The Gallery Home

Not all of us are fortunate to have an old masterpiece lying around the home but many of us do possess some form of wall art whether it be a masterpiece, a treasured photo or even a favourite postcard stuck to the refrigerator door - it all counts.

Whilst there are a host of mouth-watering wallpapers currently on-trend and in a store near you, don't overlook the decorative potential of your artwork. It may already be ready to hang, sitting in a spare room or tucked away in storage but take a fresh look and consider the options.

Gallery
The gallery layout is one of the most classic of wall dressings and brings artwork to your wall in a orderly yet equally dramatic way. Current trends lean towards galleries with matching coloured frames but don't be afraid to mix it up and perhaps add some vintage frames to a modern collection.

Leaning Frames
A long time favourite of BritDecor - leaning frames against a wall is probably the easiest way of displaying your artwork. You can lean your frames on a mantel to create a stylish feature or even rest larger frames on the floor, great for filling those awkward furniture-void spaces.

Free-Style
A great way to add a highly creative element to any room and no picture frames required with this informal style. Perhaps try a collage layout or hang your treasured photos and postcards from decorative wire with bulldog clips or vintage paper-clips. This is bound to make a great talking point with any house guests and add a heart to your home.

Feature Wall
Bold, eye-catching feature artworks frequently deserve a wall to themselves. Here it's possible to pull out all of the stops and centre the entire room layout around your artwork. Alternatively (and perhaps a little controversially) a sleek state of the art TV can also provide an effective centre-piece when set against a stylish wallpaper print. Also, a full size stencil can make a stunning alternative to wallpaper and will be a focal point, equally, an investment piece of art can take centre stage when enhanced with subtle spot lighting.

Brit Decor: Style Icons

This month Brit Décor turns the spotlight on two major style icons of the 20^th Century, the Duke and Duchess of Windsor aka Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson. Following the Duke’s abdication from the British throne in December 1936, the famous couple captivated high society the world-over with their chic fashion sense and sharp tailoring, both appearing in Vogue magazine. Ultimately it was the break away from the stifling British establishment, which not only allowed the couple to live as husband and wife but also gave them a far greater creative freedom in their lives than they could have ever achieved as Monarchs.

The couple largely resided in France and in 1952 leased a house from the City of Paris in the Bois de Boulogne, where they lived in exile as the Duke and Duchess of Windsor. Following the Duke’s death in 1972, Wallis’ own health rapidly deteriorated and she was eventually confined to her damp-ridden bedroom as the rest of the building began to fall into dis-repair. 
After the death of the Duchess in 1986, the Windsor Villa, built in the early 1900’s, returned to state ownership. Keen to preserve the essence of this iconic home, the French Government leased the Villa Windsor to Mohamed Al fayed in 1986. Al fayed threw his money and passion into the project and enlisted the help of the workmen who had originally furbished the villa for the Windsor’s, which ensured that items they had provided for the couple some 40 years before were carefully restored or recreated. 

The Villa’s décor was truly unique, and epitomized the sometimes over-indulgent nature of the Duke and Duchess and their many pug dogs. The exquisite interiors showcase both the royal heritage of the Duke and the Duchess’s eagle eye for style.