DECORATING WITH BUSTS
BUST'S AS DECORATIVE ACCESSORIES
But...
these aren't the type of busts we'll discuss in this missive!
Greeks used them to honor deities; the classicists used them as inspiration; the neoclassicist's used them to imply power and now modern decorators use them to ramp up the tone as they can be elegant, or sometimes campy - which is cool too.
TRADITIONAL USES
(Sir John Soanes Museum, London)
Those interested in classical architecture should visit Sir John Soane's Museum in London. It an amazing clusterf*%k of architectural remnants and details.
Visit Sir John Soans Museum
(Althorpe, in Warwickeshire, England)
Princess Diana's home in England has an amazing collection of art and classic sculpture.
Visit Althorp
(Designers: Verre Grenney, London)
This is how the 1% in England live!
This beautiful, simply finished drawing room has two classical busts on brackets ramping up the 'importance' of the fireplace.
(Source: Jacqueline Onassis, 1040 Fifth Avenue)
Jackie O had a good eye for classical art and form. Her collection of Greek and Roman busts casually displayed here adds depth to her very "old world" looking apartment.
(Source: Unknown)
This terracotta bust on the mantle in this old Italian villa looks like its been there for 100 years (prolly has!)
(Burgh Hall)
Burgh Hall's grand foyer displays several ancient busts and sculpture - it adds a DFWMe look to this old, stuffy manor house.
BUST'S IN TODAY'S HOME
(Source: Habitually Chic)
This updated traditional living room has a 'herm' on a sculptors work pedestal. Every room looks better with art or sculpture and this 'found object' adds some patina to this super clean-lined room.
(Designer: Christopher Knight)
This eclectic mish-mosh - ahem - 'bohemian melange' works in an artistic way, the huge-ass white bust adds beaucoup drama by being the 'big' thing in the room.
(Source: Unknown)
This foyer has a carefully balanced assemblage of antique and distressed items creating a softened old English look - the bust adds romance to the mix.
(Designer: Joseph Paul Davis)
In the dining room of my country house outside of Washington, DC, I used busts of Abraham Lincoln and George Washington (which were apropos for the DC region) on pedestals flanking a bay window. The small side walls were hard to decorate, the busts took little space and added 'strength' to the room.
(Designer: Gary Spain)
This 'Mid-Century-Regency' style space has a glazed terracotta 'Caesar' in the corner adding to the mix of a Lucite classical desk and a Piranesi print - shagolicious, I'd say....
(Designer: Bunny Williams)
Those aren't busts they're bas-reliefs which are less defined wall mounted busts (or sculptures). They look awesome here because they add classical elements and depth; their ovoid shapes are a contrast to all the 'square' shapes in the room as well.
(Source: Unknown)
This cute little seasonal vignette is made a wee bit more interesting by using the terracotta bust which will look great at night with candle light flickering on her face.
(waddup with those fake votive candles - anyone really think they look real???)
(Source: St. Georges)
This freekin' awesome loggia is all about the sea. The dolphins and sea nymphs are cool, but those two Blackamoor bust's with their shell encrusted turbans and cloaks are da' bomb!
(Source: Unknown)
Have a music student in the house? Place a Beethoven bust on their desk and let them channel the master.
(Source: County Living)
This country cottage is all about eclectic and mixing found objects together. The Greek bust adds age and implies knowledge....as if...
(Source: Unknown)
OMG a crystal Napoleon? How cool is that??
I'm not big on glass or crystal objects as accessories but that is HOT!
(Source: Elle Decor)
If you weren't sure of what to put on top of that radiator cover, Abe Lincoln will at least make your guests smile - making a not-so-interesting bathroom more interesting.
(Designer: Garrow/Keddgian)
In this super chic library a small Greek bust adds an authentic classical element to the Greek key patterns and the Attic black-figure design on the pillow.
(Source: Unknown)
Poor Chopin, lost his street cred...left holding the door....
Still looks better than a rubber wedge doorstop.
(Source: Unknown)
Let pervvy Napoleon watch you tinkle.... The white porcelain bust contrasts nicely with the brown walls. Notice the hands in the photos of Michelangelo's 'David' which are complimented by the bust.
(Source: Unknown)
A Victorian white marble bust of a lady is stained from the ages and looks all the better for it. Her snotty look across that half-dead plant looks as if she's saying "get rid of that hideous plant immediately, if not sooner!"
(Designer: Doug Wright)
LOVE THIS ROOM!
