Living with Art | Kate & Andy Spade

Living with Art | Kate & Andy Spade
Photo by Alec Kugler for The Coveteur

Our art-loving hearts skip a beat every time we catch a glimpse of Kate & Andy Spade's Manhattan apartment, so we were thrilled to spot this great feature on The Coveteur. Not only do the Spades have an incredible collection; their home is also filled with endless inspiration for grouping and hanging art.  


Consider your sight lines 

Photo by Alec Kugler for The Coveteur

Hanging art in your living room?  Consider how it looks when viewed from your dining room.  Mastering sight lines is a major part of designing a home, and it certainly applies to art.  From where the photographer stands in the photo above, the eye can see the busy gallery wall to the left in the entryway, the oversize abstract painting in the living room and the bold red piece hanging in the dining room.  These three "moments" work harmoniously together rather than competing with each other.  


Make it Personal

Photo by Alec Kugler for The Coveteur

Kate and Andy effortlessly mix flea market finds with prints, originals and even their own daughter's paintings and school projects.  When collecting art, the Spades worry less about the value of each piece and more about whether it makes them happy.  


Create a Focal Point

Photo by Alec Kugler for The Coveteur

Every room should have an obvious focal point, and often times art is the easiest way to achieve one.  Don't be afraid to purchase large scale pieces, as they can work wonders in balancing a room. 


Curate a Collection

Photo by Alec Kugler for The Coveteur

While we're certainly big fans of mixing art styles in a gallery wall, we also love the look of a curated collection.  The photo above is of a group of prints by Hugo Guinness, one of the Spade's favorite artists.  


Consider Your Spacing

Photo by Alec Kugler for The Coveteur

You'll notice above that each piece is hung approximately the same distance apart, both horizontally and vertically. The calculated spacing can help a large gallery wall feel more cohesive and intentional. 


Don't be Afraid to Layer

Photo by Alec Kugler for The Coveteur

Notice how the lampshade and candlesticks deliberately cover some of the art?  That's OK!  Layering decor in front of art makes a gallery wall look less contrived and appear as though it was collected over time. (Even if you just hung it all five minutes ago;)


Mix Frame Styles

Photo by Alec Kugler for The Coveteur

People often stick to one or two types of frames when hanging groupings of art, but as you can see above it's ok to mix styles!  Here, the Spades paired a natural wood gallery frame with an unframed canvas, gilded antique, silver leaf stunner and a contemporary black and gold frame.  It works, and makes each piece feel even more special.  


Mix Styles & Mediums

Photos by Alec Kugler for The Coveteur

Photos by Alec Kugler for The Coveteur

At Artfully Walls we're big fans of mixing styles and mediums in a gallery wall or art grouping.  Oil paintings look fantastic paired with line drawings and photography; watercolors look incredible with bold abstracts, and so on.  The Spades are particularly great at creating these types of juxtapositions with art.  A few of our favorites are above. ;) 


Have Fun 

Photo by Alec Kugler for The Coveteur

The most important thing to remember is to have fun!  While we make suggestions for hanging art in this post, the truth is there really are no real "rules," and that you can and should do whatever makes you happy.  From collecting art to choosing where to hang it, go with your gut.  Above, the Spades tuck tiny pieces in an otherwise forgotten nook with no apparent rhyme or reason.  And it works!  


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