Decour in the City - Pheonix, AZ

The Desert Botanical Garden - The Nature of Glass

Every once in a while, I like to get my fill of virtual culture and find out what is happening in the art world outside of DC. In my sifting, I found some breath-taking images from an installation at the Desert Botanical Garden in Arizona.

The artist, Dale Chihuly, has created some of the most unique glass sculptures I have ever seen. They are interspersed throughout the garden and the effect is amazing. The bright colors and shapes are the perfect complement to the landscaping of the Garden.

Amazing... no?

Quotidian things - Unusual Art

I have been scouring the NY Times for the next big artist or inspiring piece of art and I came across this. These are sculptural art installations made from everyday materials and regular household items. Honestly I was blown away to discover what these pieces were actually composed of.

Its amazing how the artist had the foresight to understand the effect that these items would have at a larger scale. Check them out...

Styrofoam cups

Toothpicks

Plastic Cups

Paper

J'adore...

Spotlight Artist - Anish Kapoor

First Comes Art... part 2

If you want to create space similar to the rooms I posted yesterday, here are some fabulous finds from Design Shop and hivemodern.com... Simply click the images to find source and price information...

First Comes Art, Then Comes Decour...

Avid art enthusiasts, such as myself, have designed entire rooms around a piece of art. Art can be used to complement the palette of a space, to round out the feeling of the room or it can be the center piece of your design image. Each of the following rooms, featured in Metropolitan Home, were designed to around a single piece of art.

The white walls and minimalist flooring (stained, polished concrete) does not compete with the work displayed. The decor was put together by Male-Cahlin partners.

J'adore...

-The single psychedelic accent chair is fabulous...

Dining chairs speak for themselves... the white wall pieces add to the aesthetic of the space without taking away from the focal point...

Loving the white bean rug... white rugs - impractical though they may be - are gorgeous, especially against a dark floor....

Floor to ceiling windows give amazing light which is crucial if a work of art is the centerpiece of your room. Again, we see the white wall sculptures... perfect...

Artist Noir

As an aspiring black artist myself, I have to take some time and pay homage to those out there being while I'm dreaming...

J'adore The Artist

Illuminate

Check out this wall paper by an innovative artist in his own right.

What you are looking at is not technically an art exhibit but actual functioning wallpaper. Amazing.

Its not paint... its light. Anyone who says decour is not an artform is just not paying attention... take a look at this artists work.... look familiar?

J'adore for Less

Beautiful room. Dark, classic, relaxed. The silver accent table goes well with the dark area rug and tan lounge chairs. I think the look works best in a larger space because of the dark walls and flooring.

J'adore this look for less?

These pieces should create a similar feel that won't break your pockets.

Lighting: http://furnituredc.com/NewSite/html/lighting.html ;

Rug: http://www.spacify.com/modern_contemporary_corners_modern_rug-686-474-Bow.MROSW3.html
Chairs: www.justaccentchairs.com/
End table: http://www.matthewizzo.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=122&products_id=1882
Pillows: http://www.roomandboard.com/

Accents: www.target.com

Complete the look...

Stunning original piece I found on ebay. (Don't sleep on ebay for original work!) The tryptic has interesting, irregular angles and shapes that are the perfect complement to the solid angles of the room. It departs from the hard lines of the space, while staying true to its color scheme and tone.

Form meets Function

These pieces were featured at iSaloni, the international furniture fair in Milan. With 340,000 people and a week of nothing but the world's most talented contemporary furniture designers; Decour is officially a spectator sport.

Beech upholstered in a crumpled Gobelin fabric.

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Fiberglass shell covered with polyurethane foam. The base is
lacquered steel; fabric petals are faux suede
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Removable leather cover; carved wood backrests
Fabulous.

Rainbow in Black & White

Yesterday I stumbled upon the eerily beautiful and haunting work of photographer,
William Scott.

Here are some others in his collection. Feels like Dali meets Ansel Adams...
Black and White photography can compliment strong color or basic white walls in any room. Add a series of black and white photographs to a colored wall for contrast or to white walls for a clean, classic look.

J'adore this look for less?

j'adore@ Pottery Barn

j'adore@target

The Tryptic

We all know bare walls are unacceptable. So, consider the tryptic.

A piece of art can finish the look of a room or become the main focal point of your space. Displaying the feeling you would like the room to convey or even simply sewing together the color palette of the room.
















Tryptics are particularly interesting in that they offer options. Each piece's placement in relation to the next can be varied and create the illusion of motion or disjointedness that you may not be able to accomplish with a single unified piece.












In the case of this piece, it almost becomes more interesting when each section is taken out of its intended orientation. A single tryptic can have a more dramatic effect than three separate pieces.

blue window - mixed media acrylic - by Marin A. (for sale - serious inquiries only)

Here are some other tryptics for purchase:

(Left to Right: Night Thoughts; Palm; Elevate and Escalate)