GUEST CURATOR: INTERIOR DESIGNER, KRISTINE MULLANEY

Kristine Mullaney, Principal of Boston interiors firm Kristine Mullaney Design, is known for elegant interiors that are at once sophisticated and approachable. Her distinctive designs have been featured in New England Home, Boston Home Magazine, Boston Globe Magazine, HGTV magazine & NECN Style Watch TV.

Her layered spaces perfectly pull together rich color, sharp detail, luxurious finishes, and furniture hailing from a variety of eras. Mullaney believes decorating a home should be fun for her clients, and enjoys the relationships that develop through the collaborative process. She sources one-of-a-kind antique & vintage pieces from around the world and also creates bespoke pieces for her clients. This makes all of her designs as unique as each of the clients themselves and their home a true reflection of the their personal style. She also believes that art is a critical element to finish the home, and sources unique works in galleries from Boston to London and beyond. 

To learn more about Kristine Mullaney Interior Design please visit: www.kristinemullaney.com or on Instagram @kristinemullaneydes

READ OUR INTERVIEW WITH KRISTINE

1. Did you always know you wanted to work in a creative field? How did you get started?

Yes, when I was in high school & college I wanted to be a choreographer. I have always loved the arts. I started my design career in San Francisco, initially working in a showroom, then for designers. It immediately felt very natural for me. I loved that everyday was unique. The creative process & the interaction with the clients and the design community is always fun!

2. What inspires your aesthetic when designing a space? How do you when it's done? 

The client’s style is always a jumping off point for the inspiration and the architecture, or lack thereof, for the space. I always focus on a comprehensive design with each piece connecting to others. 

The final touch is usually the art & accessories, which is so fun to work on with clients/homeowners. Art takes time to source. Sometimes clients bring items in, live with pieces on loan for a while to see if they like it or not. It is always a thrill finding the right pieces for the spaces in the homes I design. 

3. What do you see as the role of art in a room? Do you take cues from a client's art when starting the creation/transformation process?

Art is really the soul of the room. We can create beautiful, layered interiors, however without art it feels empty to me. Art to me really makes it feel like a home. It tells the story of the client's taste and really helps enhance the design. I ask what genres they are drawn to or places of interest they've traveled, colors they love and lots of other questions. This gives me important insight and understanding to start the search for the perfect pieces. 

4. How do you counsel clients when it comes to adding art to a room? Are there certain ideas/elements that you think are important to keep in mind?

It is hard to say because it is always a case by case basis. Art really helps to communicate the mood my client wants to express in a space. However, I love large scale artwork...why not go bigger if the space can hold it! I love the illusion of depth that art can create in a space. It's dramatic and beautiful and with a larger scale this effect is more evident. Also, the framing can be a huge part to consider. In many cases the frame itself can be a piece of fine craftsmanship. 

5. Do you have artists or genres that inspire you personally and/or professionally?

Working on so many different styles in my projects has led me to learn about and love many different genres -  large scale works by greats like Wolf Kann, Jackson Pollock, and Cecily Brown, to name a few; photography by Slim Aarons and David Burdeny; and I would be completely remiss if I did not note Pop Art! Warhol is a favorite, of course, but I'm also excited by a number of contemporary Pop artists, as well. 

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VIEW KRISTINE’S CURATED COLLECTION BY M FINE ARTS ARTISTS

Fabienne Delacroix, “Scene de la vie province hommage a le Sidaner”, acrylic on board

I love Al Fresco season - summer dresses and summer food! This al fresco dining scene is so charming. A lot of Delacroix’s gathering scenes look multi-generational to me and family dinners are big at our house. The whole setting with string lights and people lingering at the table is perfect!

Benoit Trimborn, Sifnos V, oil on canvas

I love the majestic and vast feeling of this painting. I lived in San Francisco for a while and it reminds me of The Marin Headlands and the stunning coast there.

Benoit Trimborn, Matin a Andros, oil on canvas

I love sunsets! This painting looks so photorealistic to me. It has a truly transportive feel and warm light. It would have such a dimensional feeling in a space.

