Gallery owners advise that art should always be chosen because it pleases the buyer -- not because it matches a room. Interior designer Nan Rosenblatt advises a client who has the opportunity to decorate her new home around her very personal collection of strong, vivid art and children's art and mementos. Decorating for an existing art collection not only provides the chance to make the artwork truly stand out but also presents the challenge of making art the focus while pulling various design elements together. Dining-room walls are painted peach, and window treatments are kept simple to provide a soft background for the vivid painting on the wall. Dining-room chairs, each upholstered in a different color, mirror the colors of the art in the living room, pulling the two rooms together (figure A). Neutral fabric on the living-room furnishings provides a soft foreground to show off four modern and colorful paintings on the living-room wall (figure B). The color and design of the pillows and ottoman pick up the colors of the paintings. Simple blinds at the window allow plenty of natural light to come through without taking attention away from the art (figure C). A large, flat mantel created for the existing fireplace provides space for three-dimensional art to be displayed (figure D). An upstairs hallway becomes a minigallery of very personal art. Framed art and photographs of the client's children are displayed above a dresser topped with tiny ceramics and sculpture made during schooldays. Tips for Making Your Own Artwork Stand Out Paint your walls a neutral color. Choose color accents in accessories only. Keep window treatments simple. Look for interesting ways to display your artwork.
RESOURCES :
Nan Rosenblatt, Interior Designer
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