This reader has a charming home, with arched doorways, hardwood floors and a chair rail throughout the house. I particularly applaud the bold choice in color. The deep navy blue is at once dramatic and classic. However, our reader is ready for change and I say, let’s bring this house into the light!
Here is the current room with deep navy walls and matching couch.
I think chair rails can be great. They are an easy way to introduce multiple colors onto one wall and also add a hint of architectural detail. I chose to leave the chair rails in place and take advantage of multiple colors and textures. Wallpaper from Hang & Paste is the perfect choice for a chair rail. The pattern isn’t overwhelming because it only covers half of the wall. It also sets a sweet and friendly mood in pale blue combined with Pratt & Lambert paint in Dried Moss. I also de-cluttered the side table by moving the family photos to the wall, in an arrangement from the Design Mom blog.
How about something bright and bold? The couch is such a dominant color in the room, a contrasting yellow wall really makes it a part of the palette. Pratt & Lamber paint in Golden Laughter and Dove White are a great backgdrop for a nautical theme. Accessories include a rustic beach print, an organized photo display, and a bright white lantern.
Lastly, a neutral room with a graphic touch is both modern and relaxed. I adore Pratt and Lambert’s Swiss Coffee (above the chair rail) and Taupe (below). So tasteful and calm! And of course, I can’t resist the wall decals. These Anise flowers from Blik are one of my favorites. For a slightly vintage feminine feel, a grouping of beveled mirrors completes the look.
Light and bright colors can have as much impact as dark and saturated ones. Don’t be afraid to lighten up!
Continue reading about Transforming a Room from Dark to Light
We have two issues to address in this living room. First, is the issue that our reader submitted: how to paint a great room which includes the living area, the dining room and the kitchen. How can you differentiate spaces when each functional area shares so many walls and so much air space? The second issue, which I noticed, is that this room suffers from a serious overdose of brown. Some carefully placed wall color and area rugs can help keep the spaces from blending together too much (and can also break up the monotonous brown!)
Here is the current room. What you can’t see here is that the dining area is next to this seating area, which then blends straight into the kitchen. It’s a quintessential “great room,” but without architectural features, there is little to articulate the functional areas.
In every scenario, I’ve painted the two walls different colors. When you are faced with one huge room, a simple solution is to create an accent wall. Pick any wall or area of the room you want to draw attention too. Check out this teal color, which coordinates nicely with the existing brown. Some golden yellow touches give the color palette a little edge and global accessories timeless. Also note that I added molding to the window and updated the blinds to make it look more substantial. Here’s the updated room recap:
- Benjamin Moore paint in Wedgewood Gray and Aegean Teal
- Andalusia rug from West Elm
- Etched Square pillows from West Elm
- Woven wood shade from the Shade Store
- Cowhide cocktail ottoman from Room and Board
- Rafia bowl made in Uganda from Ten Thousand Villages
- Black and white photograph of Paris from Allposters.com
Next up, some modern blues. I replaced the brown recliner with a more modern chair in a contrasting beige. I also darkened up the window shade. My favorite addition is the art to make an interesting focal point behind the couch. That particular piece is total steal – original art by Seon-Jeong Kim sold on Etsy. Room recap:
- Benjamin Moore paint in Lucerne and Serenata
- Axis chair from Crate and Barrel
- Seaglass Stripe rug from Crate and Barrel
- Jenga pillow
- 2″ wooden blind from the Shade Store
- Original modern art sold on Etsy
- Agave bowl
- Twine floor lamp from CB2
Lastly, an accent wall is excellent place to make use of wallpaper. I find that an all-over wallpaper is too busy for my taste. On a single wall, however, it adds a lot of depth and life to a room. This totally adorable wallpaper comes from Denmark. Room recap:
- Wild Flower wallpaper from Ferm Living
- Benjamin Moore paint in Caliente
- Yasmine rug from Crate and Barrel
- Mona Lisa and George Washington pillows from Atelier Expo Arte sold on Etsy
- Neo bunching cube, Gentry table lamp and Streeter swivel chair from Crate and Barrel
There are a lot of ways to define spaces within in larger room. Don’t be afraid to use more than one color of paint or to experiment with wallpaper and area rugs. A big great can be just that…great!
Continue reading about Putting the “Great” in a Basic Brown Great Room
This weekend we fled the big city for the fresh air and lovely views of the Hudson Valley. We aren’t lucky enough to own a country house (or have friends who do), so we opted for the next best thing: a bed and breakfast. What luck we had! We found the most charming and down to earth spot in New Paltz, complete with a heated pool, hot tub and koi pond. Our innkeepers at Fox Hill bed and breakfast, Jerry and Jerri, were just lovely and made our brief stay relaxing and memorable.
I found myself completely charmed by their simple home, tastefully adorned with classic antiques like old Singer sewing machine tables and stately wooden bureaus. I don’t usually go for turn of the century antiques, country accents or floral prints, but something about Fox Hill just felt so perfect. Here are a few of my favorite vignettes.
The house was covered in wallpaper in a mix of classic prints. I can imagine doing a small bathroom with a dainty floral or mini pattern. Even a small closet with wallpaper would make for a sweet and unexpected surprise.
Even the ceiling had a pattern!
The details of the decor were so refreshing and made me want to come home and add some girly details to my own house. How sweet is the bow on the lamp?
Well, if you are looking for a weekend getaway in the New York City area, I highly recommend Fox Hill. Definitely hit the hot tub at night and say hi to Jerry and Jerri! For those of us who can’t get away, we can be inspired by a few pretty details that make this bed and breakfast so welcoming.
This room comes to us from a reader in Europe, who inherited some red stripes in the living room. While I applaud the bold paint job by the previous tenant, I also think this particular scheme overpowers the simple room and clean Ikea-style furniture.
One simple move is to cover the room in cool neutrals. Gray walls and a black accent wall blend nicely with the existing curtain and neutral furniture. A couple of toss pillows from Etsy shop Nena Von adds a little personality and contrast.
Another way to spice up this muted color palette is to flip it! Try a dramatic black ceiling with gray walls and add definition with a thick white border. I love how these standard colors turn into something unexpected. As a finishing touch, add some playful wall art such as “Mona Prankster” from Blik.
This option is inspired by the original red striped walls. The clunky red panels have been replaced with a more sophisticated retro wallpaper from online wallpaper shop DesignYourWall.com. Add an accent wall in Molten Lava from the Pantone interior paint collection, and you’ve got one hot room. Also note the retro vase accent from hi+lo modern glass
This last option adds color, but still keeps the space cool with Pantone Federal Blue. I couldn’t resist more Blik wall decals-these from the Eames office collection. An oversized deco pendant from 2modern.com adds a focal point over the dining table.
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