I know a very artistic retired couple who uses the high and low approach in their modest townhouse vaulted living room. Their mesmerizing display is the result of several decades of loving collection of original pieces. I could sit there for hours just looking.

I'm IN LOVE with the first one. I never would have guessed that a painted border would turn out so well.

Loving the first and second pictures!

I love the border idea! The one comment I have to make about hanging art way above eye level is that, while it may look impactful in a magazine photo, it really only works with images that don't need to be seen up close. Otherwise, you're not fully enjoying your art.

Something that's worked in our loft, which has large walls and high ceilings, is to create a kind of "band" of artwork, all more or less at eye level. Here's an example from our living area:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/visualingual/2438785582/in/set-72157594505190197/

I think it both works with the expanse of wall and grounds the display at a level that's usable.

I'm trying to decide how and where to hang all of my family potraits and artwork. I'm in the process of renovating my home to look more streamlined and less cluttered. I like the idea of photo galleries like the ones here and certainly appreciate the effort and love that go into creating them, I just can't help but see clutter when I see clusters of items hung on a wall. Is it just me? Is there a way to create a gallery look that's more streamlined and minimal, or are gallery walls and minimalistic decor too opposite?

I have always done gallery walls, since I make art and collect it. I think one key element is to anchor the display with a large piece. Then use the imaginary extended edges of the large piece to line up smaller works.

For example, you could hang a large painting or mirror, then follow the line established by the top of the frame off to each side. Hang one smaller piece with it's top edge on that line, and on the other side, hang another smaller piece with it's BOTTOM edge on that line.

After that, hang new things with one edge following a line from the previous item, and fairly equal spacing between things. (I like about three inches or thereabouts. Eyeballed, not measured.)

That's a bit more rigid-sounding than I really do it, but as a starting concept, it usually works for me, remembering to modify it intuitively as you go. (If you have two large items in a salon display that are large but close to the same size, do NOT align them, offset them.)

As for the clutter vs. anti-clutter issue, I think if it looks like clutter and that bothers you, this isn't a good look for you. Frame a number of things in identically sized frames with identical mats (preferably white) that have different sized openings for the disparate contents, and align them neatly in rows, instead. Personally, I think the typical gallery display tends to have a cohesiveness that doesn't seem like clutter to me, but that's me.

SherryBinNH, thank you. :)

Any tips on re-creating the first photo? Is the border painted free hand? I love it! Must have. :)

I'm seconding bali2's question! I love it!

That first photo is DIVINE. I'm guessing that you could get some really big butcher's paper, fold it in half, sketch the shape you want, and then cut it out (like you would for a heart shape), making both sides exactly the same. Tack it on the wall with painter's tape, trace with pencil, and get to paintin'!

The easiest way, though, would probably be using an overhead projector. But, those can be tough to find sometimes.

Oh this is incredible!! The first pic.. wow!

I think the term is actually SALON style (end result = gallery WALL). I think of GALLERY STYLE as the more traditional method of hanging art… meaning single images or small groupings hung primarily at eye-level.

Either way, salon-style presentations can be fantastic.

But I’m not a fan of #1 – a bit too juvenile. It looks a bit like a puppet stage.

I love art, and I have tons of it myself, but that last photo looks like they filled every nook and cranny possible! I think it reads as too cluttered, and it seems very overwhelming. I think the art loses its impact that way. I think the dog agrees with me too.

But the groupings in 1 and 2 work nicely. And I like the concept of a background color/shape used behind the grouping to bring everything together.

I'm contemplating a gallery/salon look in my own home, but it will be in a curving stairway...not sure how it'll work yet.

I love how the stripes across the room are reflected in the mirror in the second picture.