Interior Design Insights from Paula Albinson

Contemporary and Colorful

Many of us are true friends of the contemporary style. The photograph above from Elle Décor shows a contemporary space softened and warmed with neutral materials and rich paint colors. Contemporary styling means clean and simple lines to the room and furnishings. Light and dark neutrals plus glass and chrome evoke this style for most of us…leaving us often with a cool feeling. This room, however, uses clean and simple lines along with warm colors in the room itself and the furnishings for a more updated description of contemporary.

The walls are paneled in a warm toned wood. As you can see by the cuts on the panel faces, each is cut to the exact same size creating a measured and connected feeling to the space. Rather than add another textural element for window coverings the same cut panel size and material is continued on the windows. When the window panels are closed a seamless and consistent look is created.

The flooring is a short nap (height) carpet with a soft wavy line design across the width. The color tone from the wall/window paneling is carried through to create a very warm and color consistent “envelope” for the room. Now with the surfaces designed in a consistent color palette, other elements can be shown attention. The ceiling continues the warm look painted a butternut color in a flat finish which absorbs the light coming from the windows.

Because the room is small, the accessories are themselves smaller in scale and not meant to be the focal point, just an enhancement to the space. Reading lamps are on the wall, the pillows on the neutral colored sofa are also of neutral patterns with just the one piece replicating the color of the ceiling in the trim. The coffee table/bench is perhaps the most visually forward of the accessories with its contemporary squared pattern of butternut and tomato red tones.

The design elements we have discussed above seem very consistent with a contemporary style. However, we might pay some attention to changes of the two chairs. The blue/gray chair nearer the window has a very high back which works well as a contemporary addition to the room. The back, however, would be equally effective if it were 6-7” shorter.

Rather than the traditional style wood frame chair, a textural selection perhaps woven leather in a lighter color and still small in scale would continue the contemporary feeling of the room.

It has often been said smaller spaces are the most difficult to design well to create a unified and cohesive feeling. So, go ahead and create a space where you would love to spend your relaxing and restful time. Enjoy the process and remember, love is in the details.

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Room Dividers

The use of screens as room dividers are a wonderful, creative and aesthetic way of dividing a space into smaller useable areas or covering unwanted/unattractive architectural elements in a home or apartment unit. Many think using screens or a type of divider in a small space will make the area feel claustrophobic, however, in reality, the space seems warmer and more cohesive.

It is always difficult to review a magazine photograph and make evaluations based only on that one photograph, however, since that is what we must work with we will begin there. Let’s evaluate as many elements of the photograph as we can.

It seems as if this is an architecturally standard style of condominium in any of our large cities. At the ceiling area behind the screen, you will see a column which is part of the building itself. It seems this and perhaps other unattractive building elements want to be hidden by the owner. A screen is the perfect solution.

The fabric on the screen divider is a stripe and when cut and sewn creates a pattern resembling a diamond look.

Based on the design of the fireplace area, the space, is transitional/traditional. The paint color on the mantle and legs might have been a warmer beige as found in the background of the screen fabric. The fireplace tile surround might have been more interesting with a small ethnic strip of tile inserted.

It seems this room is used as a game room with the room’s colors chosen from the felt on the pool table. But what if the space was used as a gathering area for friends?

The textural/ethnic chairs are a perfect addition to the space. And why not chose a smaller/more ethnic coffee …one not quite so imposing/large to house drinks, and small mementos of travels or memories.

The floor lamp and small terra cotta ceramic table by the larger chair are wonderful additions and utilize the concept of layering.

Wallcovering is becoming very popular and these walls use a textured terra cotta selection on the walls again adding depth and texture.

Perhaps we would change out the mirror above the mantle for a more ethnic/textural design. This could be a piece of sentimental value taking a prominent place above the mantle.

Rather than false flames in the firebox area, how about just a wonderful gathering of firewood placed in the firebox. This adds reality and texture.

On the left side, if you look closely, is another fabric pattern. This is lovely and could be brought more vividly into the main space.

Remember, love is in the details and create your space based upon your vision and dreams…not those of others. We send love.

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Doors for a New Look

Image from: www.traditionalhome.com — Photo: Jean Allsopp

When most of us think of doors in our home, we think of the standard single door used for closets and entries to rooms. The millwork (design on the wood) can be very clean for a contemporary look or more elaborate for Edwardian/Victorian styles or somewhere in between.

We can be even more creative with interior doors as you see in this photograph (link) from Traditional Home. This photo shows “rescued/upcycled” antique oak doors which may have previously been in a turn of the century home. We know they are interior doors because the upper panel is glass…in this case it is frosted obscure glass for a more private feel to both spaces.

If you look closely at the architectural details of the room, they have very basic and traditional styling which means a wide range of creative interior door styles could be used. The doors in this photograph separate a living space from a bedroom with the furnishings being casual/eclectic.

How about if both rooms took on more of a clean soft transitional/contemporary look with more color and clean/simple lines to the furnishings. You might choose:

French doors with full length clear, obscure, or etched glass
A pair of doors painted a color used for drama and dimension of the entry to the other room.
Add a paint color to the walls adding to the creativity of the doors.

In your makeover, the walls and ceiling might be painted tones found in the fabrics of the furnishing you have chosen. But don’t forget that colors in both rooms can be different. Perhaps instead of a bedroom on the other side of the doors, you might have an office, den/TV area/kid’s playroom or another idea appropriate to your family use.

Remember accessories such as area rugs, lamps, pillows etc. also add color/texture and make a dramatic impact on the finished look of the space.

So what changes might we have made given the room as we see it in the photograph?

The beauty of the wood and detail of the doors stand out very strongly with all other tones in the space being very pale.
How about painting the walls a very soft vanilla beige reflecting the golden tone found in the oak doors. How about the ceiling having a very soft celadon green color? Or visa-versa…walls the celadon and ceiling the soft vanilla beige.
Now the colors of the doors and room start to marry and work together providing a backdrop for fabric colors and patterns chosen for furnishings for both areas.
ather than a small fish as a wall hanging atop the doors, a piece of your chosen art on either side of each door will create warmth and anchor colors/tones together.

Go ahead, be creative…remember love is in the details.

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