The Great Beach and Father Sky

David Wilson is a talented Bay Area artist. Most recently he is exhibiting at Mollusk Surf Shop in San Francisco. David's work will appeal to any sea loving wanderlust. His series of drawings marry nicely with Mollusk's reputation of showcasing easy breezy surf and sand tributes. If you want some of David Wilson's work, you can also buy his book of shell drawings for only $15.

Ravishing Beasts by Rachel Poliquin

I post a lot of pictures of antlers on this blog, in fact, my logo is a mounted buck, so I'm obviously a fan of taxidermy. More accurately, I should say, I'm a fan of majestic animals and seeing them up close is mesmerizing to me. I could never commission a piece because I love animals too much, but I will continue to appreciate the pieces that are already out there.
Rachel Poliquin is a fellow stuffed animal lover. She has curated an exhibit at the Museum of Vancouver called, Ravishing Beasts that showcases the museum's taxidermy collection ranging from pieces contributed by Vancouver residents from 1894 and 1950. If Vancouver is too far to go, you can buy the event catalog for its facts and beautiful photography for only $15. Ms. Poliquin has an impressive background with both an MFA and a PhD, so mixing science, history and art is something she's come to master. See more of her work on Ravishing Beasts.

Artist, Christian Astuguevielle's Rope Sculptures

Christian Astuguevielle's rope sculptures are items that seem like domestic homewares, but are truly artistic works of a master craftsman. These unique mirrors and miniature stools are listed at and commisioned by Couture Lab. Astuguevielle is also know for his jewelry, paintings, glasswork and work as the Creative Director for Comme des Garcons perfumes.

Photographer, James Tse

James Tse's photos are clean and cool. These shots are what HallReady is all about, lovely displays in an artistic taste. Here we see a great collection of cocktail shakers behind the bar, the simple beauty of a stunning photo for inspiration while at work, and mid-century objects of desire out for everyone to enjoy.

The Goodness of Emery & Cie

Emery & Cie is a Belgian company that sells exquisite paint, luscious fabrics, tableware, tiles, rugs, lighting, wallpaper, furniture and iron fixtures. Here are some glorious examples of their products.

Charming tile work in both an entryway and around a fireplace. This cafe has high charm with its surrounding tile work and lighting fixtures.

Not your average floor

Vibrant paint on an Amsterdam store front. The dog and ice cream cart are sold separately.

One of their rich paint colors, Turquoise Sombre.

Their tile and fixtures are gorgeous in green.

Manipur's pottery

They do you the favor of showing you examples of how their paint appears in a room to give you sense before you buy.

Q&A with Abigail Ahern

Abigail Ahern has a terrific eye for style. The multi-talented Londoner works as an interior designer, blogger, shop owner and writer. I've included some photos of her design work below. She's quick to spot a trend and must have products, many of which she sells from her Atelier. We're delighted to have her share her ideas and insights in our Q&A today.

1. Name: Abigail Ahern
2. Occupation: Designer, author, store owner
3. Last purchase you made that is hanging on your wall? A Christmas present of a print that my sister and her boyfriend brought me by JR (French photographer)- three maffia boys in a car looking fabulous now adorns my hallway walls.
4. What's the item you've had the longest hanging on your wall? Art is a loose term for it but its a rusty old sign I picked up at a fleamarket - the rust is such that it looks like some super duper artist haspainted it! In fact its the back of an old sign. I've had it for years and the palette being so soft works with anything.
5. Favorite place to buy art? The affordable art fair, etsy, flea markets, junk shops and graduate shows.
6. Do you collect anything? Vases - I have a passion for old 50's vases that I cluster around the house on mantle pieces and tables and fill full of flowers.
7. Any advice for those exhibiting art in their homes? Hanging art makes a huge impact in your home. Rather than looking super galleryesque and a tad uptight I mix and match frames, intersperse the artwork with other objects like giant lettering so I get a fun, eclectic vibe going on. I love clustering above a staircase, sofa of simply strung along a wall.
   See more of Abigail's style at her blog.

What's Above the Bed III

Here we see above the bed a dramatic screen, photos on a display ledge and collection and a colorful textile.

Photos: The Selby, Purple Area, Southern Accents, Sunset

What's Above the Bed II

More great ideas on what to put above the bed.

Photos: Southern Accents, Elaine Griffin, Melanie Acevedo, Purple Area, Julian Wass, James Merrell, Francois Halard

What's Above the Bed?

Over the next few days we're going to feature inspirational shots of art and displays placed above beds. Aside from above the fireplace, this is probably the most popular places that we focus on something really special to put on the wall. Paintings, family photos, sconces, massive headboards, mirrors, tapestries, the possibilities are endless.

Photos: Angie Rex, Domino Files, Southern Living

Painter, Catherine McCarthy

Hosfelt Gallery showcases some great artists and painter Catherine McCarthy is one of them. They describe that, "she creates luscious paintings infused with the sensibility of centuries past. Profoundly personal yet rich with metaphor, her work incorporates references to art history, religion, science, memory, and ideals of femininity.
Meaning lies in the transitions and connections between isolated passages of landscape, body parts, scribbles of text, and splashes of paint.Her details are appropriated from such sources as mid-twentieth-century children's textbooks, the nineteenth-century seascape paintings of Martin Johnson Heade, Japanese wood block prints, nautical manuals, history books, and contemporary fashion magazines. Her newest body of work follows the journey of her alter ego, the geisha Nagasaki Moon."