A Fresh Layer of Art

Pro tips to display your collection.  

Hamptons homes are mini galleries. Collectors of various mediums, and degrees of seriousness, love to show their treasures and rarities from their travels and scavenges. But when it comes to displaying art in your home, there’s more to it than hanging a painting on your living room wall, designers say.

To show it properly is to layer.

“Layering art is a way to create depth and dimension within a space,” explained Paul De Andrade, founder of Studio Kestrel, a New York City design studio with projects in the Hamptons. One technique is, “placing sculptural elements in front or adjacent to artwork like paintings or other sculptures,” he said.

Art is so significant that it’s among the first things interior designers consider, added Elena Frampton, founder of Frampton Co, a studio based in Bridgehampton and New York City. “We conceive art from the outset of a project to ensure proper planning considerations from the aesthetic to the pragmatic,” she said.

After all, it’s more than a decoration, noted Noa Santos, founder of NAINOA, an architecture and design firm with a studio in the Hamptons. Art is a tool to reinforce the visual narrative throughout a home. “Art can set a tone, shift a mood or evoke a particular memory that makes you smile, laugh, linger or even feel something entirely new,” he said. 

Thinking of changing up your space, or have some new pieces to put somewhere? We asked our pros for tips:

Play With Proportion
Rather than grouping a few artistic photographs, layering entails the opposite. “Embrace the odd pairing,” Santos explained. Mix classic oil paintings with contemporary works or abstract canvases against vintage photos, he suggested. 

“Collectors often get ultra-focused on a particular medium,” Frampton agreed. “We like to explore a more diverse curation and introduce our clients to other options and other ways of seeing.” She encourages blurring boundaries between art and design, such as mixing limited-edition furniture with fine art. For example, in a recent Amagansett project, Frampton installed a unique light fixture layered against a color field painting by Ted Kurahara. Paintings set behind sculptures can add dimension too, she said. For wall-mounted work, incorporate smaller pieces to emphasize scale and proportion.

Adjust The Focus
The thing about art, De Andrade said, is that by going against the design scheme of a room, it can bring the space to life. In neutral spaces, it can add bold and vibrant color to an otherwise serene palette. “Sculptural installations, in particular, seem to be less common in the Hamptons, yet they can be captivating,” he said.

When used as focal points, “art becomes a powerful catalyst for storytelling,” Santos added. “By strategically positioning art within a room, you can give the space a sense of purpose.” Try placing a sculpture on an attention-grabbing pedestal made of opal or travertine, for example. Another idea is to hang a large-scale painting behind a sculptural chandelier, Santos suggested. “The chandelier will create a striking silhouette against the artwork behind it and a dynamic lighting scheme in the foreground,” he said.

Grow Your Creativity
When asked about unconventional spaces to layer in art, our designers unanimously suggested the bathroom. One recalls a sculpture occupying a (rarely used) tub. Meanwhile, chandeliers and three-dimensional pieces placed in the crevice of a high ceiling make good use of Hamptons architecture.

Art comes in many forms, after all, from wallpaper to furnishings and interesting light fixtures. And don’t forget your houseplants.

“I think that live plants as a sculptural element are a highly under-appreciated form of artwork that can be used for layering,” De Santos said. Have high ceilings and ample sunlight? Bring in a 6-foot olive tree or bird of paradise in an oversized urn or planter. “The foliage will instantly imbue the space with a sculptural, organic feel that will enhance the other artwork pieces in the room,” he said.