Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Design Dilemma Solved

This week I decided to face a dilemma I've been putting off for a few years. This oil painting belonged to my husband's mother, and he has been wanting me to hang it for ages. No matter how much I tried, I couldn't really see a place for it on any wall I conjured up in my imagination:



He also confessed that some time ago he had trodden on and broken this lovely art deco mirror of his grandmother's, and wondered whether it was possible to hang it somewhere in this condition:


Fortunately my books and tear sheets came in handy because I realised that no matter what the individual disadvantages of the picture and mirror, it is possible to create something that is greater than the sum of its parts. So we unearthed a few more artworks that had belonged to his mother and grandmother and, voila!, here it is - a wall of artworks diverse in style and medium but united by the theme of water:


I think they look much better than they would have individually, especially as they are in the house which belonged to his grandmother. We also picked some strelitzias and put them in one of her old vases:


Then I rehung the mirror which had originally been on the other wall. It looks so much better in its new location:


At last I can justify all the money I've spent on those books and magazines!

14 comments:

Claudia Fabiana said...

I love the oil painting and the arrangement of all the artwork. It looks great!

ciao from Newport Beach

Andrea said...

Oh my goodness...i have that same white legged stool...it is sitting waiting for recovering and sanding back. Some friends picked it up at a garage sale for me. They got the dresser and I got the stool. Meanwhile, I take it this is not the boatshed!

Desire Empire said...

Hi Beth
Firstly your blog looks different. Did you revamp it cause it looks great!!!
I love what you've done with those pictures and mirrors. So nice to have some heirlooms on the wall.
Best Carolyn
PS I'm following you now too!!

michelle said...

I love it and the grouping looks beautiful in your room. Each piece seem to compliment the other and I love the design on the mirror. Very nice that you can have your family memories hanging on the wall.

Arabella said...

Love how you re-arranged! The grouping of similar pictures look very good together.

Hope you're having a lovely week.

Hugs,
Marie

Naturally Carol said...

Hi Beth..love your new header. That is a great view of the room with that amazing picture window looking out towards the ocean! I like your grouping of all those paintings too. I was thinking if you pegged a vintage postcard or card to the broken corner of the mirror it would hide it and yet look pretty as well. Just a thought.

Camille said...

yes, you can justify the money, because these pictures are perfect. So pretty, Beth. And light and airy.
Camille

Camille said...

P.S. LOVE your new blog look!

Leah - The Inside Story said...

I love your wall of pictures Beth. They look so good all grouped together and make a statement this way. Also love your new header. Your boatshed is divine!! Leahx

vintageandart said...

You sure can Beth.......what you've done is perfect, so very clever.

simmone said...

I think you did a wonderful job solving the dilemma,it's a lovely eye-catching display,very pretty.

beachvintage.com said...

I love that mirror, just stunning.

Unknown said...

the collection looks great!

My life in the hills said...

Love your wall of landscapes - great idea to group them

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