It is amazing how intertwined art is with design. The two words are almost synonymous. In previous columns, I’ve written about buying art and how to frame it, and we have had numerous columns about various facets of design. In this column, I’d like to write about having art actually created on the surface of our interiors: truly blending art with design.

At The Cloister at Sea Island, we designed cast plaster shapes on the ceiling of the library. Then we painted, glazed and stenciled the shapes to give the look of Renaissance plaster. The embellished surface then gained the luster and glow that comes with age.

Also at The Cloister, we created an entire “Gilded Age” ballroom with cast shapes and magnificently detailed paintings.

For a bar area at one of the larger homes we have designed, we had artisans stencil rugged dark beams with a low contrast design. The pattern was a series of scrolls and leaves of a dark fern green and muted ochre that blended well with the grain of the wood, but did not jump to the eye.

As you can see, the variety and palette is essentially infinite. It’s part of what makes our work so much fun and interesting – we like using the broad spectrum of fabrics, materials, and the talent of artisans to customize the homes of our clients. The embellished surfaces truly blend art with design, and we are all richer for it.