Pops of Color
Kitchen chairs covered in bold shades of velvet
Color and Light
Deep navy blue walls highlight bright white furniture
Inspired art, there was no question in the homeowner’s mind that these dining room walls were to match the deep navy color of the birds’ feathers in the artist’s rendering. Two large bookcases painted in bright white flank the wall. The upper doors of the bookcases, featuring chicken wire instead of glass, display whimsical treasures that highlight a love for finding quirky ways to blend old and new with bold pops of color. Two chandeliers at each end of the long dining table hang from a beautifully crafted ceiling beam. The focal point of the room is the voluminous, bright pink floral arrangement in the center of the dining table. The centerpiece can be easily changed to match the seasons. Think big cherry blossoms with forsythia for the spring.
Built-in Bar
Colorful and quirky accessories complete this entertainment area
Gallery Wall
Art, mirrors, sconces, vases add dimension and proportion
This traditional Warson Woods 2,300 square foot ranch home, circa 1950, features a built-in bar that acts as a central entertainment hub between the kitchen and family room. The homeowners decided this was the perfect place to pair their love for easy entertaining with their passion for colorful and quirky conversation pieces. They expanded the bar to include a large refreshment refrigerator and capped off the seating area with a turquoise bull’s head, mounted front and center above the bar. Multiple monkey accessories, interesting artifacts, and animal printed bar chairs commonly spark conversations around the question, “Where did you find these?” While the turquoise bull’s head provides personality to the room, it is the expansive gallery wall that celebrates the homeowners’ vision of letting their art and accessories do the talking. A gallery wall provides a unique focal point to any house by bringing all the artwork together as opposed to having various pieces placed around the home. Gallery walls often start with a mix of large and small frames bringing scale and proportion to the space.
While gallery walls are unique to every home, typically, they are a collection of things beloved by the homeowners – think art, mirrors, sconces, vases, and other elements to add dimension. In this home, the most beloved things are the blending of the old and the new through the use of color and texture. This homeowner’s favorite color pallets are white and black, pink and orange, and blue and white. Accordingly, two large black and white inkblot images anchor their gallery wall. Art varying in size and style adorn the rest of the wall. Most of the pieces are black and white, with the expected burst of orange and blue color in a picture or two. A massive white twig chandelier adds a layer of texture to the vaulted ceiling and perfectly complements the unique accessories discovered around the room. With all of the textures and layers throughout the house, the one design element the homeowner intentionally chooses not to use is window treatments. With no drapery or fabric framing the large windows, each room feels open and airy. And, most importantly, the natural light highlights each treasured accessory. Every piece tells a story. Every piece comes to life with the warmth of the bright sunlight.
White-Washed Fireplace
Colorful art and accessories against a white wall
The vaulted family room feels crisp and inviting with warm hardwood floors that flow elegantly into an all-white kitchen. Originally, there was a wall separating these two rooms. Thick wood paneling and a bunt-red brick fireplace made the family room feel cold and unfriendly. Dark cabinets, heavy curtains, and carpeting throughout the kitchen dulled any inspiration for cooking or baking. That all changed in October of 2014 when the homeowners opened the door to their new home and began renovation. They immediately set to work to create a simple, classic space where their treasured art and accessories could burst with color and personality.
This all-white kitchen, stunningly styled with brilliant silver trays artfully placed among colorful florals and unique accessories, is classic. Interestingly, the house came with Carrara marble on several of the window sills - indicating to the homeowner that the home was aching to have more of this earthy stone element added throughout the interior. Naturally, as part of their remodel, Carrara marble was added to the floors and countertops in the kitchen and bathrooms and on the floor in the foyer with touches of black. With white marble, white cabinets, white subway tiles, and white walls as the backdrop in the kitchen, color comes from the kitchen chairs, each a different shade of velvet. Delightful pink and orange pops of color spring from flowers, tea towels, and containers. Layering texture and color over a white background allows for a casual blend of vintage and contemporary pieces – mixing the old with the new.
Moving from the kitchen into the family room, a cozy corner fireplace, a custom-made sofa, and comfy armchairs offer an invitation to stay awhile. Staying true to the homeowner's love for quirky and unexpected color, a large piece of art depicting multi-colored fish hangs above the newly whitewashed fireplace. The white sofa, covered in a luxurious, performance fabric from C.R. Laine, provides an opportunity for the color to come from pillows and throws.