Creating a gallery wall is the ideal way to dress bare walls and add colour and personality to your home without having to commit to one large piece of art. When it comes to creating your own gallery wall, it helps to know there are very few right and wrongs. The number of pieces you use, the style, and the layout, is largely subjective to taste, so go with your instinct. With Lend Lease, we bring you our tips to help you get started.

1. The ultimate layout

When it comes to hanging art, the general rule is to keep your piece at around eye level. When it comes to a gallery wall, however, this rule is loosened. The best way to achieve your ideal layout is to play around with your art on the floor first. Move your art pieces around until you strike the ideal combination of portrait and landscape pieces and a good balance of large, medium and small art. Hot tip: Don’t hang too many small items together, as the wall can become busy and lose impact. If you’ve achieved your ultimate layout on the floor and need some more assurance before you start hammering holes, you may consider creating a paper template by tracing your art onto paper, cutting out the shapes and sticking them to the wall.

2. How to measure

Once you’ve worked out where you want your pieces to hang, measure from the top of the art to the ceiling. From here, holding the string at the back of the frame, suspend the artwork by your finger and measure from the highest part of the string to the top of the frame. Add the two measurements together and with your total, measure that distance from the ceiling to mark the spot on the wall on which your picture hanger will be positioned.

3. Choosing your artwork

Ideally, you want to utilise artwork that you already have in your home, although you may need to purchase a couple of additions to complement what you have. Think laterally and get creative. I’ve been known to frame beautiful pieces of printed fabric that would otherwise be tucked away in a drawer. There are no hard and fast rules when it comes to the type of art that you place together. Finding visual balance will come by moving your pieces around until you have a good even scattering of colour across the wall. Simply, opt for pieces that make you happy.

4. Framing your art

How you frame your art is subject to the look you are trying to achieve. For an eclectic look, mix up your frames in terms of colour, size and style. Ornate frames can look really cool and quirky when paired with a more contemporary counterpart. In general, I like to keep to a fine square profile frame, usually favouring timber or black for a sophisticated look. The size of the mat with which you choose to frame your piece of art is subject to how large you want the art to appear.  But I always keep to a plain white matt, with no other borders, to allow my art to do the talking. There are also plenty of retailers who offer a range of ready-made frames if you’re looking to save some money.

5. Hanging your art

For the most part, metal picture hangers (sold in packs at the supermarket and hardware store) are all you need for hanging your art on a plasterboard wall. For large and heavy pieces use two picture hangers and for heavier items again, you’ll need to use wall mates. On a wall constructed of brick or block, the density of the wall means you’ll need a drill. Drill your hole, insert a wall plug, and finally, insert a screw into the plug on which your art will hang.

Products: 1. ‘Ish’ Artwork by Amber Kingi $650, Trader Trove; 2. Boat Shed print (print only) $290, Kara Rosenlund; Framing – Artisan Picture Framing $75; 3. Baeck wall art $99.95, Sheridan Design Studio; 4. Large white canvas: Artist, Jan Van Dyke, my own; 5. Watercolour canvas: Artist, David Hinchcliffe, my own 6. Small framed print: Artist, Emily Green, my own.

Images by Mindi Cooke.

Carlene xx

The temperate Australian climate makes outdoor entertaining particularly appealing and when building or renovating, we are placing more and more emphasis on our outdoor areas with view to creating spaces ideal for entertaining. Together with Lend Lease, we’ve outlined our tips on how to transform your outdoor deck or patio into the ultimate entertaining space.

Zone your space

Creating zones within your entertaining space is key. Multiple zones allow your guests to use the space with more freedom and fluidity and visually, it makes for a more interesting and layered scene. In addition to your dining table, you may wish to include more relaxed, ‘loungy’ seating areas scattered around your space that promote conversation. A stand-alone bar cart or drinks table is always a good addition. It has replaced the built-in bar that was popular in the 80’s and allows guests the freedom to help themselves.

Layer up for visual warmth and comfort

Your outdoor space should be an extension of your interior and adding layers is as important in your exterior as it is in your interior. Lay outdoor rugs, which help anchor the furniture and soften the hard surfaces. Advancements in the manufacturing of outdoor rugs means they are starting to mimic indoor rugs in terms of look and feel (many people even purchase outdoor rugs for indoor use). Upholstered seating, scatter cushions, and throw blankets also help add colour, softness and life to an outdoor space as well as significantly contribute to the comfort level, encouraging your guests to relax. Plants add another dimension of visual softness and layering them in various species, sizes and using a range of different pots creates a lush and leafy oasis.

Utilise outdoor materials

Working with materials that will withstand the elements is key to an outdoor space that will stand the test of time. The cost of good quality outdoor furniture can often be an investment due to the manufacturing processes involved to ensure the furniture’s resistance to the weather. For this reason, you may want to purchase these items over a period of time to avoid the costs being a burden. Outdoor furniture can come in a range of materials so your best bet is to always ask the supplier straight out so that you know what you’re paying for. Similarly, stick to a specific outdoor fabric for your upholstery and soft furnishings. There’s no reason that you can’t borrow from your indoor collection when entertaining but make sure you return them indoors at the end of the day/night else the fabric will be subject to fading and mould spores.

Stick to routine maintenance

Maintaining your outdoor space through regular upkeep is key to its frequent use. Cleaning your BBQ after each use will prevent excessive grime build-up and means it’s always ready for action. Similarly, regularly blowing or sweeping the leaves of the ground allows for spontaneous entertaining and on a practical note, prevents the leaves (especially gum leaves) from staining the decking or tiles. Finally, make sure the plants you purchase are suited to the conditions of your outdoor space and tend to them regularly to prevent casualties, which can be costly to replace.

Products

Clickon Furniture

Grace outdoor dining table by Woven $2495

Breeze outdoor dining chairs by Cane-line $759

Kira and Kira

The Beach People bath sheet, Clay $79

HK Living 70’s ceramic cup $10.95

HK Living 70’s ceramic bowl $27.95

Hk Living small plate (brown inner rim) $14.95

HK living ceramic serving spoons $12.95

HK Living stoneware kitchen bowl $16.95

HK Living timber plates $13.95

HK Living concrete pots small and medium $69.00 – $79.00

HK Living grey/blue tea light holder $29.95

HK Living green small plates $19.95

HK Living rectangular cushion $99.00

HK Living brown large mugs $19.95

HK Living Amber glass lantern small and large $79 and $99

Liqourice Moon small bowls $45.00

Armadillo & Co table runner $90.00

Married to The Sea blue oval platter $75.00

Married to The Sea grey round plate $75.00

Bonnie and Neil large floral cushion $255.00

Trader Trove

White trolley $232

Pure natural dynasty (Melinda) lounge chairs $320

Pink/black Moroccan shaggy pouf $250

Afghan cushion (long rectangle – purple and brown) $79

African kilim cushion (maroon, blue, green) $59

Tri leg timber stool $169

Small ceramic coffee cups and saucer $9.90

DecoRug

Patio rug, Charcoal 240×330 $489

Spotlight

Natural linen fabric $16.99/m

Bunnings

Terracotta pots ranging from $33-$45

My own

Lucia rattan chairs (Kmart)

Festoon lights

Floor blanket

Images by Mindi Cooke.

Carlene xx