Wallpaper Wednesday

I am in the process of finding the perfect wallpaper for a client. These are some of the ones that I am looking at. Which is your favorite?

2

3

4

5

Mine? So far in my hunt, I like #5. The golden color will bring out the shades in her granite, the background will look great next to her cherry cabinets, and go very well with her furnishings. I like the simple elegance of the pattern.

Don't Do It!

Christine,

I'm ready to re-do our master bedroom. I'm having trouble deciding (or knowing) what I should do with a large room that has a vaulted ceiling and a "plant" shelf. Standing at the door to the room, the vault runs up from right to left (the right side being the natural ceiling height of 8').

Currently, the walls are just white, with a border at the natural ceiling height of 8'. I'm going to take that down, and would like the wall in the picture to be an accent (dark) color. I just don't know where to stop the wall paint. Should I bring the ceiling color down to the 8' mark, and put up something like crown molding, or run the wall color all the way up to the ceiling? And which color (wall or ceiling) should be painted up on the plant shelf?

Your advice is much appreciated.
Trish Stukus

Dear Trish,

It all depends...

1. I don't see a bed on this wall?? This is one of my "rules." Accent colors are sometimes over used and poorly used. Any time that we are not in an extremely modern/ contemporary setting (which I can see that we are not)- an accent wall in a bedroom should only be used on the headboard wall. Why? Well, the headboard wall should be the focal point wall. The accent wall color should be on the focal point wall. If you split your focus, your room will never feel right, and (if it were not for this very helpful blog:)- you wouldn't ever know why.



2. OK- so let's say you just moved your bed- this is now the headboard wall. How high should you go... etc. Well- that depends- do you want a more contemporary feel, or traditional?

Traditional beds- like the one above, would be better off with a nice large piece of crown moulding, and - well- no accent wall at all. Accent walls are more conducive to a more contemporary setting.So- if you are going traditional- ix-ne the accent wall idea. But- is it not such a traditional look?Say- like this? or...A platform bed- like this? OK- go for it- do an accent wall- go ahead and carry the paint around to the vaulted area- or not- you can go either way... but are you sure you want it to be chocolate brown???? If you have a wood bed, I would not have the background to your headboard in brown. Choose a color that is a good contrast with the wood. Contrast is your friend :) OK- so you are ready to go- unless I have talked you out of your idea, and your color . Send us pictures - we love to see before and afters!

Beds from Bernhardt

Wallpaper Wednesday

Both of these papers, in the foreground and background are "high texture papers." With them comes a richness that absolutely "makes" the room. I love the cherry blossom pattern. For me, cherry blossoms have been up there with "butterflies" lately. I think it is the hot new pattern. And yes- I know these things. Pottery Barn has butterfly Christmas ornaments. I told you butterflies were the thing- and now- I am telling you- it's cherry blossom patterns. This is your Interior Design Meteorologist- signing off.

One More Eames

Did you ever watch Frasier?

Oh, I did. It is one of my favorite shows. So well written, fabulously funny characters, and a great apartment. I wanted to show you another of my favorite Eames chairs, as a continuation of yesterday's post. There it is, do you see it?

Up, on the wood floors, black leather...

There- behind the ironing board, from the famous "A Valentine for Niles" episode.

It is the Eames Lounge chair. See- great chair huh? Another classic.

The Perfect Addition

Styles come and go. This is one of the frustrating aspects of decorating some time. You purchase the perfect chair, you love it. Five years later you still love it! Seven years later you wonder if you should recover it.. Ten years after purchase, you no longer like it. Fifteen years later you HATE IT. It is out of style, and all wrong.

One way to avoid this cycle is by using classic, timeless pieces. The stool in the photo is designed by the fabulous Charles and Ray Eames. It comes in three distinct profiles, and is NEVER going to go "out of style." You read me right, never. This stool was designed in 1960, and is still manufactured and loved today. It has become a "classic."

Damask Wallpaper Wednesday

In case you didn't know- damask wallpaper is the hot look.- I want to know which one is your favorite.. #1

#2

#3

#4

#5

#6

#7

#8

#9



Ok- I'll start- my favorites are #s 2,4, and 9- which are your fav's?

