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

---

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.

---

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

---

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

7 Spring Interior Design Trends

Spring has sprung and what better way to celebrate than a little redecorating or maybe even that renovation you’ve been thinking about. Here are my seven favorite interior design trends right now:

1. Natural Elements

Those that know me know that I love infusing natural elements into the home. One of the easiest ways to incorporate nature is blending plants into your decor. Plants bring a positive, fresh energy into the home. A few feng shui plants that will clean the air, literally, include the Peace Lily and Snake Plant. These self-purifying plants have the ability to filter the air of chemicals all while activating good vibes.

If you’re one that struggles with keeping indoor plants alive, go for the faux plants, or put feathers on display, such as ivory peacock feathers - a favorite of mine.

Crystals are another great way to boost your feng shui. I love sprinkling crystal motifs throughout the home.

One of my favorite ways to infuse nature into your interior living spaces is with fair trade wooden products. Driftwood art, reclaimed wood shelves and wooden bed frames are all great ways to add elements of warmth and nature into the home.

View more from this Santa Barbara bungalow

View more driftwood work from this Santa Barbara interior design project

---

2. Wallpaper

Wallpaper is back! Whether it’s for an entire room, or as an accent, the right wallpaper will add personality and give your home a unique aesthetic.

What’s in right now are bold colors, black and white patterns and gold prints. I’ve been using a lot of fabulous animal prints and patterns with warm, natural tones. Check out these two wallpapers from a Santa Barbara home designed with Africa as the inspiration.

View more from this Santa Barbra interior design project

View more from this Santa Barbra interior design project

Anthropologie also offers some colorful, vintage-inspired wallpapers that are sure to make a statement.

Anthropologie Sydney Wallpaper

Geo Diamond Wallpaper

---

3. Mix & Match Patterns

I am the queen of layering textures and fabrics. It’s one of my favorite ways to add depth and dimension to a room. Don’t be afraid to layer tone on tone fabrics (fabrics that contain shades and tones of the same color), and mixing and matching patterns and different textures throughout the house. Patterned upholstery and throw pillows are a great way to mix and match. Or place a patterned rug under the bed to contrast with a quietly-done bedspread.

View more from this Montecito beach house interior design project

View more from this Santa Barbara home

View more mix and match styles from this Montecito interior design project

---

4. Open Shelving

Open shelving can be tricky as you don’t want clutter exposed. Minimal is more in this case. Use open shelving in your kitchen to put your beautiful dinnerware or cookbooks on display. If you’re one to neatly organize snack into jars, you may want to opt for the open pantry look. For bedrooms or living spaces, try staggered shelving for a more intriguing look. There are endless

options for the kinds of materials that can be used for open shelving. Raw wood and reclaimed wood shelving is my favorite.

---

5. Statement Lighting

A statement lighting fixture can transform an entire room and is the perfect way to dress up your home. For an elegant look, a glass bubble chandelier is the way to go. Or for a more bohemian, natural look, a beaded light fixture can take center stage.

---

6. Large Scale Marble

Marble is nothing new, it’s one of the most timeless and beautiful natural stones. On the rise however, is all marble everything when is comes to bathrooms and kitchens. I’ve been loving kitchens with marble backsplashes and waterfall islands.

PHOTO: NICOLE FRANZEN FOR STUDIO MUIR

Or, going back to the mix and match trend, use marble tiles with various patterns for your bathroom. Mix and match dark and light marble to add some depth and masculinity.

---

7. Patterned Tile Backsplashes

Incorporating patterns into your kitchen can be tricky, but a tiled backsplash is the perfect place for a subtle pattern. Patterned tile can do wonders to a kitchen, adding some texture and intrigue. A behind-the-stove backsplash feels more like a piece of art and acts as the the centerpiece of the kitchen.

For a soft, feminine look, go for Fish-scale patterns. Or add some charm with hand-painted tiles, giving your space a one of a kind look.

My favorite backsplashes right now are chevron patterned marble tile and warm Moroccan- inspired tiles.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY @MICHELLE_BASKINTERIORS

WALKER ZANGA

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.