I don't get the first piece--the triangles. It doesn't speak to me.

But the second one screams--Mistake!!!

Here's the thing--that second piece is for a corporate office, not a home. It's designed to be inoffensive, nondescript, and to fill up wall space cheaply. It's designed for clients/patients/customers to see once or twice a year as they walk back to a meeting or appointment or sit in a waiting room. It's generic and interchangeable with any number of pieces from art-by-the-square-foot shops like Home Goods.

It's your home! Don't you want something personal? Isn't there something in your life that you've had or seen that would speak to you better than this does? You live in San Francisco, for Pete's sake!, one of the great art cities in this country. You don't need an ink jet print from China hanging in your living room. Get something real. A grouping of good photos from vacations would be better.

I don't know what you're paying the manufacturer of this, but you could get some real art at art shows, student exhibits, etc., for the same price, that nobody has ever seen. Real art. And you'd be supporting an artist, which SF has so many of. Wander around Fort Mason, go to shows, cultivate artistic friends. Then, when guests come to visit you can tell them about the artist or the show instead of "I got it for a great price online."

I don't like the triangles (they also look commercial), but I don't get the visceral revulsion to the concept of them that I do with the second piece.

/end rant/

Are you planning on keeping the rug that is in the dining area? If so, I'd include the rug colors, along with others in the art. I see blue in the cabinets near the dining table, so you'll want that color in it for sure. Is the wood background behind the artwork actually part of the artwork. If so, I don't like the wood background it because of the table being similar in color and size, but different. It makes the art look heavy. Size wise in a dining room, I'd prefer a piece no wider than 3/4s of the table length.

If you are not going to keep the rug (I like the rug), you could use the art in the colors it's shown, but change to a black and white rug. See how good it looks with the black and white rug shown in photo 2.

In the piece for over the sofa, I'd prefer a piece that had more colors in it, including perhaps some of the sofa color. To make that piece work with your sofa you would definitely need to add 3 pillows (which you need anyway), repeating colors in the artwork. We could advise on what the pillows should look like.

Since this art is probably not inexpensive, it would be nice if it had more colors so that it would go with things in different colors which you might acquire in the future. The 80" length would work with your 111" sofa.

I can't tell from the photos if the dining area wall is the same wall that's in the living room. If so, it could be more interesting to use a pair of vertical pieces of art over the sofa since you have a horizontal piece in the dining area, or vice versa. The repetition of the horizontal line bothers me.

I just read tatts comments and totally agree with them. I'm not fond of either piece you chose and tatts told us all why we feel that way! If you need instant art, I prefer some of the pieces from Gallery Direct.

Understood, the painting above the sofa is out. The one above the dining table isn't great, but it's better. My husband and I like it compared to the other things we looked at so far. FYI - it's hand cut sheet metal on hardwood.

To Carolyn - thanks for the tips on brining in the blues and the mustard color. They can stain the wood any color, even gray. Is that any better for our space? Or another color? And the dining room art piece is on the opposite wall as the sofa. The dining room art will share a wall with the TV.

We've been to some local art fairs, but everything we found is in the thousands. Our budget per piece is about $500. Someday we'll upgrade, but that's what we've got to work with right now. I'm skeptical that I'd be able to find anything in the 80" range - even from a local student - for $500. Am I right in that assumption? I'm not even sure how to connect with them. I've googled around and haven't found anything promising. I am obviously new to this so any advice is appreciated.

We have tons of vacation photos, and before we were going to buy art we were originally going to blow up a big picture of Bryce Canyon but unfortunately we aren't pro photographers and to get the size we were looking for we'd need to stitch a bunch of photos together to get the resolution high enough. I'd be open to an assortment of vacation photos, but I don't know how to make a collage work either. It's a huge sofa, so there can't be so many photos that it looks cluttered. There are so many colors in the vacation photos, from the bright orange of Bryce and Antelope to the bright blue ocean to the green jungles. Can we handle all those varied colors? Then what should we print them on? Canvas? Acrylic? Metal Prints?

