Thursday, May 24, 2012 at 12:06PM Check out the June Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles for great photographs and designer interviews from this year's Cathedral Inspiration House.
Nursery by Nancy Duffey and me above right; view of crib and chalkboard wall, and top left.
Images by Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles. Fabric by Block & Brayer, contact me for information.
-Allison
Tuesday, May 15, 2012 at 06:14PM I'm always on the lookout for good stuff to hang on the walls (AKA art?) that isn't super expensive. Lately I've been looking for things to go in Frances's room and am also ready to add some color to other areas of our house.
I did not end up getting the fashion prints from this post. Although, I do still really like them. I wonder if they're available?
Anyways..I saw these adorable portraits of baby animals.
They are only $25 for an 8x10 print! They are shown hanging in white, ready made, West Elm frames, another bonus.
**A simple white gallery frame is always a good way to go if you're trying to keep your cost down. They look nice, modern, and blend with most spaces. Especially Frances's nursery.
(Instagram photo of Frances's nursery)
I'm thinking about these four little guys to go above the crib:
I love that they are head shots (mug shots?). Click here for the website if you're interested.
The wall behind her chair is another large, blank space. I found this ABC paper at Sam Flax the other day for $4.99.
It's fun and retro, and when was the last time you used the word "wigwam"? Ha!
The colors are much softer than they appear to be in this picture. I'm planning to frame this with an eight ply mat in a white gallery frame as well.
To finish her room, I need some shelf space ( it will go above her changing table) to display some of her special things and photographs. I'm kind of torn-do I want actual shelves? Or some sort of little display case (that doesn't look frumpy)?
I like these low profile, skinny shelves that can hold photographs and small objects but don't project too far into the space. (Image via Suburban Renewal)
On another note, I, along with everyone else it seems, have been craving some more color. Maybe we are finished with neutrals for the season? I was inspired by all of the colorful art I've been seeing and got out my watercolors.
It's been a while, I'll let you know how it goes! If these turn out well they will updating the spots in my house that need color.
-Allison
Tuesday, May 15, 2012 at 12:14PM I haven't done a post on art in a really long time. I used to do the Tuesday (or was it Thursday?) art walks which were virtual tours around Atlanta art galleries but I guess I'm not very good at committing to a weekly post! (oops.) Lately I've been shopping for art at different levels. Showhouse, clients, and myself.
For the Inspiration House nursery Nancy Duffey and I designed in February, we went to Emily Amy Gallery and Catherine Kelleghan Gallery, both here in Atlanta.
The painting above the chest is called "Inlet, Summer" by Margie Stewart. It is 36" x 36" and is available through Emily Amy Gallery. I love this painting and it's colorful, youthful feel was perfect for our nursery walls. It would be a piece of art that a child could grow with.
The ceramic animals sitting on the chest are by a local Atlanta artist named Christine Mann and are available at Catherine Kelleghan Gallery. The animals are so much fun and could be used in a variety of rooms.
The pair of paintings above are by Cecil Touchon, both are 20"x20" and available through Emily Amy Gallery.
*Photographs by Kristin Mayfield Meredith
We also used a pair of nail polish paintings by Scott Ingram. These are my favorite...I don't have a picture of them installed but go check them out at Emily Amy Gallery or Scout for the Home.
Doing a showhouse is fun because there's no budget. Hence all of the beautiful artwork that we were able to put into one room. Real life is sometimes that way but most of the time it's not. Art is collected over the years and budget definitely plays a role.
Working for a client we were looking for a painting to go over a new buffet piece in her breakfast room. We started at Emily Amy Gallery with a few criteria: something that would work with the brightly colored Penley in the adjacent room, something calm, possibly an abstract or just something different from the other landscapes and more literal pieces in the house.
(painting by Margie Stewart)
She liked the Margie Stewart painting that we used in the Inspiration House so we looked at a few of hers. While stylistically, the painting above is very different from one by Steve Penley, we felt that the energy was too similar and we didn't want to overwhelm the space.
Jules Cozine has beautiful work as well but it just wasn't quite right for this spot.
This painting by Cara Enteles was almost perfect (until the big bad budget came into play). "The Last Days of Summer" by Cara Enteles is oil on acrylic panel. She paints on two pieces of acrylic that are stacked on top of each other which creates an interesting layering effect. We loved the use of acrylic instead of canvas and the style of the painting.
With the Cara Enteles piece as our first choice so far, we went to check out some of Gregg Irby's emerging artists (meaning: good work, good price).
I had Sara Cameli in mind but seeing the piece in person it just was not exactly right. We wanted something a little bit different.
We ended up going home with this abstract piece by Casey Matthews:
And these by Katherine McClure:
We really liked the abstract nature of the Casey Matthews painting but were more drawn in by the calm energy of the Katherine McClure paintings. The natural subject matter, mixed media, and calm use of color were some of the things we also liked about the Cara Enteles painting. The McClure paintings immediately felt at home in the space.
We're adding these fixtures above the paintings for light and height:
Will share when it's all done!
Art Part II will have some art alternative options, stay tuned.
To learn more about the artists above visit Emily Amy Gallery, Catherine Kelleghan Gallery, and Gregg Irby Fine Art.
-Allison
Sunday, April 1, 2012 at 05:35PM The technique of placing two or more colors together to add dimension.
I'm sure you've seen the look, and even tried it, this season. I love the bold blend of colors, it's bright, fresh and a welcome change from spring florals.
Of course this technique has been used in other artistic disciplines. What first comes to mind is Mark Rothko, one of the more popular color field painters within the abstract expressionist movement.
Image via Ask Art.
Image via Artist Showdown.
Via The Art Theoretical.
Look familiar? I am a big fan of Rothko's large color field paintings. I do love the colors themselves; however, Rothko says that only noticing the color is missing the point of his piece which is made to be an experience. Rothko says that standing eighteen inches away from one of his large paintings allows one to be in the painting, actually experiencing it, rather than looking at a painting of an experience.
Read more about Rothko and his contemporaries here.
Interiors are all about the experience-what one feels when they enter a room. I will always love a home that has a neutral palette combined with pops of bold colors. It creates a calm but interesting atmosphere and a fun or dramatic experience.
This series of images in April's House Beautiful caught my attention.
(Yellow, bits of blue, pink in the art-which is monochromatic creating a "block" of color itself)
The designer used large blocks of color to make a statement in each room. Still a calm, livable space but with a pop of interest.
Monochromatic blocking. (Image via Fashionable Interiors)
Image via Marcus Design.
Modify how you experience your house this spring by adding a pop of color with accessories.
Etsy.
Christopher Spitzmiller.
JC Penney?! $40. They come in this turquoise color too:
I am going to check these out. Could they be too good to be true? Or an inexpensive way to update your home with color?
Let me know what else you find out there. Happy hunting!
-Allison
Thursday, March 8, 2012 at 05:14PM This is why I've been absent from blogging.
Spending some time with our new design assistant, Frances Harper.
Be back soon!
xoAllison