A base of camel and blue makes for a warm, sophisticated look in the family room. Notice the mix of wood and upholstery pieces.
One benefit of being a Homes editor is looking at beautiful houses and working with talented professionals. I've learned that the styles that look so effortless to me (and probably you) are really not. Designers think about every element--color, proportion, shape, and pattern--when putting a room together. The good news is that there are tricks of the trade, and you can learn them. So join three of my favorite designers as we go through different rooms, and steal some of their ideas along the way.
Traditional With a French Twist
"It all started with the blue," says interior designer Jane Schwab of Charlotte when describing the family room of her clients Hope and David Riggins. "Blue is a favorite of Hope's, and we really wanted to put it in a room where they spend a lot of time." A print fabric, eventually used for sofa pillows, was the starting point for the color scheme. "Blue is sometimes hard to use," notes Jane. "There was a time when everyone had a blue room, so it can feel old-fashioned or go toward a Colonial look. I think blue can still be fresh and up-to-date if you think more monochromatic." Here blue is combined with only one other color--a neutral camel.
Because the breakfast area opens to the family room, the color palette remains the same, but prints--a toile and a large check--bring a more casual attitude.
Next Room: Classic Meets Contemporary
