Thomas Britt Inc – Photo By: Toni Soluri

The 57-Inch “On Center” Rule

The 57-inch “on center” rule says that you should always hang your artwork at 57 inches on center. On center means that the middle of your artwork is always 57 inches high off the ground. This is the average height of the human eye – meaning that your artwork will become a focal point in your room, tying everything together, creating continuity.

How To Create Room Continuity

Continuity refers to how things flow together. Have you ever been in someones home where things just naturally seem to go together? Now, what about a home or room where something seemed “off,” but you couldn’t quite put your finger on it? What you sensed was “continuity”, meaning arranging all of the home decor so that it feels like it fits together – like it belongs together.

Richard Lambertson – Photo By: Joshua McHugh

Sites, like www.bedbathandbeyond.com, can help give you an idea of how to put a room together, and provide you with the raw materials (the artwork and related fixtures and frames) to make it work, but it’s really the way that you arrange them in your home that makes or breaks it.

The best way to create continuity is to spend a lot of time planning and measuring. Aside from the positioning, try to build themes with your artwork. For example, if your home is full of antiques, choose gold gilded frames and wall tapestries.

Spencer Churchill Designs – Photo By: Oberto Gili

BDB Tip: Don’t discount items like photographs, postcards, posters, or children’s drawings. While they may not be what you consider “real art,” they can be creatively framed and they will stand out and look amazing.

Choosing Your Frames

Aside from hanging things “on center,” you also need to choose your frames carefully. A frame can sometimes add or detract from your artwork.

They can also make otherwise unprofessional or “non art” look more appropriate. In some cases, you can create a unique look that replaces art on the wall. An example of this would be a professional frame that holds your child’s drawing.

Use The Right Tools

To get the look just right, you’ll probably have to use spacing tools and tape. Be really specific about it too. In fact, you should be millimeter-specific rather than relying on rough approximations. A rigid ruler is your best tool, along with a level and a plumb bob to measure the artwork’s relative position in space on your wall.

Ellen Pompeo just purchased a charming 1920’s Spanish-style home right in the Hollywood Hills and today we are here to tour it! This Mediterranean beauty was recently Ronald Reagan’s home, so it must be good!

Famous designer, Martyn Lawrence-Bullard designed the whole home from top to bottom to revamp it and bring it back to its former glory. For the interior décor Ellen really wanted to highlight her affection for the Mediterranean, so she took influences from Morocco, Spain, Tuscany and even the South of France! She not only wanted a relaxed, down-to-earth look but also a decorating style that fits her life of casual entertaining, hearty good eating, and sun-kissed relaxation.

What I love about this stunning home is that it doesn’t have any of that star-diva craziness, it’s totally functional and live-able making it perfect for her growing family. Ellen sure had a good real estate agent to snatch up this gorgeous beauty of a home!

The living room terrace was a new addition to the home and acts as a nice outdoor extension to the home. Perfect for enjoying the sunshine or having a glass of punch with guests.

Pompeo’s dream kitchen is really built to last – no need to worry about scuffing wood cabinets here! The La Cornue range oven, custom cabinetry and marble backsplash are really low-maintenance and hardwearing.

The breakfast nook boasts a rustic design, with scuffed brick flooring, a distressed dining table and vintage leather chairs. The lighting isn’t some fancy chandelier, it’s very industrial which keeps to this low-key, and low-maintenance styled home.

Despite the restrained, un-glamorous look in the rest of the home, Ellen definitely did not skimp out on luxury when it comes to the master bedroom! This room really looks and feels like a old Hollywood home! The canopy bed, leopard bench, mirrored wall tiles, and soft carpeting welcome the Los Angeles lifestyle with open arms!

The master bath is without doubt HUGE and has a lot of space to relax and wind-down after a long day at work. Take a look at the sofa, it’s made of a towel like fabric – ingenious for a humid, wet bathroom.

The library is dark, mysterious, and looks a little like a man-cave. The gold spiked chandelier is by Jean de Merry and the set of chairs are from Restoration Hardware. I’m a huge fan of hide rugs, and this one is cow-hide with a little twist – the pieces were sewn together in a chevron patchwork pattern.

You can’t beat the dining room – it has a lovely view of the Hollywood Hills. I’m seriously envious right now! Again, designer Martyn stuck with a chevron pattern for the flooring, this time with distressed hardwood.

The backyard is super spacious and feels like a mini retreat – there is really no need to go on vacation! The chevron gazebo is a smart choice for barbequing and lounging by the pool. And I also really love the lanterns that are from Restoration Hardware, I’m guessing Ellen really likes that store! I was surprised to see such a glamorous celeb have a really normal, muted home. What did you think about it? Drop a comment below!

Rolling out a new rug in your room has so many advantages way beyond just keeping your feet warm or providing an colorful accessory. There are tons of tricks designers use to bring out a rooms full potential using a rug. Check out our insider tips from the pros:

Define Separate Areas

If your home has an open concept layout, use a rug to define separate areas in your home. For example, a large rug can define your living room area and visually separate it from your dining room or kitchen. If you are thinking of using more than one rug in a space, make sure not to use same sized rugs. This way, you can create a flow from one room to the next instead of visually cutting an open space in half.

Create Harmony

A rug can really add excitement and color to a space but it can also turn a lovely room into a disaster if not chose wisely. Make sure your rug completes your room and ties all the different pieces together. My newest buy, a fuzzy lime green sheepskin rug from Rug Center Online was the perfect accessory to my cream colored bedroom for summer. I tossed a few matching lime throw pillows and viola – an instant facelift! When choosing a color for your rug pick out hues from your wallpaper, furniture, or pillows and choose a rug in this color to create balance and harmony. If you find yourself stuck in a rut out of ideas, the perfect rug for any space is a durable sisal rug that looks great just about anywhere.

Hang it up as Art!

Who says you need to roll out a rug on the floor? If you come across a rare antique find, hang it up on your wall as a unique work of art. It’s a great way to show off a beautiful find and brings out your creative side.

Experiment with Different Shapes

Before purchasing a rug, consider the grouping of your furniture. It may no always be in a square type formation, so consider rolling out a round or oval rug to better bind your room and furniture together. Round rugs work perfectly in places where design and furnishings are minimal, giving it an opportunity to show of its curvy shape and soften up some sharp edges in your space.