Many of our clients are passionate about art and have collections they wish to bring to their new home. These collections include paintings, photographs, sculpture, pottery, rugs, and mixed-media, and are important reflections of their personal aesthetic and history. We share their enthusiasm, and are committed to creating spaces that display artwork for optimal impact, with close attention to safety and preservation.

Here are some questions that our clients have asked us, and projects that illustrate our thinking, about the interaction of art and architecture.

How will the style and scale of our art pieces work in the new space?

Bundy Drive luxury open plan open volume mansion with modern artwork displays — Bundy Drive. Photo by Simon Berlyn.

In collaboration and discussion with our clients, we incorporate their artworks into the overall aesthetic of the home, creating points of interest, color, and drama.

Can an exterior sculpture be incorporated into my design?

At Serenity, custom Richard Erdman sculptures stand inside modern water features, like the backyard swimming pool, and front entry pond.

Bighorn’s minimalist design starts at the entrance, where a modern organic style stone sculpture greets visitors. A whimsical bunch of oversized flowers stands in the lawn of our Hopen Place house (Sprout – custom designed by Nancy Braver), and at our Trousdale house, a large outdoor sculpture by Richard Erdman complements the textured stacked stone exterior.

How will the color palette work in relationship to our art pieces?

Art is an integral part of the interior design of any home, and our clients usually choose pieces that feature colors they have an affinity for. This chosen color palette can then be drawn on by the interior designer, to inspire selections for the rest of the house.

In our Summit house primary bedroom, the decor reflects the colors in the room’s main artwork. In our Trousdale primary suite, a long horizontal painting interplays with the soft hues and romanticism of the decor.

At Serenity, the owner’s wanted variety and fun in the interior design, especially in the private spaces, so each guest bedroom and bath have their own thematic colors, textures, and personality. Here, an oversized rose themed custom graphic wallpaper matches the pinks and whites in the rest of the guest bedroom.

Serenity luxury guest bedroom with modern floral wall graphic — Serenity. Photo by William MacCollum.

Freestanding wall panels and partitions create the perfect neutral background for displaying art, as seen at Wallace Ridge and at our Summit house.

At Serenity, custom glass panels featuring cherry blossoms add privacy to a guest bathroom.

Luxury cherry blossom wall panels in a luxury guest bathroom — Serenity. Photo by William MacCollum.

The interplay of color and design is also seen at our Walker Road house, where red accents pop in artworks and furniture pieces.

The luxury mid-century modern style living room with pops of red color at our Walker Road house in Great Falls, Virginia — Walker Road. Photo by William MacCollum.

How will each piece of art be illuminated?

It is essential to work with lighting specialists, especially for artwork displays, and LED lights are best for showcasing valuable pieces, as they do not give off heat or emit ultraviolet or infrared rays (halogens and other incandescent bulbs can cause deterioration). Good lighting should barely be noticed, and the eye drawn only to the artwork.

At Serenity, built-in display cases spotlight modern pieces, while a glass bridge walkway connecting the dining room with the primary suite reveals a luxury car collection below, that’s framed as another artwork. At Georgina Avenue, designers from Fox & Fox in LA did the lighting for the custom art gallery style wall.

How much sunlight will our art be exposed to?

We love natural light, but appreciate it can cause damage to art over time. A solution used in our Summit house was electronic smart blinds that are programmed to protect art from the sun throughout the day. The glass window-walls we often use are made from layered energy efficient glass that minimizes heat transference and blocks harmful rays.

Summit House indoor outdoor natural light & artwork filled modern dining room — Summit House. Photo by Roger Davies.

Careful positioning and the use of skylights for indirect light can also help mitigate problems and protect the owner’s treasures, as seen at our Georgina Avenue house.

Modern open volume atrium at our Georgina Avenue house, with overhead skylights & artwork displays — Georgina Avenue. Photo by William MacCollum.

Can we see how the art will look as we walk through the house?

On many projects we've chosen selections from our client’s collection, and included them in our 3D videos and elevations of the house design. This kind of visual reference allows clients to better experience the day-to-day interior sightlines and views of their art.

Designing for Art Collections