Abstract Art - Go Big or Go Home

"Interiors are motivation; and they speak louder than voices. People are searching for spiritual experiences. Environments featuring art and design can provide those experiences." Mary V. Knackstedt

In the past year (2008) I have noticed a proliferation of large scale abstract art being used in living rooms and dining rooms. The effect is bold and dramatic and creates a strong focal point in a room. Most of the rooms shown in the pictures below are large in scale architecturally and benefit from a strong focal point. Over scale in size shows abstract art to it's very best. Abstract art is non-representational and lets an eclectic array of furnishings and accessories stand on their own merits as works of art. Abstract art is beautiful and organic in nature...... Enjoy the slide show.

Definition of Abstract Art: A cluster of theoretical ideas lies behind abstract art. The idea of art for art's sake – that art should be purely about the creation of beautiful effects. The idea that art can or should be like music – that just as music is patterns of sound, art's effects should be created by pure patterns of form, colour and line. The idea, derived from the ancient Greek philosopher Plato, that the highest form of beauty lies not in the forms of the real world but in geometry. The idea that abstract art, to the extent that it does not represent the material world, can be seen to represent the spiritual. In general abstract art is seen as carrying a moral dimension, in that it can be seen to stand for virtues such as order, purity, simplicity and spirituality.

For those of you who read this by email click here to view the slide show.

Left Photography Jen Wong / Right Jeffery Bilhuber

 

Patricia Gray writes about 'WHAT'S HOT 'in the world of Interior Design, new and emerging trends, modern design, architecture,
and travel, as well as how your surroundings can influence the world around you.
© Patricia Gray Interior Design Blog, 2009

Definition of Abstract Art: A cluster of theoretical ideas lies behind abstract art. The idea of art for art's sake – that art should be purely about the creation of beautiful effects. The idea that art can or should be like music – that just as music is patterns of sound, art's effects should be created by pure patterns of form, colour and line. The idea, derived from the ancient Greek philosopher Plato, that the highest form of beauty lies not in the forms of the real world but in geometry. The idea that abstract art, to the extent that it does not represent the material world, can be seen to represent the spiritual. In general abstract art is seen as carrying a moral dimension, in that it can be seen to stand for virtues such as order, purity, simplicity and spirituality.

For those of you who read this by email click here to view the slide show.

Left Photography Jen Wong / Right Jeffery Bilhuber

 

Patricia Gray writes about 'WHAT'S HOT 'in the world of Interior Design, new and emerging trends, modern design, architecture,
and travel, as well as how your surroundings can influence the world around you.
© Patricia Gray Interior Design Blog, 2009

Beige is Magic - Albert Hadley

"Beige is atmosphere. It's bisque, it's ivory, it's cream, it's stone, it's toast, it's cappuccino. It's, well, it's magic." Albert Hadley

Enjoy the slide show!!

 

 

 

Patricia Gray writes about 'WHAT'S HOT 'in the world of Interior Design, new and emerging trends, modern design,
architecture, and travel, as well as how your surroundings can influence the world around you.
© Patricia Gray Interior Design Blog, 2009

 

Yellow - Mimosa's Debut?

Yellow tulips speak to me of Spring and the promise of sunshine.
What could be more optimistic than that?

Pantone, the global authority on color and provider of professional color standards for the design industry has selected 'Mimosa', a warm, engaging yellow, as the Color of the Year for 2009. It was selected for the view that the world is in a time of economic and political change and for the fact that yellow more than any other color represents optimism, hope and reassurance.

"The color yellow exemplifies the warmth and nurturing quality of the sun, properties we as humans are naturally drawn to for reassurance," explains Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute®. "Mimosa also speaks to enlightenment, as it is a hue that sparks imagination and innovation."

While all the above testaments to the effects of yellow on the psyche are so true, yellow is a color that is a tried and true favourite and has been used abundantly throughout the annals of time. Although I don't subscribe to the fickle market trends of color ......thank-you very much Pantone for your re-packaging and re-marketing of the color Yellow and for giving it it's year of fame!!

Sunset in Morocco taken by my girlfriend Ann on her desert safari expedition 2007.

Yellow lanterns on the Island of Giudecca for the famous Rendentore fireworks celebration 2008

Albert Hadley was using yellow in his designs in the 80's

David Hicks (left) used yellow in the 70's

Conran has introduced a yellow velvet for this sofa (left) just in time to catch the yellow wave.
A yellow ottoman at the showroom of Dennis & Leen in Los Angeles that I was attracted to on a visit in 2008 (right)

Yellow tufted ottomans (left Nate Berkus, right KWID)

Yellow toss cushions and trim on draperies add a lively spark to these rooms. EKB Interiors

Jeffery Bilhuber's famous library using the iconic yellow of the National Geographic magazines

Yellow in large scale abstract artwork

House Beautiful Nov 2007

Yellow wall coverings KWID

Framed wall paper panels by the fabulous Maison 21

Bold & graphic yellow stripes in this bathroom

Yellow for draperies

Fabric and trim from my files for a Master Bedroom I designed in the 90's

Clarence House Silk draperies

Yellow Bedding

Yellow paint for walls. Benjamin Moore's St Elmo's Fire is a great yellow with just a touch of green in it.

Yellow slipcovered dining chairs Vicente Wolf

Yellow lamps were starting to show up in abundance in 2008

Jan Showers lamp (left) Michael Devine fabric (right)

One of my favourite pieces of artwork by Kenton Nelson

View as a slide show below............

What do you think? Is yellow a color you will want to introduce into your home in 2009, or will you be content to let others use it?

Click here to read a post I did on the color Yellow February 2008

Patricia Gray writes about emerging trends, her inspirations, and "What's HOT" in the world of Design, as well as sneak peaks of her work..
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