Top 10 Interior Designers Who Specialize in Art Integration
Integrating fine art into your home requires more than just hanging artwork on walls—it demands expertise in design, lighting, scale, and creating harmonious relationships between art, furniture, and space. The best interior designers understand how art functions within a room, how to create proper lighting, and how to ensure artwork enhances rather than competes with your decor. Here are the top 10 interior designers in the San Francisco Bay Area who specialize in art integration.
1. Form + Field
Location: 2180 Bryant St Ste 105, San Francisco, CA 94110 Website: formandfield.com Specialty: Integrating clients' art collections into interior designs
Why it's top: Form + Field is a San Francisco-based interior design firm known for integrating clients' art collections into their designs. Their projects often feature beloved pieces, creating spaces full of personality and character. The firm understands how to make art a central element of the design while ensuring it works harmoniously with furniture and decor.
What to expect: Interior design services that prioritize integrating your existing art collection, creating spaces where art is a central element. The firm works with clients' beloved pieces, ensuring they're properly displayed and enhanced by the overall design. Their approach creates spaces that feel personal and art-focused.
Best for: Art collectors seeking to integrate existing collections, those with beloved artwork they want to feature, and anyone looking for design services that prioritize art. Perfect for creating spaces where art is central to the design.
2. Arrowood Design
Location: 505C Divisadero St, San Francisco, CA 94117 Website: arrowooddesign.com Specialty: Full-service residential design with fine art background
Why it's top: Led by Lisa Arrowood, Arrowood Design is a full-service firm specializing in residential projects. Lisa's fine art background informs her use of form, light, texture, and scale, creating classic spaces that feel inspired, inviting, and timeless. Her art background gives her unique insight into how art functions within interior spaces.
What to expect: Interior design informed by fine art principles, with attention to form, light, texture, and scale. The firm creates classic, timeless spaces that properly showcase artwork. Lisa's art background ensures art is integrated thoughtfully and professionally.
Best for: Those seeking design informed by art principles, collectors wanting spaces that properly showcase artwork, and anyone looking for timeless, art-focused design. Perfect for creating spaces where art and design work together seamlessly.
3. Ann Lowengart Interiors
Location: 223 San Anselmo Ave #7, San Anselmo, CA 94960 Website: annlowengart.com Specialty: Well-conceived design plans with art, antiques, and custom pieces
Why it's top: Ann Lowengart Interiors provides well-conceived, functional design plans that complement clients' lifestyles. Their services include the selection and specification of design elements such as art, antiques, and custom pieces, ensuring a harmonious integration of fine art into interior spaces. The firm understands how to create cohesive spaces where all elements work together.
What to expect: Comprehensive design services that include art selection and specification, ensuring art integrates harmoniously with other design elements. The firm works with art, antiques, and custom pieces, creating cohesive, well-conceived spaces. Their approach ensures art enhances rather than competes with the overall design.
Best for: Those seeking comprehensive design services including art selection, collectors with diverse art and antique collections, and anyone wanting cohesive design that integrates all elements. Perfect for creating harmonious spaces where art and design work together.
4. Marea Clark Interiors
Location: 2464 Polk St, San Francisco, CA 94109 Website: mareaclarkinteriors.com Specialty: Comfort, elegance, and functionality with fine art integration
Why it's top: Marea Clark Interiors emphasizes comfort, elegance, and functionality, embracing fine art, antiques, and contemporary design to create inventive and informed spaces. Their aesthetic combines refined traditionalism with a modern, West Coast sensibility. The firm understands how to integrate fine art into spaces that are both beautiful and livable.
What to expect: Interior design that combines comfort, elegance, and functionality with fine art integration. The firm works with fine art, antiques, and contemporary design, creating spaces that are both sophisticated and livable. Their approach ensures art enhances the living experience rather than feeling separate from it.
Best for: Those seeking comfortable, elegant spaces with art integration, collectors wanting livable art-focused design, and anyone looking for sophisticated yet functional art integration. Perfect for creating beautiful, livable spaces with art.