Jeannie Motherwell, Of Consequence, acrylic on clayboard

The bold use of color and the vibrancy of the teal & blue splashes are so gorgeous! I love the unexpected hint of pink amongst the dark undertones. I find abstracts so versatile. I would love to put this over an antique commode or console. Juxtaposing traditional appointments and furnishings with a contemporary abstract is always beautiful to me.

Patrick Pietropoli, Behind the Door, oil and silver on canvas

This painting celebrates the architectural details and flooring of an old estate. As an interior designer this piece particularly speaks to me. It's a classic beauty.

Aristotle Forrester, Within the Gates: Where the Titans Lay, oil on canvas

Aristole's paintings are very dramatic and emotional to me. I am most drawn to his brighter pieces and palettes. The composition, colors, and story within this piece - there's lots going on that engages my eye again and again.

Photography (interior images: courtesy: Michael J. Lee), (headshot: courtesy: Brian Phillips Photography

M Fine Arts Galerie debuts Guest Curator Series beginning with Renowned Interiors Photographer, Michael J. Lee

To view more of Michael’s photography visit: www.michaeljleephotography.com

Michael J. Lee is a Boston-based architectural photographer who has built an enviable career over a combined twenty-eight years of interior design and photography experience. He has shot uncountable interiors and exteriors by prestigious architects and designers, along with more than 50 print magazine/book covers. In addition, Michael is a recipient of awards from The Room to Dream Foundation, The Boston Architectural College, and The American Society of Interior Designers. Most recently, Michael’s pointed eye has been celebrated in the March 2020 release of the new hard cover book, New England Modern, serving as collaborator with author, Jaci Conry, and sole photographer capturing 10 of the finest interior designers throughout New England. 

New England Modern available online: www.tridentbookscafe.com www.brooklinebooksmith.com

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M Fine Arts: In your career you’ve worked on many incredible design features.  What do you look for when photographing an interior? What makes it special or excites you about space?

MJL: Honestly, the first two things I look for is the art and the homeowners’ personality. Those two critical factors matter significantly to publications. Those factors lead to a home telling an engaging story. Great architecture is another critical factor, often times the money shots are the ones framed by the architecture. It's the architecture that dictates on many levels the camera’s perspective and, therefore, point of view - furniture, etc can all be moved to suit the camera’s point of view. How those factors relate and their relationship with the camera is what makes for a compelling photograph. Lastly, I would say quality of light. Sometimes it has to be created, but when it's done well the viewer will never know it's not real, and that is essential to a great photograph. 

M Fine Arts: How do you know when you have a successful shot?

MJL: LOL, when a magazine emails to tell me it’s the cover! No seriously, what makes a shot successful is that moment when I first put the image on the computer and I watch very carefully my client’s reaction. That is what does it for me. I spend a good amount of time getting things as near perfect as possible through the camera, and it’s when I project the image to the computer for my client to see, it’s in that moment of revelation that I know if I got it right. It’s all about their emotional reaction for me.

M Fine Arts: How do you see the role of art in a beautifully designed space?

MJL: My mentor, Estelle Bond Guralnick, always said, “Good art can make a bad space great and bad art can ruin a good interior.” I’m not just saying this, art is incredibly crucial in making a compelling room. Art in many ways is the soul of a room. 

M Fine Arts: What do you look for when acquiring art for yourself?

MJL: An emotional connection I think is critical for everyone. If something doesn’t immediately speak to you it’s not going to grow on you. Art can lead to emotional well being and if it doesn’t move you then it is dead.

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EXPLORE MICHAEL'S CURATED COLLECTION OF WORKS CURRENTLY AVAILABLE

Patrick Pietropoli, The Mirror, oil and silver on canvas, 39” x 39”

“I’ve always been drawn to paintings of interiors in homes, and this painting in particular I find very intriguing, I want to sit on that sofa and take the whole room in.”