I'm more confused than when I started :-)

I found a great deal. Are you sold on the modern geometric type stuff? There are a lot of places online to find free art. For instance, the Audubon Society has free prints for download. Have them printed at Vistaprint or similar and they can print it to fit the size you want/need.

I hit Amazon for frames and I have some awesome bird prints for less than a 1/3rd of retail. No copyright infringement needed :) I obviously like the more classic, nature type of prints, but for less than $50 each, I had art I loved. If you're set on more modern art, there has to be a website that offers free art for printing in hi res.

Hi Kendra,

Choosing art has to be one of the most difficult things! You want it to be personal and original but budget sometimes is a limiting factor. What seems to be one challenge here is that you have traditional furniture and a traditional rug for the dining room and more modern (kind of Hollywood Regency) furniture for the living space. It's not easy to tie these together but I think you can get there with art. I agree that adding some blue and grey into the dining area is a good idea. Here's an abstract that has the right colors and would look great. Granted, it's not fine art but it is hand painted with gold leaf applied. (There's your Hollywood!)

http://shopharvest.com/collections/walls-art/products/dance-of-moons

For over the sofa I actually think the metal triangles would work! What do you think about having them done in grey, gold and silver to match the above art, and tie in with your floor lamps? Check out this room we did for the store. See how we tie in the art with the blues, greys and yellows?

http://shopharvest.com/collections/urban-loft

And here are some pillows that would look great on the sofa.

http://shopharvest.com/collections/homeaccents-pillows-and-throws/products/new-pillow-mena-indigo-gold

If reupholstering the chairs is an option, maybe a nice sturdy velvet-type fabric in a similar color to your sofa to add some contrast to the room and tone down the white. Check out our Bella fabrics if you go into one of our stores.

I hope this helps a little! If you still want some advice we have very talented designers in all of our stores and they are happy to help guide you. Our Menlo Park store would be closest to you.

All the best,

Harvest

The triangles wouldn't be my choice. Here are some options.

Something missing - between triangles so metal and modern, and the cabinets, etc... this seems less complicated:

Go to etsy.com for fabulous art! There are several shops on Etsy that carry incredible handmade art and paintings.

Yeah, you guys are right. Our furniture just doesn't lend to the triangles piece. We already have two styles of furniture going on, don't need to introduce a third.

Bev - both of those pieces are from Etsy and are hand made. I've dug through thousands of pieces and can't seem to get it right!

I'm not a modern art fan, so neither piece works for me. Your DR set looks fairly traditional w/ shape of chair backs & table legs. I'd follow suit w/ art choice there. Your LR is more contemporary, so I think art there can be contemporary or modern. I'm not art expert, but when I buy art, I buy it to stand on its own. When I buy pictures, I buy them to complement the space.

I love scenery, sunsets, and flower photos and art. I guess I'm easier to please! I have gone with gorgeous photographs for my house instead of paintings. The only oil paintings I have in my house were done by the women in my family!

How is it put -- I wonder if 1 art piece shouldn't reflect the homey nice quality of your dining set, with a subject more personal, like boating? but still triangular:

19 x 48"

I love Tedbixby's suggestions ... it's easy enough to create a cohesive collage above the sofa.

18" boucle pillow clearing out for 8.99 - called horseradish.

http://www.westelm.com/products/heathered-boucle-pillow-cover-horseradish-t1877/?pkey=cpillows%257Cpillow-covers%257C4294961884&group=1&sku=7499812

a pillow with very cute triangles. ;-)

http://www.westelm.com/products/wallace-sewell-multi-pinwheel-crewel-pillow-cover-t2851/

"Dream Watchers | Whimsical Tree & Birds Sunset Painting, Giclee on Metal"

'Giclee' is a fancy term for inkjet print. Don't be fooled by the fancy name. Not worth the tin it's printed on.

