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Why the Room Works: Tips from Jane
Open spaces: You need to have some continuity so the spaces flow together, but you want some individuality as well. I used a camel-and-blue color palette mixed with prints in both the family room and adjoining breakfast area. One separating element is the floor coverings. In the family room, a neutral textured rug ties the furnishings together. An Oriental rug in the breakfast area helps to define the space.
Scale: In a big room with high ceilings, incorporate some substantial pieces. I chose a large sofa and a tall fruitwood buffet with an oversize mirror. In the breakfast space, a high-backed sofa is used as a banquette.
Window treatments: Take window treatments up to the molding to enhance the ceiling height and add a little drama. Here the curtains are paired with bamboo shades which offer a casual touch without repeating a fabric. I think they also add some warmth.
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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
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Why the Room Works: Tips from Mary
Balance: One reason this room feels so comfortable is the symmetry. I favor a pair of matching lamps on bedside tables with complementary art above. The paintings or prints don't have to be by the same artist, but the subject matter should be similar or your eye is thrown off, and it's unsettling. Everything does not have to match. For example, a chest is used on one side of the bed and a table on the other, but both are wood. Matching club chairs in the sitting area are paired with a French armchair for its different shape and wood frame.
Mix of finishes: To keep the color scheme from being boring, I combined various finishes throughout the room. There are iron elements (the bench, small table, floor lamp, and curtain rod), soft elements (the upholstered headboard, linen curtains, and wool carpet), and wood elements (chests, tables, and chairs). It's really a balancing act.
Fabrics: Although neutral, the fabrics used here have different textures that add interest without taking away from the room's serenity. The club chairs are textured cotton, the French chair chenille, and the ottoman is leather. A lightweight linen was used for the window treatments, and the headboard is upholstered in a camel-hair fabric. The only pattern that's really visible in the room is on the crewel bed pillows, but the different surfaces play off each other and are visually pleasing.
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The inviting sitting area combines several textures that work together--linen and leather fabrics with upholstered, wood, and iron furnishings. None are overwhelming or jarring to the eye.
Classic Meets Contemporary
A neutral color scheme works really well in a master bedroom. You want a place to relax that feels warm and inviting," says designer Mary Margarett Nevin of Atlanta. Although neutral, this bedroom is far from boring. The mix of textures and the combination of contemporary and classic elements make a serene and visually pleasing room. The tall, upholstered headboard is comfortable for lounging in bed and also makes quite a statement. "Most upholstery workrooms should be able to help you create one that suits your style," says Mary Margarett. You can also make one for yourself either with a kit or from a piece of plywood.
The serene feel of this bedroom is derived from the neutral color palette, soft upholstered headboard, and balanced lamps and artwork. A chest is used as a bedside table on one side and a table on the other, but both pieces are wood.
Mary Margarett favors upholstered headboards because they are comfortable and warm for reading. The height and double row of nail heads add a hint of drama.
Next Room: Understated and Eclectic
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Why the Room Works: Tips from Charlotte
Wall color: The walls are painted white with gray trim. I prefer neutral backgrounds that give a restful feel. You can add color with pillows, flowers, and artwork. The neutral walls are the perfect background for the red chairs.
Focal point: To highlight the fireplace, I chose a large carved relief that fits perfectly over the space and draws the eye in that direction. A recessed light above commands your attention as well. I wanted to put a different medium (the row of plates) on the wall for interest but still keep a linear feel.
Mix and match: Dining room chairs and table certainly don't have to match, and this unique pairing proves that point. A long pine table with a painted base complements the stackable French bistro chairs with simple cushions added for comfort.
Windows and floor: The operative word here is none. I didn't want to clutter the room with more textures, and we didn't need window treatments for privacy. I wanted to let in as much light as possible. The same theory applies to the bare floors. When we brought in this table, I took the rug out because I preferred the clean look of the wood floors.
Scale: The metal painted chandelier is rather oversize but not overpowering. I think this simple, long table can handle this piece. I often use a large piece to emphasize the size of a room.
The unexpected: Even in a room that's fairly understated, it's interesting to throw in a piece that's a little out of character. The addition here was an ornately carved side table. I liked the piece, and it fit perfectly in that spot.
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This dining room is rather understated but not without flair. This is derived primarily from the red bistro chairs and the carved relief over the fireplace.
Understated and Eclectic
"I wanted to keep the room simple, not fussy, and let the stone fireplace make a statement," says designer Charlotte Taylor of Dallas in describing her dining room. "When you're blessed with a wonderful architectural feature, you want to take advantage of it." Charlotte shares in the room's success with her husband, Dudley. They purchased the table in London. Dudley discovered the red French bistro chairs in another shop on the same trip. "I never even saw them," says Charlotte. With their original finish, the chairs make an offbeat and interesting statement without overpowering the rest of the decor.
The elaborately carved rosewood side table stands in perfect contrast to the plain oak table. It adds a glamorous element to the room. Simple black-and-white prints are punctuated with the use of rods that hang from the picture molding.
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