94 LONGISLANDPRESS.COM • SEPTEMBER 2021
PRESS HOME
PRO TIPS FOR DECORATING WITH FINE ARTWORK
WHAT KIND OF ART SHOULD I
PURCHASE?
Art is uniquely personal on three levels:
physical, mental and spiritual.
Physical: Our eyes receive the beauty
of form, color and texture. Mental: Our
minds ponder the inspiration behind it.
Spiritual: Our hearts connect with the
emotional expression.
When assisting clients with art for
their homes and businesses — which
are often one and the same in 2021 — it
is important to purchase art that brings
joy to the client for the long term, pieces
that work beautifully in their current
home or office or any future location.
The Hamptons has long been a creative
haven for artists and a perfect location
for summer art fairs. We love to introduce
clients to local artists for an even
more personal experience.
WHERE SHOULD IT GO?
When starting a project, we always
consider art first, as it often provides the
inspiration for the color palette and sets
the tone for the whole project.
In the Hamptons, we design homes with
walls of windows that display the magnificence
of the coastline and the woods,
which can sometimes present a challenge
for wall space to hang art. In addition to
walls, art can be placed on open shelves,
in niches (existing or planned in construction),
A home is not complete without some art on the walls (Getty Images)
“There is a place for art in every project and every
room.”
on ceilings, on tile stone and
brick, mirrored surfaces, wallpaper and
fabric.
There is a place for art in every project
and every room, from kitchens and
bathrooms to outdoor living rooms, offices,
gyms, meditation rooms and family
entertainment areas. The Frame TV from
Samsung has also provided the opportunity
for clients to curate a rotating gallery
of images as well as their own personal
collections, which can be enjoyed in two
rooms at the same time.
HOW SHOULD IT BE HUNG?
Preferably by a professional. In all our
design installations we collaborate with
professional hanging services for an
excellent and stress-free client experience.
The first thing to know about hanging art
is that there are two different measures.
There is the mathematical equation and
the eye equation, and using both will give
the best result. After the numbers have
all been confirmed, it is best to stand back
prior to making the holes, to make sure
that it looks correct to the eye.
This rule applies whether it is a single
piece or a large grouping, and while we
also use digital assistance on our screens
to visualize placement, we sometimes
go old school and lay them on the floor,
or use paper cutouts on the wall. This
is especially helpful when designing a
gallery grouping of different sizes and
subject matter.
No matter what the style of the project,
from mid-century modern to new traditional,
art unifies the space and enhances
the lives of the artists and the clients.
Dee Ann Federico is an interior designer,
artist, entrepreneur and prayer chaplain.
She is the creative force behind the
multi-coastal design firm Dee Ann Design,
LLC specializing in creating beautiful and
soulful spaces for residential and commercial
clients in person and virtually.
This article first appeared in Behind The
Hedges.
continued from page 93
Art enhances a new traditional dining room. (Dee Ann Design LLC)
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