WONDER WALLS

STYLE AT HOME & SAMSUNG PRESENT wonder walls

Patience, practice and a couple of easy tricks up your sleeve are all you need to curate an art gallery right in your own home. Here, the experts tell us how.

ARTWORK & PRINTS, FROM LEFT Network by Emily Bickell, Footy 4 by Joel, Untitled – Landscape by Richard Herman, Art Interiors; black and white wreath, Elte Market; Tulips and Melon by Kristin Sjaarda, Art Interiors; small coral, HomeSense.

CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?

THIS STUNNING PIECE IS THE FRAME, BY SAMSUNG, AN INNOVATIVE DESIGN CONCEPT THAT’S A WORK OF ART AND A 4K TV IN ONE.

DID YOU guess right?

Most art collections begin with a single piece. With that in mind, decide which artwork you want to be the showstopper, the one that will draw the eye the moment you walk into the room, then hang it off-centre. In this display, the largest piece is the anchor, and the other elements were chosen to complement it. This is a simple trick that keeps any one work from overwhelming the rest of the gallery wall. Let’s admit it: Buying art can feel intimidating. It’s important to know, though, that collecting and appreciating art is a process. The Frame, by Samsung, comes preloaded with 100 pieces of gallery-quality art, effectively giving you an expert in your own home. Elise Van Middelem, an internationally renowned curator who selected the pieces for The Frame’s collection, says, “I love that this television lets people enjoy and learn about art at home, at their own pace.”

ART WALL: TOP ROW, FROM LEFT Hexagon MIRROR, Elte; Pale Peony by Hilda Oomen, Art Interiors. MIDDLE ROW, FROM LEFT shell, HomeSense; Southern Cotton Double Bloom Square by Angela Simeone, Minted; blue triangle, HomeSense; Undertow by Julia Contacessi, Minted; pink, yellow and brown triangles, HomeSense. BOTTOM ROW, FROM LEFT Lucite spiral, wood cutting, HomeSense; Constructing Jungle IV (on The Frame) by Yun-Kyung Jeong.

SCREEN SAVER

THE FRAME’S INNOVATIVE ART MODE FEATURE TRANSFORMS THE SCREEN INTO A STYLISH DISPLAY WHEN YOU’RE NOT WATCHING YOUR FAVOURITE SHOW.

Take a cue from your favourite gallery, which likely rotates its collection. Change is part of a successful display, whether you move things around or swap out pieces entirely. For most of us, budget plays a part, so don’t be afraid to fill empty spaces with inexpensive prints, photos and mementoes while you’re saving up for that perfect original. In addition to the Samsung Collection of 100 works on The Frame, the My Collection feature allows homeowners to upload family photos and their own artwork. One bonus to rearranging your pieces is that your room takes on a whole new look. And it’s not just the images that can change – think about matting and framing, too. We like that Samsung’s innovative piece offers interchangeable frames to suit any decorating scheme. Because, above all else, your art collection should reflect you.

ART WALL: TOP ROWS, FROM LEFT Black and white wreath, Elte Market; hexagon MIRROR, Elte; wood cutting, coral, HomeSense; Plant Cell 4 by Mary Gaspar, Lush Composition by Melanie Severin, Minted; Island VII by Tadeusz Biernot, Art Interiors. BOTTOM ROW, FROM LEFT Torched by Kaydi Bishop, Southern Cotton Double Bloom Square by Angela Simeone, Minted; Playa Shoreline by Tommy Clarke (on The Frame); vintage photographs, Art Interiors.

HIDE & SEEK

JUST ONE CABLE MEANS NO TANGLE OF CORDS TO DISTRACT FROM YOUR ARTFUL VIGNETTE.

THE ART OF ARRANGING

MIX AND MATCH. Curate artworks in a variety of media, styles and genres for a dynamic, unfussy look.

VARY SIZES AND ORIENTATION.

Include large and small works in horizontal and vertical orientations to balance the display. Big pieces anchor the arrangement, while little ones fill in any empty spaces.

DON’T FORGET THE FRAMES. Select diverse frames to give the illusion that pieces were collected over time and purchased everywhere from flea markets to shops abroad. If you want something more formal, stick to one colour. Using all black or white frames offers a clean, contemporary look.

ADD THE UNEXPECTED. Incorporate different shapes and dimensions into the arrangement. Ideas include a sculptural object, a round mirror or a vintage metal initial.

PERSONALIZE IT. Include items that tell a story, such as family photographs, a map from a trip across Europe, your children’s artwork or a textile with special meaning.

ARTWORK (AT LEFT), FROM TOP

La Petite Danseuse II by J.T. Winik, Network by Emily Bickell, Untitled – Landscape by Richard Herman, Art Interiors.

BALANCE THE COLOURS

Have a palette in mind. Pick a piece with a strong signature colour and then find others that feature the same hue to a subtler extent. Balance out light and dark – if you’re drawn to softer pieces, for example, include something bolder to anchor the look.

EMBRACE TECHNOLOGY

Creating something magical often involves stepping out of your comfort zone. In addition to well-known media, quality artwork now appears in digital form. This innovation means adapting the way we think about using artwork and technology in our homes. In contrast to the traditional home gallery wall that works to camouflage a television by surrounding it with art, new innovations, such as The Frame, allow the television to integrate seamlessly and naturally into your arrangement – and become part of your decor. We love how it adjusts its display based on a room’s lighting and colour scheme, so the artwork looks like an actual painting rather than a ubiquitous TV screen. Even better, an energy-saving feature switches it off when you leave the room. Housed in a unit with such a sleek and sophisticated profile, The Frame has bridged the gap between art and technology.

MAP IT OUT

A perfect gallery wall is all about the planning. Once you’ve selected your art (and before you put any holes in the wall), make paper cut-outs that replicate each piece you intend to use, and rearrange them until you have a pleasing display. Keep in mind that you should balance colour and medium – place something dark next to something light; put a photo next to a painting. It can be a bit of a puzzle to get the look just right, so be patient and give yourself a break if you start to get frustrated.

PAGE 60: Cement Gray 2112-60 WALL PAINT (throughout), Benjamin Moore; SOFA, IKEA; COFFEE TABLE, Elte; CONSOLE, SIDECHAIR, RUG, Elte Market; GLOBE, BOOKS, BOXES, brass OBJET, copper CANDLE, HomeSense; TOSS CUSHION (on sofa), Tonic Living. PAGE 61: SIDE TABLE, IKEA; TABLE LAMP, CANDLESTICKS, Elte Market; BOWL, JACKS, Elte; CACTI, Sheridan Nurseries. PAGE 62: BAR CART, POUFFE, TOSS CUSHION, Elte; MIRROR, DRAPERY, DECANTERS, HomeSense; aloe PLANT, PLANTER, Sheridan Nurseries.

MIND THE GAP

THE FRAME’S MOUNTING HARDWARE IS SO SLIM IT HANGS AS CLOSE TO YOUR WALL AS A PICTURE DOES.