Dallas artist Carol Pankratz created this wall design, using the decorative accessory for inspiration. Special custom touches like this can take your room to the next level of design. Read more!

What's In A Frame?

Putting the right frame on artwork can completely changes it’s identity and elevate it to the look of fine art. This small watercolor was done by my late mother-in-law, and for years my husband had it with a dark khaki matte and a basic thin frame, leaving it to sit in his office looking insignificant and very 80's. Recently, I needed a small piece of art for a tablescape and decided to give this little work a face lift. I re-matted it in a neutral off-white with a gold outline to allow the colors in the artwork to take center stage. Then I chose a heavy, carved frame that had a pattern of graceful strokes that repeated the line detail of the artwork itself, for emphasis. Choosing these new materials gave this simple botanical an updated look and a much greater sense of importance.

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Once Is Not Enough

“REPETITION” is one of the a principles of design, and this kitchen demonstrates the principle so well and how it can be used to create a dramatic interior. The cabinet door style is a series of rectangles. The artwork on the back wall is framed to repeat the framed style of the cabinetry. Then, the rectangular shape of the barstools continues the pattern. The backsplash features an inset tile mosaic listel of rectangular shaped natural stone. Even the cylindrical pendant light fixtures over the bar appear to be rectangular, and their shape and material repeat the look of the stainless steel venthood.

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