10 Homes Where Art Takes Center Stage
Homeowners’ passion for their collections drives the design of these art-filled homes
Art plays such an important role in design, and these homeowners are so committed to it that they planned their homes around their art collections. Large-scale walls, lighting, places for sculpture, color schemes and in some cases, space to create new works play major roles in these art-filled homes. Perusing these homes is a bit like taking a trip to a museum, but with the personal touches of a home — be sure to click on the accompanying links to experience the full Houzz Tours.
1. At this rambling Shingle-style house in the Hamptons, New York, traditional architecture and modern art make for a happy mix. An evergreen hedge is just the right backdrop for a graphic sculpture by Robert Indiana. The sculpture is lit at night so that the owners can enjoy a view of it from the house when it’s dark outside.
Inside, works by Frank Stella, Andy Warhol, Louise Nevelson, Donald Baechler and other artists mingle with traditional and modern furnishings. The wire Willow sculpture in the dining room is by Harry Bertoia.
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2. This home in the Clinton Hill neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York, was designed for living and for making and displaying art. Brazilian artist Vik Muniz and architect Brenda Bello transformed an old light-manufacturing warehouse into Muniz’s home and studio. This garden used to be the warehouse’s garage, and much of the home opens out to it physically and visually. As you can see through the window, floor-to-ceiling, wall-to-wall shelves provide plenty of room for inspirational items — the artist’s collection of favorite books and objects.
The studio and living space are divided by a translucent wall that allows light and blurry glimpses through. It’s important to experience Muniz’s collages up close and from afar, and the space gives him plenty of room to step way back.
By the way, I recently saw Muniz’s works at the High Museum of Art in Atlanta and plan to go back — they are amazing. The exhibit runs through August 21, 2016.
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By the way, I recently saw Muniz’s works at the High Museum of Art in Atlanta and plan to go back — they are amazing. The exhibit runs through August 21, 2016.
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3. Painter and architectural designer Richard Roblin designed his home around making the most of the views from Vancouver Island and around displaying and producing art.
In his studio, the design is also about light; the 14-foot-square windows face north. There is easy access to a courtyard, where he also paints. The painting here is called Barragan.
Glass-top desk: Ikea; desk chairs: Philippe Starck
In his studio, the design is also about light; the 14-foot-square windows face north. There is easy access to a courtyard, where he also paints. The painting here is called Barragan.
Glass-top desk: Ikea; desk chairs: Philippe Starck
Here Roblin stands next to his work Awakening; the shoji screen-like doors lead to the studio and share the light. White walls provide the right backdrop for his large, colorful pieces.
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4. In Chicago’s Lincoln Park neighborhood, architect Michael Graham and interior designer Bruce Fox helped a client design a unique house crafted of many recycled materials. As you can see from John Henry’s sculpture Chevron, designing a house with room for displaying a collection of large-scale works was the priority.
Side note: Apparently a few neighbors were not fans of Chevron, which became known locally as “Big Blue.” Now it has a temporary new home along the lakefront in a Chicago park.
Side note: Apparently a few neighbors were not fans of Chevron, which became known locally as “Big Blue.” Now it has a temporary new home along the lakefront in a Chicago park.
Fox used the horse painting seen here, Call of the Continent by Donald Baechler, as inspiration for the interiors, which are full of color. The windows, the chandelier and other furnishings stand up to its large scale, while the colors were pulled from the piece.
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5. Interior designer Raji Radhakrishnan has been putting her stamp on her own Northern Virginia home for over a decade. She enclosed some of the rooms in the once-wide-open modern plan, but then layered in the modern touch of floor-to-ceiling photo murals, like this one of the London Underground.
The designer’s love of people-watching inspired her to blow up Louis-Léopold Boilly’s painting that depicts a crowd milling around beneath an artwork of the coronation of Napoleon’s wife, Empress Josephine. It takes up 90 percent of the wall and provides a grounding focal point for the light-colored room.
The designer’s love of people-watching inspired her to blow up Louis-Léopold Boilly’s painting that depicts a crowd milling around beneath an artwork of the coronation of Napoleon’s wife, Empress Josephine. It takes up 90 percent of the wall and provides a grounding focal point for the light-colored room.
A life-size perspective view inside the London Underground enlivens one of the eight sides of the living room. Radhakrishnan took the photo herself.
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6. Designer Andreas Charalambous carefully planned this Washington, D.C., penthouse to best display the homeowner’s impressive art collection. The new wall on the left provides the right space for a work by Peter Tunny; the painting between the windows on the right is by James Nares.