5. Julie Rootes Interiors
Location: 215 Corte Madera Ave, Corte Madera, CA 94925 Website: julierootes.com Specialty: Luxury interior design with art selection services
Why it's top: Julie Rootes Interiors offers luxury interior design services, emphasizing a comprehensive design strategy tailored to clients' lifestyles. Their services extend to art selection, ensuring that every element contributes to a cohesive and visually appealing space. The firm's comprehensive approach ensures art is integrated thoughtfully into the overall design.
What to expect: Luxury interior design services with comprehensive art selection, ensuring all elements contribute to a cohesive design. The firm creates design strategies tailored to clients' lifestyles, with art selection that enhances the overall aesthetic. Their approach ensures art is an integral part of the design rather than an afterthought.
Best for: Those seeking luxury design services with art integration, clients wanting comprehensive design strategies, and anyone looking for art selection as part of the design process. Perfect for creating cohesive, luxury spaces with integrated art.
6. Kelley Flynn Interior Design
Location: 535 Athol Ave, Oakland, CA 94610 Website: kelleyflynn.com Specialty: Artfully curated spaces that reflect clients' personalities
Why it's top: Kelley Flynn Interior Design focuses on creating artfully curated spaces that reflect clients' personalities and lifestyles. They specialize in updating older homes and integrating traditional details into new constructions, often incorporating art to elevate daily living environments. The firm understands how art can transform and elevate living spaces.
What to expect: Artfully curated interior design that reflects your personality and lifestyle, with art integration that elevates daily living. The firm works with both older homes and new constructions, incorporating art thoughtfully. Their approach ensures art enhances the living experience and reflects your personal style.
Best for: Those seeking personalized design with art integration, homeowners updating older homes, and anyone wanting art that reflects their personality. Perfect for creating personalized spaces where art enhances daily living.
7. Stephanie Breitbard Fine Arts (SBFA) - Art Consultation for Designers
Location: 505 Jackson St, San Francisco, CA 94111 Website: sbfinearts.com Specialty: Art sourcing and consultation for interior designers
Why it's top: SBFA collaborates with interior designers to source artwork that enhances and completes the design aesthetic for each project. Their galleries in San Francisco and Menlo Park offer a comprehensive environment for selecting artwork, including a vast inventory from over 100 artists. The firm specializes in art selection that complements interior design.
What to expect: Art consultation and sourcing services that work with interior designers to select artwork that enhances design projects. The firm offers access to a vast inventory from over 100 artists, ensuring you can find artwork that perfectly complements your design. Their collaboration with designers ensures art selection is integrated into the design process.
Best for: Interior designers seeking art consultation, clients working with designers who want art sourcing services, and anyone needing art selection that complements interior design. Perfect for finding artwork that enhances and completes design projects.
8. Jay Jeffers
Location: San Francisco Bay Area Website: jayjeffers.com Specialty: Luxurious, livable spaces with art and antiques acquisitions
Why it's top: Jay Jeffers is renowned for creating luxurious, livable spaces that feel collected over time. His firm offers comprehensive services, including interior architecture, custom furniture design, and art and antiques acquisitions. Jeffers emphasizes that a home should reflect the personalities of its inhabitants, blending contemporary, vintage, and antique elements to achieve a harmonious aesthetic. His approach to art integration creates spaces that feel both sophisticated and personal.
What to expect: Comprehensive interior design services including art and antiques acquisitions, custom furniture design, and interior architecture. The firm creates luxurious, livable spaces that blend contemporary, vintage, and antique elements. Jeffers' approach ensures art is integrated in a way that reflects your personality and creates a collected-over-time aesthetic.
Best for: Those seeking luxurious, livable design with art integration, collectors wanting comprehensive design services including art acquisition, and anyone looking for spaces that feel collected and personal. Perfect for creating sophisticated spaces that reflect your personality.
9. Ken Fulk Inc.
Location: San Francisco and New York Website: kenfulk.com Specialty: Imaginative, theatrical design with innovative art incorporation
Why it's top: Ken Fulk is celebrated for his imaginative and theatrical design style, often incorporating art in innovative ways. His firm operates as a creative think tank with locations in San Francisco and New York. Fulk's work spans interior design, architecture, branding, and event planning, all characterized by a blend of classical and unpredictable elements. His innovative approach to art integration creates unique, memorable spaces.