Corrie's Challenging Room

Christine,

Michal sent me your way, and I have enjoyed reading through your blog, you have a lot of interesting ideas for tricky areas. I wonder what you might think of our tricky area. We have a family room that also acts as a pass-thru between the entry, bedrooms, and dining/kitchen. It is time for the carpet to come out in the family room and the wood floors to be redone in the kitchen/dining area so we figure now is the time to make any major changes.

We have a few things that make it especially challenging
1) We have son who uses a wheelchair (it is 2 feet wide and needs to be able to get from the bedroom side of the house to the kitchen side)
2) He also requires at least 6 feet of length to lay down on when he's fatigued from sitting in his chair
3) He also requires an ottoman that can push right up to the couch because he tends to hang his legs of the couch (not good for his hips)
4) The rest of us (2 adults and 4 additional children) need somewhere else to sit as well
5) The room is not very wide, roughly 16'9" x 15 (I've drawn out a floor plan that is very close to scale)
Thanks for helping me with this room. I'm sending a slew of pictures to give you a sense of the space, I hope that's okay. The first one is of his bed (in our family room right now while he recovers), the second is of a rug that has all the colors I really love in it (except for the creamy color), the third is an idea for what to do on my huge wall, the fourth is a close-up of the fireplace, the fifth is Ty on the couch we're thinking of purchasing, and the sixth is to show you the scale of that big, empty wall - please ignore the filthy carpet.

The wood floor has now been laid in the family room and hallway - it is much lighter now, but still rustic. One solution for my son's couch (he just had his 4th hip surgery and will always need a spot to lay down) is the Lancaster from Restoration Hardware - it is deep enough that he wouldn't need an ottoman in front of it. I had wanted it in the Brompton Cocoa leather (the same as the picture), but I think it would distress unevenly with him laying on it - what do you think?

I was thinking of ordering it in the Cafe Drywash Chenille, but am afraid to go ahead until I have the whole room figured out. I don't want to buy more pieces in the Lancaster, it's just too deep for anyone else to sit on, but I have no idea how to tie the rest of it together. We would need another sofa/love or sofa/chair for the rest of us to sit on since it's our main gathering space.

I suppose if I completely drop all aesthetics, we could just keep his bed in here - I'd much rather not do that. I've also just had someone to bid on a built-in above the fireplace and I think the TV will end up there or maybe on the big wall. Thanks again for helping me figure this out.
Corrie

Dear Corrie,

Your room is definitley a challenge!

To every rule there is an exception, (or two)- and your case is definitely that. Generally I say "pull your furniture away from your wall!" "Bring it out into the room!" "Don't line your walls with furniture"- but in your case, unless ABC is going to build you a larger home, I say the opposite- my plan for your room has you pushing your furniture into the corner, along the wall :)

I love the Lancaster sofa from RH- but I agree with you that distressed leather would not be a good solution- unless you always had a blanket under your son.- Otherwise I am sure that you will not like the distressing pattern on the leather. I would only use a synthetic material- for durability. It comes in a sectional- but it is too large, and the sofa is too large to add an additional piece of furniture to the room.

The other thing... to actually have a 60 inch clearance pathway in the room, (which is the "code"- although you may feel like you can get away with less) you do not have room for more than one piece of furniture- I am going to suggest one of two sectionals.

1. The Humphrey- see it by clicking here and here. Like the Lancaster, it is four feet deep. I have ordered it in for clients before and it is SUPER comfortable. After sitting on it, I wished that I had ordered it for myself, instead of my more expensive leather furniture. Oh- yes- and it comes in some great upholstery fabrics- I can send you some samples if you like. Although it is so deep, with pillow placement, it will fit any body. Adding the chase, it gives you a bed for your son, as well as additional seating. It is available in a myriad of combinations. You need to decide how much clearance you want for the wheelchair. Like I said, "code" is 5' (this allows for turning the wheelchair around)- you say that the chair is 2' wide, perhaps you can get away with less than 5- which gives you more options .
   
   
2. Seating the entire family- (Five kids, plus parents)- will be cozy :) Here is another idea- from the same manufacturer- the Super Nova Sectional- see it by clicking here. This sectional is only 43 inches deep- but has some great ottomans that are just asking you to lay on them. They could also be pulled out and used for additional seating for your little ones.