"DiaNoche Canvas Wall Art "

They don't even call it a painting! It's 'wall art" Bwahahaha!

Kendra: I've never had a lot of money to spend on art, but I have some cool stuff. My dining room has 4 black and white photographs of Crater Lake taken by a friend who is a professional photographer (film, not digital). They are stunning, in an Ansel Adams sort of way, and even in B&W you get a sense of how cold the water is. I have pottery from different places (including another friend who is a clay artist). You just have to keep an eye open. There's no rush.

Look in the alternative press for special events. There's a photographer here in Philly who used to do a pop-up show once a year under the approach to the Walt Whitman Bridge, there are student shows at the end of semesters, artists' displays at ethnic festivals, etc., Art isn't about the size of the couch, it's about the discovery.

And Bryce Canyon? One of the coolest places on earth, IMHO. Three nice framed photos from there would do a world of good over the couch. Not a collage, just an assembly of 2 or 3 or 4. I have pics of Bryce and Zion in a few places in my house and in my office. I especially like the ones from down in the washes looking up to the clear blue sky, surrounded by the orange sandstone--very swirly and graphical.

Every place I look in my house there is something that's meaningful to me; I can't imagine staring at a piece every day that was produced for the mass market. I'd die a little inside. ;-)

Oh, and I 've never paid $500 for any piece of art I own.

I appreciate tatts' closer look.... I buy secondhand or receive art as a gift.... and certainly buy at Home Goods. True, the metal one didn't look expensive, but a view for discussion.... I wonder what your material is on the side of the kitchen cabinets.... ?

Came back to say my comment about boating was course cause of boat picture - and funny cause it wouldn't go with your glam lamps....

I purchased most of my art when I had little to nothing. I have two originals from friends (admittedly that was a coup) -- one a set of four colored Sumi paintings which are just gorgeous and one a multi-media piece, but I also have reproductions of original Asian paintings which became posters and a fairly new repo of a Diego Rivera. If you buy a large poster, the framing will cost much more than the art. The trick is to get a poster of a wonderful original.

I also have a signed/numbered lithograph I purchased while at the Smithsonian as a fellow. I got a discount, but not much.

I bought one for myself (the wrong one) and one as a wedding present for my niece which I had framed. I checked with her and her fiance before I made the purchase. Now I wish I had bought a second copy of the one I gave to her and her husband.

I think the original cost to me was under $200 and I have the artist's private email if you are interested in his work. It is around $ 300 now.

This is what I bought for the wedding present:

This is called Underwater People.

You can also try AllPosters which has classic art and new stuff quite reasonably priced and returnable.

I think indigenous art and classic art can fit many different styles and am NOT one for matching style of art to furniture. Match art to your personal artistic taste and something that has meaning for you.

I have a Human/Dolphin society poster, a poster of undersea fishes, etc., a Georgia O'keefe type poster of irises.

Don't buy impersonal art. Your home will be cold.

I haven't had a chance to read the comments - but I just have a couple of thoughts.

My main thought is that art should be something that really speaks to you. You should feel passionate about it - and not really need the opinions of others where that is concerned. If the art does not do that - then I think you are better off leaving your space art free, until you find pieces that you really love. Sometimes, it could be a piece that just comes into your life in an interesting way - and that is what gives you the 'connection' to it. But if you're going to hang some art in your space - let it mean something.

And my other suggestion is that - when you do have a piece that you are seriously considering - and if the situation allows for it (i.e. - it is not a piece that you just run into in your travels and have to grab right there and then - although that could be 'the' piece - so don't rule that out). But if you have the time - and you know how to do any computer graphics, or know anyone who does - you can get a better visual of how the piece could work in your space. Even if you have some photographs of your space as well as an image of the artwork - and just cut and paste manually - it can give you a better idea.

That being said: If someone gave me an original painting by Claude Monet - I would not care whether it 'fit my decor' or not. I would be awestruck - every time I saw it over my sofa - whether it 'matched' or not. You get the idea....

