Brooke's Look: Savannah Gallery Wall

Inspired by Katherine Sandoz and Design Sponge's #DSArt project, I decided to redo our gallery wall with a focus on Savannah art in our Hawaii home.

Set against a classic emerald, my colour du jour, I rearranged our art to show off some of our favorite Savannah artists including Mrs. Sandoz, Kelley Hagemes, Jamee Linton, Jimmy Rahn, and some past Art War competitors (Tony and I). All have a really special place in my heart, and home, and being so far away from Savannah, this wall gets me nostalgic/gooey/happy inside!

Small works are perfect for gallery walls and they don't break the bank. Arrange them on a wall in a sharp-clearly laid out grid, or go crazy and arrange them haphazardly for a fun look. You really can't go wrong either way and you'll get a great statement wall in your home!

Brooke's Look: Set the Scene

With government quarters, I'm given basically a white-washed box...which is kind of on trend (container homes, Scandinavian chic, white-on-white-on-white aesthetic). Then Uncle Sam throws in popcorn coated walls (all of them), shabby, brown carpeting and a "no painting clause". It's hard to make any wall covered in little popcorn nuggets look good...but especially in a dull, government white.

I know a lot of y'all are in similar predicaments with rental homes that you can't make too many adjustments to or if you're a military spouse/Soldier. So here's some advice:

Set the Scene. Forget the nasty walls for a minute. Make each room speak to you...let it tell you what it wants/needs to be (not in a Long Island Medium way, but in an Elle Decor/HGTV way). This little vignette above wanted to be my little Starbucks nook. My place to relax with a coffee in the AM and watch the kiddos play while I shake myself out of slumber.

After the room speaks to you, and you speak back to it (don't let that space get too bossy!)...step back and the popcorn walls and gross carpet will fall away. And you'll be left with a great look (scene) that sets the tone for the rest of your home.

If y'all have any design questions, hit us up here or on Facebook.

 

xoxo,

Brooke Rahn Thomas

Brooke's Look: My Kid's Art

I'm not one of those mom's who thinks that my kid's do no wrong, especially in terms of the artwork they make. Sure, I'll probably fawn over most everything they bring home from arts & crafts time, to include most, if not all, macaroni art (I have an affinity for pasta mosaics)...but I will not be hanging every piece of art on every wall in the house.

I do love the idea that children are capturing a world that looks the way they see it...or at least can interpret it. And in such, I think there is some great art that comes out of our kids. [If nothing else, it's personal and meaningful in your own home...even if it looks like a hot mess.]

Growing up, we didn't have many family photos up around the house. It just wasn't part of my mom's design aesthetic (I'll mention that she does have the grandkids' photos up EVERYWHERE...just saying). But she did have a brilliantly framed piece of art that my dad did when he was five years old. I am biased, but I think that work could hang easily in the Whitney (at least in the Whitney bathroom). It's purity and honest portrayal of what that five year old saw is mesmerizing.

But I digress. My go to rules for hanging up your children's art in your home, is treat it likes it is a piece you bought...like a grown-up piece of art. Have it professionally framed, have it stretched if it's on canvas, and you'll be so surprised at how much more mature it looks while still reminding you that your little cherub created that piece.

I believe that there's no limit to where you can place your baby-Picasso's masterpieces, but don't go gaga for gallery walls in every room. If you want to frame several, do a gallery wall in the child's room or in a craft/play area to keep them inspired. OR...mix your child's pieces in with other art so it doesn't look overwhelmingly juvenile or like a kindergarten classroom. 

And get your kids to go BIG. Buy a huge piece of canvas from any art store and have them go hog wild. Framed or stretched, the pieces overall impact (and size) will immediately mature it (unless it's a handprint-turkey...nothing is going to make that look frame-able...).  

Lastly, change it up. I'm a huge advocate for always moving furniture and art around it your house (at a minimum, it helps you save money when you can repurpose your own furniture). So when Junior brings home a painting in second grade, change out that old first grade piece (store it, of course!). It freshens up the space while still allowing you to get the same overall look. 

