Sometimes I have to start at the end.
That was definitely the case in Janet’s Sleep Haven. Try as I might I could not get inspired about wall art over the headboard. However, I needed to get moving. The room was finished except for the focal point in the room. Yes, most designers decide on a location for a focal point first when designing a space. However this vital basic design component was not working for me. The furniture, accessories and bedding were installed. The room only lacks a great piece of art on the wall above the headboard which is visible as you first walk into the room. Hmm…
I designed the room in a monochromatic color scheme using light blues, dark grays and neutral creams. I decided that it needed wall art that was dimensional with depth and shadows but in neutral colors. I found loads of coordinating pieces but they were either rustic wood wall sculptures or funky abstract metals. This definitely would not work in a more elegant room with fringed pillows and a custom quilted bed spread.
So I decided to go back to the beginning. I focused on the first thing chosen for the room which was the fabric on the bedspread and draperies. I realized the pattern of flowers on the fabric was the answer to the wall art problem! I love this Hot House Flowers by Celerie Kemble for Schumacher fabric because it’s traditional but the large graphic flowers are very contemporary. It’s chintz fabric for this century!
I searched for large graphic wall art flowers but nothing grabbed me until I came upon an idea. Instead of large flowers, I decided to focus on 10-15 small flowers grouped together to form a single art piece. I found an artist, Floyd Heberer, who specializes in sculpting ceramic small wall flowers. I requested several different sizes and colors that match the cream, white and taupe in the fabric. He did an outstanding job making the ceramic flowers look like the flowers in the fabric.
Installation is scheduled for later next week and I’ll then post how ‘starting at the end’ worked in this room.
Julie
