Hanging a Pair of Big Moose Antlers in the Cliffs at Walnut Cove

Yup, it's just what is sounds like - we installed a great big pair of faux moose antlers recently, in a beautiful home located between Asheville and Arden.

And this is a good time for a word of warning...

...when it comes to hanging art like this, you should never trust the manufacturer's weight recommendations for the hooks you use.

This is especially true for antler mounts like this which project from the wall. The further the piece projects out from the hanging point, the more strain is placed on your hooks or anchors... which means you need a much stronger anchor than you think. And this is before you take into account the fact that most manufacturers wildly overstate the strength of their hooks. (We know, because we weight-tested them. I'll have to make a post about that one day.)

Fortunately our lead installer is a handyman with more than 30 years of experience, so he knows how to install things like this safely.

​Which is a good thing when you're hanging something this heavy right over your expensive flatscreen TV!

In fact, we installed lots and lots of big art in this home, including this hilarious piece which went across the room from the faux antlers. This was a fun idea for a rec room. I really like art that doesn't take itself too seriously.

By the way, there's an intriguing backstory to this piece. Apparently the artist's name, "James McQueen," is actually a pseudonym for a famous actor. What an interesting detail. I wonder if it's true...

I really like his concept here - vintage "books" with humorous titles that make a funny riff on old Sixties pulp fiction. It takes me back to the long hot summer days I spent hanging out in my grandparents' library and paging through the crumbling old thrillers.

Another thriller was this limited-edition David Hockney print. I've always been a fan of his famous book "Secret Knowledge," which upended my understanding of classical Western art, so it was wonderful to see his work in person.

Our client was also a fan of his, and explained that Hockney is still working even now, in his eighties. He made this drawing on an iPad. I love it when someone enjoys making art so much that they keep going as long as humanly possible. He is like Matisse and Renoir in that respect: completely dedicated.

As I look back over our photos from that day, I'm reminded of how many complex installations we did. Here's another example which we installed next to the homeowner's lovely stone fireplace. She said that in her last home, she had really struggled to make the pieces line up neatly in a grid, so she was very happy to have us do it instead. And we've got the experience to do it without making tons of extra holes in the walls.

I could go on and on - they had a very appealing art collection - but I'll leave you with just two more delightful pieces.

First comes a family portrait by Donald Robertson. This was my first experience with his art, and I just love his bright and enthusiastic style. If you peer closely you can see all sorts of animals, from a sexy ostrich to a gaggle of adorable penguins. Really a wonderful way to capture the spirit of this charming family.

The family had another portrait which was sort of an in-joke. His name was George, and he's not a revered ancestor so much as a character in the house. Our client had discovered him in a thrift store back in the Seventies when pieces like this were out of style, and she bought him to liven up their home. He seems like a jolly fellow, so we made sure to place him where he could take in the beautiful view.

Well that's the end of today's whirlwind tour, but we would love to see what you've got for us to install.

Whether you've got a houseful of fun and funky artwork, or just one big piece that you need help hanging safely, we're here to give you a hand.

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