My Ray (two years old last October) painted the above canvas. Painted and drove his cars all over it. And I absolutely love the finished look now that it's been stretched. I will be entering it in Art War 002 on his behalf so feel free to go vote for him!

Brooke's Look: Bedroom Art

Your bedroom should be an oasis. A place set aside for 1) rest and 2) "where the magic happens". Masters of feng shui advise to not have any work related items and to keep it serene and calm.

We just hung four new pieces, inspired by our new obsession with Lulie Wallace (and our infinite love of Matisse). Affectionately titled "Four Girls Dressed Alike", the oil and acrylic pieces were a collaboration between myself and my husband and I really am into the final look of them. 

If you can't afford original art, I say always take inspiration from a work you like and get to painting. You'll find that the finished look interprets something your passionate about and makes it new and original for your space. And if you're not feeling it in the end, a good coat of white on top lets you start over.

If you aren't confident in your artistic skills, artists also offer some brilliant prints that are affordable and still deliver the same impact of the original work. Lulie Wallace's prints are beautiful, and we're also really loving Michelle Armas' new stretched canvas prints!

Check out your favorite artist's online stores, and if they aren't offering prints, contact them directly to see if that's something they can/are willing to do!

Brooke's Look: Shelf It

Shelves can be tricky. It can be tricky to pick out the perfect shelf for your space because are there are so many out there, AND it can be tricky to style a shelf without making it look too full, messy, or outdated.

We built these shelves using a 9" deep piece of plywood and L brackets (from Home Depot or any home store).  If you buy a six feet piece, chop it into three 2' shelves and you have a symmetric, simple, yet refined look. I always go with an odd number because I think it stands out a little more, but two or four shelves would work as well...I also look for a chunked out, funky piece of lumber...makes it more unique, personalized and nature-y. Stain the shelves to your taste...I chose a medium stain, but really anything (including painting them) will work.   

L Brackets are a simple solution, and I love the way these shelves look a little rusty-crusty, and a little industrial with the simple brackets. Now let's talk about styling your one-of-a-kind shelves...
A shelf is part organizational tool, part reflection of your overall taste.  Our aesthetic, as always, is combining things you love to tell a story. If you love it and they are complimentary pieces (in size or color), it WILL work!

We change our shelves with the changing of the seasons, sometimes much more often (weekly/daily/hourly)...but currently we have a great old, funky camera that I found at a thrift shop, some framed photography my husband found at a street fair in New York, and an awesome sculpture we received as a gift from a local artist in Savannah.

Have fun with your accessories, let them speak to you and to the other pieces in your room. And if y'all have any questions, leave a comment below or come find us at Clutter!

 

xoxo, Brooke

Brooke's Look: License Plates

I'm mildly obsessed with license plates. Sure...they are meant for your car, but design is all about breaking the rules. License plates are fairly inexpensive, extremely lightweight, and vary in color to coordinate with any space. Use them on a wall for a great, rustic look with pops of color (LOVE the orange and green of Florida and the red and white of Maine), or use them on a book shelf as a fun little accessory.

We have some license plates that have been our cars that mean something, and some that are just aesthetically pleasing that we have picked up along the way! Whichever you prefer, have fun with them, use them in a fun new way, and if you don't love it...change it!

xoxo, Brooke

Brooke's Look: Family Gallery Wall

I love a good gallery wall. And I know people can get stressed out trying to get frames exactly perfect in a grid, but the best way to get a great/cohesive look without all the stress is to just go for it. Hold the frames up to the wall, eyeball a mark and you're not going to be too far off. If you are, it's just a nail and you can redo it, fix the wall later. Design should be fun, should represent you, and not give you any headaches.

On a neutral wall, a great way to add color is to mix up your frames (style, size, color). The common theme will tie everything together. If you have a busy wall (wallpaper, a strong color), use the same color frames/mattes, but vary the size for a great look.

xoxo, Brooke

Brooke's Look: Upcycled Old Easel

A great way to make a picture ledge out of something you probably already have, it to deconstruct an old art easel. One, it's easy to hang, and perfect for subbing out your favorite paintings/framed pictures/letters/etc. Two, it brings all that love...the dried paint, the smudges...that an old easel has and essentially you have a piece of art holding up other pieces of art.  It's green, it's fun, and it's incredibly easy to do.

