Podcast, Ep. 26: Art 101 with Karen Fleenor

Our resident art expert Karen Fleenor stopped by the podcast to talk buying, hanging, and framing art! We talk about how to pick the perfect piece, how to size art over your furniture, framing options, cost, commissions, and gallery walls.

What You’ll Hear on This Episode:

• We all talk about our best art moment in our homes — where we got them, how we hung them, and why we love them so much
• Karen tells us about her background in the art world and how she started working with Ballard Designs
• How do you know if it’s the right piece for your home and for your space
• Why you should hang a piece of art over a piece of furniture with a contrasting style
• We talk about our exclusive artists and why it’s perfectly fine to have art that isn’t originals
• Taryn asks us how she can update a piece of art that belonged to her husband’s grandfather
• We talk about how to hang art — including what height they should hang and how far apart pieces should be
• We talk about small art — hanging it with other pieces, on a small sliver of wall, or hang it low over a piece of furniture
• We talk about framing and why it’s so expensive (it basically comes down to materials and labor)
• What size piece should you get if you’re hanging it over a piece of furniture

Decorating Dilemmas:

Dear How to Decorate,

I purchased the Ballard Sea Breeze Art prints I and II (each print is 38″ x 24″) to hang above my sofa in my living room, but I’m not sure if this is the right size. Can I go with the bigger size at 48″ x 30″ each? The sofa length is 82″ and height is 35.” The wall side to side measures at 158″ and floor to ceiling measures at 92 ” so there is about 57 ” from the top of the sofa to the crown molding. The wall is so big, I want to make sure I fill the space.

How big of a print or prints can I have without going too big? I read on the Ballard blog that the prints should be about 75% of the length of the sofa but how high is too high? I plan to move end tables w/ lamps to the sides. Note the red sofa shown in this picture is temporary; I plan to move a new cream colored sofa in the room (the fabric swatch is shown laying on the red sofa).

Help!

Eileen

Eileen,

We all agree that you should definitely go for the larger size! The 75% rule is a good jumping off point, but if you can, go larger! We don’t think it’ll be too much for you to go almost totally to the ceiling — if anything it’ll bring more drama and presence to your living room. Great choice though and best of luck finishing your living room!

Show Notes:

• Suzanne Kasler’s Egg Art

Please send in your questions so we can answer them on our next episode! And of course, please subscribe to the podcast in iTunes so you never miss and episode. Of course, you can always check back here to see new episodes, but if you subscribe, it’ll automatically download to your phone.

Happy Decorating!

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