All my favorite elements come together here; sisal, slip-covers, awesome tapestry, books and unusual accessories.
(Designer: Kelly Wearstler)
Wearstler, known for kooky juxtapositions uses this gilded head as it's fun, unexpected and funky.
(Is the Kennedy Center missing theirs?)
(Designer: Alberto Pinto)
In this awesome Moroccan-style riad Pinto uses a blackamoor bust to add indigenous flavor with an old-world feeling.
(Paolo Moschino, London Residence)
This small London dining room hasn't much room for art, so this tall rococo pedestal with the Greek bust on it adds relief and 'depth' to the space.
(Designer: Suzanne Rhinestein)
In this super-sized ladies dressing room Rhinestein used two whitewashed (yuk, hate it whitewashed) terracotta busts, but their symmetry is important and they definitely add a 'power punch' to Madame's dressing room.
(Designer: Jacques Grange)
The best designer ever, Jacques Grange's own apartment in Paris has every period and century represented in what feels like a very contemporary space.
(Designer: Kelly Wearstler)
A wacky collection of busts and sculptures creates a focal point in this mostly unused dining room. The range and types of busts is what makes it work.
(Source: Unknown)
This beautiful aged marble bust with its imperfect finish and mossy schmutz sits casually on a side table, slightly smiling wearing a glass bead necklace - which happily brings down the tone a tad.
(Source: Unknown)
Someone spent a lot of time collecting these busts; but the genius is grouping them all together on in one place creating an impactful focal point.
(Designer: Timothy Corrigan)
As part of a grouping of all alabaster objects the bust adds a friendly, sculptural element.
(Designers: Caldwell-Flake, Inc)
This distressed, whitewashed, repurposed garden ornament adds some interest to this otherwise boring vignette.
(Source: Unknown)
A ladies dressing table is made more feminine with the small white porcelain bust, and its useful as the lady can hang her necklaces on it!
(Source: Unknown)
A low-budge garden sculpture is used on this country-style hunt board adding an unexpected element. The beads and neck pieces add humor - taking away the pretense.
(Designers: Ross and Kochar)
This cozy weekend cottage is filled with things that the owners have collected along the way. The bust adds a touch of drama creating a personal, idiosyncratic style which is why we like it - it shows who they are not who their designer is...
TRADITIONAL USES
(Sir John Soanes Museum, London)
Those interested in classical architecture should visit Sir John Soane's Museum in London. It an amazing clusterf*%k of architectural remnants and details.
Visit Sir John Soans Museum
(Althorpe, in Warwickeshire, England)
Princess Diana's home in England has an amazing collection of art and classic sculpture.
Visit Althorp
(Designers: Verre Grenney, London)
This is how the 1% in England live!
This beautiful, simply finished drawing room has two classical busts on brackets ramping up the 'importance' of the fireplace.
(Source: Jacqueline Onassis, 1040 Fifth Avenue)
Jackie O had a good eye for classical art and form. Her collection of Greek and Roman busts casually displayed here adds depth to her very "old world" looking apartment.
(Source: Unknown)
This terracotta bust on the mantle in this old Italian villa looks like its been there for 100 years (prolly has!)
(Burgh Hall)
Burgh Hall's grand foyer displays several ancient busts and sculpture - it adds a DFWMe look to this old, stuffy manor house.
BUST'S IN TODAY'S HOME
(Source: Habitually Chic)
This updated traditional living room has a 'herm' on a sculptors work pedestal. Every room looks better with art or sculpture and this 'found object' adds some patina to this super clean-lined room.
(Designer: Christopher Knight)
This eclectic mish-mosh - ahem - 'bohemian melange' works in an artistic way, the huge-ass white bust adds beaucoup drama by being the 'big' thing in the room.
(Source: Unknown)
This foyer has a carefully balanced assemblage of antique and distressed items creating a softened old English look - the bust adds romance to the mix.
(Designer: Joseph Paul Davis)
In the dining room of my country house outside of Washington, DC, I used busts of Abraham Lincoln and George Washington (which were apropos for the DC region) on pedestals flanking a bay window. The small side walls were hard to decorate, the busts took little space and added 'strength' to the room.
(Designer: Gary Spain)
This 'Mid-Century-Regency' style space has a glazed terracotta 'Caesar' in the corner adding to the mix of a Lucite classical desk and a Piranesi print - shagolicious, I'd say....