An other option is to use it as a shelf to display your child's favorite books in his room. Makes for easy access and rather colorful display!

xoxo, brooke.

Brooke's Look: Size Does Matter

Whether you have a large wall or small nook to fill, make sure you consider the size of the art you are hanging. Above, there are two examples of the right art fitting a space...on top, a great 5'x5' piece fills a huge space on our stairs...and below, a small Katherine Sandoz fills a nook in our den. Each is framed by a good amount of wall on either side ensuring the art doesn't overwhelm the space, but also ensuring that the art is properly featured, centered, and enjoyed. Consider proportions when picking art for any room, and remember that size DOES matter.

xoxo, brooke.

Brooke's Look: Three's Company

I'm an odd number kinda girl. Sure, one is fun, and a pair is right in certain settings, but if you're going to do a grouping, consider going with three (or five or seven...you get the picture).  An odd number gets someone to take a second look...and isn't that the point of design anyway.  A pair is your grandmother's grouping go-to...it's time to get odd!

Brooke's Look: Kid's Room Chic (One)

In our little girl's room, I just couldn't go all pink...it's not me.  BUT throw in a little (or a lot) of my favorite color, gray, and some pale pinks are right up my alley.  This great rattan rocker has been my go-to feeding chair for both kids and the beautiful handmade blanket is from my dear (British) friend, Emma (thanks, girl!).

Don't feel stuck with standard boxes and containers...look outside the box (pun intended) like Lynn taught us last week, and find great and unique storage pieces that can hold a little girls bows, or her socks, or even diapers!

Who says a young ladies' room has to be pink? Bring in frills in shades of gray (not fifty...) and you'll still get that feminine look without all the pink PINK PINK!



Brooke's Look: Reading Rainbow

We love to read and we have TONS of books in the house with limited storage for all of them. So instead of throwing them in a closet, we decided to display them on a room dividing ledge...and to add a little something-something...we organized them in color order.  Great look that adds a lot of cohesion to both your books and your room.

Have patience if you tackle this project, though! Our books flew willy-nilly off the shelf and I had the darndest time keeping the oranges away from the blues...complimentary colors always want to hang out together!

Brooke's Look: Color

We talked a POP of color last week, but if you have a heavy neutral room don't be afraid to go balls to the wall with color.  Our beautiful government walls are (mandatorily) white so plenty of color is a necessity.  Bring in huge color pieces with art, accent pillows, and side/coffee tables. Make sure the colors mesh, in that they talk to each other, but don't worry about getting the same shades of blue or what have you. Remember, ombre is very in right now, so look at how darker shades speak to lighter ones, and how complimentary colors play off each other.

Hope you're having a good week decorating. For some good design ideas, check us out on Pinterest (ClutterSavannah). We have a design board per room!

xoxo, Brooke

Brooke's Look: Pop of Color in the Boudoir

Tranquility is our watchword in the bedroom.  You need a space that's peaceful, comfortable, chic, and purposeful.  But don't shy away from a little drama.

We're loving grays and blues in our master and you can never go wrong with a chic white comforter or duvet cover to up the glam factor.  But in every space you do need a P-O-P of color and we did that by bringing in some lime green in our owl side table / catch-all.  Loving the way the green plays with the blue nightstands and mirror, and we tied it in again with green cording on our big comfy, gray striped pillows.

Questions, comments, concerns? Please send them my way.  Love talking design with y'all!

Brooke's Look: Hides

An easy way to break up a wood-heavy, neutral space is by throwing in a hide to give a pop of something 1) on trend, 2) functional, and 3) comfortable.  Black and white is in, from the runway to home décor, and while a cowhide can seem rustic/traditional, a black/white one gives a little modern flair! Underfoot, it is so comfy, too, and is super durable (pet and kid resistant!!).

We have several hides at Clutter and I am obsessed! Come see what you think and talk to us about where and how to fit one in your home.

Clutter Furnishings and Interiors

1100 Eisenhower Drive, Suite 8

Savannah, GA 31406

912.354.7556

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