Art Class with ALT Design: Wall Art How-To

Class is in session! We're here with the do's and don't of displaying artwork.

- Size matters! We see too many times artwork that is too small or too big for the wall it is hung on. A large wall deserves a large piece, or a grouping of multiple same-sized pieces to fill the wall space. Tip- If the wall space above and below the art measures larger than the art itself, it is too small.

-Eyeball it! A great rule of thumb when hanging art is to hang pieces at or around eye level. This not only balances the wall space but creates the most appropriate view of the art. This is of course just a general rule for the average height person of 5'-6' tall. :)

-Window Art- When placing art in between or on either side of a window- we suggest using the window size as your guide. Never hang higher than the top of the window. And always hang the art with equal distance away from adjacent windows or doors.

-Fireplaces are our favorite places to display artwork. A trick we like to use over fireplaces is layering multiple pieces of art, or pairing one with a large mirror.

-Mirrors as artwork are always a classy way to fill up a blank wall. We love mirrors over console tables, over the fireplace, at the end of a hallway. Hang your mirrors with the same rules as you would hang a piece of artwork.

-Our final Pro Tip- Monkey Tail Hangers are the best invention ever! Easy to install! No tools needed! No stud needed! ;)

Stay tuned for more design guides soon!

Woodland Part IV: Lighting Selections

We love lighting here at ALT. It can instantly transform and update a space. We consider it an accessory just like jewelry. It's the topping, the icing, the final detail that can really make the space stand out from others. Consistency is key. If we do frosted glass - we keep that consistent throughout the space. We do this with shapes as well. When we mix finishes, we do it based on other materials present in the home.

Believe it or not, the island light was not our first choice even though it turned out for the best. The first selection turned out to be a ruse because the rod turned out to be non-adjustable . At first we were totally bummed but then along came the Happy Lights- (like the total cutest ). The Family Room light (noticed similar curves and frosted globes) also presented a challenge. The pitch in the ceiling was very high so it was challenging to find a rod long enough to be able to drop low enough to see from the newly opened kitchen. Fortunately, we were able to hire a woman who was able to rebuild the light to the length needed. Lucky us!

Anyway, TLDR right?! Hot tips - gold, curves, frosted, shapes.

Woodland Ave Part III: Living Room

Woodland Transformation: Part III

While the front living room and sunroom were our immediate priorities, we wanted to make sure that whatever we did we was sprinkled in the back of the home as well. Their family room is massive. Before it was blocked off by a kitchen wall but with the remodel it was going to be all open. With that being said, the kitchen island color and lighting needed to flow right into this beautiful room. We also wanted to carry in the pink and gold tones from the front room.

We worked around Shawna’s current sectional and chair and swapped out the rugs, coffee tables and pillows. We replaced the dining room table and chairs and swapped out the lighting. Backstory on giant 48” light - we wanted something kickass in the Great Room ceiling pitch. The light was a dream come true but could only drop 4’. We needed to be closer to 7’ so we had it custom rebuilt to accommodate the 7ft drop needed to be visible from kitchen. Easy peezy, right?!

This Great Room was the original showpiece in this home and we wanted it to keep it that way even though the kitchen, ya know, might be a close second now

Scroll to see the before and after pictures.