POSTER ART

“Art is not what you see. But what you make others see”

Moving home is so expensive. I know this only too well! I really have found it tough over the years, trying to place the same, muchloved art in many a new home. Some homes suit older style art and some more modern, it’s a problem. I could of course solve this issue by constantly buying new art or redecorating to fit but that really isn’t doable, financially or otherwise.

After our move in 2020 from Canada to France, we left our eclectic art collection (bought, gifted, begged, borrowed and only one stolen, by mistake, I promise) in storage but even in a tiny Normandy rental cottage, bare walls did not a home make. What to do? In fact the solution presented itself one day, quite out of the blue! We had asked for someone to help us with storage locally and a lady had answered. Then we discovered she was selling up, leaving France and selling much of her home contents, including some wonderful French poster art.

These weren’t expensive, five euros each as I recall and I have just continued adding to them, such is the pleasure they gift. Also, they are oddly so versatile and of course reminded me of France when I moved back to the UK again.

I realised that I could just change the frames and they would fit perfectly! In the end, I love a bit of Matisse or Van Gogh and could never afford the real thing, so poster art is just the ticket! Lately, I’ve started adding new poster art (not French) in order to build my collection. Like I fake it with flowers, I’m now totally hooked on fake art! Buy what you can afford and love now!

I’ve got a few posters that need reframing, as they were damaged in the move, so that’s a nice winter project for me. Also, once you get the reframing bug, there will be no stopping you and lets face it, you are only limited by your imagination!

Donna

Cosy Ambience

Along time ago, as a young army wife, moving every year or two, I learnt to make the best of what I had and it was so important to make a home as quickly as possible, settling the children in. Back then, it was all about battling with army functional furniture and hideous décor. No matter, I’d add my own accessories and scour the markets for bits and pieces, adding a personal yet familiar look to our temporary homes.

When I move into a new house these days, my first thought is how do I make it a home? I don’t begin with the obvious decorating or buying new furniture. Instead, I work with what I have and usually buy a new lamp or two to light up otherwise dull rooms or just to pull a look together. Of course there is a whole new world of home accessories out there to choose from, which I really could have done with back in 1990!

Lamps add to your décor, giving light obviously, but also making those dark corners, cosy and ambient. Lamps dress your dressers, sideboards and tables and it’s so easy to make a statement with your lamp of choice. Changing your décor by changing your lampshade is so easy, look out for the sales and buy yourself a lovely DuPont silk shade, something you wouldn’t normally splash out for.

Lamps don’t really go out of fashion but if strapped for cash, buy older lamp bases and upgrade them by giving them a make-over, nothing is impossible, even on the tightest of budgets! You can of course spray or paint an old lampstand or try some decoupage if you are really crafty! There are many videos available online that teach you to upgrade a boring old lampshade and markets often sell inexpensive ends of fabric rolls. Get creative, have a little fun and light up your life!

Some of my favourite brands of lamps are:

Sophie Conran Pooky Lighting The French Bedroom Co OKA Maison Du Monde The Range