It’s time to pull this room together, and I’d like your help. At the moment, it just feels like a room full of stuff –nothing’s working together. The reason it’s in this sorry state is that nearly everything is left over from somewhere else and wound up here without any plan. The cool gray wool carpet is from the den in the City, the vintage danish modern bedside tables were hijacked on their way to Julia’s room (where they’re needed now), the bedside lamps were in the living rooms of two previous apartments in New York, and so forth. Of course, it’s great to reuse good pieces, but this looks more like a tag sale than our bedroom.
Some of the stuff’s pretty nice, though, and so I’m hoping that with some careful editing and a few strategic purchases, we can fix up the room without spending a lot of money. The bed is staying –I like the casual warmth of the seagrass headboard, and the platform base is sturdy and comfortable. The lamps at the side can go though: they’re nice, but too subdued and tailored for this space.
Here are some more views of the room with more of my current thinking about what’s in and what’s probably out.
East. The gray wool carpet is soft, handsome, and, importantly, new, so it’s staying. The danish teak chests are staying too — they’re not heirloom quality, but they’re fine for now, and we need the storage for clothes, particularly in the cooler months.
East. This is a good chair, but if we keep it, I’d like to make it feel like it belongs. It currently functions as a hamper.
South from the bedroom and through the closets to the master bath beyond. (The tile is light blue glass.)
West. I like the linens, but, of course, they’ll have to work with the new color scheme.
Speaking of which, I think our first step should be to choose a new wall color. I’d like to keep the fresh white wood ceiling, but the warm gray below clashes with the carpet, and it feels drab and uninteresting. I’d love to get your thoughts on a new direction.
Do any of these appeal, at least directionally? I was originally drawn to the blues, but something warmer might be nice too. Of course, other suggestions are most welcome.
Update: I’ve just purchased a pair of vintage lamps. I think their bold glazing and handmade quality will add much needed warmth and energy to the room.
Here’s a fresh take on cooking, entertaining, decorating and other domestic arts and sciences from a real daddy living in New York and San Francisco. I’ve always had a strong domestic streak, but since my partner and I had our daughter Julia last year, I’ve learned to keep my projects simpler, faster and more fun. I enjoy sharing what I’ve learned, and I’d love to hear your ideas too.
An Homage to Hospital Jello: Minted Pomegranate Lime Jelly
Chicken Breasts with Mint, Capers and White Wine
Cow Hollow Cooler
Painting Stripes
Sunny Bedcover for Julia's Room
Turkish Coffee Chocolate Creams
{ 12 comments… read them below or add one }
Okay, those lamps are stunning! Nice find!
I kind of feel that given the nature of the colors in the lamp bases, you’ll have to be a little more careful when choosing your wall color. I don’t know that blue will support the lamps very well, although I do like the 2nd and 4th blue choices.
I think that the top green choices will appear to be too drab behind the lamps, but I really like the way that the second chip up from the bottom looks. It seems like it would play well rather than compete with them.
I know you said you like the linens, but maybe a dark grey duvet would look nice?
As for the chair- I vote on keeping it. To make it feel like it belongs, have you thought about an offset color block of paint behind it? Maybe one shade lighter than the rest of the room?
I can’t wait to see what you come up with; I’m sure it will be fantastic, as usual.
I love Sherwin Williams’ Spiced Cider – we’ve used it a couple times and it’s really soft, warm and it does a great job of accenting woodtones. Not sure this would work with the bedding or rug, but it’d work with the chair and the other furniture. We actually had this as our bedroom color at our last house and had aqua accents all over, so I think it’d be easy to tie in to to the bathroom.
http://www.sherwin-williams.com/do_it_yourself/paint_colors/ideas/color/SW7702_spiced_cider/
I love the bright blue, I think it goes well with the lamps (from what I can see).
