Monday, August 22, 2011
Art of Arrangement .. the tour
Clients often ask about how to arrange art and objects collected over the years.
It's all about grouping and layering.
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| (photo credit: Muraca Design, Inc.) |
I went around parts of my home today, to capture the art of arrangement. Much of arrangement success is trial and error and thinking outside the box. I like to shop for art and objects that I love. I never really shop for specific items to display. Once a collection gets going, there is always a home for each piece. In fact, there are multiple ways to display any object, and that's where the fun is.
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| (photo credit: Muraca Design, Inc.) |
Above and Below: My foyer. I recently pulled this table that was behind my sofa and now enjoying the fresh change in a new location. I pulled these fencing prints off the foyer walls and leaned them against the foyer mirror. (not all framed pictures need to be hung on walls!)
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| (photo credit: Muraca Design, Inc.) |
Below: My front room is where I have a wall of arrangement. I designed this large built-in that actually wraps around a glass door to the left. While the room is small, giving the non-window wall a floor to ceiling bookcase actually increased the feel of the space. But, instead of just a wall of shelving, I stepped back the upper shelves to give it more dimension.
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| (photo credit: Muraca Design, Inc.) |
I like the rule of "a third, a third, a third" when it comes to arranging shelves. A third books, a third art and objects, and a third empty space.
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| (photo credit: Muraca Design, Inc.) |
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| (photo credit: Muraca Design, Inc.) |
Below: In my family room, I placed the cabinet I had in the foyer, behind the sofa. It's more of a room divider than when I had the table in its place. I like the change in feel for the space, although 2 black painted, large pieces.. not so sure. (black cabinet to the left).
Lots to arrange in this view, from the mantel to this black cabinet. I always include stacks of books. I also like baskets for their depth of tone and warmth. I've been using more white ceramic. In fact, I've been scheming up plans to paint my family room and kitchen in much more pale tones. Hmmm... yes, it's time to paint!
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| (photo credit: Muraca Design, Inc.) |
I picked up this spray of purple and green foliage at Whole Foods yesterday. These flowers have such an "end of summer" feel to them. Yes, flowers! Such an important part of the art of arrangement. No faux or dried!
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| (photo credit: Muraca Design, Inc.) |
Below: Pull out the silver and use it in arrangement. I just picked up this silver based, low fruit bowl at a local antique mall. I love its simplicity. I loaded it with apples from our CSA (community supported agriculture).
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| (photo credit: Muraca Design, Inc.) |
I'm ready to get rid of the red paint.. but in the meantime, I love the textile my sister brought back for me from Italy last fall. My new fruit bowl looks wonderful against the blue.
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| (photo credit: Muraca Design, Inc.) |
Below: The shelves above my kitchen desk. While my dream kitchen is white with marble countertops, my current kitchen is in all cherry. Still lovely... but still not white. I've had this ceramic plaque leaning in the upper shelf for 6 years. I love it here (by the fact I haven't moved it someplace else). It brightens up all that wood!
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| (photo credit: Muraca Design, Inc.) |
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I've often thought about painting or wallpapering the back of these shelves. The arrangement of objects, books, the framed photo, and the plaque keep it bright enough for now.
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| (photo credit: Muraca Design, Inc.) |
Below: An awkward area, the intake for the AC and heating. And the wall thermostat. I originally had the vent painted the same as the wall color, but... every time I opened the grill to replace the filter, the paint would peel off in areas that rubbed. It was a mess. So, back to the white grill.
I found this little shelf on Wisteria.
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| (photo credit: Muraca Design, Inc.) |
There it is. A little tour of some of my downstairs art and object arrangement. The great thing about arranging shelves, table tops, mantels, and built ins is that you can so easily pull it down and re-build a fresh new arrangement. Be sure to take inventory when re-arranging and decide if you really want to re-use it. If not, give away or throw away if it's in poor condition. Remember, things keep coming into the home, there has to be an out. Keep the clutter in check and edit, edit, edit!
Happy Arranging!
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