This fall, aspire design and home opened the doors to The Art of the Home — a striking designer showhouse with a special spotlight on fine art, and how it interacts with interior design.
In this edition of Designer Intel, the designers who transformed The Art of the Home join us to discuss why art is such an important consideration in design, and how they incorporate client art collections into their projects.
Megan Przywara | Easton Grey Studio
Art is one of the most personal layers in a home, and it has the power to transform a space from simply well-designed into truly lived-in. For me, art is what bridges the technical and the human — it connects the precision of design with the individuality of the people who inhabit the space. The right piece can anchor a room, shift its mood or reveal something about the client’s story. That’s why I see art not as an accessory, but as an essential design element.
A client’s art collection is never just décor — it’s a narrative and a part of their story. I study their pieces the way I study a floor plan, looking for how scale, placement and lighting can transform them into focal points that shape the flow of a room. I love the challenge — it’s like solving a puzzle where art becomes both the anchor and the spark. In the end, art isn’t something we place after the fact — it’s woven into the very DNA of the design.
Tammy Bolden | Bold Interior Design
A client’s art collection is often one of the most personal, irreplaceable elements in the design. When designing around existing or growing collections, the key is to let the art and interiors speak to one another rather than compete.
Alirio Pirela | Pirela Atelier
The most essential aspect in curating art for a home is selecting art that resonates with the client, creating a personal and authentic expression within the space. I like placing bold artwork against a neutral or contrasting backdrop to make it stand out and become the star of the room. Also, I prefer choosing curved furniture for organic art or angular pieces for geometric art.
Vanessa Deleon | Vanessa Deleon Associates
Art is never just decoration, it’s the soul of a space. When a client has an existing or growing art collection, I see it as an extension of their identity and I treat it with the same reverence as the architecture or furniture. My approach is to design around the art, not just place it. That means considering scale, lighting, sightlines, and how each piece interacts with textures and finishes in the room. If a client is actively collecting, I think ahead — curating walls, niches, and moments in the home that allow the collection to evolve gracefully over time. The goal is always harmony: the art should feel seamlessly integrated while still commanding its own presence.
Seth Van Den Bergh | The Drawing Room
At The Drawing Room, art is never an afterthought but the foundation of every space we create. We believe a home should tell the story of its inhabitants, and art is often the most personal expression of that story. In our dining room in the Art of the Home show house, we elected to incorporate a collection of works entirely by queer artists. There’s a variety in medium and style but the pieces are united by a common thread of queer community and amplification of those voices.
Diane Rath | The Rath Project
At The Rath Project, we believe art is a cornerstone of great design. It’s the layer that brings personality, mood, and meaning into a space. It amplifies color, balances bold gestures, and creates the moments that make a room unforgettable. More than decoration, art doesn’t just complete a room — it gives it soul.
Rachel Brill | Rachel Brill Design
One of my favorite things to do for a client is to take a work of art that may be an important work for them or something that they inherited and shape the room around that artwork. I love to re-frame a work that the client already owns, which both updates the art and breathes life into a newly designed space.
Another passion of mine is helping clients source artwork for their interiors, and it is an important focus in my business. My background before entering design was in the New York art world. I studied art history in college and worked in museums and galleries in the city. I bring that experience when incorporating art into a client’s space, and I get a lot of satisfaction providing that service to a project.
Choosing art for a client’s home does not mean that they have to spend a fortune. One way to keep the budget in check is to have the clients invest in prints, rather than originals. Another way is by working with local artists or artisans directly, which can offer more affordable works or original commissions. By doing so, you are supporting the local art community and bringing originality and character to the project.
Patrice Nichole | Patrice Nichole
Art is typically the focal point. Or it’s the piece that ties it all together. It’s expression and unique, typically not a trend. It allows interior design to have emotion and an upgraded sensory feeling.
Cynthia Peralta-Brito | CPB Interiors + Design
Art that speaks to the client is of utmost importance to me, and I don’t feel it is necessarily important for it to match the design of the space completely. It is interesting to have a traditional space with modern art pieces or vice versa. A varied collection of existing and new pieces layered throughout creates a bespoke approach. One where the artwork is curated with time and intention.
Steven Walsh | Steven Walsh Design
Art has always been an integral part of my interior design practice. Art is not separately considered when I’m designing a space. Whether the clients are young, fledgling collectors or someone with established works, the incorporation of art is always part of the conversation. The two always go hand in hand.
Terri Fiori | Fiori Interior Design
Art is the ultimate escape. It draws you in, quiets the noise, and lets your mind wander somewhere else for a moment or two. To me, art is the most important “accessory” you can have in your home.
For introverts like me, it’s also a form of connection as awkward gaps are filled with conversation. I love watching people’s reactions to the art in my showhouse space. It’s fascinating to see how one piece of art can mean something entirely different to each person who walks by.
Dorka Standard | Dorka Standard Home
For me, art is what gives a home its soul. You can design a beautiful space with furniture and finishes, but art is what makes it feel personal and alive.
When a client already has a collection, I treat it as the foundation of the design. I love pulling inspiration from their pieces — the colors, the scale, even the story behind them — and weaving that into the overall look so the space feels truly theirs. When clients are building a collection, I see it as a journey we take together. I often introduce them to an art consultant colleague, and together we help select pieces that align with their taste and lifestyle. More importantly, I encourage them to choose works that truly move them. At the end of the day, I want their art to feel like an extension of who they are, seamlessly tied to the home we’ve created together.
Photography by Ryan Tiscareno.
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