Friday, February 24th, 2012
This bright bedroom caught my eye when I was flipping through my files, and it made me wonder what other bold, colorful bedrooms I had to inspire this winter afternoon with the snow swirling outside my window.
I love the crisp, classic color palette in this room with plenty of white to break up the large expanses of color, such as the bench at the foot of the bed. The inlay design on the nightstands works well with the pattern on the bedskirt. The red detail on the roman shades echos the red border on the sheets. And did you notice they framed the red bench with blue twill tape under the nailheads? Nice detail.
This is an old example from Domino magazine, but I love that they embraced the raspberry and lime palette in a way that could easily be updated down the line. The headboard is faux – a nice detailing using a lighter shade of the wall color. And the bed linens could easily be swapped out for a neutral linen duvet (like this one by Room and Board) to allow the walls to shine. Or a bold green and blue pattern like this duvet from Serena & Lily would emphasize the wall color while introducing a new accent color.
This purple and pale pink room is an odd mix with the bold large scale pattern on the rug and a medium scale more traditional floral print on the upholstered screen acting as a headboard. The pink trim is unexpected, but help to tie in the lighter tones in the floral print. I couldn’t rest in this room, but to each their own.
I love the mood of this bedroom. The Chaing Mai dragon wallpaper from Schumacher is one of my favorite crazy prints, and the almost chartreuse headboard is bold on it’s own, but also serves to break up this bold print. The vintage looking bedside lamp has great personality, and really adds to the room’s style. I wish the nightstand was a bit larger so the lamp didn’t take up the majority of the surface so there was room for a glass of water, a clock and book.
Finally, we have this palm beach vibe bedroom by Celerie Kemble. To me it looks crisp and fresh, just like the first bedroom above. You can see there is pattern introduced both in the headboard (what a task to get those leaves to line up across the creases!) and the wallpaper by the vanity (upper left). Again, simple bed linens with an accent border color were utilized to balance all the green on the window treatments and side chair. I’m guessing this room is typically flooded with light and can handle all this brightness.
So the question is: do you prefer a bright, bold bedroom or a calm softer color palette to ease you into sleep? Or does a balance of the two suit you best?
Photo credits:
1. House Beautiful 2-12 by Lindsey Coral Harper.
2. Domino
3. Living Etc. 3-09
4. Schumacher, Design by Christopher Kennedy.
5. Celerie Kemble, “To Your Taste”
Tags: bedroom, Blue, color palette, green, headboard, interior design, purple, Red, twin cities, wallpaper, white
Posted in Color Pulse, Inspiration Boards | 1 Comment »
Tuesday, February 14th, 2012
Out and about last week running errands at the Galleria in Edina my eyes kept being drawn to the window displays. It seems retailers are embracing the color of the year, Tangerine Tango.
First up, Epitome Papers. Their bright display featuring tangerine, peacock turquoise and crisp white stationery and accessories on a white Parsons table caught my eye and brought a smile to my face. I’m shameless in moments like this and don’t worry what people think when I’m taking a photo with my phone. Inspiration is everywhere after all!
Down the hall at BCBG Max Azria orange and hot pink dresses and separates demand your attention against a bright backdrop. (Notice how they used blue for the backdrop, the complementary color to orange on the color wheel?) I don’t really have any need for an orange bustier top and skin tight skirt with 4″ high heels, but I can still applaud the fearless application of color.
Just down the hall, Crate & Barrel has embraced the trend in multiple home categories. First, see the obvious tie in between an orange juicer and juice glasses with oranges above. I don’t squeeze fresh juice except for homemade lemon bars, but that juicer in the perfect shade of orange almost convinced me I needed one.
Meanwhile, upstairs in the home furnishings section they went all out with an orange and chocolate brown bedroom display. Most people would be afraid to buy a chair in orange, but I think it’s a great way to add impact to a space. Go neutral with your sofa, but why not add a punch of color beyond the throw pillows?
If the chair is too much, start with a lamp like the one above. It will help carry the color palette around the room. Or for the commitment phobic, bedding is a great solution. I tend to want a new duvet cover every 2-3 years to add to the mix, especially since my cats LIVE on our bed, thus shortening the lifespan of every duvet. So selecting a neutral chocolate brown bed and swapping out colorful bedding periodically you can embrace a trend but move on easily when you get tired of the look.
