Volume 2, Issue 3, August 2007     Donna Young, Artist and Suzanne Gallagher, Wall Design Diva - Teresa’s Meadow, Donna Young, Original Oil on Canvas   Wall Design Dilemmas   Problem: “I am struggling with the best way to frame my client’s portrait of his wife. There is not much color in the piece except for a beautiful red rose in the foreground. What do you suggest?” Peggy Braden UNIQUE SURROUNDINGS On-Site Custom Frame Service Louisville, Kentucky Solution: I recommend a classic approach to the design for this piece. Keep the framing design simple using a neutral mat and frame. This one would look fabulous with a black mat, fillet and neutral frame that works with the style in the home. The result is a beautiful presentation of the subject, not the framing design! Beautiful job, Peggy. Thank you for making the extra effort to find just the right solution!   Please write to me and ask your most pressing Art and Wall Design challenges! The “Right” Image Original Art Original art is always the most desirable way to go if you can afford it. And if the artist is available to paint something to order, don’t hesitate looking into having your art painted to order! I often work with Interior Designers to help with the art needs for their clients. Kim Hagstette of Inside Design asked me to find the perfect imagery for her clients, Teresa and Joe Schneider. We coordinated several different images from a variety of artists and genres for their home. I was privileged to introduce them to well known artist, Donna Young. Donna lives close to Portland, Oregon in Vancouver, Washington. Her work is represented by Lahaina Galleries, but because the gallery is not local, Donna is free to do commission work for clients in our area. We had the delightful experience of choosing the perfect size and composition for Teresa’s home. The result is magnificent! Wall Design Diva "Sightings" Better.TV is among my favorite television shows. Thanks to Brooke Carlson, Producer for the opportunity to be a guest and share some tips about the Fine Art of Wall Design. This fast-paced fun program is really terrific. It is very hip and I had a kick showing Brooke some of the in’s and out’s of art and design. We toured my home and discussed the challenges of choosing art and wall décor. We decided that we should do another show featuring a “real client”. The before and after of Wall Design is a necessary topic for home décor audiences don’t you think? Please visit my web site for a private viewing of the first Fine Art of Wall Design segment! It's all in the Design... Great Framing Design! You can own an amazing piece of art but the framing design may be, shall we say "less than enhancing?" The framing design of the piece shown over the mantle in the photo on the left is something that I know you have seen and probably even own! It's the very dated narrow metal frame and single paper mat. That may still work for the commercial application but in your home..........NOT! My client, Collette Averill owns the fabulous original abstract you see here placed above her mantle. We love the look of a comtemporary abstract art piece in her traditional living room. The original metal frame and single mat design, however did not do it justice. My new framing design features a beautiful Larson Juhl Aegean moulding, coordinating fillet, and a neutral rag mat. The glass is TruVue Museum glass, which is the best solution when is comes to no reflection to distract you from the image. It has 99% protection from harmful UV light as well! Want to ORDER the BOOK? Go to my web site, www.WallDesignDiva.com www.Amazon.com or Ask for it in your local gallery, frame shop, or home store! He Said - She Said... The Fine Art of Wall Design “…. Great book, well done and certainly a niche that needed filling. As you know we picture framers are not only in the business of providing great picture framing products. But also to educate our customers on all aspects of art and picture framing concepts and designs, etc. (basically everything in your book), and we are doing this painfully slowly, one customer at a time……...Your book really contributes to this process, may you sell millions globally! Peter Flynn, Absolute Picture Framing, Queensland, Australia Retailers, why not offer the book to your customers? Go to the web site for more information about wholesale ordering. Forward the Start With Art newsletter to your client list to introduce them to The Fine Art of Wall Design! Before & After Create Interest with Art and Mirrors! The photo here is a classic example of the dining room sideboard dilemma. What to do with this space? I encourage my clients to consider placing mirrors in the dining room because they reflect the ambiance in the space. When entertaining at night there is so much to reflect in the table setting...candlelight, people laughing and having fun! It is great, too to have a sense of variety and something that represents your personality and tells a story. Dan and Mary Kay Taylor traveled to Italy and brought back a menu from their favorite restaurant. Instead of framing the actual menu, I suggested that we frame a high quality copy, allowing them the opportunity to share the original menu with friends and dinner guests. We also transferred to canvas the small Cezanne still life picked up in a Museum gift shop. All of the pieces were framed with coordinating styles creating a sense of uniqueness. We want to give the viewer the impression that each piece of wall décor was discovered in a different place and time, brought together to create the amazing design that we now enjoy! New Fine Art Publisher I am pleased to announce that I have added Greenwich Workshop to my extensive list of fine art publishers. Greenwich represents more than 90 artists. Please visit their web site to see the newest limited edition giclees available. I will be happy to assist with your selections.   To Dance Before the Sea and Sky by Steve Hanks   Other Side of the Tracks by Ken Auster Wall Design Diva, Tigard, OR 97210, 503-579-Arts (2787) Copyright 2007 Suzanne Gallagher, All Rights Reserved UNSUBSCRIBE:   If you do not wish to receive our newsletter, click here to unsubscribe.