Would you be willing to paint maybe part of the teak? (Not all, just accents) And maybe recover the chair? Otherwise you could go with a lighter blue (like Tiffany blue or paler), brown, and white palette.
could you use the chests as bedside tables, thus clearing the sides of the room, and perhaps a more bluegrey shade on the walls would complement the carpet and provide a good backdrop for those great lampbases. Though the second sample up on the right would tie in well as well. Its hard to tell on a computer screen but does the bedding go with the lamps? As for the chair, maybe a small table would make it look more included.
I would do the turquoise. I think it would be great with the white ceiling and would work with the bed linens. Plus, it would be just right for the sunny days in Southampton. I recently painted my kitchen in Ohio (where there are lots of drab days) a very similar color (B. Moore House of Blues) and it made a huge difference. I am crazy about it! Plus, surprisingly enough, it looks great with so many colors – orange and coral are especially chic! (Choc brown or mocha also looks great!)
: ) Kim (frustrated lawyer/wanna-be decorator!)
P.S. West Elm has some great rugs that would look fab with the turquoise – especially like the moroccan tile pattern!
Originally I imagined the blue–gray hues until I saw the lamps (wonderful!). I agree with some of the comments suggesting a cider/mustard color for the walls. If you wanted green, perhaps the pink linens/pillowcases could be switched with a shade of (olive?) green. This might work along with the lamps and the walls. A pillow or throw to compliment the green color could be draped over the hamper
I love the old lamps. Let me know if they’re for sale!
Actually, I just love your writing. My suggestions would be sub par. Goodluck.
I would vote for the color hues on the far left – not matchy to the lamps, but would work to support the focus on the lamps.
The lamps would look great with the turquoise. Does it clash with the tiles in the bath?
Ooooo, that Liaigre Barbuda armchair belongs in my living room. Really. I’ve been dreaming it there for years!
*sigh*
Now that you have planted the seed of Liaigre in my head, I am on that track. Specifically, Liaigre’s weekend place on the Ile de Ré.
So, specifically, I would paint the walls a slightly creamy white. Perhaps Donald Kaufman Color 51, or some of the following from KT Color — Travertine, Alabaster, Ivoire; the specific shade better determined in situ.
As for bedding, a combination of Elsa and Red Tick from Matteo Home.
Can’t help myself, but I would change out the Barbuda Armchair for an Ile de Ré armchair, which has a more relaxed and less formal feel. (the light blue cushions would be lovely)
The rug is beautiful, but I just can’t make it fit with the lamps, and the lamps win out. I’d go with sisal (or a more comfortable wool sisal), layered with a Kilim.
As for the teak chests, would you be willing to paint them? I just came across a bench on 1st dibs with ebonized teak legs, and muttered “heathens! why didn’t they leave the teak in its natural state!”, and here I am, suggesting you paint them. Red, of all colours. KT Color rouge foncé. Lovely. And perfect with the lamps you found. (and the headboard).
I hope it wouldn’t be gilding the lilly to introduce some artwork with frames painted the same red.
Would that be too Ile de Ré?
I always find it more difficult to redesign an exisitng room than to create anew… perhaps it is the delema of saving things due to the attachment we have created. I am reminded though that design is always a compromise. While reading your description of the exisiting room, the seagrass headboard struck me at odds with the other furnishings. Now with the purchase of those lamps, I think these objects are the perfect direction for the new room. Your decor interests seem to me to suit a modern Swedish style and because of this I would suggest earthier colours like sage or orchre colour for the walls. I am sure the white will counter balance the stronger colour. I think this scheme, like the rest of your home, endures a fresh aesthetic. The soft grey blue (carpet) paired with rustic pieces (lamps) gives the impression of both lightness and soldity. I have seen this colour combination of ochre and grey work very well. This also provides the continuity from the other rooms where modern mixes with traditional. I am afraid the linens should be repurposed elsewhere… you will need the right design, (perhaps geometric?), to pull the whole room together… what a great project you have on your hands! Looking forward to hearing your resolve.