cm from the ground. In a dining room, you might want to hang the pieces slightly lower to factor in the seated viewing height.
Make a leap into dark A charcoal velvet sofa makes this living space look sophisticated. The dark tone is repeated in smaller elements – the lamp base and picture frame both work the statement colour. Balancing the room’s dark elements, the walls and carpet as well as the side chair are in light-reflecting pale neutral tones, while gold highlights brighten and warm the scheme.
love the Japanese screens/lights?
the painting on the right, not on the left..I couldn't deal with her staring at me all day!
love the frame of the map
extreme wall painting technique
Achieve a balance Diptych artworks can be used to enhance the symmetry of a room, bringing in a tailored, clean feel. This living room has an effortless, minimal aesthetic that’s emphasised by neutral tones and a choice of softly abstracted artworks. Painted wall panels unobtrusively divide the space, acting as a scaffolding to tie the two separated pieces together. Work around the main asset of the room, be it a sofa, a dresser or a bed, and echo its symmetry with your artwork. This is a beautifully colour-coordinated scheme, but don’t be afraid to really make the space your own. Following the structural lines of a room and mirroring a pre-existing symmetry allows you total freedom of choice with your artwork, so go bold and embrace some colour.
Paint over a picture If you’re tired of staring at the same old prints and posters, why not customise them? Add graffiti-style splodges in bold, contrasting colours to create your own exciting artwork (though possibly only if it’s a reproduction, not an original), or doodle in amusing details that add a witty touch to an over-familiar image. I'd say do it on the glass, not the picture!!
I did!! Do try a bold backdrop Painted feature walls are usually dramatic enough to stand alone without the added statement of a bold artwork, but this rule can easily be broken. The blue skyline in this piece blends subtly with the backdrop, while the golden sky and water and a strong frame ensure the artwork gets the attention it deserves. Top tip Hanging the artwork further from the mantelpiece draws the eye up, adding height to the room and providing the perfect space beneath to display your prized ornaments.
harbourside scene cornwal
Artwork by Swedish artist Ida Isaksson.
Morandi-like picture
Abstract art is a highly popular medium primarily because it’s able to tick so many boxes in one piece, displaying colour, form, texture and expressive paintwork. Artworks come in varying degrees of abstraction, and whether the hint of a landscape lingers within the brushwork and colour palette, or no conceivable concept can be found, the choice is yours entirely and personal preference should always prevail.
When styling with large-scale statement works, it’s often worth selecting pieces you can’t live without and coordinating your furnishings around this feature. That way, there won’t be any conflict and, no matter how bold your artworks are, there will be a premeditated feel to the space. Two identical yet mirrored pieces are hung here, perfectly filling the space, while a glass tabletop subtly reflects the blue beautifully among a palette of neutrals.
This Bruce McLean monoprint contains earthy, darker tones and bold geometry that help to guide the eye over every aspect of the room, from the soft furnishings to the hearth, while a white mount and frame blends the piece well with the hard furnishings.
Abstract art is bold by nature. Bright, statement pieces will easily burst out against a dark interior colour palette and elaborate the drama of the space, ensuring your prized piece is not lost among neutrals. Justify your intention further by playing with the scale and alignment. Despite having similar colour palettes, these works differ in subject, orientation and size, creating a playful pairing.
Jessica zoob again
painting
I’ve always loved Fornasetti very much,’ says Pizzi. ‘When my husband and I saw this piece, we couldn’t resist.’
A piece by noted English sculptor and land artist Richard Long dominates the living room. Crafted in a single afternoon for this apartment, the work uses colour and materials to develop perfectly one of the artist’s favourite shapes: the circle.
De Forest, trained as a painter by Frederic Church and an early business partner of Louis Comfort Tiffany’s, met Rudyard Kipling’s father, Lockwood Kipling, while on his honeymoon in India. The elder Kipling, an illustrator and art scholar, nurtured de Forest’s budding passion for the area’s handicrafts.
Display an oversized triptych Statement art can suggest a gallery feel, making your room feel more expensive than it really is. A large triptych canvas, as seen here, is one of the most eye-catching ways to do it. But you don’t have to commission today’s most brilliant young artists. Save money by unleashing your creative side and having a go yourself. Or ask an arty friend to help out.
love the little models of houses behind her!!
Q