How to Design using an odd chair

We have all had an odd chair in our lives at some point.  You know the one that was past down by your great grandmother, aunt or mother-in-law or you picked it up at a flea market because something about it spoke to you. Maybe it has history or a story, maybe you just liked the person who gave it to you.  While it may not quite fit your current decor, it's doesn't necessary have to be collecting dust because you can't bare to get rid of it.  Why not incorporate into your home?  Here's some ideas for putting that odd chair to use....

1 - Use the chair as it is.  An odd or old chair is one of the Keys in How to Achieve a Timeless Design

Michael Leva's Apartment

Alex Papachristidis' Library

2 - Sometimes the chairs are fragile or are difficult to sit it.  So use your chair as a way to display art or books just as you would a table.

Nina Freudenberger's Sitting Room

Alex Papachristidis displays a book and box

DeGunzburg

 Great use of chairs to display your art!

Todd Nickey & Amy Kehoe

This is functional art!

3 - Use your chair as shelf....

Hang your chair

Not only useful but makes a great display

Use a chair on top of a chest!

 4 - Use your chair in a creative functional way. 

To hang your clothes on in a bedroom!

As a towel rack

  5 - Use your chair as art

Love this!

Sculpture Doris Salcedo

Hand chair by Pedro Friedeberg

Do you have any other great uses for an odd chair?  send them to brandy@twineinteriors.com

Art in the Kitchen

When I say Art in the Kitchen, I don't mean wine labels or pictures of fruit.  I mean the good stuff, what you would put over your mantle.


I think most kitchens are sterile and devoid of personality, even in a kitchen as stunning as these...

While utilitarian, it doesn't reflect the lives of the people that move and function in the space.  The kitchen is the most lived in room in the house, where family and friends gather (whether you want them to or not).  That's why I love the idea of art in the kitchen.  It makes the room feel warm, inviting and gives it that extra layer that is needed to become a complete space.

A cool backsplash tile or wallpaper can do great things for a kitchen, but it still needs more....

Modern with a dash of spice

Here's some great examples of infusing art in the kitchen...

Large is good if you have a big wall.  Love the pop of color!

Or Small

Love the textured wall of grass cloth which makes the painting pop!

Bright and fresh

Mixing in Art with your dishes. Open shelves make a nice display and practical for items you need to access often

Black and white is always a classic

Or create your own art with chalk!

One piece of art may be all you need

Add art that speaks to you or is different from the rest of your decor

A gallery or collage of art really makes your kitchen a "living" room, like these for example....

I challenge you to add some life to your kitchen.  Think outside the box.  If you don't have walls in your kitchen or open shelves, hang art on the cabinets.  ~ Brandy