Finally, across from BCBG, Oh Baby! shows how neutral foundation pieces, like the rocker and crib in soft gray, can be brought to life with bold accents. Check out that kelly green bedding in the crib, love it! And of course you know the orange Moroccan pouf in the center is what drew me in. They have lots of other color options, see them all here.
Does this take away some of the fear of how to incorporate Tangerine Tango into your life? Maybe it’s a bright new scarf to brighten your face in your favorite black on black outfit. Just do what makes you smile. And if you hate orange (mom, I’m thinking of you), then be true to yourself and ignore the trend all together. The key is to have fun and embrace what you love and make sure you reflect that in what you wear and how you fill your home.
Happy Valentine’s Day everyone!
All photos by Fox Interiors
Tags: BCBG, bedroom, chair, Crate & Barrel, Epitome Papers, Galleria, juicer, lamp, Oh Baby!, orange, pouf, stationery, turquoise
Posted in Color Pulse, Spotted | 1 Comment »
Thursday, February 2nd, 2012
Usually it’s the September decorating issue that seduces me into buying a copy of Martha Stewart Living at the news stand (or the grocery store since we don’t really have NY style news stands here). But a cover like this with such a bright cheerful kitchen and the promise of more great kitchens inside? I give in.
But this issue isn’t just about great kitchens. In fact, my husband stole it before I could even sit down! He declared it a great purchase because there are also articles on sandwiches (his favorite food group), and topless terrariums (my new dining room table is quickly being taken over by his growing plant collection).
You know my love of organizing runs deep, and Martha’s does too.
Not only does she have great tips in her classic “Good Things” column, but she also has a multi-page article on creating a room just for her cleaning and organizing supplies! (see below) Holy moly!
I have nice 36″ wide drawers that are perfect for storing pots and baking dishes, but if I had to organize them in a traditional cupboard I like this solution above.
Hanging the cleaning bottles on a tension rod under a sink is brilliant. It looks so tidy plus you get bonus space underneath them if the bar is set high enough.
I won’t make you green with envy by showing the photos of the giant room she has for her “homekeeping” supplies, but I like these detail shots showing how she groups supplies by function. I don’t think I need to stockpile 3 bottles of each of her cleaning line for Home Depot, but the bins work well for grouping smaller collections of similar cleaning supplies. Imagine all your different wood polishing creams and tools in one convenient place for the Saturday you decide it’s time to oil the teak and polish the walnut? Ahh, the joys of organization geeks are endless.
I’m not a knitter, but these knit stool slipcovers are brilliant! I have a pair of plain Bosse bar stools from IKEA from our previous home that I was planning on hacking into counter height stools until I can pick the perfect stools (which of course means I have to decide on chairs for the dining room since they are right next to each other, so this will take a while. See my previous post on the issue for the full story.)
Here’s the Bosse stool. Now look at the examples above. I think I could shorten the legs, paint the ends an accent color and add a nubby knit topper and have a completely reinvented stool for a tiny amount of cash! Too bad I don’t knit. Any volunteers?
As for another kitchen? Well, here’s another sneak peak to entice you…
Isn’t the pop of bright green wallpaper on the back of the open kitchen shelves wonderful? Not only do the colorful dishes stand out against it, but so do their white bowls. The rest of the finishes are classic neutrals, allowing the bright accents to shine. Making a commitment to color this way doesn’t have to be scary. This could easily be updated with another wallpaper or fabric covered panels down the line when you want a new look.
Thank you to the Martha Stewart Living team for another inspiring issue!
Tags: cleaning, color, green, Kitchen, knit, Martha Stewart Living, organization, sandwiches, stool, wallpaper
Posted in Hot off the Press | 2 Comments »
Colleen Fox Slack | email: colleen@colleenfoxinteriors.com | phone: 612.868.0348
Copyright © Fox Interiors. All Rights Reserved.
Proudly powered by WordPress | Designed and implemented by Inizio Creative.