Smart Art Choices

Art is a necessary component for any home - it’s one of the most important things to bring a layered interior to life. A home without art can seem drab and lifeless, but art can be problematic in some areas, so I thought today I’d talk about bringing art into difficult spaces.

Kitchens are often a missed opportunity for art. Art and cooking grease don’t mix well, so art in the kitchen should be professionally framed to seal out unwanted elements. And art in this room should preferably be behind glass for ease of maintenance. Don’t be afraid to use art in your kitchen!

Art for the outdoors? Why not? For my Galveston project on HGTV’s Brother vs. Brother, I chose a abstract retro welded metal seagull sculpture to give life to a sitting area. The patina gained by being on beachfront property will only give it more character over the years.

I know of one talented wildlife photographer, Wink Gaines, who prints all her large scale works on aluminum so they can be showcased indoors or out. Perfect for the wide veranda of a country home or even as the focal point of a bath!

Stairways alway present a challenge for art - usually because of a big, blank, or triangle shaped wall. The easiest way to fill the space is with a gallery motif, but it can often feel cluttered. I love this abstract sculpture painting to define the wall…out-of-the-box thinking!

Of course, you can turn your whole stairwell into art, as Kelly Wearstler so famously did with this now iconic Porter Teleo wallpaper.

Framed large-scale wallpaper can also be your friend when you have a huge space to fill, but you don’t have the budget for a Cy Twombly! Look how gorgeous this large framed piece of wallpaper looks. Never be scared to go big with art!

Of course the opposite can be true as well. Sometimes a small, impactful piece is all you need in a serene space.