Confidence with Color

By Mimi Read
April 24, 2012
Eric Piasecki
Interior designer Katie Ridder decorates with color by artfully combining exuberant hues and vibrant pattern in a new Arkansas home
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Foyer

Photo: Eric Piasecki

A local craftsman made the diamanté-patterned front door according to specs of architect Anik Pearson, and Katie designed the silk lanterns trimmed in velvet.
Katie's Color Tip: Add interest to the front door with a moody shade of purple.

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Living Room

Photo: Eric Piasecki

A custom-colored de Gournay wallpaper provided the palette for this room, which features blue linen curtains and a green shagreen coffee table.

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Sunroom

Photo: Eric Piasecki

Katie saw an old tufted sofa in a photo of an English estate and had it copied in light blue, adding her own flair with trim. Patterned tiles from Morocco embellish the floor and continue the room's palette.

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Library

Photo: Eric Piasecki

Aqua walls enliven this room, and a two-tone carpet adds a textured, mazelike pattern underfoot. On the mole-colored custom sofa nestled between the built-ins, Katie added color with a pillow made from an antique Japanese textile.
Katie's Color Tip: Don't be afraid to pair two vibrant shades, such as aqua and yellow, in the same room.

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Dining Room

Eric Piasecki

A collection of bird prints by the Swedish naturalist Olof Rudbeck animates but tempers the lime walls.
Katie's Color Tip: Layer strong colors for a grand impact.

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Sideboard

Photo: Eric Piasecki

Katie designed the blue sideboard with its huge, pomegranate-inspired bronze pulls.

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Master Bath

Photo: Eric Piasecki

The metal tub is surrounded by one of Katie's own wallpapers, a pattern called Attendants.

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Master Suite

Photo: Eric Piasecki

In the bedroom, Katie covered the walls in green silk punctuated by blue trim. The distressed octagonal mirror and 1950s mirrored dance hall ceiling fixture "speak to each other," says Katie.
Katie's Color Tip: Unite connecting spaces with the same color trim.

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Meet Designer Katie Ridder

Photo: Jay Ackerman

Katie Ridder Design & Decoration, New York, NY; katieridder.com

My trademark is: Vibrant color
I'm inspired by: Nature and my travels
Right now, I'm obsessed with: Everything from The Alpha Workshops (alphaworkshops.org), a nonprofit that teaches decorative arts to people who are HIV positive
Southern style is: A connection to the outdoors, gracious entertaining, and using your family heirlooms

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