Chicago Interior Designer, Jordan Guide

Whether you are a parent, sibling or family friend, you have probably received artwork from a child or have seen them on a refrigerator or tacked up in a cubicle.  There are endless amounts of these little masterpieces that collect over the years, leaving parents with the challenge of how and where to display them.  Displaying art doesn’t have to be complicated, but rather just as creative and lighthearted as the artwork itself.  I have put together 10 stylish display ideas can solve the artwork overload, while showing your child that their works of art are equally as worthy as the rest.

Sleek Cable System for Kids Artwork

Choose an empty wall in your home or child’s bedroom to install this versatile clip and cable system by Ikea.   This allows kids to hang their own artwork and interchange new and old projects as they please.   Image Source: Ikea Cable System

Symmetrical Display of Framed Childrens Artwork

Allow your child to view their artwork in a predominant location in the home while adding color and warmth to your decor.  Image Source: It’s Great to Be Home via Flickr

Creating WALLTAT Wall Decals from Children's Artwork

Parents can scan their child’s artwork and email it to info@walltat.com to be transformed into a WALLTAT Wall Decals.  They can have them sized as needed and installation is a DIY snap.  Decals are removable and do not cause any damage to the paint surface when peeled off. WALLTAT can also print artwork onto an eco-friendly canvas for parents to stretch over a wooden frame.  Image Source: www.WALLTAT.com

Digital Organization of Kids Artwork

Collect your child’s favorite 112 pieces and start scanning!  You can manipulate and consistently re-size the images to about the size of a business card to create this 60 x 40 pop art piece.  A project that will leave you both proud of your child, and yourself.  Image Source: Jan Eleni

Asymmetrical Kids Artwork Display

Use fun and eclectic frames in a collage format to highlight each unique creation.  Image Source: Wondertime.go.com

Recreate Kids Artwork Into Ceiling Mobiles

First propose the idea to your child to use older artwork in order to create a homemade mobile.  It can be as easy as cutting shapes from the artwork, or as complicated as crafting origami objects.  This is another great way to teach your kids to recycle their art into new and interesting art pieces.  Image Source: Etsy

Blend Family Photos with Children's Artwork

Blend snap shots of your family into a collage with their greatest works of art.  Image Source: It’s Great to Be Home via Flickr

Frames with Hinges and Storage

This functional cabinet displays one, but stores up to fifty masterpieces! Available at Dynamic Frames, the swing open door allows the ease of swapping out old for new.  Choose from many frame sizes, wood finishes and mat options.

Harmless Wall Graffiti on Craft Paper

Last but not least, this method of displaying art is probably not for everyone, but it’s certain to make the neighborhood kids jealous. Purchase a roll of 36″ or 48″ wide craft paper available at Discount School Supply and designate one or more walls as a giant canvas.  Once it is filled up with drawings, you can simply cover over with a fresh layer of paper, offered in a variety of colors.  Paper rolls are sold in 50ft – 100ft lengths from $15-$20.  Not a bad price for being the coolest parents on earth.  Image Source: Jan Eleni

Jordan Guide Luxury Interior Designer

Ritz-Carlton Residences, Chicago blog contributor, Jordan Guide, ASID, NCIDQ No. 021998 of Jordan Guide Design is a high-end luxury interior designer based in Chicago.

Dark Painted Ceiling & Partial Wall

I think it is safe to say that most ceilings are ignored when redecorating is in progress. Most people toil over what color to paint the walls, or which wall should be the accent and what color that accent should  be.  In the end, the walls are covered in a fresh coat of paint and the ceiling remains… white.  As an interior designer, I too have left most ceilings white for one reason or another, but every so often I run across the right situation and a courageous client who allows their ceiling to join in the fun. I have recently completed a residential project (above) that included a living room that was the perfect candidate for a dark painted ceiling. Although the client absolutely loves it now, it wasn’t an easy sell. In fact, most people wouldn’t want to deviate away from the white ceiling. It is not because they didn’t have the ceiling heights or imagination to go for it, but rather they are simply accustomed to the norm and never considered the ceiling as “The 5th Wall.”  Let’s explore.

Sitting Area with Dark Painted Ceilings and Warm Walls

This cozy sitting area by Douglas Levine has warm toned linen wallcovering and a dark painted ceiling that almost disappears.  I would estimate the actual ceiling height to be about 10ft, but with the ceiling painted it appears taller.  Blocks of light colors in the rug helps to contrast the dark elements within the room.

Semi-Gloss Mocha Painted Ceiling

This Benjamin Moore inspirational room has a semi-gloss mocha colored paint to reflect light downward.  Although it is difficult to apply a semi-gloss paint on large field without seeing roller trails, this image is an excellent display of how a medium-toned ceiling color can warm up a space without shrinking its appearance.  Even using a darker toned metallic paint instead of a gloss or semi gloss will also have this reflective effect.