(Designer: Bunny Williams)
Those aren't busts they're bas-reliefs which are less defined wall mounted busts (or sculptures). They look awesome here because they add classical elements and depth; their ovoid shapes are a contrast to all the 'square' shapes in the room as well.
(Source: Unknown)
This cute little seasonal vignette is made a wee bit more interesting by using the terracotta bust which will look great at night with candle light flickering on her face.
(waddup with those fake votive candles - anyone really think they look real???)
(Source: St. Georges)
This freekin' awesome loggia is all about the sea. The dolphins and sea nymphs are cool, but those two Blackamoor bust's with their shell encrusted turbans and cloaks are da' bomb!
(Source: Unknown)
Have a music student in the house? Place a Beethoven bust on their desk and let them channel the master.
(Source: County Living)
This country cottage is all about eclectic and mixing found objects together. The Greek bust adds age and implies knowledge....as if...
(Source: Unknown)
OMG a crystal Napoleon? How cool is that??
I'm not big on glass or crystal objects as accessories but that is HOT!
(Source: Elle Decor)
If you weren't sure of what to put on top of that radiator cover, Abe Lincoln will at least make your guests smile - making a not-so-interesting bathroom more interesting.
(Designer: Garrow/Keddgian)
In this super chic library a small Greek bust adds an authentic classical element to the Greek key patterns and the Attic black-figure design on the pillow.
(Source: Unknown)
Poor Chopin, lost his street cred...left holding the door....
Still looks better than a rubber wedge doorstop.
(Source: Unknown)
Let pervvy Napoleon watch you tinkle.... The white porcelain bust contrasts nicely with the brown walls. Notice the hands in the photos of Michelangelo's 'David' which are complimented by the bust.
(Source: Unknown)
A Victorian white marble bust of a lady is stained from the ages and looks all the better for it. Her snotty look across that half-dead plant looks as if she's saying "get rid of that hideous plant immediately, if not sooner!"
(Designer: Doug Wright)
LOVE THIS ROOM!
All my favorite elements come together here; sisal, slip-covers, awesome tapestry, books and unusual accessories.
(Designer: Kelly Wearstler)
Wearstler, known for kooky juxtapositions uses this gilded head as it's fun, unexpected and funky.
(Is the Kennedy Center missing theirs?)
(Designer: Alberto Pinto)
In this awesome Moroccan-style riad Pinto uses a blackamoor bust to add indigenous flavor with an old-world feeling.
(Paolo Moschino, London Residence)
This small London dining room hasn't much room for art, so this tall rococo pedestal with the Greek bust on it adds relief and 'depth' to the space.
(Designer: Suzanne Rhinestein)
In this super-sized ladies dressing room Rhinestein used two whitewashed (yuk, hate it whitewashed) terracotta busts, but their symmetry is important and they definitely add a 'power punch' to Madame's dressing room.
(Designer: Jacques Grange)
The best designer ever, Jacques Grange's own apartment in Paris has every period and century represented in what feels like a very contemporary space.
(Designer: Kelly Wearstler)
A wacky collection of busts and sculptures creates a focal point in this mostly unused dining room. The range and types of busts is what makes it work.
(Source: Unknown)
This beautiful aged marble bust with its imperfect finish and mossy schmutz sits casually on a side table, slightly smiling wearing a glass bead necklace - which happily brings down the tone a tad.
(Source: Unknown)
Someone spent a lot of time collecting these busts; but the genius is grouping them all together on in one place creating an impactful focal point.
(Designer: Timothy Corrigan)
As part of a grouping of all alabaster objects the bust adds a friendly, sculptural element.
(Designers: Caldwell-Flake, Inc)
This distressed, whitewashed, repurposed garden ornament adds some interest to this otherwise boring vignette.
(Source: Unknown)
A ladies dressing table is made more feminine with the small white porcelain bust, and its useful as the lady can hang her necklaces on it!
(Source: Unknown)
A low-budge garden sculpture is used on this country-style hunt board adding an unexpected element. The beads and neck pieces add humor - taking away the pretense.
(Designers: Ross and Kochar)
This cozy weekend cottage is filled with things that the owners have collected along the way. The bust adds a touch of drama creating a personal, idiosyncratic style which is why we like it - it shows who they are not who their designer is...
(Source: Unknown)
Yes, busts even have a place in contemporary settings with other art pieces. This blackamoor sits atop an old steamer trunk in a room filled with various periods and qualities - chic!
You'd be surprised what a bust can add to your room!
You can do it, I'm here to help!