Los Angeles Design Blog | Material Girls | LA Interior Design

The placement of artwork is something I often work with a client on towards the end of a project.  It usually involves us spending time together figuring the best placement for each piece.  Often I find a client may have a personal attachment to a piece of artwork that they will want to place in a special or specific location.  I tend to place artwork based on scale of the wall and arrangement of furniture. But truly, there are many ways and means of how and in what way to hang artwork.  I’ve also worked on projects where the client needed to acquire art and have worked with that client to help them select pieces.  Although, I always start by telling the client art is a very personal choice and feel they should buy what appeals to them.  Some clients have collections, others are looking to acquire, and still others are on budgets and are looking to simply decorate.  I had a client who wanted to invest in fine art and we worked collaboratively with a fine arts dealer, another client who’s husband had a comic book collection that we framed for the home office, and another client where we shopped at home good stores to find inexpensive artwork to fill the walls.

Domino magazine always featured great little how to tidbits and creative adivce like this spread on different ways to hang artwork.

This breakfast nook featured in a spread from Elle Decor displays family photos and children’s artwork with a mix of pictures leaning on a shelf and  collaged walls below.  A very personable display of art.

Framing like items is always such a great way to feature a collection, similar frames and matting define the grouping and look ideal in a hallway or corridor if there are many to display.

Clustering a set of pictures appears as one large back drop of artwork.

An interesting vignette of different scaled artwork.

Art en masse in the same size and framing creates a gallery of artwork.

Balance dominates in this living room display of art although the pieces of artwork are different in size and frames, but the arrangement is of equal balance.

Another past Domino magazine feature, a collection of plates (left) and a series of art (right) offer another way of arranging.

{There are so many creative ways to display artwork and arrange wall collections. Analyzing interiors can give you a lot of ideas on how to arrange artwork and figure which works best for your space.}

I came across this article in the Los Angeles Times about Bordello Chic and was instantly intrigued.  It did occurred to me that I have seen more of this look out and about recently.  The trend is described as something that “lies between 19th century English gentlemen’s clubs and Parasian brothels.”

As quoted in the article by style scout David A. Keeps, “The look incorporates the glamorous vintage furniture popularized by Hollywood Regency decorating and modern interpretations of ornate rococo furniture, then takes it all to a darker, more dangerous place. It’s steeped in old-world classicism, but it plays into the sexually provocative culture at the heart of night life and fashion.”

In interiors, the look has been seen in such night clubs as Voyeur in West Hollywood, Bordello Bar,  and The Edison in Downtown LA.

In furniture, designer Ted Nemeth features this chair at Voyeur.

London based designer Christopher Guy also features the look of bordello chic in many of his furniture designs:

{An elegant banquette}

{a chaise}

{a high back seat}

{a circular banquette}

{a headboard}

For more bordello chic, see the article by David A. Keeps here.

Loving this room by interior designer Alessandra Branca that I  came across on The Skirted Round Table blog!  Such a well designed kid friendly play area that makes great use of space. The tented ceiling is fabulous! The pendant lights are sophisticated yet playful too! And, of course, the built-in storage with baskets for toys and books completes the space.

Interior designer Mary McDonald has done it again – producing a bold and theatrical room full of vibrant color and dramatic details.  In this living room for a movie-mogul client, she created an old-Hollywood glamour. Colors consist of high contrast black, yellow, and offset by a deep taupe.  Symmetry reigns in this living room with pairs of lamps, tables, & chairs – anchored by a big pouf.  Check out the rest of the project and read the interview here at House Beautiful!

Just because we can’t always see the interiors of beautiful homes decorated for the holidays doesn’t mean we can’t judge by the exterior – it’s always so neat to see a festive front door!  Here’s a few holiday doors for inspiration…

A colorful wreath featured on a detailed door in a JCrew ad.

This white wreath is simple and sophisticated, adds contrast to the dark door (formerly featured in Blueprint magazine).

Pretty blue door with a trio of wreaths via Martha Stewart.

Traditional greenery makes for a classic holiday door (image via Martha Stewart).

How is your front door decorated for the holidays?

Small spaces, transitional spaces, and spaces leading to other spaces…here are some decorative hallways and enclaves!

[Images collected and sourced over time via the Internet]

{Images via Martha Stewart}

I first saw this pillow (above) via Real Simple and thought it was darling.  I clicked the link to the site to discover more pretty pillows and that their origin is Hungarian, made in Hungary using traditional Hungarian motifs. I happen to be half Hungarian (Austrian descent on my dad’s side, Hungarian descent on my mom’s side) so immediately connected to something that displayed a bit of heritage.  Aside from heritage, these pillows are just really pretty!

This pillow is made by using hand -cut reverse felt applique.

My Hungarian grandmother used to sew a lot, this pillow reminds me of something she would have made.

The reds are pretty too!

{All pillows available online at Horne}

Now if only I could find those traditional Hungarian cookies & pastries my grandmother used to make for the holidays…

Just thought I’d say thanks to CasaSugar for including a picture I featured in a blog titled “Wall of Mirrors” (linking back to MG as source) on a post they did called “10 Ways to Create A Wall of Mirrors.” Check it out for even more amazing pictures of decorating with mirrors.  I especially love slide no 9.

And to leave you with another image, here’s Kelly Wearstler’s octagon mirror of walls for the high roller suite at the Hard Rock Hotel in Vegas!

With Fall and Thanksgiving in season, filling your home with some earthly acquisitions really branches out from the usual decor…

Chandelier from Pottery Barn

Twig mirror from Spiegel

Jewelry Tree from Pottery Barn

Branch Side Table from West Elm

Floor Lamp from Oly Studio

Table from Jayson Home

Branch Shelf from West Elm