I would tuck the sectional into the corner- (opposite the fireplace) with the longer side on the side by the staircase. This will have you keeping your TV above the Fireplace. I would re-do the fireplace with stone all the way up- making it look like there is a chimney there, and put a flat screen TV above the mantle. Putting it on the long blank wall would only work if your room were a bit wider, and we could put the furniture the other direction.

Your large blank wall is asking for something... But if you are going to have a true 60 inch clearance- your something can't have any depth. ie- no shelves, no furniture, no bookcases, no built-ins. Make sure you do have something with the right scale to fit the large wall. The picture you e-mailed was above a sofa. Keep in mind- if your wall decor is above a sofa- it has a scale relationship with the sofa- if it is on a wall with no furniture- it needs to have a scale relationship with the wall itself. You could do exactly what you saw above the sofa, - a mirror- the wrought iron, the sconce shelf- and put it on your wall- and it will not look right. It certainly won't look professional. The scale will be off.- it will be "floating" on your wall, whereas in the photo you sent, it was nicely grounded by the sofa.

Ideas:

1. A large family picture- with a lot of smaller pictures of your family around it. When I am using family photos as wall art- especially outside of a hallway situation- I like to have them in sepia tones. Your frames can bring in some of the colors that you described in your rug.




2. Mount a large screen on the wall.



3. Hang a rug on the wall



4. Go to a company like " House in the Country"- where you have not only a good selection of art- but each piece is available in different sizes, so you can really get a collection of art that is the right scale for you wall. I would draw a "to scale" outline of your wall, (on graph paper) and then cut out little pieces of paper of different sizes, and create the perfect art wall collage. I like these- from their "zen floral" collection- (the one below and the one at the top of the post- the black background will help to add visual weight to the large wall.

Speaking of visual weight.. Add some long drapes to your window. You need to balance the visual weight on the large wall, with comparable visual weight on the window wall. Consider a dark background, patterned material- lined and weighted, of course. Two panels, one on either side.

Use all of the same colors, the black the gold, the green, the red- in your throw pillows on your sectional.

Good luck on your project! Feel free to ask additional questions on it- and send us some "sfter pics" :)

- Christine

P Dub needs me again :)

Dear Pioneer Woman,

Just in case you actually view my blog- know that I have helped you in the past: here and here.

PW is working on another little project that she needs my help with. Currently she has 1010 comments from amateurs. I thought I would add my 2 cents.

PW: When my mother-in-law and I were sketching out this area, she said, “How ’bout if we put a niche right here?” And she pointed to the corner area of the wall.
“YEAH!” I said. “AWESOME! Let’s put a niche right here!”
Then said, “What’s a niche?”
My mother in law laughed, thinking I was kidding.
I wasn’t kidding.
This is a niche, I would later find out:

A niche, technically, is a recess in a wall for a statue or urn. Right now, our niche is holding a pop can.
(Important Note: “Pop” means “Soda“, for those of you who live in California and the Northeastern states; “Coke” for those of you who live in the deep south. Thus endeth this lesson on geographical jargon.)
I like our niche. We installed a light at the top to shine down on whatever statue, urn, or jumbo-sized Precious Moments figurine we decide to put there, and it’s sort of a nice feature for the front entryway.

I’m looking for a few good ideas for the niche, though.

Should we put a big chunk of stone surface at the base of it, and some kind of bronze sculpture on top? Or would a chunky piece of wood be better? Or should we keep it subtle and have a thin, simple surface in there? Should we paint the inside of the niche a contrasting color to the surrounding wall? Should there be shelves in the niche, or should we keep it open as it is? I love your ideas.
And most importantly, how do you pronounced “niche?”
Do you say “nitch“?
Or “neesh“?
I feel the need to settle this important matter before we move onto the next phase.

MY ADVICE:

Dear PW,

I know that you will never read my blog- but I still think we would be good friends, and you should just ask me when you have questions like this :) Did I mention that we both have two girls and two boys? See- we have things in common. We could be friends! I could help you with things like your niche.

