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ART HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE MOST ESSENTIAL ASPECT OF DESIGN.
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It is the starting point as an interior designer. It is what inspires the design of a space. Art is not reduced to just decoration. It is intrinsic in the creation of a home. The richest people in the world are the ones that can wake up and view a Matisse or a Rothko in their home. For the rest of the population, we present creative ways to include the Art in your home or office. |
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| THE FIRST STEP IN CREATING ART FOR YOUR WALLS |
| Answer one simple question. What Gives You Joy? Cover your walls with only images that provide pure delight. |
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| Art does not have to be so serious. As you can see in this photo, we paid homage to Andy Warhol with 50 tomato soup cans stacked on a shelf. They create a strong art statement with little investment and lots to eat at lunch time with grilled cheese. |
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| A small print has the power to hold a large wall by painting a of black paint behind the painting. The colors pop and not just because it is an an Andy Warhol. To create this on your own, select one frame print of painting. Select the deepest color in the image. Take blue painters tape and a level, and mark the area to be painted. If it is a rectangle, then paint that shape on the wall. The size of the border can be kept at 6" or 12". |
By Kim Depole | Monday, September 20, 2010 |
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B is for Balance |
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The CONCEPT OF BALANCE in a space is critical. There are two ways to view balance: Symmetrically and Asymmetrically. |
HOW TO ACHIEVE WITH STRONG ELEMENTS IN A SPACE
Balance is a subject that must always be addressed. Scale is the essential part to achieve a sense of balance. Interesting, as you know immediately if the design of a space is out of balance. It is the most common mistake, as often people do not know how to achieve it.
Balance has to do with personal preferences, sometimes very idiosyncratic. Balance is harmony. Balance is achieved with the right amount of color and combinations. |
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SYMMETRY
For this project we created a very balanced bedroom by designing a headboard with three panels. They are placed in a vertical configuration and banked by white night stands and lamps. Most headboards are solid panels with quilting. This one creates a strong statement in the scale and then balance in the symmetry.
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ASYMMETRY
We painted the side of the kitchen wall in a taupe and installed three mirrors in a vertical formation. It is an asymetrical design that creates a sense of balance to the white kitchen. |
Kim Depole | Monday, September 27, 2010 |
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C is for Color |
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The topic of color is like describing the entire Universe in one word. We can stay on this subject forever. I will combine the word color with inspiration. |
THE FIRST STEP IN COMPOSING A PALETTE IS THE COLLECTION OF ALL EXPERIENCES OF COLOR.
The first and foremost experience of color as a designer is found in nature. If you want to compose a palette of green just look in the garden. To create a neutral palette study the bark of a tree when is it layered with many textures. To understand the nuance of white look at the clouds. To create a celebration of color look at the markings of male birds. To understand the amount and proportion of color look at the colorings of tropical fish. |
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Cloud Inspiration Palette |
Nuances of Color |
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| I have been a city dweller all of my life. I find inspiration in the oddest places. The subway tile, the older stops in particular, with mosaics, are amazing places to find color combinations. Recently we installed a wall of art that needed to connect a gray and blue room composition. It was inspired by the reflection of leaves on a cement street. I photographed the image and then enlarged it on architect's tracing paper. We wall-mounted it with hardware from a sign company. It created the bridge to connect the odd combinations of blue in the bedroom by adding a palette of cool greys to one wall. |
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The most harmonious color for each person is completely subjective. There are studies of colors relating to parts of the body called Chakras. After years of reading and study, the one fact I hold true, is that color is emotional and relates specifically to the heart. It is what brings you joy when you awaken, and soothes you to sleep at night.
It is imperative to factor in all these elements when selecting your favorite colors for your interiors. The one rule -- and trust me -- the most important, is to do the following: please paint a section of the wall and you see how you feel during the course of a complete day and evening. Trust me. After years of experience there is no other way.
Color is like a meditation, it restores your smile. |
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Kim Depole | Monday, October 04, 2010 |
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