STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

littlebean · Kate Spade

Looking for Living Room Wall Art

Kari · Dooney & Bourke

Hmm...what is this etsy? I went to the site for a quick peek, but perhaps you can give me more info?

I am also trying to pick out artwork for our dining room, living room, and even one bathroom. Maybe I'll check this site out.

littlebean · Kate Spade

Etsy is a place to buy and sell craft kinds of goods. I've never purchased with it before, but if you do a search on this board, you'll see a number of previous messages about it.

Anyone have any ideas? Pretty please?

relrel · Marc Jacobs

Etsy would be a great place for artwork. Are there any art schools in your area? They sometimes have art shows where the students are selling thier stuff. You can find some pretty awesome stuff for cheap there. I would also check for art/craft shows in your area. Summer is usually a big time for art festivals where you can find cool stuff.

cc · Marc Jacobs

Etsy can definitely be overwhelming. Lately I've been finding a lot of good sellers on there through art and design blogs. I read decor8, designsponge, and dear ada regularly and often they feature Etsy artists. Dear Ada also features a lot of non-Etsy artists, though often their stuff is really expensive.

You can also try keyword searches. I just did "southwestern abstract" and "southwest print" to see what came up...
This photographer has some cool stuff that's sort of abstract looking
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If you're willing to consider reproductions I really love Richard Diebenborn's work. A lot of his art was inspired by the southwest so it could work well with your colors. I used to have postcards of a bunch of his paintings grouped together and it looked really nice.

An alternative would be to get some kind of shelving and do a combination of art and objects

littlebean · Kate Spade

Cc, I really like those suggestions a lot -- especially the photographer on etsy! I may end up getting three of the canyon photographs and hanging them up in frames once I save up a little bit of money.

If any other home decorating whizzes have suggestions, I'm still all ears!

Suasoria · Chanel

Also sign up on Art.com. They have good sales and there's a nice selection of original and repro art. They do the framing and such - the framing applet is hella fun. I've only bought basic posters and such as gifts, but I've always had good experiences.

Aaron Bros. is having a sale right now, so if you feel inspired to buy a couple of large canvases and make some abstract art, I'd thoroughly endorse it.

blubirde · Chanel

Make something yourself! Seriously, the best art I've ever seen in houses is stuff that the people make themselves. You don't have to be an artist. You can pick up a few small canvases at an art store, perhaps put some string or paper mache on the dry canvas, and then paint all four in different colors, the same color, or different shades of blue (or red or yellow or whatever).

You could also find some fabric you love and cover some pieces of plywood with it in a shape you like. You could leave it like that or hang black and whites over the fabric (or some other kind of photo or postcard or magazine cut-out, whatever).

Shelterrific had a really cool idea on their blog the other day. Let me see if I can find it. Found it! http://www.shelterrific.com/2007/07/05/smart-reader-idea-create-your-own-artwork-from-magazines/

They have some great ideas on that blog. Basically you can hang anything you want on your walls for decorations, not just paintings (plates, clocks, tea towels, packets of flower seeds, pattern papers, fabric, wall clings, etc.) - the list is endless. Have fun with it!