Kent, I think you have gotten some good advice here. Your apartment is very lovely btw. Take your time with the art and wait until you find something that truly speaks to you. It shouldn't be just an accessory. If you have taken any photos that are memorable they can be manipulated, changed to B&W, maybe isolate part of an interesting piece of it. Don't worry if it isn't perfect. Framed with a large Matt and simple frame it could be a very stunning a personal series of art .

Inspiration

I'm sorry, Kenj! Auto correct:(

art is a very personal thing. It must be something that appeals to you. Don't worry about colours and such. Its what you like to see and it can be a mix of paintings and sculptures. what I think you need to anchor the place is a sideboard.

Sideboard is off to the right (blue and silver). Tiny SF apartment equates to a less ideal furniture arrangement. It can't be centered with the table otherwise we'd have no walkway :(

For me, I love big impact paintings, folk art paintings, rustic looking things. I don't need to adhere to someone else's personal preference because this is something I truly like and enjoy. So that's my best advice to you. Go with your gut feeling. Be daring, go to festivals, art shows and find that gem.

I've had a chance to look over your post a little closer - and I think both of the pieces that you chose are interesting pieces. I like the metal and wood geometric piece, particularly. Love the colors - and the reflective element. But both are interesting pieces. It doesn't matter what 'I' think, though. That is the thing... If you love a piece of art - or anything for that matter - it should not be open for discussion. Although, I do understand why you thought about coming to Houzz to seek some advice, prior to making a significant purchase.

But just on the level of whether the wood/metal piece would work 'aesthetically' in your space - I would say yes. And you could definitely use a modern piece like that in your dining room if you wanted to. I really enjoy the blend of traditional and contemporary in décor.

The silver/grey finish, with silver metal and blue coloration complements your sideboard and rug very well. I think it's my favorite of the two.

Just so you can get an idea -

And the brown wood background complements your dining table and chairs - with silver metal and blue tying in with sideboard.

(Just to mention - I think the coloration of the triangles in these pieces is perfect. The orange/red/silver pyramid in the design is stunning. Red is a very good color to have in dining areas, btw - and that color element is brought in here in such an interesting way.)

You and your husband picked this piece - and that is a special thing. If you love it - and the only question is would it work in your space... the answer is yes.

Just wanted to give you the visual - so you could see for yourself. I don't know if I've guessed the scale correctly - but I think this sizing would be close.

As I mentioned in my post - if you can take some photos of your room and 'cut and paste' - even manually - any art that you are considering - it is a good thing; because if you love a piece of art - that is all that matters. If you love it and it looks right to you - then that is all that should really matter. And in the grander scheme, whether or not a piece of art 'fits the décor' has little relevancy - because if you love it, that really trumps everything.

You have gotten great advice- starting with Tatts. Lucky you- you live in a very artistically rich metropolitan area. The only thing I have to add is to also check out estate sales and consignment shops. I have friends who have bought fantastic original art at estate sales and paid a fraction of what the frame alone would have cost. Have fun looking.

Art is such a personal decision. You might find something you like here: http://www.houzz.com/projects/1295077/art-original-abstract-paintings

A few specific suggestions:

Good luck with your search! Hope you'll post pics of your choices!

Kenj, have you been to those held at SFAI? http://www.sfai.edu/events-calendar/detail/sfai-concentrate-uncommon-art-festival-sale

I think that sometimes it's better to live with white walls and wait, rather than just to have a filler. I have had and still have my fair share of those white walls. Don't settle. Wait. Look around some more. You will find your piece(s). And I bet they will come with a story.

If you like to browse flea markets, antique stores, art studios, etc. you can make this a fun journey. Finding the right piece is important. It will always look right if you love it. If you love these, then go for it but you sound hesitant. As long as the size is right, and they’re hung properly, any piece of art will work if you bought it cause you love it.