OneRoof’s Ask the Expert is a new weekly series aimed at helping consumers cut through the noise when buying goods and products for their home. It’s hard to make a decision when there’s so much out there, and the sheer volume of online recommendations is overwhelming. We live in an age of fake reviews, so who better to trust than the people who have the expertise and use these items for a living?
Want to refresh your interiors for summer? Then buy some art, and then build your new look around it.
So says interior designer Sarah Kerr, from Sarah Kerr Design.
“The summer sun makes me want to surround myself with landscape colours,” she tells OneRoof.
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Nothing anchors a space or sets the colour palette quite like a hero artwork, she says, explaining that tailoring the look of your room to a piece of art, rather than the other way around, will make your life easier.
“Choose a colour palette for a room and stick to it,” Kerr tells OneRoof. “Start by introducing splashes of colour with accessories and textiles that are easy to swap if you change your mind.”
Decor stores can be a great source of affordable prints, she says. Think ocean blues, sandy neutrals, and soft greens. Stores like Early Settler and Nood offer cost-effective artworks to introduce serene landscape colours to your living spaces.
Tranquil Moments, by Leigh Dougherty, at ArtSelect Gallery. Photo / Supplied
Artworks like this abstract canvas can provide warm neutrals, while this Sandy Point print provides a blue palette. For green, these Cloud Over Hills or Water Way artworks set a landscape tone.
For those interested in exploring deeper or building a longer-term collection, galleries offer another layer of inspiration.
For Ruth Buchanan, Kaitohu director at Artspace Aotearoa, art is about connection, curiosity, and discovery.
“The wonderful thing about committing to bringing contemporary art into your home is that there is no time frame on this; it’s an ongoing, unfolding pursuit that can be joyful and nourishing.”
She encourages people to visit public and commercial galleries, simply to experience the diversity of artists and practices on offer. Over time, you naturally build a sense of what resonates with you and your whānau.
Abyss, by Penny Murdoch, is one of the canvases offered by ArtSelect Gallery. Photo / Supplied
“Art can be an incredible conversation starter for family and friends, so it’s a fantastic way to keep your home lively,” Buchanan tells OneRoof. Trust what you’re drawn to, she says, whether it's the mood, the palette, or the ideas behind the work, and don’t hesitate to ask gallerists for context.
Rebecca Lees, an art consultant at Parnell Gallery, says many people are surprised to discover that contemporary New Zealand art exists at a wide range of price points, including some comparable to décor-store prints.
“Limited-edition prints and small original works are excellent starting points,” she says. Produced to a high standard and signed and numbered, limited-edition prints offer something personal and considered while still being accessible.
A limited edition Cat in the Hat illustration by Dr Seuss, at ArtSelect Gallery. Photo / Supplied
Many galleries also carry intimate-scale originals, ceramics, drawings, studies, and smaller paintings that sit in very approachable ranges.
Lees suggests considering scale, placement, and light, but says there’s no need to buy everything at once. “It’s perfectly fine to start slowly and choose pieces that feel meaningful.”
Ngaire Stone, from ArtSelect Gallery, in Newmarket, says good art, no matter where it’s from, should make you feel something.
“Art lifts a room from mundane to spectacular. Choose a painting that lifts your spirit and makes you smile when you pass it.”
She agrees that a key artwork can guide your décor and encourages people to seek advice if they’re unsure. Galleries also often offer home trials so people can see how a piece sits in their space before committing.
ArtSelect also represent Dr Seuss with limited edition artworks that come from America and appreciate over time.
Stone also notes that emerging artists often offer original artworks at prices similar to mass-produced prints.
“Supporting dealer galleries helps ensure these artists continue to be seen,” she says.
