I mentioned in my last post about how art is one of those things that I don’t mind investing a little extra money in. While I’m happy to include a few mass-produced pieces here and there, whatever I do use I have to have some kind of emotional response to it. It’s such an important part of the process of choosing art and yet, it’s one of those things that I think a lot of people forget about. They just want to know if it’ll ‘match’ a room in terms of its colour or style.

Kylli Sparre – Mutual Forgetfulness

And don’t get me wrong – I totally understand that practical side of thinking. Of course, that plays a part in what I choose as well. But that can’t be the only factor. Because if you are investing in art – if you are spending a bit of your hard-earned cash on something – you want to love it. You want to know that no matter where you put it in your home, it’s going to feel RIGHT. You want to know that no matter how long you own it, you will somehow find a way to make it work.

Kylli Sparre – Running with the Fairies

And so the conversation I mentioned in my previous post came about when Karen from Making Spaces shared a new artist with me. Estonian photographer Kylii Sparre’s work is ethereal and beautiful and somehow, got me right in the feels. I had an immediate emotional connection to it and I fell in love rather quickly. I said to Karen, ‘it makes me want to burn my house down and start all over again, designing a room just for one piece.’ And well, that’s kind of what great art should do.

Kylli Sparre – Guides

So I decided to do that. Well not the burning my house down part obviously. But designing a room around a particular piece.

Kylli Sparre – Rescue Operation

I chose Rescue Operation because I loved the rich golden hues and the softly lit landscape, the movement in it, the soft folds of the dress blending into the scooter, her hair whooshed back, the sloshing water of an oversized fishbowl so precariously balanced on the back, the pink cherry blossoms that just touch the edge as she flies past on her mission. I loved the whimsical nature of it and yet, it somehow still reads a little melancholy to me and I’m not even sure why. There’s just something that touched me about it.

I wanted to design a space around it without a lot of restraint because this is fantasy land and in my fantasies, I have huge rooms with high ceilings and original cornicing. I also have beautiful herringbone wood floors. And I have a budget that will allow for the most beautiful sofa I’ve seen for some time. 

This is the Rochester Chesterfield velvet sofa in gold by Decur. If I had to give up my sofa, I’d like this one very much, thank you. It’s utterly jaw-dropping, I love the low profile and the insane amount of tufting. It’s also £5500. Like I said, it’s a bit of fantasy so I figured I’d have fun with it.

Golden Glam Moodboard

So this is what I came up with….

sofa / chairs / art / light fixture / rug / floor lamps / shelving unit / coffee table

I decided to incorporate that amazing sofa along with two black velvet chairs from Sweetpea and Willow that I’ve been eyeing up for some time. It also comes in a dark jade colourway. I love the shape of them and the beautiful delicate brass legs.

I also incorporated the new Tom Dixon Plane Drop light fixture because my fantasy room would have 14 feet high ceilings and could easily accommodate a light fixture like that. It’s utterly breathtaking, isn’t it? Of course, not everything is designer – the floor lamps are from John Lewis, the brass shelving unit from Marks & Spencer, the rug and coffee table from West Elm. Mixing and matching high-end with mid-range gives the whole room a look of luxury.

Kylii Sparre’s art with its golden hues and soft pinks form the backdrop of the entire space with touches of it picked up in the rest of the room without overwhelming it. If you want to check out more of her artwork, you can do so here.

So tell me, are you as enamoured with  Kylii Sparre’s work as I am? Which is your favourite piece? Have you seen any artists lately that make you want to redesign an entire room around it?