Wall-to-wall

I recently expressed to Himself how unsettled I was in our new home as we’d still not finished putting up pictures, despite having moved over 6 months ago. This being the first home we have chosen together, I’ve been engaging in discussions of what will go where. When he joined me in our previous home, I offered to make changes so he could put up some of his own pictures and, after he’d selected, framed and hung some of his work, we also discussed which of my pictures he wasn’t keen on – these getting moved into my study, so what appeared on the walls in our shared space was pleasing to us both.

Nevertheless, after moving here, I was slightly horrified when he expressed that he’d be entirely comfortable to have absolutely nothing on the walls at all … I’ll be honest, it threw me into a bit of a tail spin, because I don’t feel it’s home until my pictures are up on the walls. With further discussion, it transpired that he was willing to compromise, but felt the amount of artwork I hang on the walls to be too much. So, we’re now in the process of selecting what to hang and what to put away and I’m having to curb my impatience.

In my office, I have free reign – except for it being where I’ll see my coaching clients, so thought has to be given to the appropriateness of what is hung there too. As a result, some artworks have been hung, but more remain leaning against the wall while those tricky decisions are made.

What makes this all much harder is that my artwork mostly comes with an emotional connection. In style, I’ve a decided preference towards watercolour and drawing – for example, I’ve a watercolour rendition of the Tuscan countryside bought from a pavement artist in Florence, a pastel drawing of my grandmother, a couple of prints by artist friend Jenny Barron who produces wonderfully detailed watercolours (some still life and some with a more surrealistic bent), and a watercolour of Egyptian dhows painted by family friend and long-time artist Valerie Brinton (now sadly no longer with us). There’s a small lino-cut of Volterra (a walled hilltop Tuscan town) and a large lithograph of my father’s old private school in Cheltenham, as well as two large nudes which we’re both fond of, but are difficult to locate in case of giving offence.

I’ve also got a small collection of Spanish porcelain figures from Lladro, a pair of Balinese wood carvings and a large Buddha, which is a pretty good demonstration that, in terms of ambience, my style is mix ‘n match – things I’ve picked up from here ‘n there, mixed in with things I’ve inherited or which have a family connection. While I want things to work together, I don’t pursue one set style. But one thing is for sure, minimalist I am not …

Despite being a photographer, the only photos of mine on display are family snaps. Himself has printed and framed a few, but has yet to decide where he’d like them displayed. I’ve taken a bit of a break from finalising the decision while I sort out my knee problem, but once that’s done … I’ll be champing at the bit to get out the hammer and picture hooks to get this job finished once and for all.

What do you display on the walls of your home — photos, posters, artwork, nothing? How do you choose what to display? Is there a particular mood you’re trying to create?

© Debra Carey, 2020