It is not unusual for a client to have a particularly striking piece of art—a painting, a sculpture, tapestry or pottery—that becomes for me a source of inspiration when I am creating an interior design for the home.

Using art from the client’s personal collection in this way is especially satisfying to me. I know that it has special meaning to the client. It may have a subject that speaks to them. It may be a family heirloom that has sentimental value—even something created by a family member. If the client owns a particularly striking piece of art, I often ask them why they chose it. Their answer helps me understand how to create an interior design that will please them.

Artwork can be incorporated into my design in many ways. Sometimes the art inspires color choices. Sometimes I find that a shape or form is evocative. Texture or a style that suggests a bygone era can also become a source of ideas for me. Interestingly, sometimes the best way to feature art is to surround it with contrast. For example, a very ornate painting may need a simple, more minimalist background to stand out prominently in the design.

Of course, it is possible to take the idea of incorporating art into interior design too far. An interior design firm in Sophia, Bulgaria designed the room shown above based upon inspiration from the Dutch artist Piet Mondrian. Living in this house would almost be like living in Piet Mondrian’s head. To see more images from this home’s design, use this link.

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