Pedestal elevates art to new level

"Shlep" is a Yiddish word that's found its way into our everyday language because it's very sound is so evocative of its meaning, which is to drag or pull -- with great effort. And that's exactly what my client and I were doing one recent afternoon in her new home high up in the Spring Mountains.

We literally shlepped any number of sculptures, some heavy and some not, from room to room and from tabletop to tabletop in a vain attempt to find the perfect place to display them in the best possible way. Nothing was working; no place did them justice.

It must have dawned on us at the same time, as we both took a deep breath and collapsed on the sofa, declaring in unison, "Pedestals, we need pedestals!" And from that moment on, it was smooth sailing. Because, you see, it's an unwritten rule in design that no sculpture or art piece can ever look as good on any kind of tabletop as it will when displayed on its very own pedestal. How I wish more people would realize and accept this fact. Art galleries and museums, no doubt, have been aware of this truth since their inception, and certainly would never consider showcasing their sculptures without them.

We all know that when we "place someone on a pedestal" it really means that we view them in a position of high regard or adoration. And that's exactly what happens to an art piece when it's deemed worthy enough to sit on its own throne and in a special place. We view it with greater reverence and interest than if it were sitting among other bric-a-brac on the coffee table.

What makes the use of pedestals even more desirable is that they can truly be (and often are) custom handcrafted works of art in their own right. The available options of size, finish and configuration are virtually unlimited, which allows us to tailor the pedestal not only to the artwork itself but to a client's individual taste. The right finish, size and design will go a long way to enhancing a valued art piece. Most often the pedestals that I've used are simple and elegant and have only served to complement both the traditional and contemporary interiors that I've designed.

In my client's home, for example, we had three sculptures that sorely needed to be displayed independently from any other accessories or artwork in order to be shown to their greatest advantage. The first was a highly unusual sculpture made to be viewed at eye level thus necessitating a higher-than-normal pedestal to be placed in a corner of the entry. (Average pedestal heights will generally range between 36 inches and 42 inches and be about 12 inches square.)

With a height of close to 50 inches (by 20 inches wide and 11 inches deep) and a rather delicate design to complement the scale of the art piece, this particular pedestal, I believe, represents a true marriage of form and function, which is, after all, one of the fundamental laws of good design: form follows function. Adhere to this basic tenet and you can never go wrong. Displayed on this custom pedestal, my client's artwork appears the way it was meant to be seen and not buried alongside books and flowers on some tabletop.

The other two pedestals were used in the game room, which features a beautiful, environmentally friendly bamboo floor. The client and I decided to finish both in a faux bamboo that would blend with the floor and complement the pieces they would hold, one of which was an old-fashioned slot machine. The other was a carved statue of a Greek fisherman they had found on one of their European jaunts.

The pedestal holding the slot machine is interesting because it features storage, which is another added advantage of using a pedestal. This can be hidden or highlighted as my client chose to do by adding a beautifully ornate handle. And finally, the finish color turned out to exactly match one of the colors used on the fisherman, which was one of those nice surprises that happens now and again.

Though the above examples illustrate clean, simple lines, pedestals can also feature any number of bells and whistles to enhance their appeal as well as their function. These might include a halogen underlight with a fully adjustable dimmer for a dramatic effect, or a motorized or manually round rotating top with an eyeball lighting feature, as well as any number of architectural accents such as stepped tops, kick bases and beveled edges.

Pedestals also are a wonderful decorating tool to place in an unused corner of a room to add depth and interest to your space and will work just as well showcasing a plant as it does a piece of sculpture. From time to time I've used two pedestals holding lifelike plants in order to frame an entry -- a really great look, by the way.

In a word, adding a unique pedestal is always a wonderful decorating idea for any home. Technically, it might be defined as an architectural support for a statue. But, in reality, it's really so much more than that. Every piece of sculpture deserves a place to rest -- a place that won't detract from its originality. Only when it's placed on a pedestal does it become an art form that everyone can relate to and one that you can literally wrap your arms around.

Stephen Leon is a licensed interior designer and president of Soleil Design International; he has been designing and manufacturing custom furniture and cabinetry for more than 25 years. He has served on the board of directors of the Central California/Nevada Chapter of the American Society of Interior Designers. Questions can be sent to stephen@soleildesigninternational.com.