Artwork has the potential to completely transform a space—inside or outside your home.
Art can add depth, dimension, and personality to any room. An intriguing piece of art can also act as a window into the personality of its inhabitants. Whether it’s a piece collected during your travels, or art that has been passed down from generations past, each piece tells a bit of your story. Art serves as an extension of interior design—an already well-designed room can be elevated by the addition of a painting or sculpture. Artwork can serve as the piece de résistance or the crowning jewel.
We look at two homes belonging to art enthusiasts. The first took a more minimal approach, while the second is decidedly maximalist. Both exude beauty and personality, and may just inspire you to bring more artwork into your home.
The Maximalist
The long, winding, dirt road, leads you deep into the forest, and into the vibrant, layered, enchanting home of Beatrix Ost and Ludwig Kuttner. The stately manor sits at the helm of the Estouteville Farm, just south of Charlottesville, Virginia.
Complete with seven dogs, two cats, countless chickens, and a scattering of peacocks, the home is a surreal wonderland.
Ost is an artist, writer, and designer. Kuttner is an investor, developer, and philanthropist. The dynamic duo purchased the farm in 1981, and have since transformed the once dilapidated estate into a stunningly captivating space. Large-scale creations pepper the landscape of the exterior. Painted trees, sculptures from branches and twigs, and broken vases create mosaics in the gardens. Artwork greets you at every turn.
In the interior, each corner of the home is filled with objects of curiosity. Collections of vintage artifacts and figurines grace every surface. Large oil paintings by Ost are found on nearly every wall. Born in Germany in 1940, Ost is a consummate artist. Art flows from her like water dripping from a faucet. Every object she encounters becomes wrapped into her weave of wonderment. Asked when her passion for art began, she effortlessly explains, “There is no beginning or end- it just is. It’s the air I breathe. It’s part of my existence. I cannot help it”.
The home seeks to be as captivating as its mistress. Each room of the home utilizes a different color palette. A muted bluish-gray and gold swath the central space of home, complete with life-size burlap figures by Ost.
Hand-painted detail is in nearly every room. Stripes, faux marble, stippling, and pinstripes give each room texture and an added artistic element. The black and white room houses grandbabies when they come to visit.
Ost and Kuttner encourage others to embrace art and bring it into their own lives and spaces. They value outward expression and creativity so greatly that they generously donated the land for the IX Art Park in downtown Charlottesville. Both continue to serve on the Board of Directors.
Click here to see a minimalist’s take on home decor!