Jennifer Fernandez wrote an article in the Architectural Digest January 1, 2017 explaining that it has become common to see pictures displayed in various areas rather than just on walls.  Art is now shown on bookcase shelves, on bookcase partitions, on sofas, leaning against floors, mantels, chairs, and consoles.  Art is best viewed at eye-level which is 57 inches above ground level.

                                       #dreamlandinteriors  #art  #ArchitecturalDigest

A great day trip for a Floridian is to visit the Chihuly Museum and Studio in downtown St. Petersburg, FL.  You can take a museum tour with a docent, take a self-guided tour, purchase items, and even visit their working studio at a location nearby.  Chihuly's Website is worth checking out.  He now has scarves, coffee table books,  art work, etc. for sale as well as his blown glass pieces.  The bowl below is $6,000, the scarf is $160, and the print varies in price from $1400-$1900 depending on the size.

#dreamlandinteriors  #Chihuly  #blownglass  #artmuseum

Fine Art can be the finishing touch to a spectacular room.  Art is a worthy investment, but it can be difficult to make a selection.  Visiting galleries or museums to determine what style you are drawn to is a good starting place.  In today's electronic age, you can take virtual art tours online.  Artsy.net is an online database of over 70,000 artists.  Saatchi Art offers a wide selection of art covering a wide range of prices.

Butterflies in Crimson From Saatchi Art Site

It can be challenging to position a mixture of paintings, prints, and photographs to create a thing of beauty and to display our interests.  A piece of art can set the mood for the whole room.  Designers and art dealers stress the importance of choosing pieces that mean something to us.  There are tips to help us achieve that perfect gallery look.  

First consider the size of the piece needed.  A large art piece should fill 2/3 to 3/4 percent of the wall space. The piece should be centered at eye level based on if you mostly stand or sit in the space.  If the room has an 8 foot ceiling, the center of the picture should be approximately 5 foot from the floor.  If you are hanging a piece over a piece of furniture, hang the art 6 to 12 inches above the furniture and it should be 60% to 90% the width of the furniture.

Photographs look best mounted in acrylic or plexiglass frames.  Sometimes just reframing a piece of art or regrouping pieces that are already owned can make all the difference.  Groupings should have 2 inches between each side.  It is wise to plan out the layout of a grouping by using paper cut outs and arranging and pinning them on the wall to be decorated.  

Some other tricks that designers use:
-If there is no window above a sink, take a photo of your favorite scene or purchase a scenic picture to hang over the sink.
-Purchase an attractive textile that blends with your room colors and mount it on a canvas.
-Choose accessories that pick up the colors in a featured work of art.
-Choose an art piece as the inspiration piece for a room's design.
-Don't forget art can be displayed in non-traditional places such as laundry rooms, porches, home offices, and entry ways.
​-Make sure art that is hung in wet areas is mounted under glass.

Rain's Rustle II by Leonid Afremov

#dreamlandinteriors  #art  #inspirationpiece  #photographs  #paintings  #prints  #framing  #canvas