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How to Hang Art
There’s no question that art transforms your home like few other design elements can. Hung art defines your personal aesthetic. It says, this collection is important enough to see every day of our lives.
Choose Art to Hang

The first step is easy: select the art you love. Forget about trendy. If it speaks to you, use it. Still lifes, landscapes, photography, portraits… anything can comprise an artistic moment.
Where to Hang Art

Once you’ve chosen pieces, scout out possible hanging locations. If you’re developing a grouping, test your placement on the floor first. Groupings like this one should start higher, because you’ll be adding pieces as you go along. In general, larger pieces look better on top, smaller ones on the bottom. Offsetting works in a collection, but if you’re trying to achieve simplicity, then don’t be afraid to line things up.
Proper Height to Hang Art

If there’s one thing that people consistently get wrong when it comes to placing art, it’s hanging height. You may have heard that artwork must be hung at eye level. Not true. Pieces should be placed in relation to what’s under and around them. Typically, art is hung too high and should be lowered. If your ceiling is 15 feet high, for instance, pictures should still hang just 5 and a half feet off the ground. Above-mantle pieces, if the art isn’t leaning, it should be hung approximately 6 inches over the mantle. Leave 10 inches clearance above sofas and headboards. Be wary of hanging anything above arched furniture, because the lines conflict.
Before You Hang Art

When you’ve finalized your placement, it’s time for framing. Think of frames as the final signature on a piece of artwork, like shoes with an outfit, they make all the difference! In general, for larger works, wider frames are more decorative and ornamental, and thinner frames are more contemporary and subtle. Take into consideration how much space you’re trying to fill. If you need the piece to be larger, choose a wider molding. If you’re creating a grouping, you may want to control framing costs by keeping things simple.
How to Hang Art

To hang art, a tape measure, hammer and small nails are essential. If the art is heavy, you’ll need wall anchors, likely two per painting. Some people use picture hangers with integrated hooks, which are inexpensive and effective, but no better than a nail, in my experience.

Use a pencil or tape to mark the top of the frame while your partner experiments with different heights, then measure off the distance from the top to the nail crosswire. This is where you insert the nail.

If you really want to be sure of nail placement, I recommend cutting butcher paper to represent the pieces, hanging it and leaving it up for a few days to get a feel for it before you do any hammering.
Hanging Art Securely

If you’re concerned about securing the hang, either because of child safety, or other structural reasons, you’ll want to secure the work to the wall with hardware mounted on both sides.

Using hooks with holes, insert nails or screws and hang the piece directly on them. This method does require more accurate measurements and time.

What you put on your walls will change the way you feel about your home, and offer a window into your life for you and your guests to enjoy.

I’m Anne-Marie Barton, About Home & Garden.

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1. Personalize your home with art and accessories.
2. Repeat a color at least three times in a room.
3. Relate your art to its surroundings. Art prints placed about 6″-9″ above a sofa will create a unified look.
4. Cover two thirds of the space above furniture with one or more pieces of art to achieve proper proportion.

5. Position artwork at “eye level” to look at the center of it from either a sitting or standing position.
6. Vary the height of table top accessories for balance and interest.
7. Create a formal look with symmetrical groupings of art. Create an informal look with asymmetrical groupings.
8. Place mirrors so they reflect something beautiful. Use them to add dimension, expand space or reflect light in a room.
9. Display art on easels to create interest in corners, bookcases or on table tops.
10. Custom frame artwork to coordinate with room decor. Select a frame that compliments the decorating style. Select mat colors that enhance both the art and color scheme.

(ARA) - Once you’ve designed your dream bath and selected the big ticket items like the flooring, tiles, faucets and sinks - it’s time to add the fun details and finishing touches. Will you choose chrome bath accessories to match your modern sensibilities? Or will you lean toward rich, old world finishes to complete your look?

If the choices seem overwhelming, start with this quiz to find the finish that’s best for you and your bath décor.

“Interior decorating can be an overwhelming process,” says Tim Bitterman, senior product and brand manager for Inspirations by Moen. “But once you know how to find a look that suits you, the selection will fall into place.”

Here’s a quiz that will help you tap into your inner personality traits to find out what accessory finish is right for you.

