I find some room images really stick with me. They become design inspiration for my work and my home, and simply make me happy. In spending time with these images, I find it educational for me as a designer to break down the elements that make the space incredibly successful. I thought it would be fun to share my thoughts on what makes a room a success featuring one of my all-time favorites from interior designer Sheila Bridges, as featured in Elle Decor magazine.
Elle Decor Magazine; interior design: Sheila Bridges Design; Photo: William Waldron
Oh how I love this room, let me count the ways. This image literally makes me wax poetic. Maximum design nerd territory, my favorite place to be! There are three key elements I would like to highlight in this room: color, scale, and attention to detail.
COLOR
Granted, in person the color may read very differently, but based on the photos the palette of this room consists of shades of blue, a pinkish-red, gray, and creamy white. These colors appear in multiple tones, which gives the room vibrancy. Notice the depth of the color in the Studio Printworks grasscloth wallpaper - it is a wonderful chalky grey with strong lavender and blue undertones. Notice the softer gray-blue fabric on the settee. These elements serve to anchor the bed, and helps to draw your eye across the room. In between, the red serves as a wonderful and vibrant accent against these soothing hues. The red is strongest in the horizontal bands of the silk curtains and accent pillow. I love how the soft shade of the wallpaper contrasts with the intensity of the curtains. These major design elements are playing so well together. The red softens to a blush shade for the bed coverlet, keeping in line with the soft tones of the overall scheme. Imagine the coverlet in the intense shade of red - it would overwhelm the space and lose the soothing feel. The blush is just right.
The beautiful colors play in a sea of creamy white tones, represented in the ceiling and trim, sisal rug, Swedish settee frame, bedside tables, and lamps. It might be fun to see the lamp shades with a touch of color and/or pattern. I could also imagine a super soft wash of color on the ceiling.
Interior design: Sheila Bridges Design
SCALE
The designer is masterfully utilizing scale to enable the use of multiple strong patterns in the room. How many do you count? And here is why it works. There is an excellent balance between large and small, soft and geometric. The wallpaper print scale is huge. It makes a big impact, but isn't too busy in that scale. Imagine it printed in 1/4 this scale - it would be beautiful, but oh so busy. The large scale and vertical form of the wallpaper is the perfect foil for the tight, horizontal lines of the curtains. To my eye, the round Ikat print on the headboard is the boldest choice in the scheme and the touch that takes things to another level. That print combined with the round starburst mirror creates a powerful focal point in the center of the room, drawing your eye in. It is strong, which is why it makes so much sense to have something strong at the window. Keeps the eye moving.
The Greek key pattern of the sisal rug is repeated in the trim on the bed pillows, a nice touch I especially like with the style of the lamps.
ATTENTION TO DETAIL
Did you notice the touch of the most intense shade of red in the trim on the bed skirt? A little detail that works like crazy to hold the palette and room together. Imagine the bed without it - it would be so much flatter. See how perfectly the medallions on the headboard fabric line up with the edges? Believe me, that is no happy accident! The rug is sized exactly to fit the bed and nightstands, with plenty of room in front of the settee - perfectly anchoring the room. And I love how the shape in the detail carving on the settee is also seen in the print of the wallpaper. Amazing.
Interior design: Sheila Bridges Design
This room effectively demonstrates just how much thought and time goes into a professionally designed space. This is why great design takes time, and why it is worth the wait - and money!
The next time you see an image you really love, try spending a bit of time with it to figure out why it works. These are so many wonderful lessons to be learned; a few of which may just work in decorating your space.
Check out the article from Elle Decor here - Home Tour: A History Harlem Brownstone
Until next time, keep design dreaming!!
Courtney