Today readers you’re in for a treat! For the first time EVER we’re going to get a sneak peek inside Michelle’s house of Holley & Gill fame.
She tells me that while many bloggers and readers have asked her in the past she has declined up to now. Lucky me! I’m so happy she chose The Marion House Book for her virgin experience. And to make it even better, she is asking you to help her out with her very own Cast Your Vote question. So, don’t let me down, please Cast Your Vote and tell Michelle what you would do! Here’s Michelle…
When I first found Emma’s blog a few months back, I immediately identified with her sharp aesthetic and vision and am now lucky enough to have been invited to put together a guest post for her here. I must come clean with you though, as while you are reading this I’ve somewhat enlisted your help, as Emma has in the past, with a decor dilemma of sorts so please bare with me.
I had the chance to have brunch and shop at Montreal’s biggest craft fair called Puces Pop on one cloudy October day, with three lovely and inspiring ladies who I respect and adore. Anile, Marie-Eve, Bess and I met in a trendy breakfast spot on the Plateau called The Sparrow. Once well fed, we headed out to the old church basement around the corner for what seemed like a gathering of all the “who’s who” of the Canadian handmade trade. A feast for our eyes indeed.
While there, we met and chatted with so many notable artists and artisans who could not have been any more friendly. Many of them we recognized from seeing their work in magazines or even from profiling them on our blogs. We had almost finished winding our way through all the displays when we landed on this stunner, sat alone and tucked away in a corner. I stopped, as if in an art gallery, admiring it for what felt like quite a some time. The artist’s name was Robert Biesinger and his work was incredible.
I did not purchase it immediately. We went outside to get some air and I knew that if I were to walk away from it, I would certainly regret it. In the end, it did come home with me along with this as well.
Now here is my dilemma, the framing. We had quite a substantial wall space to cover above our sideboard and am now very happy with the proportions of this vignette. I would love to hear your feedback or suggestions on what to use for the framing of it. Black, white, metallic, with or without a mat, there are so many choices but would like to ask you for your advice!
Dear readers, please help Michelle and Cast Your Vote!
26 Comments
Michelle, I think you should choose between a golden frame or a black one. Golden is for a more glamorous look, while black is more casual, yet still bold enough. Good luck and keep us posted with what you have decided!
Beautiful art!
I’m not sure how the rest of the room looks, but if it were me, I would bring in a little colour from somewhere else in the room, and do the frame in a dark red, or midnight blue, or some other dark colour to balance off all the black. If not, then I would do no-mat white, or matted thin black frame. Good luck with it. BTW, I love your headboards.
I would put wood frame in strong color,red,yellow,blueor green…
First of all, what a gorgeous sideboard…just beautiful & a beautiful vignette on the top…I love that map, it is so striking and as soon as you began talking about the craft fair, my heart began to beat faster
My vote is for a mat and a thick white lacquered frame. (my 2 cents) I am sure whatever you pick will be SO very lovely! Thanks for trusting us with your dilemma.
xo
Melis
White wood frame (or light birch), white mat. Simple, crisp and timeless. I totally agree with Melissa, go high gloss/laquered frame, a great contrast to the warm wood sideboard.
My vote- no mat, thin linear, simple gold frame. The art speaks for itself and the vignette is already beautiful!
I would choose a light birch or oak frame, discreet but not inconspicuous, the vignette is the chief character in this scene.
I’m for a simple birch or maple frame, since there’s plenty of negative space in the art, i don’t think you need a matte. I think it would look great to add a lighter wood tone, kind of like your floors and think simple is almost always best with framing.
Gorgeous piece! I agree with nkp — not mat, simple gold frame. I think any wood frame would compete with the amazing sideboard.
It looks like a very cool piece. I think no matte as well, but I don’t have a strong opinion on the frame– I think almost any frame would look good, as long as its thin.
Love it Michelle!!!!! The simpler of a frame, the better.
Hi Michelle, thank you for inviting us into your home! Both the map and the sideboard are edgy and lovely.
And I am glad that Sweden is so in focus! (I am a native Swede).
My recommendation – a white 2 ” frame. Art should always speak for itself without any competition. Plus white and black work so well together.
Hugs to you and to Emma.
ox, Mon
I think a white frame is the safest choice, but a black one would look very eclectic. I am thinking of a 1 ” wide one, very simple and without mat.
Love the art and the vignette. I would go for a narrow metalic frame without matting.
Lucky you Marion! and thank you for welcoming us into your home Michelle. I am a huge fan of finding art work the way you did. This piece is stunning! My advice ~ trust your instincts. You have great taste and an exquisite sense of style. You’ve got a vision of the space so take risks and go for it! I think layering several special pieces on the sideboard would also be lovely, all with simple frames and pairing down the accessories of course.
How fantastic it is to see this glimpse of your space, Michelle! I’d go for a matt black frame to add a dash of drama to the vignette area. Love the map.
P.S. Thanks for sharing!
I would say 3/4″ matte black. Lets the print speak the loudest.
What a fabulous home, Michelle! Love the sneak peek, I’d LOVE to see more
. As for the frame, I think you should go with a simple one, so you won’t make it look crowded 
. Thank you for sharing 
Love the sideboard and vignette! I feel like the map art wants a vintage vibe with no matt and a thin brass frame.
I would be inclined to do a thin black or golf frame as well, without a matt. Great find!
Place two binder clips (aka bulldog clips) on the top edge, near the corners, and same on bottom. Use black or white or silver clips.
Like this:
http://www.couchtycoon.net/adequate-poster-housing
http://www.flickr.com/photos/clatiek/2294637573/
A nail or thumbtack goes through the top pair, and the bottom pair of clips serve as weight so the poster hangs flat. Given the size of this piece, though, you could put nails/tacks through the bottom clips, too.
I see this done a lot in art galleries, and use it all over our apartment, since my boyfriend and I are both graphic artists.
Emma, thank you for inviting me to guest post for you, a true honour for me.
And how incredible has the response been! So many fantastic ideas now because of all of you who took the time to comment and share your suggestions. Will definitely keep you posted one a decision has been made! Many many thanks again!
Your welcome Michelle! Please keep us posted. We would love to see what you choose!
I love all kinds of maps as well and this one is great. Your sideboard is beautiful, I want it too! I think I would frame this map in a black or silver frame and I would maybe double mat it with a thin sliver of black mat showing just to make the proportion even larger. I just like monochromatic looks like that. Can’t wait to see the finished product!
Looks like *Raymond* Biesinger’s work! Unless he has a brother who is equally awesome
Brian, you are SO right. It is in fact Raymond, and NOT Robert. Apologies!
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