Archive for the ‘Live Ideas’ Category

Setting the mood with Art

Written by Amitai Sasson on February 5, 2007

bedroom Setting the mood with Art Your bedroom is your sanctuary where you are free to express yourself. Here are 3 tips to help you set the mood. Just in time for Valentine’s Day!

The Colors
Reds inspire lust and passion; add reds with pillows, drapery, or a red accent wall.
The combination of cream and browns is attractive to both sexes, as are soft pastels. Add touches of nature by adding plants or freshly cut flowers. Or, consider hanging narrow vertical oil paintings of abstract or modern artists.

The Lighting
Bedroom lighting should be adjustable and come from different sources. Above your bed, mount a pair of lamps with which you can rotate or set to shine bright for reading or dim for a sensual mood. A cool trick is to adjust your wall lamps to act as spot gallery lighting for your artworks when you are not in bed.

The Art
Place your bed in the center of your wall, or where it looks best when you enter the room. If you don’t have a view, hang a tantalizing image to take in as you lie in bed. Perhaps it’s an image from your past, or a favorite artist reproduction that reminds you of your first infatuation.

Add these key elements and watch your bedroom transform into a seductive place that you’ll find hard to resist.

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Category: Expert Advise and Interior Design tips, Live Ideas

New Wall Decor Tool – Color Names

Written by Amitai Sasson on November 24, 2006

Ever wondered what color corresponds with “Eggshell” or “Gohst White”? This useful tool will help you match the color to its name Visit our Wall Decor Tools page and get started!

This is the first of many wall decor tools that we hope to develop. if you have any ideas let us know…

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Category: Expert Advise and Interior Design tips, Live Ideas

“Designing By Art” with Gustav Klimt

Written by Amitai Sasson on August 15, 2006





Who says that the design always comes before the art? Oil Paintings along with other forms of art offer us endless inspiration and new direction for our surroundings. I’ve always believed that the framework of a beautiful design is hiding in that one piece that you view as extra special. We just have to take a look around us and start with the art!			Expectation; by Gustav Klimt is a phenomenal piece of work to examine when in need of creative motivation. Klimt was considered an artist of Art Nouveau, although his technique encompassed a variation of style. This one in particular has a very distinct Egyptian feel—the figure seemingly two dimensional with the head turned at a nearly impossible angle. We recognize a resemblance of the Eye of Ra both in the background and in the woman’s dress. A perfect balance of organic and geometric shapes along with vibrant color makes this piece complex and captivating. With a good eye, and some treasure hunting, your interior can be the same! Such a royal color palette calls for bold furnishings and mediums.

Look for designs that overlap or repeat one another. Find furnishings that reflect the shapes in the piece—triangles, spirals, lines, knots, etc. Egyptian-like statues, pottery, and angular woodwork will contribute! Curvaceous patterns compliment Expectation. The work seems to flow within itself as if the figure dances before a warm and blustering wind—keep this in mind. Motion in stillness is the key element in this masterpiece. Applied to your interior this will have a peaceful yet striking impact!

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Category: Changing trends, Expert Advise and Interior Design tips, Live Ideas

Designing by Art

Written by Amitai Sasson on August 12, 2006

Claude Monet

	Artist’s Garden at Giverny; Claude Monet

Who says that the design always comes before the art? Oil Paintings along with other forms of art offer us endless inspiration and new direction for our surroundings. I’ve always believed that the framework of a beautiful design is hiding in that one piece that you view as extra special. We just have to take a look around us and start with the art!		Take the Artist’s Garden at Giverny, for instance. Impressionistic works like this one portray harmony through the beauty of nature. The gentle style of the piece promotes free flowing lines and soft colors. In fact, the timing of Impressionism flowed directly into the Art Nouveau movement, which also sought inspiration from organic lines and the balance of the environment. Whiplash curves, asymmetry, and rich mediums such as gold, dark woods, and rustic metal truly compliment this style. The Impressionists were revolutionaries in that they painted only en plein air (in the open air), so as the color schemes are both ambient and authentic to the natural world. What I’ve demonstrated here are only a very few examples of the inspiration I pulled from this Monet

masterpiece! I would suggest choosing an array of paint colors from the artwork first, in this case some soft pastel hues (you can save the deeper tones for your pull pieces later—throw pillows, pottery, etc.). Choose the most versatile color for your wall and take the others with you to match up fabric swatches for your furniture! In the end, your favorite piece of artwork will be reflected throughout your interior! Now who’s the artist?

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Category: Expert Advise and Interior Design tips, Live Ideas

Taking Inspiration from the Masters

Written by Amitai Sasson on May 29, 2006

“Art is an adventure into an unknown world,
which can only be explored by those willing
to take the risks.”
-Mark Rothko

It seems lately that many people are looking for inspiration regarding their walls.

