NEW ARTICLES  HOT ARTICLES  TOP RATED  ADD AN ARTICLE  UPDATE AN ARTICLE  GET RATED 
  HOME     MY ACCOUNT     POWER SEARCH     REGISTER     SUPPORT     SUGGEST CATEGORY  

Making Your House a Home! Part 2
6581 Home & Family > Interior Design Mar 1, 2007 Melissa Galt Making Your House a Home! Part 2 Copyright 2006 Melissa Galt

Your decorating isn?t complete until you add the finish and polish on your rooms. In part 1 of this series, we touched on ideas and sources for some wonderful window treatments, awesome accessories and collectibles. In this second and final part, we?ll address how to incorporate delightful artwork to add personality and character to your interior.

When it comes to artwork, original is usually preferred. Sure it is easy to find a mass produced print that will coordinate with your decor but that lacks inspiration and creativity. Besides, good art never matches your sofa! Consider the myriad of galleries specializing in local artists? work or even regional Southern artists. All manner of styles, subject matter and price points ($25 - $5000+) are readily available. There is never a guarantee of increase in value in art, and it tends to be difficult to sell second hand, so purchase from your heart, not your wallet. Most galleries (the better ones) will let you check out pieces for 24-48 hours on approval. This makes decisions much easier, so always ask.

Don?t be concerned about creating an eclectic mix. Since you are the constant in the collecting, usually the pieces you select will all work together. Consider buying in odd numbers, again, to keep the dynamic up. And, if you can, limit yourself to no more than three pieces by any given artist, as you may be out of wall space and money when you discover your next favorite! The key to effective hanging of pictures is the height. Determine the height, based on the activity of the room. If it is a foyer, you are likely standing, so the middle of the picture should be eye level for standing. If it is the dining room, you are usually sitting, so lower the artwork to a more appropriate height. This may feel strange at first. Give it a week or two, and you?ll adjust.

In many cases artwork is best served by light outside mats and wider moldings (framing). Colored mats can distract from the image, and poorly proportioned framing won?t give the piece the proper emphasis. You?ll also find that, as mentioned with accessories, it can be of greatest success to hang all gold frames together on one wall, silver on another and the like. This deemphasizes the framing and provides maximum focus on the art. Frame for the art, not the room, because you may move the piece later. Framing is an investment in the life of the piece and when done properly will not have to be redone. Do it right the first time.

Be aware, too, that some images are room specific. In other words, they tend to feel more appropriate in a bedroom setting than the dining room or vice versa. Fruit and vegetables imagery is often relegated to the dining room or kitchen, landscapes are frequently found in living rooms, angelic and cherubic subjects are usually in bedrooms when used. How much art you have is largely personal. Some like very little empty wall space, others like just a handful of pieces in almost a museum like setting. Always hang pairs or suites of images together, or else they?ll appear stranded. Group pictures together using similar spacing and keeping either the top or bottom height consistent to avoid a chaotic look. Remember, you want to notice the pictures, not the way they are hung.

Some of the best resources for original art north of the Perimeter are Raiford Gallery, Heaven Blue Rose, Gallery V, Main Street Gallery, Sandra Milton Gallery, Spruill Art Gallery, and Shiki at Perimeter Mall. Again, there?s something for everyone and for all ages.

In personalizing your home, take your time and have fun with it. If you are more inclined to get it all done at once and don?t know where to start, call a qualified design professional. Their expertise and guidance can be invaluable, and many work by the hour, both consulting and sourcing. Your home is your castle, your haven, your place to enjoy. Make the most of it!

Article Source: http://www.articlerich.com

Melissa Galt is a Lifestyle Designer and Speaker based in Atlanta, GA. She hosts a series of blogs on design tips and trends and produces a monthly ezine dedicated to helping subscribers design their signature life. For the latest teleclasses, seminars, and ebooks on designing your life check out www.melissagalt.com .


Write a Review   Add to My Favorite   Refer it to Friend   Report Article  

Average Visitor Rating: 0.00 (out of 5)
Number of ratings: 0 Votes

Visitor Rating


Other links owned by this user
Copyright 2006 Melissa Galt The Parts and Pieces: In Part 1 of this 2 part series about designing your signature life, we?ll talk about how Interiors, Career Choices, Relationships, and Entertaining and Homemaking can all be
Category:

Copyright 2006 Melissa Galt One of the best things about being single is that when decorate r house, apartment, townhouse or loft, it?s all about , and can create a space that is completely rs. Being single and living on
Category:

Copyright 2006 Melissa Galt The terms Arts and Crafts and Mission Style are often used synonymously today. They refer to a style of home design and furnishings emphasizing natural materials, especially wood, and showcasing a pronounced
Category:

Copyright 2006 Melissa Galt Your decorating isn?t complete until you add the finish and polish on your rooms. In part 1 of this series, we touched on ideas and sources for some wonderful window treatments, awesome accessories and
Category:

Copyright 2006 Melissa Galt Now that you?ve got your decorating project well underway by placing rugs, ordering upholstery and selecting a color scheme, it is time to add the finish and polish. Here we?ll touch on ideas and sources for some
Category:

Copyright 2006 Melissa Galt These days decorating doesn?t have to be about custom design. It can be about where to find it now and how to ke it work for you. There is such a wealth of readyde elements both at retailers, online, and in
Category:

Copyright 2006 Melissa Galt The Parts and Pieces: In the second and final part of this series about designing your signature life, we?ll talk about how Entertaining and Homemaking, Travel and Adventure, and Personal Image and
Category:

Other links at Home & Family > Interior Design
Villapac have a range of furniture package Portugal designed to make the move to your new home in Portugal easy and stress free.
Category:

An exhibition may be broadly defined as a trade fair where various companies can showcase and demonstrate their newly launched and existing ts in order to highlight their positive features to prospective customers. In an age where how well a
Category:

You don't have to be a professional decorator to design a comfortable and appealing room. After all, you know what you like and don't like, better than anyone else, so you really are the first and best choice, of decorator for your own space.
Category:

How the right kitchen can help you have a harmonious home life.
Category:

Installing a carpet is not an easy task for a novice, especially a DIY project and therefore, it is important to have adequate knowledge of the process before embarking on this assignment
Category:




Site Sponsor
Directory Statistics

Articles: 68228
Categories: 501

Yahoo Entertainment
Valid XHTML 1.0 Transitional   Valid CSS