Your home has the ability to reflect your unique story. If you think of the home as an extension of self, art can serve as an essential part of the overall mood and concept of your personal space. Recently, we’ve noticed that interior designers are talking about “Art First Design.”
We wanted to understand what this means to an interior designer, so we reached out to Kathleen Reynolds, a designer who regularly puts the term into practice, to ask for her input.
Growing up, Kathleen says she was always obsessed with rearranging her bedroom. While most children spent their time playing “house,” Kathleen spent her time designing them, whether through detailed floor plans drawn in the sand during family beach trips or doodles on any sheet of paper she could get her hands on.
After working in the design industry for almost a decade, Kathleen opened her own interior design studio in 2008 to bring her organized, streamlined approach to interior design projects.
These days, Kathleen lives with her husband and four children in a home built in the 1930’s near downtown Greenville, where she says she has embraced all the quirks of living in an older home. She loves to hunt for cool vintage pieces, play tennis when she can and fight with mother nature in her yard.
Kathleen Reynolds Interiors is a Greenville-based interior design firm specializing in creating homes that reflect a client’s personality – and all of the transitions that come in life. Kathleen and her team specialize in projects ranging in scope and scale, from multi-room redesigns to a complete renovation or new construction project. Their goal is to create something that feels one-of-a-kind and unique, reflecting the client’s style and personality. The team infuses homes with color and personality through antiques and vintage pieces as well as custom furnishings, art and window treatments.
Art & Light: What does “Art First Design” mean to you?
Kathleen Reynolds: To me Art First Design means thinking about the design of a room or home with all the parts. Yes, the furniture, rugs and window treatments are essential but so is the art that will go on the walls, bookcases and coffee tables.
A&L: Why do you think art is an important part of design?
KR: My mindset is “buy what you love and there will always be a place for it in your home.” A lot of my clients are not sure where to even start when it comes to art. It’s easy to over-think the size, colors, and medium . . . Original art allows your home to reflect the people that live there. I always recommend buying art when you travel or have a big milestone in your life. I remember when I graduated from high school some of my friends were getting cars, but my mom said that she wanted to buy me a piece of art. At the time, I don’t think I realized what an impactful gift that was. Not just the actual piece of art but the mindset that art is important. We ended up finding a pair of pieces in this tiny town in Italy where she and I went to celebrate her 50th birthday the summer after I graduated. Every time I see these paintings I’m reminded of our trip, my graduation and the gift that continues to be threaded through my life. When my oldest daughter wanted to freshen up the design of her room, I took her to Art & Light to select a piece as our “jumping off point.” She wandered around looking at all the different styles and artists. I thought she would go for something sweet, flowers or lots of color. She selected a simple piece drawn on parchment paper. I hope that I’m instilling in her the same love of art that my mom instilled in me.
A&L: How do you help your clients to determine what their artwork budget should be?
KR: When we work with our clients we put together an estimated investment guide, and art is a part of it. I use my experience to determine what type of piece will likely be placed in the room and discuss this cost and why art is an important part of the design with my client.
A&L: How do you help clients to select artwork?
KR: We are a full-service design firm and strive to take the stress of designing off our clients. During the concept phase of my process, I show a client many different styles of art and gauge their reactions. I ask questions about bold colors, monochromatic, photography, abstract, pencil, still life, floral. Sometimes it’s easier for a client to point to what they don’t like and I can narrow it down from there.
A&L: How do you make the artwork impactful in a space? Do you look for scale, color, texture, subject matter . . .?
KR: There is definitely a balance when it comes to selecting multiple pieces of art for a room. You want each piece to have its own personality and for the pieces to work together as a whole. For example, if you have a large piece over your mantle with lots of color, the wall next to the mantle should have a different type of piece of art. Look for something in another medium or not as bold. In a guest bedroom I designed, we put Cassie Butcher’s ceramic disc over the bed because the other walls had lots of art on them. This gave the eye a resting spot. It’s not all framed rectangles on the walls. You pause on the round shapes and then can move to the piece on the other wall. You can appreciate each piece individually and as they work together as a whole.
A&L: What sort of artwork are you most drawn to?
KR: That’s a hard one. I love color in artwork and a looser shape. I have always loved art that depicts a path, like a road or trail. I find that you can feel yourself going into the painting and it makes you feel comforted.
A&L: What are your feelings about framing?
KR: Framing can make or break a good piece of art. When you take your piece to a frame shop, they can help advise what type of frame and matte will bring out the best in your art. I recently showed an example of this on Instagram with a vintage painting that was framed very poorly. The new matte and frame made the piece look amazing and fresh.
A&L: Any tips for hanging multiple pieces of artwork in a grouping?
KR: If you’re having trouble visualizing the grouping, plan it out by laying it out on the floor. Then take a picture of it. Next you can use blue painters’ tape to map out the arrangement on your wall. It takes more time but you’ll be able to see exactly how the shape of the pieces will look in your space.
Connect with Kathleen Reynolds at: @kathleenreynoldsinteriors on Instagram or kathleenreynoldsinteriors.com
Local artist Liz Rundorff Smith is Assistant Director of Art & Light Gallery in Greenville, SC
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