Different textures on the wall are always interesting to work with, but where lies the muse behind the surface? If you are an art fanatic like myself, you may look at art in a different way than most. Two inches away, three feet away, a mile away (ha!)…Do you ever notice the brushstrokes in a painting? Are they vertical, horizontal, heavy or light? Every different painter throughout history has had a different technique, and I believe upon closer observation, we can use these techniques to make our homes unique and stunning! Use small areas on your walls, or go crazy with the entire room! Consider the following examples.

starryNight2 Taking Inspiration from the Masters

Starry Night; Vincent Van Gogh: Who can deny this great masterpiece?! Vincent used thick, quick brushstrokes applied by a course brush, or even a palette knife. Why not add a little Van Gogh to your bedroom? Coat your wall with a base color and then apply sweeping spirals and organic lines in a shapely manner. Take notice of the way Vincent used continuous outline on certain objects until the outline of corresponding objects met. This technique makes for a calming and graceful interior. Try it in your bedroom, bathroom, or nursery!

mediumKL841 Taking Inspiration from the Masters

Fulfillment; Gustav Klimt: Klimt created one of the most exciting and unique styles of painting. Spirals of monochromatic color, cryptic shapes in lively colors, and a jumble of diverse forms are key to this method! Try starting with a cast of neutral tones, developing a pattern over the top with a monochromatic, (tints and shades of the same color—as shown here with a taupe background and a terracotta pattern of spirals) add small bursts of color in various shapes and sizes. One of Klimt’s most charming aspects was his incorporation of different objects such as flowers, eyeballs, grids—whatever shapes came to mind!! Use this to your liking or follow a theme in your particular space. Now this is what art is all about!

mediumKN1243 Taking Inspiration from the Masters

Black and Violet; Wassily Kandinsky: One of my personal favorites. Now, if you are into the mod, the chic, the avant-garde, then I assume you are familiar with Mr. Kandinsky! If not, then check this out! Imagine a canvas about 7’x 8’, i.e. your wall! Slap on some gold, or maybe some crimson, how about black?! Take a look at Black and Violet, Gravitation, or any of his abstractions. Here’s the key—simple geometric shapes, overlapping with different color schemes. Throw in some lines and grids as well. Think Frank Lloyd Wright meets Klimt!

mediumMON1117 Taking Inspiration from the Masters

Cliff Walk at Pourville; Claude Monet: Into more soothing spaces, earth tones, and nature? Take a look at Monet. Pointillism is a method used by most of the Impressionists. Small dots of different colors bring out an ultimate color and a realistic looking scene. Sea sponges may be a more convenient way to accomplish this in modern day, as most of us don’t have the time to sit in front of the wall with a paint brush for eternity. The sponges are cheap and you can get them at any home deco store. Grab some Periwinkle, Sea Green, and Violet paint while you are there. Dab a sponge into each and go to work on your sky scene. Drag the sponge a bit to create wispy clouds. And voila! How’s that for a good Impression?

rothko 52806 Taking Inspiration from the Masters

Mark Rothko: If you are more interested in mood than detail for your interior, here’s an interesting painter for you. Rothko focused more on color, composition, and shape then anything else. Although the paintings seem arbitrary to some, I believe they bring out an instant rush of emotion. As a designer, I see each of his paintings as it’s own definition of color theory. I also see them as an insight to modern interior décor and design.

Long streaks of color, side by side, horizontal and vertical.
Color on top, texture on bottom.
Outline or none. Simple and unpretentious.

Which style can you consult to create your own– one in particular, or a combination? These are only a few ideas to get those gears cranking and those hands working. Who’s your favorite artist? What do you like about his/her paintings? What grabs you about it? Inspiration is all around you! Put it on your walls and let it surround you!

*All of the paintings above and many more are available at overstockart.com!!!

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Category: Expert Advise and Interior Design tips, Live Ideas

Grouping Oil Paintings and hanging it over your staircase

Written by Amitai Sasson on May 17, 2006

Julie had a great question about hanging art over a staircase and hallway:

“Dear Brei,

I have two staircases which are at opposite ends of my hall. I have a Victorian house with rounded corners and 7 doors off the hallway. I have about 8 to 10 feet of solid wall on either side of the straightway. I have very high walls next to both staircases. After 19 years in the house our hall has been restored. Is there a book or pictures of the best way to hang my art up the stairs and along the hall? Any suggestions would be appreciated.”

Well, a Victorian house sounds spectacular; I would love to see what you’ve done with the place. (more…)

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Category: Expert Advise and Interior Design tips, Live Ideas

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