Framing Artwork With Over-Sized Mats

My question to you is:  Why do mats and the framed artwork they surround have to be in proportion?  When the mat totally overwhelms the art, the mat becomes art too.  An over-sized mat also calls attention to the art it frames.  Check out these images and see if you agree.

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Grouping the framed art makes it even more dramatic.

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One of my favorite designers is Celerie Kemble.  Of course she uses black frequently, which totally endears her to me.  But look at the cover of her book.  Not just black but over-sized mats and furniture with hooves.  I couldn't love her more.

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Let me know if your next framing project will have a large mat.

REPEATING CORAL

When I was painting my chinoiserie table and chairs coral, I impulsively took the paint brush to some branches in a vase.  At the time there was no plan.  What I later realized was that those curly, gnarly branches repeated the coral in the room, not just in color, but in form too. 

CORAL BRANCHES ON MY BAR CART

Those turned and twisted branches repeat the pattern of coral.

GNARLY "CORAL" BRANCHES

The coral shape repeats itself in the coral framed prints and reflects and repeats in the mirrored frames.

CORAL BRANCHES REPEATING AND REFLECTING IN FRAME

REPEATS AND REFLECTIONS FROM ANOTHER ANGLE

The coral pairs and compliments the copper in the room. Notice the sculptural metal coral on the stand in the upper left corner behind the leopard shaker.

CORAL AND COPPER COMBO

I added a sea life Pottery Barn platter on the bottom shelf.

POTTERY BARN PLATTER ON BAR CART BOTTOM SHELF

I also have some "coral" candlesticks on my table.  I purchased them at West Elm many years ago.

CORAL CANDLESTICKS ON MY TABLE

One of my all time favorite books, CABINET OF CURIOSITIES, rests on my coffee table.  Of course the cover has what else but some coral.

MY FAVORITE BOOK WITH CORAL ON THE COVER

Do you repeat design elements?  Do you have a plan or does it just happen?