1. You enjoy listening to:

A. Country Western or Classic Rock
B. Jazz
C. Pop
D. Classical Music

2. The last thing you bought for your home was a(n):

A. Quilt, baskets, or collectibles
B. Antique vase
C. Yoga mat
D. Oriental rug

3. Your favorite subject in school was:

A. Social Studies
B. History
C. Art
D. English Literature

4. Your perfect day would be:

A. Flea market shopping, or hunting for collectibles
B. Traveling around the country visiting historical sites
C. Clubbing with friends at a fashionable nightclub
D. Relaxing with a book on the front porch and a glass of iced tea

5. You go to the movie theater to watch:

A. Romantic comedies
B. Classics
C. Independent movies
D. Dramas

Mostly A’s: Shabby Chic

Your laid back personality requires a finish that makes a comfortable statement. Wrought iron with its deep, rich black tone complements your relaxed personality whether you have country-inspired decorating desires or love the look of mismatched shabby chic.

Look for bath accessories that make a statement while complementing your existing décor like the Stony Ridge accessory collection from Inspirations by Moen. Towel rods, towel rings, paper holders and robe hooks feature a casual design with birdcage-styled finials perfect for your easy decorating style.

Mostly B’s: What’s Old is New Again

You lean toward the past with a sense of nostalgia appreciating old world finishes and classic pieces. Oil Rubbed Bronze or Antique Nickel finishes lend an antique look that is hard to resist. Feel free to harmonize by using warm colors, such as red, orange and gold. Incorporate old treasures you may have stored in the attic to add to the look of the room. Some weathered postcards of a European vacation spot or an antique suitcase will reflect your character in the bath.

Mostly C’s: Chrome Sweet Chrome

Your fashion forward personality looks for contemporary style with a clean finish. The shiny, sturdy feel that radiates from this finish keeps your bathroom visitors calm, cool and collected. The universal styling of Chrome allows you to pair this with any style, color or accent.

Mostly D’s: Traditional

The distinctive look of Brushed Nickel evokes warmth and history - perfect for your traditional personality. You stay true to the classics and incorporate dark woods, clean lines and architectural accents into your décor. Complement this look with strong colors in rich reds, navy blues and greens.

Now that you know how to determine your favorite finish, you’ll soon be on the right track to adding the perfect finishing touches to your bath - giving it the right look for you and your personality.

For more information on bath style trends or the Stony Ridge collection available from Inspirations by Moen, call (800) 321-8809, or visit www.csi.moen.com.

Mona Rand, CWD’s Designer/Decorator, has spent more than twenty years venturing with her clients through the design and decorating world, navigating the waters of fabric, paint, paper, flooring, and window treatments.  As with all seasoned guides, she calls attention to the finer details of projects while staying on course for the end destination, educating her clients on options and assisting them with decisions that will result in a completed look that is livable, aesthetically pleasing, and efficient in function.

“It’s easy for clients to become overwhelmed by all the choices and decisions that need to be made, especially when building a home from the ground up.  We work with our clients to slow things down in an effort to make decisions that aren’t rushed,” explains Rand.  “Executing a project the right way, the first time saves time and money in the end.”

According to Rand, when clients grow tired of making choices, poor decisions can result in an end product that doesn’t stand up to expectation.

            She admits, particularly when building, “need to know right now” decisions can creep up suddenly.  That’s why Rand likes to keep her clients a few steps ahead of the process to avoid the unnecessary stress.

Working with a designer/decorator can be a real relationship saver, not only for spouses but for homeowners and their contractors as well.  Rand readily serves as the “buffer” liason, playing the middleman, and advocating for her clients in all aspects of the project, from deciding where to place the flush (not directly in view of the bathroom door) to consulting on allowances for elements including window treatments that are reality-based.

Mike Favreau, owner of Custom Windows Decorators, says, “We also extend our services to shopping for our clients to help them customize the look of their home.  Mona will even re-stage a client’s home.”  He describes re-staging as shopping from amongst the already existing décor of the home, moving accessories from one room to another to breathe new life into an old space or to better accentuate a new one.  “She then can create shopping lists for future items to be purchased or items to be changed out at a later time.”

In the end, it is CWD’s clients, many of whom become friends, who decide the ultimate destination of their decorating adventures.  The CWD team of decorating professionals and installers make it possible for their clients to enjoy the ride. 

“We hope,” says Rand, “That we can help our clients make smart choices that will work for their budgets as well as their lifestyles.”  With a smile, she confirms, “It’s possible to have fun and achieve fabulous without breaking the bank.”  

   written by: Donna Rousseau