The Family Gallery

The most classically grand home I ever worked on was a hand-me-down—a project passed on to me by my dear friend Eva, an elegant, well-seasoned designer with an impressive body of work. Eva’s clients were upscale, from neighborhoods I had never heard of, so when she suggested I call this family from “Fancyland” for an appointment my first question was, “What should I wear?”  Eva assured me that I would be fine and although she found this challenge baffling, she knew I would know just what to do. So I dressed up and made the call.

It took an hour to get to my appointment and a grilling by the border guard before I was parked in front of this awesome estate. The architecture was neoclassic, symmetrical and grand, complete with a pediment atop a row of Doric columns. I rang the bell and “the husband” answered. Middle-aged, cheerful and chatty, he waved me into the foyer, no, the rotunda, with dome!! The floor had a beautiful round marble inlay design and the dome was a detailed leaded glass. A curving staircase flanked the round and led to a bridge on the other side of the dome. Supporting the bridge were two columns, which led to three steps descending into the living room. As the husband carried on with the back story of the French settee, I stood there wondering what my role was in this scenario. What could I bring to this iconic environment that this world traveler had not already considered?

In that moment I was led to the living room entrance. It was a huge, impressive space, maybe forty feet wide, with a wall of French windows opposite the steps, which looked outside to a court yard. It was old school formal. On one end was the fireplace, on the other end a grand piano and three seating areas in the middle. The lighting was recessed in a coffered ceiling, the upholstery was velvet, silks and tapestries... then I saw it, my purpose had been revealed. In this classically sublime space, every surface was littered with little stand-up framed pictures of their four children! It was wrong, specifically in this formal setting AND a pet peeve of mine…Eva knew that! 

I realized it would not be easy to suggest they banish their offspring from the living room. I knew I would need some life threatening reason before Mr. Lucky and his wife, the breeder, would surrender this showcase display of their proudest accomplishments. Oddly, these people hire designers to ensure they have a well-appointed interior, projecting a certain ambiance that reflects their privileged life. Yet, when you find this sea of frames in the middle of this fantasy you are slapped back into reality, like Christopher Reeve when he pulled the current penny from his pocket in “Somewhere in Time.” Dream over!!

It took two meetings to convince them to relocate this exhibit. I explained that a home this grand has visitors, meetings, parties, holiday gatherings, etc. You don’t have such an extraordinary abode and not show it off. Due to this truth, the living room would be considered a “public” area. Really, no matter what size the living room is, casual family photos are too intimate, particularly in such mass.

I also told them that these photos cannot be viewed properly broken up across the landscape. If left there they would need to station a Docent at the steps giving “Table Tours” to identify the child and event. Ultimately we moved them to a gorgeous, sky-lit hallway where Mama could guide tours down memory lane and tell the tale of their family. She was thrilled.

Everything has changed since “desk-top photo processing” has become the norm. Every little moment that moves us is now captured digitally. No more, “Oh, look at that, I wish I had a camera!” You do, and it’s in your pocket or purse—it’s called a phone!

It sets you up for a successful shot: lighting, focus, find the face and BAM, you are Ansel Adams. The other culprit is the readily available, affordable and adorable stand-up frame. You simply can’t buy enough. Well, it’s enough already.

Documenting your memories is a wonderful thing. Seeing our children’s evolution or our grandparent’s history connects us and gives our life substance. However, overkill turns your life into a flip-book. You would not write your life story with such redundancies so why do we need six pictures of Tommy at two when one cute one will do? Remember that a picture is worth a thousand words.

There are several appropriate areas in the home for groupings of family photos: any bedroom, the family or great room, an office or den, but the best gallery location is the HALLWAY. It’s a natural long walk, free of furniture and generally an area not “decorated.” This is my favorite area and no matter how small, a grouping can be hung!

Hands down the most effective application for me over the years has been the Family Picture Gallery. The task of gathering and framing all the photos that live in a box under the bed is overwhelming, so there they sit. For many, gathering and framing the photos of a lifetime and creating a cohesive timeline that tells the story of said life is priceless. It’s a fond memory, a validation, a diary of experiences, a foot print on the planet of all that really matters in one’s life. 

This effort on your part will give your client warm fuzzies again and again. You have the power to do that… so why wouldn’t you?

For those of you who feel intimidated by a pile of 100 framed photos and a long blank wall, I will give tips on how to hang a gallery or picture group in my upcoming  blog on “Collectors.”