Green with Red Accents

Posted on | January 27, 2010 | 15 Comments

Amanda Peet’s bedroom from domino.

A few months ago my hard drive crashed and I lost all my favorite inspiration photos. I keep having visions of forgotten rooms. I search for hours—cruising blogs, flickr groups and google image—I am usually at a loss and feel totally frustrated.

One of my favorite interiors of all time is Amanda Peet’s bedroom from domino. The greens in the Cole & Son wallpaper are perfect. A dark headboard mixes effortlessly with whitewashed antiques. The red chair in the corner seals the deal.

The lovely Anne from The City Sage sent over these gorgeous interior shots showcasing one of my favorite color combos: green with red and pink accents. It seems every time I across a green room that I really love it always has a little pop of red or pink. Sometimes the pop comes on curtains, chairs, or even just a pillow. Some great interior inspiration from Anne below.

julia bird simple style 500x4531 Green with Red Accents

Candy striped curtains and an upholstered red chair from Simple Style.

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Country green cabinets with french red striped tea towel curtains from Easy Elegance.

perfect english 500x4181 Green with Red Accents

Feminine floral curtains with pink accents. Love the candlestick bedside table from Perfect English.

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A green room pulled together with a rusty red antique rug from Perfect English.

Category: interiors

Brainstorming Den

Posted on | January 26, 2010 | 32 Comments

I’m still contemplating paint colors for the den. Maybe if I gather together my inspiration for the room the color choice would become more clear. Above a rolled armed sofa from george smith (Too pricey, but something similar), a tufted arm chair from Lee Industries, and fabric from Robert Kime (also super $$) for curtains or upholstery.

I want the room to be soothing with a little library set up in the small room. The den is on our second floor. Three rooms behind the den which we hopefully become guest and kids’ rooms. I want it be light and airy but I need to be realistic on what is kid-friendly and not. More inspiration below. Feel free to share you ideas in the comments section.

We are having the floor refinished but I love to find a worn antique rug with some salmon pink accents.

Pretty green/blue walls paired with a creamy trim from Martha Stewart.

The mantel is off center from the room. I think a convex mirror over the mantel would pull the space together.

I would love a tufted ottoman as a coffee table. The soft lines would be perfect.

I love these handmade botanical presses for over the sofa.

33 GuestBedroom3 rect640 Brainstorming Den

I would really like to incorporate a handsome wood dresser into the space.

Another favorite shot with a striped arm chair and worn antique rug.

Category: interiors

What Color Do I Paint The Molding?

Posted on | January 21, 2010 | 67 Comments

We are almost done stripping and sanding the den. I should probably get a handle on what color I want to paint the room. I know I lot of you have commented that I should leave the molding as is. I’m not a huge fan of all wood rooms, it’s way too masculine for my taste. The floors will get stripped eventually so we can all get our shiny wood fix.

We have found areas of green stain on the wood which looks like it could have been the original color. I have come across photos green molding in a number of historic homes. Part of me would like to honor the tradition but at the same time I am leaning towards something more modern. Paint the wood green or paint the walls green and paint the molding cream or a combo of both? Below a few photos I am using for inspiration.

I could paint parts of the molding green like the images below from Michael Smith and Farrow & Ball. Oh gosh, I just don’t know. In this case I wish someone would tell me what to do. At least I know I want the room to be green.

p.s. I added more photos of the room and a video (click over for the video, it made my server crash) so everyone could get a better idea of the space. The video was taken at 11 am when the room gets the most morning light. I imagine the room being airy and cozy with a rolled armed sofa, floral accents and stripes.

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gasl paint rainbow 25 710513 What Color Do I Paint The Molding?

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Category: house renovation, interiors, paint colors

French Country House

Posted on | January 8, 2010 | 8 Comments

A blog reader (thanks abby!) sent me this link to a country house in Aveyron, France you can rent. It’s beautiful filled with rustic floors, sparse rooms, and chickens. Some things are perfect not being modernized or messed with. Find many more photos on Kathy Dalwood’s studio blog.

dining table and chairs French Country House

Category: interiors

Long Bench At Kitchen Table

Posted on | December 28, 2009 | 11 Comments

I have hundreds of photos in my inspiration folder. I think I should start sharing them! I love this idea of using an old wood bench as additional setting in a kitchen. When I was kid we had this same exact bench but it was painted green. The image is from Swans Island creative director’s home in Rockport, Maine. Discovered via design*sponge.

Category: furniture, interiors

Restoring A House In The City

Posted on | December 18, 2009 | 14 Comments

I received Restoring a House in the City about a month ago. Written by former House & Garden editor Ingrid Abramovitch the book is a collection of twenty-one town houses, brownstones, row houses in small towns and cities in the U.S. and Canada. I’ve spent the last few weeks flipping through the pages envying the amazing transformations. Styles range from more modern renovations to country infusions or my new favorite style term that means country but cooler; Ruralist (coined by House Beautiful) .

The book remarks on a new generation of home owners who love creaky floors and appreciate the significance of preserving historical architecture. I share this sentiment. It’s what drives me to push on with my own renovation. The amazing history and stories that these buildings hold can not be lost.

The glossy pages full of glam interiors will seduce you. The book also offers helpful information on architecture styles, renovations tips, and salvage resources. I really enjoyed the restorations notes and was thankful it wasn’t just all eye candy. Below just a few of my favorite interiors from the book.

Everyone that comes over and flips through the book immediately says, I need to buy this book for my husband/wife for Christmas. It’s a goodie. Buy it now at amazon.com.