Your kids:
My Kids:

You see- they could be friends too- clearly they all like candy (as yours are eating it, and mine are ready to go beg for it.) My kids wish they were cowboys (girls)- your kids are the real deal. They have so much in common- They would get along great!

OK- my advice for your niche:

I like the idea of changing the surface of the niche. Consider bead board, or a mosaic slate. Your area is small- so go for the stuff you wanted in your shower- but cost too much. I told Coleen, in a previous post to use something like this in her niche:

Perhaps a smaller scale in your niche:

That feel would work great in your place as well.

Another idea? You could have stained concrete covering the surface of the niche- with a thick piece of concrete on the base- I don't have a picture of that one for you- but it would look fabuloso!- (and could be any color)

Do not keep the niche the same color as the rest of the walls. If you don't change the surface (which I recommend that you do)- at least change the paint.

Whenever you have a lit area- I would not do shelves unless they were glass, so the light could permeate. On a corner, I would not do glass. It doesn't seem practical with kids and cowboys :)- so I am saying- no shelves.

I like your idea of the jumbo sized precious moments figure (Isn't she funny?)- but if you can't find one big enough...

Finding the right sized item is the most important thing to consider- like a vase from Mattews and Company- their look would be great in your lodge. You mentioned before that you wanted a "zen- like" feel- or maybe that was only for the bathroom- anyway- how about a yoga statue? Oh, you are right- we need more of a vertical feel in your niche. :)These Copper Birch vases from Gumps of SF would be perfect in your place- cut some cool branches, and have them poking out.

I would keep it just like they have it with the glass leaves sitting there- how cool are those? (Gumps again)

Choose both the background of your niche, and your dispay item prior to starting, as you want to make sure you have contrast in the two. If your display item is gray, you might want to go with a gold color in the mosaic- a gray vase, and a gray slate would be far less dramatic.

You could also go with just the right plant- like this Whisper Lady's Slipper Orchid:

OK- there you have it, ignore the gazillion comments from amateurs and just ask me :)

Wallpaper Wednesday

Which wallpaper is your favorite? Today's theme is children's rooms. Tell me your favorite, and your least favorite.

The fun thing about kid's rooms, is that it is an area where you can "cut loose" a bit. Use the fun colors that you love, but don't necessarily want in your living room. Be a little trendy, the kids grow, and you end up re-decorating anyway. I like the colors, but I am not crazy about the "flip flops." I just don't get it. Why are flip flops on the paper? I like shoes as much as the next gal- but flip flops on the wall? I like the orange thing above the bed a lot though- a great idea.

Check out this camo butterfly pattern from Candice Olson- I know that I am into butterflies a lot lately- but hey- they are cool. I am not a fan, however, of the 70's beads- and I definitely wouldn't put them together.


I would try to find a paper that the child can live with for a while- that's the practical side of me- check out this daisy pattern- fun for a toddler or a teen. (but don't expect them to sleep when it is light out)- on second thought- I wouldn't put this paper in until they weren't taking naps anymore. And- I would ditch the boarder- boarders are a little on the cheesy side most of the time. Just use a crown moulding.




I love a classic toile. It is such a lovely nursery look. Totally timeless. Sophisticated, yet juvenile.

OK- I admit- I don't like this look at all. The colors are obnoxious. So is bat man. It is too "themey" and bright. yugh. But I bet there are some four year old boys out there that like it. I personally, never plan on showing it to my boys. They won't know what they are missing. I can't think of any wallpaper that I like for boys' rooms. It is all too "themey" or "cheesy".

Here is a Laura Ashley- "delicate twigs"- yes- I like this one- what a sweet look for a nursery.

That one reminds my of D1's room when she was a baby. I used a wallpaper- not a juvenile print. The shot shows mostly the ceiling, but you can see the wallpaper.

D2 would love this one. Personally- I think I would find it hard to sleep.

I have mixed feelings about decorating like this. I think it is "cute"- but "cute" is not usually my objective. I like "cool." My daughters would LOVE it though. Again- not exactly the fung shui that would help a child sleep.

OK- so what do you like, not like, adore, and hate? Tell me about it!

Me- my favorite is the camo butterfly- least fav- bat man.

Wallpapers in today's post are availabel from York.