Mario Buatta, who is known for hanging a LOT of art in his projects, once said in an interview, that he eyeballed, but never measured where he hung things. As a meticulous architect, I’ve always measured carefully to create the perfect composition. I thought I’d share the way we lay out the art using current tools.
I think it’s an art itself to decide which paintings, prints, and photographs look good together considering style, color, proportion, and location on the wall and other elements in the room. I recently received two of my Bracelet lamps from Circa Lighting and decided to refresh my bedroom.
Master Bedroom before refresh.
The bedroom in my loft had a very simple arrangement of photographs over the bed –photographs by a friend, Peter Miller, and one by Richard Avedon.
Recently we were on Cape Cod with Jim Bennette and David Cowan of ACME Fine Art, who hosted an auction at the Fine Arts Work Center in Provincetown. We bid on and won several pieces: Rob DuToit’s, Artist Project, 2014:Donald Beal’s, Monoprint Project, 2014: Kiyoshi Saito’s, Woodblock Print: and Rob Swainston’s, Monoprint Project, 2014. The monoprint pieces were commissioned by the FAWC as part of a theme project. Each artist created a piece of art out of a book of their choice.
While in Truro, we also visited the studio of a friend, Sal Fiumara and bought a wonderful oil painting from him.
Sal Fiumara – Still Life.
I wanted to expand the sense of space by stretching the art higher up the wall and over the doors. I also decided to paint the back wall a bold color so the art will pop. I harvested some other pieces from around the apartment (including a Nevelson-esque sculptural piece) and started planning the new layout.
My associate, Jeffrey, measured the wall, the furniture, lamps, and took photos of all the art. He input them to scale in the computer, and we laid them out in various configurations until we both agreed on the best arrangement.
Placement Study on Computer.
Just to make sure, I laid them out on the floor; it looked great. Our favorite art hangers, I level, installed in rapid time. The next step is to paint the wall.
Bedroom after I Level hung the art.
To decide which color to paint, we chose three different colors from Benjamin Moore. Raymond Namin from Imagery NYC, who photographed the room, photo-shopped them in. The color brings the art to life. Contrary to popular belief, art walls do not have to be white.
Juniper (2048-20)
Dragon’s Blood (CW-320)
Autumn Purple (2073-20)
Which one do you like best?
Resources:
Orange monogrammed Calfskin Pillow by Kyle Bunting, Headboard by J and P Decorators, Benches by Goralnick Bespoke, Lamps by Barry Goralnick for Circa Lighting (Visual Comfort), Nightstands are vintage refinished by 18th Century Restoration, Striped pillows from West Elm, Monogrammed sheets by Restoration Hardware, Hand stitched duvet from Century 21.