Invaluable - Plein Air Provincial

Welcome to the third and final edition of my Invaluable series where I've been illustrating how to incorporate artwork into the home! So far we've looked at two very different spaces: one featuring old school landscapes and one featuring colorful abstract works. Today I want to look at my favorite genre of painting: plein air! 

Dining area by Peter Dunham

"En plein air" just means "in the open air" in French, but it is often used to describe a style of painting where the artist is capturing not just the landscape, but the atmosphere of the place where the piece was painted: the salty air, the warm sun, etc.

Painting by Lovell

I think one of my favorite types of decorating is what I consider to be California style. But, really, it is more likely California designers' interpretations of French Provencal/country style. Whatever you want to call it, it usually features colorful fabrics, comfortable furniture, and plenty of these "plein air" paintings.

Paint - Curtains - Loveseat - Lamps - Rug

I would start out with either white or pale blue walls. Then I'd start layering on some texture, like these linen curtains and a nubby striped rug. A floral is a prerequisite for any good country house (especially one with a French accent). A pair of bright green lamps would bring a pop of color and a little unexpected crispness to the room.

Reese Witherspoon's living room by Kristen Buckingham via Elle Decor 

The artwork is so subtle in spaces like this, but it is setting the scene and creating a mood in the space.

Invaluable Painting by Albert Namatjira

I would love to have this pair of paintings! Just look at the light in them. You really get a sense of being in the middle of the Australian outback.

Invaluable Painting by Albert Namatjira

Living room by Kathryn Ireland

Suzani by Ayatcreation

I would add in a colorful throw like this since it has such a lovely balance of cool and warm tones.

Chair - Table - Paint

An old farm table, bistro chairs, and fresh flowers add to the bright but casual look.

Sitting area by Schulyer Samperton

Eric Stonestreet's living room by Nathan Turner via House Beautiful

This slightly masculine room by Nathan Turner looks so stylish but, more importantly, how comfortable does it look?! I just want to dive into that corduroy couch!

Invaluable painting by Maslanka

Now it's time to pile on the pillows!

Dining area by Schuyler Samperton

And I mean LOTS of pillows....

Stripe - Lotus - Quadrille - Fig - Floral - Dot

I created this combination of color and pattern because, like with the suzani above, you are balancing the warm tones (i.e., reds, pinks, browns) with the cool tones (i.e., blues, greens, lavender, grey). You also want to balance modern prints (i.e., lotus and fig leaf) with cozier, traditional ones (i.e., stripes and cabbage rose).

One more by the fabulous Ms. Samperton

Again though, it's all about what you love, and what makes you happy and comfortable.

Thanks so much to Invaluable for all the artistic inspiration! And I hope all you readers visit again soon!

Inspiration Interpretation

For our next installation in the "Inspiration Interpretation" series, we look to the Gilded Age, or Belle Epoque, for direction. My lovely friend Trisha sent in the photo above as her inspiration item: the haunting yet glamorous fashion print by Paul Poiret from 1912.

Although my work on her room is not yet complete, I thought I would include you all in some of the process (in my classically rambling train-of-thought style, of course).

Living room photo courtesy of Apartment Therapy

Because I know Trish, I have a little more info than I would starting out on just anyone's project. She is a hip gal who exudes a combination of Midwestern warmth with a good dose of European (particularly French) flair. Her living room walls are currently painted in a muted green color, not unlike Farrow & Ball's "Vert de Terre" below.

I see her style as a blend of fin de siecle bohemian and Art Nouveau flair mixed with "granny chic" coziness... with a dash of Gilded Age glamor thrown in. When I look at the Poiret print above, the word that first comes to mind is drama. Now, I don't think the whole room should be painted black with gilded sconces and a merlot-hued Chesterfield, but I do think the room should capture a touch of that ambiance.


Living room by April Sheldon


In order to find the balance between cozy and moody in this space, I think there needs to be some cool, unexpected color to temper the reserved, yet mellow, green on the walls: in this case, smoky gray-blue and deep indigo. If you look at the Poiret print, you will see these colors featured in much of the background (as well as her wall color in the dress cloaking the lady on the right).

So, with these musings as my jumping-off point, I shall continue my quest to create a warm, Parisian-style room for my fabulous friend....

Have a great weekend, everyone!