Dream Update!

My kids were back to school this week after the Easter holidays and so it's back to work for LCD.  We've got a few new projects coming up and I'm always imagining more changes to make at home.  So that's why Pinterest is such a great tool for designers, would be renovators and those planning a room makeover.  It allows you to collect ideas on anything!

I'm sharing some things I love, for a dream update at home!

French Oak in Driftwood by Royal Oak Floors

Wallpaper Feature Wall image designev.com

I love this cosy velvet couch! image The Aestate

Last but not least a gorgeous rug to give a dream room warmth and bring cohesion of the elements of the room.

I love this Armadillo & Co Casablanca Rug image I love my rug



 

Collage of Prints

One of my most popular posts so far this year has been about framed collages on your wall. 

http://littlecovedesign.blogspot.com.au/2012/06/frame-your-blank-wall-collage-of-frames.html

I have had a collage of this sort planned with some old frames for my daughters' room. So my school holiday project is complete and I can finally share this with you!

This is a really easy, effective and can be an inexpensive way to decorate a blank wall.  You can inject your own personality into it by the frames and items you select to frame.

Firstly I took the tired old frames I had, and layed them out on the floor with other frames I intended on using for my wall. 

I removed the glass and pictures from the frames and then I gave each frame a light sand with medium to fine sandpaper and then it was time to give them a paint.  I used dulux one coat white and then I used acrylic paint to mix up a light blue and pink colour for some of the frames.  I painted two coats to cover the previous timber/black frames but they still have a rustic look with the previous colour showing through in the grooves.

 

I also had picked up an mdf "dream" word cutout from Spotlight which I painted the same blue as two of the frames. I measured the wall space and the frames to ensure my final arrangement would fit.  I bought a window box frame from Myer on sale woohoo! for the dream word cut out, and a few smaller ornate frames from Big W to fill in the gaps. 

 

 

The next most time consuming part was selecting photos of my daughters to fill the frames (too many to choose from!) and then using scrapbooking paper and matts for the backgrounds and surrounds. 

 

 

 

I used a butterfly cookie cutter to make the butterfly motifs from scrapbooking paper for the window box frame, and double sided tape to secure the word cutout and butterflies.

 

 

 

You can then arrange your frames on the floor or cut out paper the size of each frame and blue tac on the wall (as in my previous blog post on the subject) to confirm their location prior to putting hooks in the wall.

 

 

I made some last minute changes as I hung my frames on the wall, but this is the finished product.  Make sure you use the correct hook types for the type of wall and frames you are hanging. 

 

My hardest critics were the girls but they are very happy with their photo wall!  So if you've got some old frames lying around put them to good use or donate them to a charity store and someone else may spruce them up.

 

Frame your Blank Wall - Collage of Frames

This post is for a family member who has a large blank wall ready to decorate! I've also been toying with this idea for my very long hallway walls which are also a blank canvas.

Whether you choose, kids artwork, black and white photography, coloured prints or family pics - choosing to frame the same genre is safe or for a more eclectic mix there should still be a common theme or colour scheme. You can also be more daring and try different coloured and styles of frames or for a more uniform look stick with frames the same colour and size.

Here's some framed collages which show some winning combinations!

I really like these prints which have a large white matt to contrast with the black frames houzz

I love the mix of items that have been framed in this living room it's more like an art gallery! image http://marthamoments.blogspot.com.au/2010/07/guest-blogger-david-jimenez-living-with.html

These colourful prints are simple and add a fun feel to this kids space image unknown



I love this breakfast nook, the prints are really interesting and with the zebra print chairs it's really quite zany! image mix and chic

Using all the same style and colour of frame in varying sizes has created an interesting focal point in this room image cococozy

I love this combination of black and white prints in black or white frames with the soft subtle weatherboards behind image Content in a Cottage



This is a pretty combination of patterns and white frames image indulgy

Framed print wall collages can suit walls of all shapes and sizes!

A stairway is the perfect spot for a wall collage and this one is filled with prints with frames in the same tones image sawdustandpaperscraps



An easy way to plan your framed wall collage is to cut out paper the size of all your frames and stick these on your walls temporarily to get the arrangement how you'd like it without the headache of holes in the walls in the wrong places!

