What makes something art? Is it beauty? Is it in the eye of the beholder? Is it because it is original and creative? It’s an old question that has as many answers as there are people asking it. A common definition is “The expression or application of human creative skill and imagination, typically in a [...]
// So we started working on this article in March… because March is Adopt A Rescued Guinea Pig Month, and I thought it would be extra appropriate to feature Massachusetts-based artist Lesley De Santis then. However, our crazy schedules got in the way, and we’re posting it now, even though we’re in April already (where [...]
// Cloches, which are also known as bell jars or bell glasses (“cloche” is French for “bell”), were originally invented to help hold in moisture and protect tender plants from harsh weather, insects and other potential hazards. In gardening literature, they were first mentioned around 1630, and they are listed among mandatory garden tools and [...]
// I just recently discovered paper cutting (how did I not know about this before?!?) and was blown away by the things that these skilled artists are creating with just paper and scissors (or knives). I also realized I have done lots of paper cutting myself without knowing that that’s what it technically was, and [...]
// I’m very excited about today’s post which features an interview with the awesome artist Amber Alexander. I first discovered Amber through her Etsy store where she sells her original paintings, cards, fine art and limited edition prints, and immediately fell in love with her work. It’s one of those shops where you can’t stop [...]
// First of all, I would like to announce the opening of the new Decoration Decoration Shop. At the moment, it features some of my favorite craft, decor and inspirational books (which I plan on reviewing eventually), and I will keep adding to it on a continuous basis. I have also been toying with the [...]
As I mentioned in the first post in this series (Decoration Inspiration Part 1), I love magazines and always save them (don’t ask me how many magazine subscriptions I currently have – it’s embarrassing!). Every now and then, I take a bunch of issues from the same month a certain number of years ago and [...]
// What is it about chevron that is so alluring? It seems like everywhere I look lately, I see chevron patterns in all shapes and sizes: on walls, rugs, furniture, clothing (and not only Missoni), jewelry, office products, really on everything. What Is Chevron? Chevron is a simple inverted V-shaped graphic pattern (also often called [...]
// Art can be created from any medium really, and as we all become more aware of our wasteful ways and the impact is has on the environment, more and more artists of all disciplines are re-using and recycling a variety of materials. In today’s post, we are focusing on art made from something so [...]
// Winter may be on its last breath, but where I live, the days are still chilly and the nights even more so. Cuddling up under a blanket with a glass of wine next to a crackling fire is still the perfect evening activity. So today’s post is about unique, stunning and creative fireplace mantels. [...]
// Letters and words continue to be popular as wall decor, and by now, you can find pretty much any popular saying already made (no need for custom orders), regardless of whether it is a line from a movie for a media room, a children’s rhyme for a nursery or Emeril’s “bam!” for the kitchen. [...]
While it may seem like they are mostly there for utilitarian purposes, light fixtures can have a huge impact. We just had a new ceiling pendant lamp put up in our bedroom the other day, and it completely changed the look and feel of the room. It went from being a space we never spent [...]
Some people can’t stand orange; others can’t get enough of it. It is a strong color that can be overwhelming in large quantities, but super chic and fun in smaller doses and as an accent. The name “orange” was used for the fruit in the 1300s already, but as a description of color, it supposedly first [...]
// Metal wall art can be so many things – purely ornamental wall decor, illuminating, informative, reflective, warming, functional, etc. Today’s post has a little bit of everything and incorporates vintage, functional and solely decorative pieces, and without further ado, here they are: Raindrops First out are these great vintage mid-century modern pieces by Curtis [...]
// The holidays are upon us once again (why does this always take you by surprise? Every year, it seems like the time between August and December just disappears) and I’ve been out hunting for unusual Christmas wall decor. While most of us enjoy decorating our homes for the festivities, putting up wallpaper just for [...]
Wall tiles is a pretty broad category – they come in all shapes, sizes, materials and colors, and can take a room from blah to wow in an afternoon (especially if you’re using the small tiles that come in big sheets). I have written about them before on this blog in my Kitchen Tiles and [...]
// Mosaic – images or patterns created with small shards of stone, glass and other materials – has been popular “forever”. Remnants have been found that date back to the Third Millennium BC (you can see a brilliant example of this at the British Museum in London – the Standard of Ur, a mosaic of [...]
// People have enjoyed decorating their walls since ancient times. Just look at all the cave paintings, dating tens of thousands of years back, found around the world, and the hieroglyphs in Egyptian pyramids. Although back then, the drawings were not just for decorative purposes – some scientists think cave paintings were ways to tell [...]