Beth Carter, Girl in Boat, bronze, 14.5” x 12” x 4.5”

“I’m particularly moved by all of Beth Carter’s bronzes but this one in particular. Given the current circumstances, I think we would all love to just row out on a pond and set ourselves free. I love the energy of this particular bronze. “

Ewa Bathelier, Green Dress, acrylic on fabric, 79” x 79”

“A few months ago I was headed out of the city and drove past M Fine Arts window and almost literally crashed. I just loved the energy and emotion of this dress literally rising from the ground. There is a haunting warmth to this painting that just draws me in.”

Robert Baart, West Forks Winter, acrylic on canvas, 48” x 62”

“I am particularly drawn to the colors of this painting. I can see it working in so many different styles of rooms, and the scale at 48”x62” makes this piece a real focal point in any room. “

Maria Laura, Mod (Twiggy), mixed media on canvas, 48” x 36”

“What’s not to love here? The RBF is brilliant with the whimsical tiara like head phones. Beats should take note for their next collection.”

Chantal Lacout, Elle, bronze, 45”

“I was very fortunate to photograph one of Chantal’s bronze sculptures in a beautiful home by Designer, Paula Daher. Having had that opportunity to intimately see Lacout’s work up close has made me a big fan of her sculptures and would hope to own one someday.”

Fabienne Delacroix | Douce France | December 2019

The art of Fabienne Delacroix continues the legacy of her father, an internationally renowned Naïve painter Michel Delacroix. Fabienne, his youngest daughter, spent her early years playing in her father’s studio and observing him at work. Her precocious talent for art was made manifest in a solo exhibition she had at age twelve in California. Since then, Fabienne Delacroix has broadened the choice of her themes and techniques, occasionally painting with acrylic, watercolor, and experimenting with print. Most recently, her artistic success was endorsed by the Musée International d’Art Naïf de Magog (MIANM) that accepted two of her paintings in its renowned collection.

Despite the fact that both stylistically and thematically her works can be linked to Naïve Art, they also present a challenge in classi- fication. Fabienne’s works draw on her childhood memories, tales, and her taste for the calm, slow pace of life. As Michel Forest, a scholar and the Director of MIANM point out, Fabienne’s taste for storytelling and highlighting “simple and innocent pleasures,” her compositions that put the characters in clusters, each dedicated to a particular activity, and, above all, her vibrant color palette, all present a strong link to the art of Michel Delacroix. However, the ease with which she solves the problems of perspective, defines with realism the postures of her characters and creates painting and illustrations with extremely meticulous compositions gives Forest the impression that the sophistication of her works surpasses that of Naïve paintings and puts her on the side of figurative classical artist. It is this interplay of affinity and contrast that Fabienne’s work is, and what captivates Naïve art connoisseurs.

The title of this show “Douce France” Sweet France is a reference to the title of Charles Trent’s famous song. The lyrics resonate with

Fabienne’s love of France:

“Sweet France
Dear country of my childhood

Cradled in tender carefreeness

I have kept you in my heart”

The paintings in this show reflect Fabienne’s love of Paris; the changing seasons with such paintings as Les Couleurs de l’hiver, Ma saison preferée, the series 4 Saisons de Notre-Dame, or Neige sur le Pavillon de Flore. Delacroix also unveils her taste for the grandeur of the Renaissance with a series of 6 Loire Valley castles: le Chateau d’Azay le Rideau, le Chateau de Cheverny, le Château d’Amboise, Le Chateau de Chenonceaux, Le Chateau Chambord, hommage à Louis Touzain and Le Chateau de Villandry with its intricate, awe-inspiring and inherently French garden.

Le Moulin Rouge depuis la Rue Blanche and Neige sur le Pavillon de Flore (the Louvre) offer the viewer the two symbols of Paris depicted in the time of Belle Epoque, with all its artistic and literary output.

Notre-Dame de Paris, hiver presented here during the Holiday Season deserves special notice, for it will be long before Notre-Dame will regain its original shape to hold a Christmas Mass. The show ends with a serene and positive depiction of a family dinner outdoors, surrounded by trees and lanterns diffusing soft and cheerful light in Scène de la vie de Provence, hommage à Sidaner.

Modern Luxury | Palm Beach December 2018

Please click HERE to view the article!