All About Art And How To Incorporate It

We are ALL ABOUT ART here at Michelle Gage Interiors. Artwork gives a space soul. It finishes the design in an intentional way. Whether it’s a large scale piece or smaller ones that make up a gallery wall, art informs the feeling of the room.

We are often asked to source artwork for our design clients. We’ve sourced hundreds of amazing pieces on their behalf. We hunt online, pull from galleries and even commission pieces from beloved artists.

At times, clients will come to the table with their own collection. It’s a fun challenge to work their existing pieces into a room’s new design. Whichever way the artwork comes to us, we are careful to consider its placement in the overall design.

Let’s walk through some examples of artwork that we’ve incorporated into our dynamic interiors.

HyperFocal: 0

Kitchens are truthfully a tricky place to incorporate artwork, as you’re usually working with little wall space for hanging. In this space, we installed an ocean-themed gallery wall above a bistro table for two!

Interior photos of a private residence in St. Michales, MD. For use by Michelle Gage Interior Design ONLY Please credit: Rebecca McAlpin Copyright 2020 Rebecca McAlpin. All Rights Reserved.

This black and white print leans on top of this late 1800’s fireplace mantel. Its subject matter mimics that of the wallpaper behind it – which is incredibly eye-catching!

There’s something just so striking about a collection of artwork hung on top of wallpaper. The bold impact is sure to create a room worth loving.

A little tone-on-tone creates a pleasing and soothing section of this master bedroom.

Interior photos of a private residence in Philadelphia, PA for use by Michelle Gage Interior Design only Please credit: Rebecca McAlpin when Copyright 2019 Rebecca McAlpin. All Rights Reserved.

This custom piece has special meaning to our clients. It’s a painting of their country home’s dock. The colors work beautifully with the ones present in this vintage rug.

Interior photos of a private residence in Philadelphia, PA for use by Michelle Gage Interior Design only Please credit: Rebecca McAlpin when Copyright 2019 Rebecca McAlpin. All Rights Reserved.

We sourced this print online for our clients and then had it framed locally. The frame really finishes the look!

Interior photos of a private residence in Philadelphia, PA for use by Michelle Gage Interior Design only Please credit: Rebecca McAlpin when Copyright 2019 Rebecca McAlpin. All Rights Reserved.

In our client’s Zen Room, this triptych lily pads painting fits the vibe perfectly.

Interior photos of a private residence in Philadelphia, PA for use by Michelle Gage Interior Design only Please credit: Rebecca McAlpin when Copyright 2019 Rebecca McAlpin. All Rights Reserved.

Even if you aren’t going custom, your artwork can still have meaning. This photographer produces aerial images of popular islands – this one being of a beloved travel destination for our clients.

A private residence in Philadelphia, PA. For use by Michelle Gage Interiors only Please credit: Rebecca McAlpin when applicable Copyright 2019 Rebecca McAlpin. All Rights Reserved.

We’re all about working with a client’s existing collection. These clients had oodles of artwork – and were seeking our expertise on how to incorporate them into their home and where to hang them.

Private residence in Villanova, PA. For use by Michelle Cage Interiors ONLY Please credit: Rebecca McAlpin when applicable Copyright 2018 Rebecca McAlpin. All Rights Reserved.

BOLD on BOLD is always an option! Here, we selected a striking black and white photograph to sit on top of some equally amazing wallpaper.

Our clients are all kinds of creative! In this case, this quirky dinosaur photograph was actually shot by the homeowner. She shared her Palm Springs trip photos with me for inspiration – and we wound up selecting this one to print!

Of course, if you’re a maximalist like myself, you can always litter your walls with your loot! Art isn’t just paintings and prints; it can be sculptures, busts and even musical instruments!

Private residence in Philadelphia, PA. Photographs for Michelle Gage Interiors Only Please credit: Rebecca McAlpin when Copyright 2019 Rebecca McAlpin. All Rights Reserved.

This homeowner’s art collection was worth displaying. We fell for the colors and whimsy of this charming piece – and knew it needed to be hung on a wall that showed it off!

Private residence in Philadelphia, PA. Photographs for Michelle Gage Interiors Only Please credit: Rebecca McAlpin when Copyright 2019 Rebecca McAlpin. All Rights Reserved.

This combination of original art and whimsical wallpaper is simply divine.

No artwork roundup would be complete without a little stranger art. These oil painted ladies are just perfect to sit beside this guest bed.

Join Our Newsletter!

We typically send these fun little nuggets of info out once per month. We love sharing design tips, travel ideas and our favorite local spots!

"*" indicates required fields