Transform Your Home With Art - 4 Artists You Need To Know Right Now

You can instantly transform a room, and your entire home, with a piece of art. Art can tell a story, add pops of color, create good feng shui or tie in a specific theme. Below are four of my favorite artists right now whose pieces I love to incorporate into my clients' homes.

1. Cassandria Blackmore

Cassandria Blackmore is a California native known for her unconventional approach to reverse painting on glass. Her abstract work is done by back painting on glass, shattering it and then reconstructing it. Her shattered artwork adds the perfect element of intrigue to a room.

I incorporated her shattered glass pieces throughout this elegant modern home perched above Santa Barbara (pictured below). This stunning purple piece on the left is the focal point of a long hallway.

In contrast, the smaller piece hung above a nightstand adds calming hues into the bedroom.

Learn more about Cassandria Blackmore.

Follow her on Instagram @cassandriablackmore

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2. David Ballam

David Ballam is a well-known South African photographer who specializes in black and white travel photography. He documents faces, places, history and cultures throughout Africa and takes any opportunity to explore the African landscape.

I love to use Ballam’s large-scale photographs to add elements of culture and nature into spaces.

Learn more about David Ballam.

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3. Karen Bezuidenhout

Karen Bezuidenhout is a Santa Barbara-based painter who draws upon her lifelong love of nature for her artwork. Born in Stellenbosch, South Africa, Bezuidenhout uses a rich and earthy palette for her African-inspired artwork. In contrast, her life in California inspires her to use vibrant greens and blues. Bezuidenhout’s dreamy paintings will instantly transform your interior.

Her subject matter primarily includes horses, beaches, oceans and figures which aligns with the Santa Barbara landscape.

Learn more about Karen Bezuidenhout.

Follow her on Instagram @karen_bezuidenhout

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4. Julie B Montgomery

Julie B Montgomery is a painter known for her colorfield abstract paintings inspired by landscapes and the natural world. Her work nods to Abstract Expressionism and Impressionism, but remains unique in style and process. She uses techniques of pulling, scraping, washing and rubbing of acrylic paint on the canvas. The result is meditative, mysterious and elegant.

I recently infused her artwork into a modern Mesa home perched above our beautiful city of Santa Barbara. Her work is ethereal, bringing peace into the home.

Learn more about Julie B Montgomery.

Follow her on Instagram @juliebmontgomery

Tips for Designing a Home That You Love Waking Up In

We all want to have a home that's beautifully designed and furnished, but what are the essential steps to getting there? We recently had the pleasure of being interviewed by Domino Mag showcasing one of our favorite design projects: a guest house remodel in Santa Barbara, California. Initially, the client wasn't sure which direction to go with the design, so we suggested creating a rejuvenating space inspired by the coastal views that wrap 180 degrees around this property. The result is all about color, texture, and welcoming spaces that invited you to sit, gather and relax.

Tip One: Don't Skimp on Planning

As with all our clients, the first step to crafting a beautifully designed and curated home is developing a cohesive vision and plan. Some important questions to consider: How will this space be used? How do you want the space to feel? How do you want the space to flow from room to room? It can be easy to want to skip or skimp on this step, but without proper planning, it's easy to invest in pieces that you love individually, but don't work cohesively with the overall design.

Tip Two: Pick Pieces that Mesh with your Design Plan & Speak to your Gut

We began creating the beach-inspired space by selecting pieces like overstuffed couches with neutral upholstery and hardy suar wood accents that wouldn't require a coaster. With the design plan in mind, it was easier for us to spot and pick the pieces that worked with the overall aesthetic and were in line with the client's taste.

Tip Three: Layering in Color & Texture 

Once the big elements were selected, it was time to layer in color and texture to create warmth and accessibility. For this project, we brought in a range of blue accents, from deep indigo to bright turquoise. We sourced art featuring intense moments of blue to subtle, more textural pieces, and then brought the blue tones down into the plush couches with accent pillows. Together, all these pops of blue tie the space together visually, making the space feel lived-in and authentic.

For more design tips, and to see the before and after of this beach house transformation, visit Domino Mag right here.