Project in Review: My Beautiful Abode
Bluethumb’s Head of Art Advisory and in-house Interior Designer, Alexandra Guglielmino, recently worked with My Beautiful Abode’s Director, Sophie Kost, to transform a home in Glen Iris, Victoria. We spoke with Sophie about her experience working with Bluethumb and the overall design outcome. Continue reading to discover the gorgeous results photographed by Lisa Atkinson, and click the images to shop artists’ featured in this project.
The Brief
The design goal for this charming family home was to update the furnishing throughout to create functional and inviting spaces that reflect the new homeowner’s unique taste and lifestyle. Art helped to shape the ambience of the home, serving as focal points in different rooms and drawing attention to specific areas to create a visually appealing and relaxing environment. This feeling is established from the moment you enter the front room.
First impressions set the mood for this beautiful abode! Transform your space with Bluethumb’s complimentary Art Advisory service today.
The Process
Well-placed art can serve as focal points in different rooms. This helps to guide the viewer’s eye and establish a cohesive design. The aim for the front room was to create “a beautiful place to sit for a morning coffee or to meet for book club,” says Sophie. “My client was already a fan of Rob Rek’s work, so selecting this piece was the first decision in designing the front living room.”
Rainbow Bridge custom giclée print by Rob Rek.
To create a sense of balance within the space, Sophie used Rob Rek’s Rainbow Bridge’s colour palette as inspiration for the rest of the design selections. Using different green and blue-toned furnishings in various finishes throughout the space, she created multiple vignettes that come together to form a cohesive look. The coloured velvet couches and decor items like tiles, plants, glass vases and ceramic pots both perfectly complement and enhance the artwork.
The beauty lies in the details.
“Rob Rek has been an absolute delight to meet through this process. I wasn’t familiar with his work prior to this project. He was very quick with responding to messages and managed to arrange a custom print size of his work to suit our wall,” says Sophie. “For the other rooms, it was very much the case of knowing the sizes, colours and styles we wanted the artworks to have and then refining our search to select the perfect pieces.”
Sophie Lawrence’s hydrangeas are a favourite amongst home decorators.
Moon Shadow Hydrangeas by Sophie Lawrence helped transform the master bedroom into “a calm oasis that was warm and welcoming,” says Sophie. Placing a statement light shade in the room highlighted the white hydrangeas, making the abstract artwork pop and adding a luxe feel to the room. Infusing wooden furniture and complimentary warm orange and pink tones through the soft furnishings, such as throw pillows and blankets, further enhanced the room’s cosy look and feel.
The home’s interior exudes a comfortable ambience, with seamlessly integrated shades of green sprinkled throughout.
The primary goal for the main living room was to have low-maintenance furnishings and serve as a gathering space for the entire family. By selecting artworks that resonated with the family’s taste, the living room became a reflection of their unique style. Plus, the eye-catching piece also acts to divert focus, helping to maintain aesthetics in an area that will be used often.
Want to turn a home into an art haven but unsure sure where to begin? Send our Trade team a project enquiry today!
Again, the client fell in love with another piece by Sophie Lawrence, but the artwork’s dimensions didn’t fit the designated wall space. Fortunately for the client, “It was very easy to reach out to Sophie [Lawrence] and request a commission based on the other work but to our size requirements,” says Sophie.
Commission an original artwork for your space today. Click here to learn how.
On Bluethumb, you’re able to talk directly to the artist and see your commissioned piece come together as the artist shares images of their progress. “Before signing off on the artwork, my client and I were able to ask for some minor changes to the piece, which Sophie was able to do immediately.”
Hints of blue add a touch of elegance and calmness throughout the home.
The Outcome
Everyone loved the final results, especially the client. Sophie expresses her gratitude for having a dedicated account manager in Alexandra, “who can help with brainstorming artists and styles if I ever become stuck on a project. I’ve been known to send copies of my lookbooks to Alexandra to get her thoughts on artwork to add to the room. That is a real boost in the design process, particularly when I’m working alone; it’s good to have backup.”
Art helped Sophie Kost from My Beautiful Abode turn this house into a home.
Every now and again, things don’t go to plan. Upon delivery, Sophie encountered a minor setback with one of the artworks having a damaged frame. “Bluethumb was able to arrange a very swift replacement of a new custom frame. My client will never know there was a hiccup, as it was all resolved in no time,” says Sophie. “The day my installer hung the art, it was like having the last piece of a jigsaw puzzle put in place. All of a sudden, the home was complete.”
Support Australian artists in 2024! Bluethumb offers a range of free Art Advisory and Trade services to suit every project. Get in touch today to discuss your art needs with our team.