Ottoman and fabric: Molteni; sculptural chair: Cappellini
Ottoman and fabric: Molteni; sculptural chair: Cappellini
A reconfigured overhead loft now contains the master bedroom and adjacent office. Near the office, a glass sculpture by Graham Caldwell hangs and is enhanced by natural light from the large windows. Next to the bed is Richard Serra’s Reykjavik.
Bed frame: Gamma Leather, Urban Essentials; motorized and manual shades: Nysan
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Bed frame: Gamma Leather, Urban Essentials; motorized and manual shades: Nysan
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7. When the owner of this home and architect Luis Jauregui called in Dale Chihuly to create something spectacular, they gladly handed over the reins to the renowned glass artist. As Jauregui reported to writer Bud Dietrich, “Chihuly takes over the process, including how the lighting will end up.”
The stunning piece measures 19 feet long, and it took two 18-wheelers to transport all of the pieces to the site. Steel framing to support the sculpture’s weight is hidden in the ceiling, and Jauregui’s careful design ensured that children could not reach the pieces. The lights highlight the piece and show it at its best, while an artful handrail takes a back seat to the blues and greens.
Learn more about how this piece was installed
Learn more about how this piece was installed
8. In this Seattle home, large windows and doors transform the expansive views of Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains into art, so it’s only befitting that the walls are punctuated with a collection of works by Pacific Northwest artists.
The team at DeForest Architects had the specs on all of the important pieces their clients wished to show off in the new build, and planned wall space, lighting and materials to best show them off. “We used scaled images of many of the larger pieces in the computer model so that they were always in mind,” architect John DeForest says.
The team at DeForest Architects had the specs on all of the important pieces their clients wished to show off in the new build, and planned wall space, lighting and materials to best show them off. “We used scaled images of many of the larger pieces in the computer model so that they were always in mind,” architect John DeForest says.
The entry hall is relatively compact but has plenty of room to serve as a welcoming gallery. Skylights and a glass floor fill the space with light.
Lighting design: Susan Rhodes of LightWire
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Lighting design: Susan Rhodes of LightWire
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9. This hundred-year-old Melbourne, Australia, warehouse was ripe for a remodel that could accommodate a couple’s extensive art and antiquities collection.
The existing architecture inspired the use of exposed brick, as on the long gallery wall on the right. Architect Donna Brzezinski made the most of the northern exposure with a high glass wall and an adjacent glass roof over the central courtyard. No direct sunlight hits the artwork (this is very important to prevent fading).
Kelly chairs: Jardan
The existing architecture inspired the use of exposed brick, as on the long gallery wall on the right. Architect Donna Brzezinski made the most of the northern exposure with a high glass wall and an adjacent glass roof over the central courtyard. No direct sunlight hits the artwork (this is very important to prevent fading).
Kelly chairs: Jardan
The homeowners are world travelers and have picked up special pieces on their trips. Steel display shelving in the living room is a great spot to display a large portion of their collection.
Errol sofa: Jardan
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Errol sofa: Jardan
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10. Here’s the story … of combining two art collections that Houzz contributor Mary Jo Bowling cleverly compared to the family blending on The Brady Bunch. Interior designers Terrie Koles and Sarah Raymond focused the decor plan in the Manhattan loft around marrying the homeowners’ separate art collections harmoniously.
The owners enjoy choosing pieces together now, like the sculpture on the left by Dustin Yellin. Because it weighs about half a ton and takes about seven men to move it, placing the piece in the perfect spot the first time was important. The portrait on the right is by Chuck Close.
The owners enjoy choosing pieces together now, like the sculpture on the left by Dustin Yellin. Because it weighs about half a ton and takes about seven men to move it, placing the piece in the perfect spot the first time was important. The portrait on the right is by Chuck Close.
In the dining room, a neon Joseph Kosuth piece reads “Modus Operandi.” Koles chose the wallcovering to soften the piece; it has small glass beads in it to reflect the neon. As Koles told Bowling, “In this case the job was to honor [the homeowners’] styles and make them work together. It couldn’t be a home just for him or just for her.”
Wallpaper: Donghia; chairs: vintage Knoll
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Tell us: Where do you display your favorite works of art? Please share in the Comments section.
More: 5 Ways Art Can Improve Your Room Design
Wallpaper: Donghia; chairs: vintage Knoll
See the rest of this home
Tell us: Where do you display your favorite works of art? Please share in the Comments section.
More: 5 Ways Art Can Improve Your Room Design