The four muses of Muse & Co. Fine Art
Roswell art gallery featured in HGTV Green Home
By KATIE VanBRACKLE
katie@northsidewoman.com
On August 17, HGTV (Home & Garden Television) will air an hour-long special during which the keys to a brand new home in the Serenbe community south of Atlanta will be handed over to the winner of this year’s HGTV Green Home Giveaway.
HGTV house planner Jack Thomasson and interior designer Linda Woodrum shopped locally for unique furnishings for the Green Home, travelling to Roswell to seek inspiration from the four muses of Muse & Co. Fine Art.
When you enter Muse & Co., it’s easy to see why the HGTV team chose this trendy gallery. Owners Donna McDonald, Judy Goldberg and Sheila Grubb partnered with Vicki Werbalowsky of La Bella Vie, a custom furniture and home design store next door, to create a warm and welcoming space full of stunning contemporary fine art.
The gallery is divided into small spaces, each fully decorated to represent living and dining rooms. Soft rugs, comfortable couches and stylish chairs invite you to relax as you admire the surrounding sculptures and paintings.
“Art can be intimidating,” said Goldberg. “It’s one thing to admire a large, bold painting hanging on a gallery wall, but another thing entirely to envision that same painting hanging in your own living or dining room. We wanted our clients to see how easily contemporary art can fit into a variety of décor situations.”
Webalowsky, a long-time interior designer, creates the gallery’s home vignettes using a variety of unusual lighting fixtures, accent tables and accessories as well as eye-catching furniture pieces.
“So many people forget two important elements when creating a beautiful home,” said McDonald. “They spend their entire budget on furniture, when it’s actually lighting and artwork which make the strongest impression, really completing the home.”
“You may have a traditional dining room and assume that contemporary art will not work with your décor,” said Webalowsky. “It’s our job to show you how to blend and edit your existing look to include contemporary art and more modern design elements. The result can be very stylish and yet completely comfortable.”
Kathryn Fortson, a Roswell artist, enjoys the synergy between the designers, artists and clients at Muse & Co.
“I love to come into Muse and see what the gals have done with the gallery spaces, “ she said. “The colors and styles of the rugs, pillows and furnishings inspire me as an artist and help me understand the latest trends and what people want to see in their homes. It’s not about matching paintings with fabrics. It’s about tuning in to how people feel about their home and the type of space they wish to create.”
Before the HGTV Green Home was completed, the Muse & Co. ladies drove to Serenbe, hauling a load of furniture and a variety of paintings from local artists.
“We knew what Jack and Linda were looking for in terms of color and texture and offered a variety of possibilities,” said Goldberg. “It was really cool to survey the space in the early stages and envision the final product. Jack and Linda loved everything we showed them.”
The Green Home living room features a unique coffee table and two contemporary chairs from La Bella Vie’s Pure Home Collection, featuring FSC-certified wood and eco-friendly upholstery materials.
To add color to the room, the Muse ladies suggested a lively painting by Signe & Genna Grushovenko representing a group of young cyclists, a nod to Serenbe’s active outdoor lifestyle.
In the master bedroom, a painting from Fortson’s mixed media “Journal Series” gives a modern vibe to the traditional décor while Jeff Surace’s “Farm Series” adds a whimsical touch to the kids’ bedroom.
For those who feel the need to add an artistic touch to their own homes, the ladies of Muse & Co. make house calls. Just as they did for the Green Home, Muse & Co. offers a complimentary home assessment service to all clients, bringing their expertise and inspiration to individual home spaces.
“We bring the art and Vicki brings the accessories and together we create an amazing space,” said Goldberg. “That’s what the name Muse & Co. is all about. The muses or ‘unseen creative energies’ at work.”
Tune In
- Watch the lucky winner of HGTV’s 2012 Green Home Giveaway tour her new eco-friendly residence at Serenbe, south of Atlanta. 8 p.m. Aug. 17, HGTV.
- Tour the 2012 HGTV Green Home: hgtv.com/green-home/green-home-videos
- Join the HGTV designers on a Roswell shopping trip: hgtv.com/video/shopping-for-the-green-home-video
Muse & Co. Fine Art and La Bella Vie
Soca Village, 39 Oak Street, Roswell | 770-594-9511
www.musecofineart.com | www.labellavie.com
