The Base Layer: Why Art is the Foundation of Home
We often treat art as the final touch and the last thing to be hung once the furniture is placed and the rugs are laid. But after spending time in the Firestone Gallery during our recent tour as part of my Art of Living event for Penthouse 2302 at ArtHaus, I’m more convinced than ever that art shouldn't be an afterthought. It should be the base layer.
The Firestone Legacy
The Firestone Collection of Canadian Art (FCCA) is, in my opinion, one of the most significant cultural assets we have in Ottawa. It’s a collection that spans the modern period of 1900 to 1985, featuring the heavyweights of our national identity: A.Y. Jackson, Lawren S. Harris, and Emily Carr.
What fascinates me about the Firestones, O.J. and Isobel, is that they didn't just buy art. They lived with it. Before this collection of over 1,600 works was donated to the city, it lived within their family home. They understood that art isn't a static museum piece; it’s a companion to daily life. Walking through the Firestone Gallery at the OAG, you feel that intimacy. The landscape and abstraction on the walls provide a sense of place and a depth of character that no piece of furniture ever could.
Art as Architecture
The homes at ArtHaus and more particularly PH2302, are literally living above this history. When you have 13-foot ceilings and expansive, gallery-like walls, you aren't just looking at square footage, you're looking at a canvas.
I encourage my clients to view art the same way they view a structural beam or a custom marble island. It is a foundational element. Just as a well-crafted chair provides physical comfort, a well-chosen painting provides intellectual comfort. It anchors the room, creates a focal point for conversation, and most importantly, tells the story of who lives there.
The Role of the Collector
Working with Collection Guide, Katya Berezovskaia reminded me that collecting isn't reserved for the ultra wealthy. It's for anyone who wants to live with intention. Whether it’s a contemporary piece from a local Ottawa maker or a historical sketch, art is what turns a unit into a home.
If you view your space as a collection of things you love, rather than a collection of things you need, the entire energy of your home shifts.
The next time you’re looking at a blank wall in your home, don't ask what fits. Ask what speaks. Because at the end of the day, we don't just live in buildings; we live in the atmosphere we create within them.
