Online Consultation: Art Placement Over a Console Table

A little while back I had a client who requested help choosing art for her master ensuite bath. She has a fabulous arts and crafts meet industrial loft, and decided that her console table in the living/dining room was looking a little lonely. Voila, another art wall was in the works… thought you may enjoy seeing what I came up with here.

If you know me at all, you know I prefer to support and invest in original works whenever possible, and Etsy is my favourite place to play :)) so get ready for a juicy list of Etsy sellers ahead!! The space over a console table is the perfect place to indulge in a little art grouping, it's something I incorporate in most of my clients interiors.

As you can see, A. has fabulous taste and a great design sense. 

She has chosen perfectly scaled pieces with the right lines, materials and style for her home.

This drop-leaf table and chairs pull out and double as a formal dining space when guests come over, clever right?

First off, we needed to centre the grouping on the wall. 

Next I chose to incorporate the St Germain Swing Lamp, which offers soft mood lighting on an everyday basis and task lighting when the area is used for dining.

The existing buffalo print is fantastic, it just needed a little company, 

some smaller pieces that still allow it to be the focal point.

By hanging this off centre we can work out a more interesting arrangement.

A mirror offers up some sparkle, and an interesting shape breaks up all the rectangles.

Over top, a romantic equine photo perfectly suits a young couple.

For balance,  a pair of prints beside the light reference the white in our other framed works,

 but add softness and modern elements.

The portrait collage  print up top is by my current favourite art crush, 

a post on her work will be up shortly - it's too good!

The nude represents a piece A. already had which we wanted to incorperate...

Since A. resides in the Pacific NW, and we have used feathers in her wall art previously,

 a feather headband adds some texture to the grouping.

Beneath, a wooden carved city map represents a place close to my clients heart.

The sculptural bits on the table are from West Elm, and link the elements common to this space.

A. loved the grouping, but wanted to swap out two of the pieces -

incredibly, she already had the Horse Photo in her bedroom, 

and she preferred to use a feather element that didn't make an cultural reference.

We looked at a few substitute pieces… to replace the horse photo…

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to replace the feather headband…

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What do you think? Any of these pieces tickle your fancy?

am xo

Best Friends : Autumn & Tartan (and plaid, and buffalo check!)

It's been chilly here. Had to turn on the furnace chilly. That means jeans and sweaters and jackets have been pulled out, and we've begun to add layers around the house - specifically blankets!

All this cozy makes a girl begin to appreciate autumn, and with autumn comes tartan, right? Whose with me?

Btw have you ever wondered what the difference between tartan and plaid is? 

Maybe it's just me, lol.. but I looked it up…

according to Wikipedia (the absolute authority, right?) 

"Tartan is often called plaid in North America, but in Scotland, a plaid is a tartan cloth slung over the shoulder as a kilt accessory, or a plain ordinary blanket such as one would have on a bed"

and there you have it, your most burning questions answered here :)

So this is not by any means a fashion blog,
but I've def got my eye one a few things for the wardrobe as well as the house…

A skinny plaid shirt to tuck in under a sweater, 

and in my dream shopping cart, a plaid suit, worn so well.

The bottom photo is what started it all. Damn you, pinterest!

I passed on a sweater like the top right one and am still regretting it.

Early fall outfits

Late fall outfits

(or maybe early fall, if you live near me!)

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Since I'm blogging from canada, I'm going to say that buffalo check counts as plaid, 

because they are inseparable here - Canadians being lumberjacks and all ;) 

That Kate spade bag is the cutest. THE cutest.  

Of course a shirt from Aritzia is on the list. Enter store = budget blown!

The scarves are from  H&M,  Roots,  Scotch and Soda  and  Ebay.

Yes ebay - that last one is a not a great photo but is much more vibrant up close,

 and is also available in a pattern close to Black Watch.

 Cost : $11.00. Really. 

The slipon's are from Target, and I bought them in the leopard as well, not going to lie! 

Those yummy Hunter boots are available at Marshall's right now… really trying to stay away, sort of…

Any plaid items tickling your fancy? Maybe you are lucky enough to still be living with sunshine…

I'll move onto plaid items for the home later in the week - must get to work! Three consults on the go - x am

Palette: Bone and Black | Inlaid Bone

So I've been posting about bone and black this week, and of course must include inlaid bone furnishings. I cannot fathom the hours of work that go into these gems, it truly is an art form. In a quiet interior the pattern would add so much visual interest, yet is graphic enough that other colours and patterns can be played against. Wouldn't you love to have one of these pieces somewhere in your home?

The Traditionals

The Contemporaries

Subtlety in White on White 

Against a black wall? Heaven.

The Easy Update

The To-Die-For

From the home Of Jessica Marx. 

Can somebody please place one of these on either side of my bed? Thank you.

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You can also use furniture inlaid with Mother of Pearl for a similar effect, just with a little more sheen. I prefer bone, it is more matte and allows the pattern to take centre stage. Is this something you would use in your home or for a client? Have used?

x am

West Elm Mixes Up Mainstream

 A client is considering a chandelier from West Elm, and wanted me to have a look. Have you been by the site lately??  Although I am never a huge proponent of "catalog" design, they mix in enough ingenuity in their lines that the pieces remain current without being completely trendy, looking generic, or strictly one aesthetic. Really lovelies,  West Elm has got it going on right now!  I decided to try and do a mood board that is strictly West Elm product and see if it still has interest. Feeling incredibly lucky today to have time in my schedule to be able to play!!

Those butterfly inspired prints are to die for, right? Feel like we are on the verge of a butterfly resurgence, but that is another post - maybe next week :) I like the idea of two curved sofas placed side-by-side to create a more intimate seating arrangement. Six gold cubes form a sculptural coffee table that brings in a little sparkle and light. There is a comfortable reading chair and two leather/metal chairs that provide visual lightness and pull in some black linear elements which reflect the artwork. West Elm has quite and interesting floor light/side table option that is not at all like the brass/glass version of the eighties. The chandelier and side lamps are gorgeous, obviously. In fact, all the lighting on the site is something I could use in different clients homes. There was very little that did not appeal to me. The snake candleholders are amazing. Ah-mazing. Need! The wallpaper is perfection, go and see a sample up close on the site, this may be inspiration for a diy down the road in my own living/dining space….

 What are your thoughts about the living vignette above? Are we feeling it? Have you purchased anything from West Elm lately?