What to expect: Imaginative, theatrical interior design with innovative art incorporation, spanning interior design, architecture, and event planning. The firm creates spaces characterized by a blend of classical and unpredictable elements, with art integrated in creative, innovative ways. Fulk's approach ensures art becomes part of a larger creative vision.
Best for: Those seeking imaginative, theatrical design with innovative art integration, clients wanting unique, memorable spaces, and anyone looking for creative approaches to art incorporation. Perfect for creating distinctive spaces with art integrated in unexpected ways.
10. Full-Service Design Firms with Art Services
Location: Various locations throughout the Bay Area Specialty: Comprehensive design services including art selection and integration
Why it's top: Many full-service interior design firms throughout the Bay Area offer comprehensive services that include art selection, sourcing, and integration as part of their design process. These firms provide one-stop solutions for creating complete interiors that include art as an integral element. Their comprehensive approach ensures art is considered from the beginning of the design process.
What to expect: Comprehensive interior design services that include art selection, sourcing, and integration as part of the design process. These firms provide one-stop solutions for creating complete interiors with integrated art. Their comprehensive approach ensures art is considered throughout the design process, not added as an afterthought.
Best for: Those seeking comprehensive design services, clients wanting one-stop solutions for complete interiors, and anyone looking for art selection as part of the design process. Perfect for creating complete interiors where art is integrated from the beginning.
Understanding Art Integration in Interior Design
Key Principles
Scale and Proportion: Artwork must be appropriately scaled to the space and furniture. Large rooms need substantial artwork, while smaller spaces require more intimate pieces.
Lighting: Proper lighting is essential for showcasing artwork. This includes natural light considerations, accent lighting, and picture lights for important pieces.
Color Harmony: Artwork should complement the room's color palette. Designers understand how to create color relationships between art and decor.
Visual Hierarchy: Artwork should be positioned to create visual hierarchy, directing attention and creating focal points within the space.
Balance: The relationship between artwork, furniture, and empty space must be balanced. Too much art can overwhelm, while too little can leave spaces feeling empty.
What Art Integration Includes
Art Selection: Choosing artwork that complements the design aesthetic and client's preferences.
Placement and Hanging: Determining optimal placement and proper hanging techniques for artwork.
Lighting Design: Creating lighting schemes that properly showcase artwork while maintaining room ambiance.
Frame Selection: Choosing frames that complement both the artwork and the room's design.
Gallery Walls: Creating gallery walls and art groupings that work as cohesive displays.
Working with an Art-Focused Designer
Initial Consultation
Discuss Your Collection: Share information about your existing art collection, including sizes, styles, and any pieces that are particularly important to you.
Design Goals: Discuss your design goals and how you want art to function in your space.
Budget Considerations: Be open about your budget for both design and art acquisition.
Timeline: Discuss your timeline and any specific deadlines or events.
Design Process
Art Assessment: The designer will assess your existing collection and how it can be integrated into the design.
Art Selection: If acquiring new art, the designer can help select pieces that complement the design and your preferences.
Lighting Plan: The designer will create a lighting plan that properly showcases your artwork.
Placement Strategy: The designer will develop a placement strategy that creates visual hierarchy and balance.
Installation and Completion
Professional Installation: Art-focused designers often work with professional art installers to ensure proper hanging and placement.
Lighting Installation: Proper lighting installation is essential for showcasing artwork effectively.
Final Adjustments: The designer will make final adjustments to ensure everything works together harmoniously.
The Bottom Line
Integrating fine art into your home requires expertise in both design and art, and the San Francisco Bay Area is home to numerous interior designers who specialize in art integration. From firms like Form + Field that prioritize integrating existing collections to designers like Lisa Arrowood with fine art backgrounds, these professionals understand how to create spaces where art and design work together harmoniously.
From comprehensive design services that include art selection to specialized art-focused firms, these interior designers demonstrate the Bay Area's commitment to creating beautiful, art-integrated interiors. Work with these designers to create spaces where your art collection is properly showcased and enhances your living environment.
Your Bay Area design journey, your art integration, your beautiful home.