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Art Abodes

The parents of my childhood best friend were art collectors. With dark wood flooring and white walls and moulding, their dwelling was a perfect canvas for items that were unusual and sometimes fantastically strange. A taxidermy alligator with spikes protruding from its scales. A family portrait by an abstract artist, with my best friend's head twice the normal size. African masks lining the library wall.

Though I didn't until later have the maturity to artistically process these pieces, I understood even at a young age that there was something conscious and deliberate about their dwelling. Each piece told a story and expressed their family focus of culture and travel. (It was my friend's mother who first taught me French.) The environment served a purpose beyond showcasing stuff: it created an atmosphere of curiosity and diversity. And incredible beauty.

These dwellings below have successfully incorporated art into their homes, in all kinds of ways. Whether you showcase one large painting, create a blatant wall filled with work, or tuck art into the nooks and crannies of your dwelling, I hope you surround yourself with things of beauty and meaning.
Margaret Everton
Margaret Everton
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In this small work space (fabulous in NO small way), art and goodies are inserted into the blank spots, to complete the aesthetic without overpowering what is already busy.

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To not overwhelm this spanning room, art is inserted discreetly to contribute, not distract, from the space--as in the bookshelf sculpture.

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An understated focal point piece gives off an effortless Euro-feel.

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Small artistic additions proportional to this small space make even the most utilitarian room classy.

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Even a small corner changes the whole room. The art continuing over the window creates an unusual flow.

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This is the essence of chic: seemingly effortless while getting proportion and spacing just right.

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This wall of a more casual collection balances the room and helps create the workspace vibe.

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This is living art, integrated into a living space. Several things are going on in this shelving, and work well without cluttering the space by keeping to those perimeters. The rest of the room is simple.

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Don't disregard hallways and staircases, especially landings highly visible from both floors. The frames placed to touching work well here.

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This art piece and glove revolutionize the vibe of this high-traffic space.

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The streamlined, flat frames create a unifying element in this wall-spanning collection. The rest of the room is wisely understated and simple to compensate.

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Don't underestimate how chic and whimsical amateur art can be--childish or grown up.

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A collection of faces lines up perfectly to create a diverse aesthetic while retaining incredible order.

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This collection helps to incorporate an often-eye-sore tv into the room.

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One large piece hung front and center (and low) makes this room and draws the colors together. The rug border amazingly mirrors the painting border.

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This was a similar aesthetic to my friend's house, with white floors. The ceiling beams, uniquely shaped furniture, and unusual collection (kept classy and organized in the shelving) make this unusual room a great success.

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