Notes from the gallery
Care guides, sizing advice and ideas for living with natural materials, from the Gallery Art Group journal.
Types of Chandeliers: A Simple Guide to Every Style
From candle-style and crystal to globe, drum and linear, here are the main types of chandeliers and the rooms where each one works best.
How to Choose a Vase Size for Every Spot in Your Home
A practical guide to choosing a vase size that suits your table, mantel or shelf, the stems you use, and the pieces around it.
How to Layer a Cowhide Rug Over Another Rug
Layering a cowhide over a larger rug adds texture and makes a room feel finished. Here is how to choose the base rug, get the proportions right and keep the hide flat.
How to Seal a Marble Fireplace: A Step by Step Guide
Sealing protects a marble fireplace from stains caused by soot, wax and spills. Here is how to tell when your surround needs it and how to do the job well.
How to Choose a Kitchen Island Chandelier
A practical guide to choosing a kitchen island chandelier, from sizing and hanging height to deciding between one fixture or several and picking a style that suits your kitchen.
How to Style a Console Table: A Simple, Practical Guide
A well-styled console table comes down to a few simple principles. Here is how to anchor the wall, layer heights and keep it practical for everyday life.
How to Style a Cowhide Rug in a Bedroom
Where to place a cowhide rug in a bedroom, what size suits your bed, which colors work and how to style the room around it.
Carrara vs Calacatta Marble: Which Is Right for Your Fireplace?
Carrara and Calacatta both come from the same Tuscan mountains, but they look very different on a fireplace. Here is how to tell them apart and choose the right one for your room.
How High to Hang a Chandelier Over a Dining Table
The simple 30 to 36 inch rule for hanging a dining room chandelier, how to adjust it for taller ceilings, and tips on sizing and placement for any table shape.
How to Mix Metals in Home Decor Without It Looking Accidental
Brass, nickel, black iron and bronze can share a room beautifully. Here are the simple rules for mixing metal finishes so your home looks collected, not mismatched.
Cowhide vs Jute vs Wool Rugs: Which Is Right for Your Room?
Cowhide, jute and wool rugs look, feel and wear very differently. Here is how they compare on comfort, durability, spills and style, plus how to layer them.
Fireplace Mantel Height: How High Should a Mantel Be?
How high should a fireplace mantel be? A practical guide to typical mantel heights, safety clearances, ceiling height, depth and a simple way to test before you commit.
Chandeliers for Low Ceilings: How to Choose and Hang One
A low ceiling does not rule out a chandelier. Here is how much clearance you need, where one works best and which shapes suit an eight foot room.
Decorating With Classical Busts: Where to Place One and What to Pair It With
A classical bust adds history and a strong silhouette to any room. Here is where to place one, how to get the scale right and what to style around it.
How to Tell If a Cowhide Rug Is Real: 7 Simple Checks
Real or faux? Seven quick checks, from the backing and edges to the hair and pattern, to tell a genuine cowhide rug from an imitation.
How to Clean a Marble Fireplace Without Damaging It
A gentle, step-by-step routine for cleaning a marble fireplace surround, lifting soot stains and knowing when it is time to reseal the stone.
How to Clean a Crystal Chandelier Safely
A step-by-step guide to cleaning a crystal chandelier, from a quick glove wipe in place to a full deep clean with the crystals removed.
Modern, Contemporary or Classic? Choosing Your Interior Design Style
What separates modern, contemporary and classic interiors, how to tell which one you love, and the pieces that bring each style to life.
Cowhide Rug Size Guide: Choosing the Right Size for Every Room
How cowhide rugs are measured, which size suits each room, and a simple tape test to check the fit before you buy.
How to Style a Mantel
Anchor it, vary the heights, group in odd numbers, layer front to back, mix textures and leave room to breathe.
Marble, Limestone or Travertine: Choosing a Fireplace Surround
Marble brings veining and polish, limestone soft texture and carving, travertine warmth and a modern edge. Here is how to choose.
How to Choose the Right Chandelier Size
Three quick calculations give you the right chandelier for almost any room: diameter from the room size, width from the table, and height from the ceiling.
How to Care for a Cowhide Rug
A few simple habits keep a cowhide rug looking good for years: shake it out, vacuum with the grain, blot spills straight away and keep it out of strong sun.