Decorating With Large Scale Art

Happy Sunday everyone and happy first day of March! Who said Black History Month was over? I say let’s continue to celebrate black leaders, support black businesses and be inspired by black artists for the rest of the year!

The above pictured painting, inspired me to write this post discussing 5 tips on decorating with large oversized art. I love using large scale art in a space because it instantly becomes a statement piece in a room. One of my favorite local black artists, recently painted the piece above entitled “Brothers in Solidarity”. I am in love with the moment that's captured in this painting. To me, it positively depicts two young kings taking pride in their bond and friendship. An interesting Black History fact, the word DAP is the acronym for “Dignity and Pride”. A dap much like the pound shown in the painting, is also a friendly greeting between friends and companions. At the end of this post, I’ll share with you why this piece is personally meaningful to me.

tip #1

Hang over-sized art in an entry way, or even at the end of a hallway to draw people into your space. It’s grand size will naturally have their eyes move from one room to the other and will help to define the space.

tip #2

Large art can be beautiful and commanding in a space. Choose a piece with bright, and bold colors and it will bring a sense of drama to your walls.

tip #3

Pairing a large piece of large artwork with a low headboard or no headboard at all, is a stylish alternative to a taller dramatic headboard.

tip #4

If you are renting an apartment or condo and you aren’t able to paint your walls, hanging large scale art in your space will instantly bring color and interest to your room. Hang a large piece in your living room and it will visually fill your space with color.

tip # 5

My last tip takes us back to the painting that inspired this entire post. Large scale art can also set the tone and the color palette of a room. To create this mood board I pulled the yellows and browns from the painting and added complimentary colors to create a cohesive look. With the art as my starting point, I was able to select coordinating pillows and accessories for this space.

The featured artist, David Marion is a South Carolina native and natural born artist. Marion currently resides in Richmond, VA, with his family. Marion has a creative way of storytelling through his colorful and thematic paintings.

Fun Fact: If you haven’t figured it out, I am personally connected to this painting because one of the boys in this painting is my son and the other boy is my son’s best friend. It was an honor to have my son in a David Marion original piece. When I first saw the painting, I had proud Mom tears. You can find more original pieces by supporting and following him on Instagram @davidmariong and by visiting his website.

Anita WilliamsMarch 1, 2020 Comment

2020 Design Trends

10 Home Design Trends that we’ll see in 2020

Happy first day of February! It’s that time of the New Year when everyone has set their new goals related to their professions, family, and health and they are moving to the infant stage of executing their goals. If one of your goals included updating your home either by renovating or decorating it, then you are in the right place!

I am kicking off my first post of the year by sharing some of my predictions on the latest design trends I think you will see in 2020. These predictions are just that and I will include some details and tips in hopes to inspire you to find the decor that reflects your individuality and spirit of you in your home.

To come up with this list, I took it back to my design school days, where I first learned as a Fashion Merchandising student about trend analysis. Anyone can easily identify trends for any market by taking an environmental scan of that industry (whether for the fashion industry or interior design industry). In a nutshell, this means you can easily train your eye to be an expert in spotting trends if you are constantly looking at design magazines, scrolling Instagram for inspirational design pictures, pinning designs on Pinterest, reading industry news about new products or just from traveling to exotic destinations. So to save you time and money on that plane ticket, let’s jump right in!

Here are 10 trends to look forward to this year:

1) Colorful kitchen islands

For the past several years, white on white kitchen cabinets have dominated homes in most markets. For this reason, I believe we will begin to move towards the trend of embracing color in kitchens. These days, kitchen islands are pretty standard in new builds and kitchen remodels because they are becoming multi-functional hubs of a kitchen. What better way to break up your all-white kitchen than to add a pop of color to your island? One color that is becoming particularly popular right now is the color blue! Both Pantone and Sherwin Williams picked their favorite shade of blue for the color of the year. Blue is a classic and calming color that would work well in any neutral kitchen.

