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SPOTLIGHT
Color & Movement
With a dismal monochromatic color palette of light pastels, two windows of different sizes and heights and lovely but unemphasized architectural detailing—this library was well overdue for a makeover. Enter the Interiors by Decorating Den design team of Barbara Elliott and Jennifer Ward-Woods of Atlanta, GA.
by Kathleen Stoehr
THE MISSION
The homeowners wanted to transform their library into a warm, inviting living room, infusing rich red—their favorite color. Unhappy with the simple blinds (though acknowledging the need for sun control and privacy), they asked the designers for treatments to soften and enhance the windows but not cover the beautifully detailed molding. Finally, they requested that their existing furniture be used.
To begin the room’s transformation from bland to Wow!, the team focused on the client’s art for color selection. Using the painting shown on the near right, as well as three-dimensional art on the left wall bookcase, you may be able to envision how they made their color decisions. The walls were treated first: initially covered in a faux finish with a bronze base, the walls were then overlaid with three shades of gold and chartreuse. The bookcases were softened with an antique cream faux finish. The window trimmings, as well as molding and ceiling accents, were highlighted with a bright white.
THE WINDOWS
To allow all of the beautiful molding around the windows to show to its best advantage, a treatment was designed to accent the woodwork while adding the much needed color and drama to the room.
Long Kravet fabric swags hung on a fluted rod were crisscrossed and mounted on each side of the window with a panel flowing to the floor.
A large decorative holdback was made from pleated silk and then long contrast color tassels were mounted behind each holdback for a pretty detail. A soft cornice was added to the smaller of the two windows to play up the drama. Blinds, which were held over from the previous décor, were softened by the addition of a shimmery sheer fabric from Kasmir.
At the floor, an area rug touting shades of red, gold and green was used to pull the color elements of the room together. Pillows made from striped Kravet silk add a nice pop on the sofa and upholstered chairs.
All in all, this library/living room is a delightful play of color and movement, lifting the eye up and around the room to encounter its many wonderful details. One hardly notices how small the room actually is, when it is so full of extraordinary details!
Kathleen Stoehr is president of Chemistry Creative, based in Minneapolis, MN. She is the author of Dream Floors, Hundreds of Ideas for Every Type of Floor; Dream Windows: Historical Perspectives, Classic Designs, Contemporary Creations and The Complete Home Decorating Idea Book. Stoehr can be contacted for comments, queries and trend information at kstoehr@chemistrycreative.com. |