Dark Chocolate Paint Covers Walls and Ceiling

It is difficult to imagine this dining room without the dark chocolate ceiling to mimic the walls and flooring.  These dark elements are contrasted by the off-white base/crown molding that ties into the cream colored furniture.  The blue inner chair upholstery and drapery trim adds just a touch of elegance and flair in perfect proportion.  This is one dining room certain to make your mouth water!

Dark Painted Ceiling with Medallion

This dining room has incredible ceiling heights and a hearty abundance of molding on the ceiling and walls.  The off-white color of walls, trim and window treatments are a beautiful contrast to the black floors and ceiling.   The gorgeous details of the ceiling medallion would have been lost if it weren’t for the black contrast ceiling paint.   Also notice the selective area of black paint within the dining room molding square, but not the ceiling square beyond the molding threshold.  This was well thought out and balanced.

Bright Colored Ceilings Punch Up A Room

This mauve-pink color may not be for everyone, but it definitely makes a statement in an otherwise standard setting.  Designer Sara Story used a piece of artwork to inspire this ceiling color.   Afterall, the kitchen is the liveliest area of our home, so maybe you’ll think “outside the paint can” next time around.

Black Plank Ceilings Defines Edges and Scale

This Hampton’s home was revamped by interior designer Steven Gambrel who installed this living rooms expansive black plank ceiling.  “Rather than making a space feel smaller, as you might expect,” Gambrel says, “it helps to define its outer edges, encouraging visual scale.”  Photo by Eric Piasecki for Elle Decor

Gold Ceiling Paint To Accent Gold Wall Trim

This uber eccentric living room can launch more than a discussion about painted ceilings. The black flooring and crown molding relate the upper and lower portions of the room, as the walls wear glossy teal blue panels.   Gold trim strips conceal the seams on the teal panels, and one might assume that the gold ceiling was inspired by the gold trim.  Regardless of how these layers of colors were decided, this designer pulled together a colorful masterpiece.   It may not satisfy everyone’s taste but it can surely trump most 5th Walls to boot.  Thanks for sharing Elle Decor!

Jordan Guide Luxury Interior Designer

School’s out for summer!  There is no better time to begin organizing and implementing fun new decor in your kids bedrooms.  Changing up their space can give them a renewed sense of personal style and inspire a summer full of imagination and creativity.   Whether you spring for a major overhaul, or only need something as simple as a wall decal, take a look into their bedrooms and try to involve them in deciding on fresh new bedroom decor for 2010.  For those of you in need of updated baby nursery ideas, there has never been a better time to find inspiration, products and resources.  For the modern family, there are amazing new furniture and accessory companies that cater to contemporary and modern styles.

Modern Nursery with Wood Slat Wall

Modern Nursery with Sitting Chair & Ottoman

Below is a stylish nursery that has an interesting color palette.  The side wall is painted a deep navy and the ceiling in white with yellow semi-gloss stripes.  Having this contrast allows the eye to travel, all the way down to the cow hide rug that grounds the room.  There is also a large armoire placed on the navy wall to help break up the solid color, as well as a window to offset the darkness the navy brings to the space.  I love the black mobile over the crib and touch of orange and camel fabrics in the furnishings.  It works harmoniously due to these well thought out balances

Stylish Nursery with Bold Colors

A simple solution to dress up a nursery, or any room for that matter are DIY, removable Wall Decals.  Sometimes a room only needs a pop of color and a fun design, such as this over-sized Kids on Swings wall decals by WALLTAT.

WALLTAT Wall Decal - Kids on Swings

Set of three… this room offers a simple furniture layout and color palette for a mini soccer team of boys.  The accessories and patterns within the bedroom create interest and offer a masculine and playful feel.

Boys Room for Three

Space is sometimes an issue for most extra bedrooms, and like all urban settings when you can no longer build out, you must build up.  This pink and white girls bedroom uses tiered layers for the study area with a slide under bed.  Tall cabinetry and wall mount shelving promote organization and  storage solutions.

Space Saving Tiered Layout for Girls Bedroom

Layers of millwork create this custom look below.  Space issues were also solved with building upwards and a central staircase that are used as drawers.  Every inch of this gender neutral bedroom is filled with cabinetry, drawers, shelving and cabinetry.  Now that’s efficient.  Another element worth noting is the continuous block under the ground level bed that serves as nightstands and bed support.  Brilliant.

Custom Millwork for a Gender Neutral Bedroom for Two

More simple solutions for kids bedrooms are full wall murals from Wall Stickers. These add huge amounts of color and are available in a wide range of characters, movie themes, comics and superheros.

Barbie & Thomas The Train Wall Murals by WallStickers.net

How much fun would your children have playing in their very own interactive playroom?  Equipped with study, dining table, sitting area, climbing net, tumbling mats, swing set and educational map of the world.  Sometimes dreams do come true!

Manhattan Residential Playroom by Diana Kellogg

Jordan Guide Luxury Interior Designer

Ritz-Carlton Residences, Chicago blog contributor, Jordan Guide, ASID, NCIDQ No. 021998 of Jordan Guide Design is a high-end luxury interior designer based in Chicago.