Design Secrets To Elevate Your Home

Living with Art and Design: A Collaborative Presentation by Robert Stilin and Sarah Gavlak at the Ann Norton House in West Palm Beach. Photo credit: Tim Lenz

The relationship between interior design and art is interconnected, delicate and nuanced - and when thoughtfully balanced, can result in the most sophisticated and impressive spaces. Above, is a photo from a recent immersive exhibition at the historic Ann Norton home in Palm Beach, where Sarah Gavlak collaborated with Robert Stilin (AD 100) to combine contemporary art with modern furniture showcasing the beauty of living with art.

I am lucky to have many talented interior designers in my orbit - both as friends and collaborators whose expertise I often count on when it comes the synergy of art and design. I asked a few of them to share their insights:

Tamara Feldman, who is currently designing the new Café at the Institute of Contemporary Art, Miami says when that it comes to interiors “art isn’t chosen to match a room—it’s chosen to define it. Let the interiors rise to meet the art, not the other way around."

Galit Wainberg, (Architect and Interior Designer, FAENA) believes that “art should not only have intrinsic value, but also harmonize with the space it inhabits. There must be a romantic relationship between the artwork and its setting; a connection that elevates the emotion, function, and beauty of the environment. Sometimes the art takes center stage, other times it’s the architecture, but they must always fall in love with each other.”

For Deborah Wecselman, who frequently works with clients who already own blue-chip art collections, art takes center stage. “For me, it’s peace of mind to have an art collector as a client. Art determines everything in terms of design as there are so many factors to consider. For example, the relationship of the walls to the design of the space. And the approach to furniture selection, which we do in a much more holistic way when art is involved. Suddenly, the art is the protagonist.”

My thoughts are that while there is no official rulebook, there must be synergy between the collection and the design - this includes designing around an existing art collection, or building a collection to suit the client and their space. Here are my top recommendations:

- As I always say, if you have no experience in buying art, see as much art as possible before buying.

- While I never match art to a specific wallpaper or sofa color, I definitely keep the space in mind when helping client’s choose a piece for a particular space. This includes whether it is near a window and gets direct light which can affect photographs and works on paper.

- The earlier you can integrate art into the overall concept for a space, the better. I find often, people design or renovate homes, and when they reach the end of their project, they are unexpectedly overwhelmed by the cost of acquiring high quality works of art. Art should be incorporated and considered early on, both in terms of the budget and in terms of the design.

- Finally, art can really tell a story in a way that few other objects in a home can. Art should be curated, meaningful, and personal.

For more tips on art and design, here is a recent piece on Artsy featuring perspectives from various interior designers on buying art.

Thanks for reading and be sure to follow along on Instagram for more tips!