Alright, this was much harder than I thought. Not to beat a dead donkey, but murals are kinda hard to do right. That being said I don't want to discount them completely because when they are right they can be beautiful. The problem is most of the time its when they are old. Like this one above. My friend Cindy sent it to me this morning. We shot this house for House And Garden (shot by Francois Dischinger) in Newport, Maine. It was the house/set for the movie 'Evening' with the boring Claire Danes and the amazing Meryl - sidenote, cray cray beautiful house. On cliffs. Windy, romantic. I think the Kennedy's used to vacation there. see below.
Here's three I found in the New Paris Interiors
There are actually three different things going on the walls here. Two murals and a swirly feature wall thing which normally I would hate, but since the palette is soft, I don't mind it. The murals are probably custom wallpaper. Either way, i kinda like 'em.
Now this one, above, is awesome. Obviously a commissioned art piece. And it totally works. I can't tell if it is actually a piece of framed art just leaning there, but regardless if it was a mural there I would love it. And that table/rug situation is not weird at all, nope. completely normal. it must be a 'piece of art' too, but no me likey.
Kids room is probably where I would get murally if I was to ever. This one isn't particularly beautiful, but it is weird and playful - like my kids hopefully will be. this one looks like it was either painted by a nutty swedish artist, or done by a 7 year old. that's the kind of art that drives Brian crazy, but sometimes i'm into it. IN A KIDS ROOM.
if something like this, above, was painted on one of my walls, i would be kinda happy. Its ethereal and dreamy and weird. I've had this image for a while, not sure where it came from, sorry.
These two are more predictable, but done well so i'll let the fact that its uber trendy, pass.
They might be photo murals, but they entertain me. (above, Emmas blog)
And if i was a magazine editor and had offices all over the country, I could see this in my LA office.
So there. I'm not a total hater. Just discerning.
You're actually 'discerning' Miss Emily.
ReplyDeleteFelicity
I recently found your blog and I love it. I tuned in only once to the show (the mural episode) and was just shocked at the amount of bad taste I was exposed to in that hour. And even more shocked the guys room won. !!!! Not sure if I'll keep watching, but I am rooting for you either way! :) And you are so so right in this post about murals. And her mural sucked.
ReplyDeleteThat first image is simply gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteJust stumbled upon your blog. I'm off for a look see:)
I think the traditional murals are really fabulous and sort of - I think - like the table/rug situation?! Yeah, I think I like it. What if it was circles rather than flowers?
ReplyDeleteOK - if I had a mural in my home I would want it to be a hilarious and temporary Olan Mills photography center pull down backdrop so I could have all the options - tropical beach at sunset, southern estate, misty forest floor, law library. Maybe it could double as a window treatment (sorry - temporary obsession with a black out shade as I finish up a nursery).
I want to see that (sort of creepy) kids room come back in a post about rugs. Those look pretty great to me!
I am with you 100%. I love murals in kids' rooms, interesting full-room things in tiny half-baths, and quirky, fine art stuff. That thing Nina did with one color, a single brush, and that included dragonflies was not only not a mural, it was just not good.
ReplyDeleteI find that most people are not on the fence when it comes to murals, they either love or hate them... I have one in my dining room that I love, it is the focal of my home ,in the center of everything and all my colors for the entire house come from it. It also give my house the element of surprise that I always enjoy in any home. I love the old ones best tho, you got that right for sure.
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