2) floating vanities

Lately, I’m seeing a rise in the popularity of floating vanities on my Instagram ‘Home’ feed and it’s easy to see why. Wall-hanging vanities have a sleek and minimalist style and are often associated with contemporary designs. One advantage that I like with floating vanities is that it feels like a customized design option because it can be installed at any height for the comfort of the household members. The perfect option for tall family members.

3) black is the new greige

Towards the end of 2019, I began to see black matte finishes in bathrooms and tiles in trade magazines. In 2020, I believe we will continue to see more of this trend but, on a larger scale. Don’t be surprised when the color black shows up more in furniture, is used for an accent wall or is seen in an entire room! Black adds both drama and mystery to your space. If you still aren’t convinced, think about how much black you have in your wardrobe..When you pair black with any color, it elevates your look to a different level of sophistication and confidence. Not every room can pull off black on all four walls, so start out by using the color in small doses like in an office rug, in your pillows or art.

4) patterns on patterns

The rise and popularity of thrift shopping in fashion has quickly influenced home decor. When it comes to interiors, if you enter a room with mixed styles, trends, textures, eras and color, then you’ve walked into an eclectic style space. Mixing patterns is common in an eclectic space. Have fun with this trend by mixing stripes with polka dots or mixing animal prints with floral.

5) textured wallpaper and 3d panels

Although shiplap has been around for centuries, it gained its popularity again in 2014 thanks to Chip and Joanna Gaines hit TV show Fixer Upper. Everyone wanted painted shiplap on their walls, in their dining rooms as wainscoting and even started requesting it on fireplaces. So it’s no surprise that now that the shiplap craze has died down, that we’d begin to gravitate towards alternative options like textured wallpaper and 3D wall panels to add interest to your walls. Looking to have a sophisticated dining room, try either linen or silk wallpaper. A personal favorite of mine is grasscloth. It is also a beautiful choice of textured wallpaper for the powder bathroom. 3D wall panels used as an accent wall in any room can create a jaw-dropping focal point.

6) Walk-in showers

Another trend that I’ve seen on my Instagram feed is the walk-in shower. Other than the fact that these showers are easier to physically walk in and out of, they go hand in hand with the look of luxury in your bathroom.

7) bring the outside in

Some may call it the Justina Blakeney effect and others just may consider themselves a “plant Mama”. Whatever the reasoning behind an uptick and interest in plants, this trend is here to stay! If you are new to caring for plants, start small with several different succulents and then pair them with your favorite scented candle. If your thumb is completely brown, capture the trend by purchasing a faux fig tree for your living room or entry way.

8) natural materials

Natural materials such as hemp, rattan, wicker, terracotta, sisal, jute and even plywood will make their way in both indoor and outdoor decor. There should be no surprise to anyone about this humble trend since the average consumer has become increasingly more conscious of their environment and the impact they make on it. Don’t be afraid to choose natural materials for rugs, lighting, baskets, pet accessories, headboards and chairs.—-But just remember, don’t overdo this trend and try using them all in one space!

9) neon

Ok, going out on a limb here with this trend but stick with me for just a moment to hear my case out. Now, when we’re discussing neon, I am not referring to the tacky neon ‘Open’ sign outside of your neighborhood pizza place. I am referring to the neon signs seen in boutique hotel lobbies and at networking conferences. This fun choice of lighting will show up big in weddings and also in home decor like this neon sign pictured above in this contemporary nursery.

10) ahead of the curve

If you are a fan of modern furniture, you can’t scroll through the cb2 website without stumbling across curved furniture. This will be a fun trend to watch play out because curved furniture creates movement in your space and draws your eye directly to that piece of furniture. A curved sofa can soften your living space if it’s surrounded by masculine touches and finishes. And if you aren’t ready to commit to a curved sofa, look for a chaise or bench with a curved silhouette.

So that wraps up my predictions for the top ten trends in 2020! Whichever trend you try this year, don’t forget to make selections that you love and ones that reflect your individual personality and lifestyle.

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Anita WilliamsFebruary 1, 2020