The Art of Buying Original Art

Buying art can be a little more complicated than just falling in love with a piece and hanging it up! You may find that when you bring home that "gotta have it" piece that it doesn't fit in the space you want it in or it isn't great standing on it's own. 

Here are a few hints to help with the buying process:

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If you can, visualize it before you buy it. Go shopping knowing what size wall you are trying to fill so you can get a feel for what size of piece of art you are looking for. Pick out a few colors that you know will work great in the room and if you have a specific color you are looking for bring an item that matches it so you can tie it all together.

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Buy local to support your local artists! Not only does this give the art you bring into your home a story worth telling but you are supporting your neighbors. It will give you another reason to love it!

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Remove the anxiety around pricing and realize that you can find a great, good size piece of art for under $1,000 but even for $100. If you have a budget you need to stick to then keeping within that price is important but finding that perfect piece could be as simple as $50 and be priceless to you.

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Use the tools you have! Now with the power of mobility we can take a picture of our space and bring it with us art shopping or take a picture of that piece and bring the picture home to see it works where you want it (not all places will allow that). There are also places online that will take a photo of you room and place pieces of art in it to see if it's a perfect match.

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There is no better way to make your own than an original piece of art that provides originality and a great story when hosting your friends. If you are looking for ideas of places to shop there's an awesome place called Vango that makes this process so much easier! When in doubt, remember the golden rule: buy what you like. 

Inspiring ways to use a neutral palette

It's no secret I'm a fan of grays, whites, and other cool neutrals.  Using neutrals really allows me to experiment with different accent colors via pillows, throws, and accent colors.  That means if I end up not being able to live with a green or purple I loved last month, it's not like I wasted a ton of money on a sofa I no longer like.  However, done right - with layering textures and patterns, neutrals can stand all on their own as a gorgeous palette.

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I'm really liking gray and brown lately too, like the gray door and the wooden mirror frame.

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Drooling over this kitchen.  I don't know if I dust enough to ever have such dark floors, but they are gorgeous when contrasted with the white cabinetry.  And that Moroccan inspired tile? Don't even get me started.

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A bit warmer tones than I normally go for but this is still working for me.

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Loving the coffee table.
via Sweet Home Style

via Schuyler Samperton

Chic and Glamorous Art for the Fashion Lover

Good art isn't always easy to find. Etsy has made it easier though, and has made it possible to connect a lot of artists with people who love art that isn't mass produced or unattainable to most of us. One Etsy artist I'm loving is the Lady Gatsby shop with fashion inspired prints.

I love watercolors, and then paired with the subject matter - gorgeous perfume bottles, shoes, etc., there are quite a few pieces I'd love for my master bath and office. I was lucky enough to receive a gorgeous Chanel No. 5 print and some super chic correspondence cards, and they look even better in person!

Here are a few other prints and cards I'm loving:

Love it?  See more at Lady Gatsby

disclosure: I received these prints as a sample

A New Look at Technology in Design

Sometimes it can feel like technology can get in the way of our home decor. A huge screen TV might not go along with your rustic look, but thankfully there are some clever ways of designing your space around your screens:

via Houzz

Built in cabinets are a great way to go! You can mount the TV on the wall or just place inside the cabinet and have a gorgeous space without the eye sore of screens, wires, and devices that with it!

via dwellerswithoutdecorators

A fireplace is a gorgeous focal point of a room. A TV sitting above it is not! Having this slide away piece on top of the fireplace gives you that gorgeous focal point when it's put away and functional for every day living. 

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Under the stairs storage has always been a favorite of mine. Storing your TV in the under stair storage is a brilliant idea! It won't break up the flow of the room when it's put away and when you do have it out, it's in perfect view with the rest of the room! 

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Using a large photo split in two is a brilliant way to hide the TV. I love the idea of the ceiling mount track for the pictures so you could change out the art pieces if you wanted to later.


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Buying a good old fashioned wall mount to set your TV in is perfect if you are looking for a quick and easy fix!


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Don't like the thought of going through the trouble to hide your TV? Try using your it as a centerpiece for your art. Placing your pictures around the it strategically can give the wall a great look without covering up the screen. 

Art for the Eclectic Home: Book Review

After receiving Art for the Eclectic Home by Jamin & Ashley Mills, I was excited to check it out. As a new homeowner, I realized that certain walls in my home where bare and could use some fun accessories to tie in my home decor.

This book takes you through the steps of picking the perfect piece and has a great collection of inspiration to help you figure out what exactly you want on your walls! There is so much variety that you are bound to find a few that you love.

Ashley and Jamin go on to tell you that you don't have to spend a fortune to fill your walls with beautiful artwork. Up and coming artists and prints are a great way to personalize your home on a budget.

If you are interested in seeing more from Ashley and Jamin they write a blog together at: thehandmadehome.net!



Are you a home decor book lover? We have a more book reviews coming up soon! Stay tuned!!

Another great giveaway for art lovers! The unique illustrations of Claire Heffer

Gotta love a giveaway! I was lucky enough to be introduced to the intricate pen and ink illustrations of Claire Heffer just a little while ago. I don't get to draw a lot anymore, but my bachelor's degree is in illustration, and I will always appreciate art. You should also think of it as the jewelry of any room - and we all know it's in the details!!

One lucky winner will win an animal, leaf, or initial print of his/her choosing.

To enter for a chance to win, leave a comment sharing which print you plan on picking if your name is drawn.  Go to Claire Heffer Design on Etsy to see her work and pick out your favorite.

To comment on this post (scroll to the bottom of this post and right above "Labels" you will see a number followed by the word "comments." Click on the word "Comments." Or, you will see a link, "Post a Comment," which you click on to comment.

Or, you can email me at ashley [at] decorologyblog [dot] com to enter and with your favorite.

The contest closes next Tuesday, December 5th at  12 AM EST. I will announce the lucky winner, chosen by random draw. Good luck!

The little pouncing fox is my favorite - so cute!!!

A custom initial would make a great gift for a new baby, or newlyweds.

A cute and pretty house with a nod to mid-century modern

Cello is one of my favorite instruments. I would love to learn how to play one day

cute pantry!

via Covet Garden

Have a great weekend!

House Tour: A Copenhagen Beauty

Love this space

The color of the china cabinet is perfect to add some interest to the space. 

Two images above show the entryway.  The owners have used mismatched chairs in lieu of a console.

Great idea to remember - oversized prints hanging side by side in the hall

Perfect desk - plenty of surface area to spread out inspiration

LoVe that chair and the gorgeous view!

 

I don't think I could ever do orange in my bedroom, but this wallpaper is beautiful. I could do it in my home office I think - as orange is supposed to boost creativity.

I am a magazine hoarder, because I've found that sometimes I'll flip through a magazine from a year ago and something will catch my eye that didn't the first time I looked through it. So perusing last summer's magazine is sometimes like opening a brand new magazine. This bookshelf has the perfect sized cubbies to store mags.

All images © Richard Powers