BEDROOM DECOR

Lockdown Diaries Day 1: Art sets & series

With the extended shelter in place deadline, and some uncertainty still ahead, I’m starting a lockdown series and will share 30 posts over the next 30 days. Design, art and beauty can definitely lift the spirits, so here goes!

Today’s theme - Art Sets & Series. A series of prints, paintings, photographs or objects can be a great visual element in a room, and tell a great story. It can also unify and create connections between spaces. Here’s a few ideas and examples.

A set of (what appears to be) oriental battleship paintings spotted at SF Decorator’s Showcase last year. You’d have to see them up close to really appreciate the detailing. I tried to capture it in the closeup below!

design by Alexis Humiston, photography (above) by Christopher Stark

design by Alexis Humiston, photography (above) by Christopher Stark

 
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A set of vintage car prints by Leslee Mitchell, in a room designed by Erin Gates. This is her son’s big boy room and the little fella loves cars and trucks. This was a cool way to capture that in the room.

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Minimalist botanicals in antique brass frames

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Lee Radziwill’s 5th Ave apartment (maximalism done right!)

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A still life series by artist Susan Hable.

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An abstract art series by the same artist. Love the archival paper & gray matting.

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A set of gentleman prints unifies the space

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An entry that would make you take a pause. Love the ribboned hats!

Beautiful gold medallions in this bedroom designed by Anna Burke Interiors.

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Framed vintage Vogue covers

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Dana Gibson’s iconic leopard motif

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Giclee watercolor portraits by Mary H Case. Love the depth of the faces!

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Cubist faces by Hayley Mitchell. So chic.

 
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A cheerful color block series by Pen & Paper Co.

Design Crush Tuesday: Paloma Contreras

I came across this beautiful, happy bedroom on Pinterest the other day and instantly wanted to find out who it was designed by.  It's the work of Paloma Contreras,  an award-winning designer based out of Houston and the founder/curator/writer of her wonderful blog, La Dolce Vita. Her work seemed familiar but I couldn't  quite place where I'd seen it before... and then I remembered - it was on postcard I'd picked up at deGournay a few months ago.  It turns out, I've loved her style for a while now! :)

 
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Looking at room after room of her work, I found myself saying, "Holy smokes, this is gorgeous!" at least 20 times!   They're tasteful and textured.  Sometimes formal but never fussy. A play on patterns. Comfy but not homely. Gorgeous vignettes!  And a BOLD use of color. And they seem to have a quality to them that says "these are real, livable homes for real people" , and not just clicked for a magazine spread (although she's been featured in quite a few of them! )

 

A happy, cheery bedroom. Every time I see this Katie Ridder wallpaper I'm more in love with it - it serves as a beautiful backdrop to this bedroom! The suzani pillows are a winner too.

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Want to liven up a basic white pinboard? Add a nailhead trim to it. Love it!

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Normally, I wouldn't be a fan of matching shades and throw pillows, but here, somehow, it just works! I think all that natural light, the large window and the surrounding white, balances of the pattern and colors and makes it all come together really well.

 
 

 

Love the arched entrances to the rooms, the columns and the mounding. Don't miss the fantastic antique side/end tables!

 
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A lovely vignette. 

 
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A small but grand bathroom.  It's moody, it's luxurious. Paris flea market chandelier, anyone?! :) And that console sink is va-va-voom gorgeous.

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If one is ever to pick a taupe-ish brown wall color for a room - let this be it!! 

The striped curtains, the headboard and the pillow choices (a Schumacher fabric on the square pillows) are all fabulous. 

 
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Inspired by Mindy Kaling's LA Home

Who else is excited about Ocean's Eight?!

I saw the trailer last week and flipped out.  It's got 2 of my favorite people - Mindy Kaling & Helena Bonham Carter. And it features that annual event that launched a thousand best-and-worst dressed lists - the MET Gala.  I can't wait to see this 8-women action / adventure / comedy play out. Also, Mindy Kaling who's a thorough entertainer on every level and whose book  "Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?" I read in a single sitting on a plane ride, always, always makes me laugh. 

Architectural Digest featured Mindy's bright and cheerful LA home earlier in the year. Like Mindy, it's vibrant and full of personality. What caught my eye though, was this fun tropical wallpaper in one of the powder rooms.  

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How fun & funky is that! 

For some reason it made me think of all the fabulous tropical islands I need to go to, like Turks & Caicos and the Maldives. Aaaaah, I'm dreaming of sea breeze and ocean spray.

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Well, if you can't go to the tropics, you can always bring the tropics home!  

So here's what I came up with.  A tropical, paradise bedroom. Gorgeous Seychelles wallpaper complemented with soft, serene greens. Clean lines, gold accents & a hint of leopard keep it modern. Natural fiber and seagrass bring in texture and a relaxed feel.

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Seychelles wallpaper / headboard / bordered duvet set / accent pillowcurtain rod / curtains / nightstand / natural fiber rug / mirror / dresser / leopard trayhydrangeas & roses / art / seagrass tray

 

Alright folks, and on that note, we're going to close out 2017 and welcome 2018!

If you're looking to refresh & rejuvenate your living space in the new year,  I'd love to help you do that. A few days ago, I told you about  "Step into Style",  a decorating & styling package I'm offering.  Be it your home, a condo, a rental apartment or a room,  we will get creative and crafty and imbue it with personality.

I don't believe decorating should mean getting rid of everything you already own and buying a whole bunch of new stuff!!   Nor should it mean buying every single piece from a catalog. Na-hah.  Instead, I believe it's about mixing,  newer purchases with treasured antiques, enhancing what you already own, and doing it in a way that makes sense for your life and family.  There's nothing more appealing than a home with a distinct personality.

And there's ways to achieve that without breaking the bank.  

For instance, giving store-bought curtains a lift with a custom trim, like this...

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JCPenney silk curtains ,  Samuel & Sons coral interlock trim

 

or reupholstering an antique chair you own, and modernizing it with a pretty fabric, like this...

 
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Premier Prints zebra pink, P Kauffman buffalo check

 

...or renewing your bookcase with a splash of paint! Like this deep Hermes orange or geometric paper,  a lively backdrop for all your favorite reads.

 
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Everyone deserves to feel in harmony with & proud of their living space! Give me a call if you think I can steer you in the right direction & freshen things up for you as we step into 2018.

I am very grateful for every one of you who reads, comments, shares, talks back, and is part of my life through this blog.  I appreciate you so much, and I value your interest in what I do. 

Sending a lot of good juju & positivity your way!  May you have a healthy, happy New Year & I'm thinking of you today. I hope you're up to something fun tonight. As for us, we're still "making plans"!  Welcome 2018.

 

Image Credits: Architectural DigestReal Simple, Pinterest