The Nativity by Brian Kershisnik

If you live in Salt Lake City, RUN – DON’T WALK, down to the LDS Church History Museum to see this beautiful mural by Brian Kershisnik called "Nativity". It is a really fun painting to see in person because it is about 7 feet tall X 17 feet wide. I heard that is was recently sold to a private buyer and will no longer be on public display. So hurry!

I attended the museum with my dear friend and our children. It was awesome to see the painting through all of our different eyes and hearts. Each one of us saw something a little bit different yet we all felt the significance of the event depicted and how it has impacted our lives. With my new baby on her way, I couldn’t help but think about all of the angels (both earthly and heavenly) who have helped to make this miracle possible. And then I found this painting, also by Brian Kershisnik called “Angels”:

Don’t you think I need this one? I do!

If you make it down there let me know what you think.

Shopping for affordable art?

If you are in the market for some beautiful yet affordable artwork to adorn your walls…I will be having a sale on November 18th in the afternoon in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Each piece is original (mostly oil paintings), framed and priced between $100-$1000. My friend is traveling from Oregon with over 250 pieces of art from many different artists and in a variety of different sizes. Contact me at bethany.christensen@gmail.com if you are interested in attending and I will send you an invitation. 

My Client’s Living Room – After!

My client’s biggest complaint about their living room before was that no one ever spent time in there. During family gatherings everyone huddled in the kitchen and small family room, leaving the room next door empty and underused.

I could see why…First of all there was no focal point in the room. Second of all, the seating arrangement was awkward and uninviting. We spent the first few appointments working with templates like the one below. We moved the furniture around until we had optimized seating and created some wonderful focal points around the room.

Then we went to work selecting fabrics and furniture to fit their traditional yet comfortable style.  This painting, by Kent Wallis, was already part of their collection, so we pulled colors and inspiration from it.

We recovered a couple of pieces. The fun chair below was one of the first pieces of furniture that my clients purchased when they were married over 37 years ago.

 

Before

After

It is most defiantly everybody's favorite part of the room. The chair, draperies and pillows provided the punch of color and pattern that we needed. Next, we created two focal points on the wall below. The new English secretary is the first piece of furniture you see when you walk in the room. It is gorgeous and so is the new painting by Steve Songer.

  

 

The long narrow room was broken up into two areas. The piano area sits behind the sofa and across from the secretary.  Another fabulous Kent Wallis painting was selected for this part of the room.

The Ralph Lauren Foo Dog lamps were the perfect finishing touch and my clients had to have the honeycomb bee box as well. We do live in the beehive state after all.

As their new furniture arrived, my client’s children (all grown and decorating their own homes now) would “dibs” the pieces they wanted to be passed down to them in the future. I started doing the same thing…and “dibsed” these Baker nesting tables!!!

 

It is all in good fun. But don't you think they are a must have??? My clients have happily reported that the room is finally getting the use it deserves. They admit that it isn't just when company is over either. They say that they are using the room more themselves.

For me design is about so much more then simply selecting beautiful furniture and finishes. It really is about improving the quality of life. For this client, that meant figuring out how to make the living room more inviting and serviceable for their family. Rather then adding on to their home – we found a way to make the square footage they already had a place that is fun, interesting, and accommodating to their lifestyle.

If you are interested in exploring ways to make your home work better for you, please contact me at Bethany.Christensen@gmail.com or 801-673-2845 for rates and availability.

For the love of quilting…

Each time someone in our family is expecting a baby we make a quilt. Even though the quilters in our family live in Utah, Texas and London we still manage to work together to create something special for each baby and expectant mother.  We just started a new quilt for my sister-in-law, Lindsey, and her new baby boy due at the beginning of September. 

Our process goes something like this: the pattern and fabrics are selected. My mom and I cut, package and deliver (via mail) the pieces to my sisters (and we keep some for ourselves) to be hand sewn into blocks.  Then they are mailed back to my mom who sews the blocks together and prepares the pieced top for quilting.

Because these quilts are meant to be used by children we have them machine quilted by a professional. I know my Grandma June would be so disappointed. But that is how we do it and it is so much fun.

I am not a great quilter on my own but with the help of my mom and sisters I can contribute to something special and feel a great sense of accomplishment as a part of the team. 

I really love to decorate with quilts as well. Everyone of the beds in my house is made with a quilt, I have quilts that hang over chairs and quilts that I only bring out at Christmas time. I use quilts as table cloths and one day I would love to recover a chair in a quilt. 

I love that they can be feminine or masculine, old fashioned or modern. I love that they add color, pattern, and a story to every application.

Some of my favorite quilts have been purchased at yard sales others have been handmade by my sisters, mother or grandmother. Each one is unique and could never be replaced.

Quilting is a great summertime activity because it can easily be done in the car on a road trip, while sitting on a beach, or by the side of a pool (I am laughing as I write this because my sister Emily and I spent 5 hours in the pool today with our boys who are 2 and 4 years old – there is no way we could have quilted. LOL)

Anyway- it is great! I love it. Thanks to my mom and sisters for keeping this tradition going! We have three quilts to make this year. It is going to be great!

Park City Main Street Stroll

If you are still reading this blog…THANK YOU!! I had to take a little break. I was all wrapped up with a speaking engagement for my church and friends came in from out of town. I really needed to recharge my batteries and get refocused after all the fun.

Photo Credit

Three of my favorite girlfriends in the world came into town for my speaking engagement and we turned it into a little girls getaway. On Saturday, we took a stroll down Park City’s main street just to enjoy the great art galleries. And it really did look like that with all the snow IN MAY!!! Only in Utah. I was finally able see the beautiful artwork inside the Montgomery-Lee gallery, they represent some great artists.

These paintings are by Steve Songer, a local Utah artist. My client purchased one a while back and I have been in love ever since.

I wish you could see them in person because these photos don't do them justice. There is peacefulness to his work. They are the type of paintings that are easy to have in a room- the subtle colors and soft lines are relaxing not overpowering.

The other artist that I truly loved was Jared Sanders, also from Utah. He paints the most incredible barns.

These paintings are big and their vivid colors really make a statement. There is something so friendly and appealing about a barn? What is it?

The one above is sold…didn't they know it was meant for my house?

They are all so great! If you would like any information about these paintings contact the Montgomery Lee Gallery in Park City, Utah.