Plan your wall collage image thoughtfullysimple

Happy framing!

The Power of Art

I've just walked down the hall and put the kids to bed; and I get a little thrill every time I catch a glance at the new framed print hanging there at the end of the hallway!  I really love it.

My new artwork from Target who would have thought - You can find art you love in the least expected places! it is called Spring Romance by Lisa Audit

I had gone to target to get an inexpensive frame for my girls' room (they usually have a good selection) when I spotted this unexpected gem!  I looked at it longingly but thought where will I put it? do I really need it? and left without giving it too much thought.  But later that day and for the next few days I kept thinking of that print.  That's the beauty of art sometimes you can't even leave the place without the piece you've fallen in love with; and other times it sneaks up on you and you can't stop thinking about it!  So I headed back and loved it even more the second time and promptly took it to the checkout! and it was a bargain too.

This is one of my favourite prints from working in the gallery Robert Doisneau "The Kiss"

My love of art started at a young age - always colouring and creating something!  I studied art at school and then managed a B & W photographic print gallery before heading off to uni.  During this time it really wet my appetite for art, I've seen quite a lot of visiting exhibitions and really enjoy visiting Goma regularly.

The Andy Warhol Exhibition was fabulous - he was such an amazing innovative artist!

I've also been lucky enough to visit the Louvre and a few other extraordinary galleries, but I genuinely love local art as well whether it's an original from the markets or a reproduction online, art can really make a statement in a room and really bring life to a home or office.  My problem is that I don't have enough walls to hang all of the things I'd like to have on display.

The great thing is that there are no rules when it comes to art.  If you are buying an original, I'm sure it'll be something you love as you will probably have it for a long time. If you buy something inexpensive and your tastes change or you move and no longer have a home for something; you can donate your art to charity or an op shop.  Ebay is also a great way to pass on your artwork to a new owner. 

This is a work by Anthony Pilley called La Rambla de Barcelona, I thought I brought home a print of this from a trip a few years ago but I didn't check what was in the tube and to my dismay I didn't discover I had been given the wrong print until I got home!  I still love it.

If it's a collection of photos you can update them at your leisure.  I have an array of prints, travelling and family photos, a couple of original prints and sketches in my home.  I also have framed postcards of retro artwork from overseas and these have made great original quirky pieces.

Postcards can make great artwork framed with a mount - image by Yadid Levy on Imagestate.com

Art doesn't have to be expensive.  You can let your creativity takeover and paint a canvas or have one of your own photos printed on a canvas for a personal touch.

This is one of my favourite travel snaps that I have framed with a few others.  It's hard to take a bad picture in Santorini, right? I can never get tired of that view!(please link to my blog if you use this image by CCoombes)

IKEA have great frames and you can take your children's, grandchildren's or your own work and put it in a frame.

If you are looking for original work local markets and galleries are a good place to start.  The internet has also allowed galleries to become more "global" and you can browse collections online.

Local french born artist Sylvie Leroy "Promenade/Stroll" see more of her work at her exhibition in April details in this link Sylvie Leroy exhibition or visit her website
www.sleroypaintings.com

For more inspiration checkout the new book 1001 Paintings You Must See Before You Die.

A must read for art lovers available online from Amazon or get your local book shop to order in for you!

Another of my fave's Gustav Klimt's The Kiss image from the The Artchive

Spruce up a spare wall space today!

Inspirational Places GOMA Re-opening

I was very excited to hear that GOMA (Gallery of Modern Art) is re-opening tomorrow after the devastating Queensland floods. I find each time I visit the Gallery that I'm refreshed and inspired by the wonderful works of art that are on display. I visited the Andy Warhol exhibition twice, I loved it so much. The current exhibition is "21st Century: Art in the First Decade". So get along to GOMA and support a great Brisbane Art icon. You may be inspired to create your own piece of Artwork or just enjoy the view!

Link to GOMA to checkout some of the works on display

http://qag.qld.gov.au/