What Makes This Design Work?
I think there are several design factors at work here. First is color.The subject matter of the photos is quiet in color through the use of black, white, and sepia tones, thereby allowing the frames to play a heightened role in the collage. The frames and enclosed photos carry out the brown/bronze, black, and gold scheme nicely with only small touches of white or cream...which echo the "bright spots" of the sink and light sconces. Secondly, the frames and/or mats are of similar size and shape with approximately the same expanse surrounding each photo...a principle of formal arrangement in keeping with the overall style of the room. Third is similarity of texture...natural wood...carved, marled, or embossed, echoing the textures of the carved vanity, wall, and floor...and with touches of gold that reference the molding that runs along the wall above all the photos. Finally, note the way the frames are placed in "line" with each other...almost, but not quite, in straight lines...enough so to give the sense of uniformity, but not in rigid straight lines which would have been uninteresting and would have required frames of exactly the same size and shape...boring. This is in harmony wi...
Light and air are the central players in this small room. The walls, wood, and fabric are white allowing the furnishings to recede into the walls so that the view of water through the windows becomes the compelling focus of the room. The open-work tables are light in both physical and visual weight, while the pale greys of the floor and rug ground the space and maintain the feel of clean simple unimpeded space. The strong lines and shapes are vertical and horizontal, punctuated by the organic shapes of the tables, rug, and outside land mass.
Pale washed wood work allows the use of richer wood tones and textures...the armoire, tables, suitcases, carpet, artwork, textiles, flowers...to provide layers of warmth to this small narrow room without making it appear cluttered or crowded. The windows and doors let in light and visually expand the sense of space.
Note the interplay of color, shape and line in this room...The soaring white walls are punctuated by the black and charcoal of the sofa, the painting, the fireplace opening, the T. V., the planter, and the lamp shade. Then there is the green of the rug, the floor lamp, and the glass head on the coffee table played against the complementary Terra Cotta earth tones of Saltillo tile and natural wood. These same colors dance together in the circles of the painting and sofa pillows and the striated painted planks at the left of the room. Proportion and line provide balance throughout the design. White...including the white chairs and lamp base form an expansive shell for the room while the dark tones of the painting and sofa center the viewer's focus right down the room's middle. The strong vertical painting and horizontal sofa counter balance each other in visual weight, while the fireplace, T. V. and painted planks close the frame on the left, the rug and tile draw the eyes forward, and the vertical slash of the natural wood door on the right (and the base board molding) stops eye movement on the right. And let's not forget those bright red pillows on the right hand sofa that echo the...
Reading nooks don't come much cozier than this...matched twin day beds with inset book cases...in both wall and beds...make use of a small stepped down space at the end of a long narrow hallway. Pastel "country" colors (though a more contemporary aesthetic would work as well) and arched door openings soften the space, and the long hallway carries the eye past the short depth of the tiny room while light from windows along the hall itself provide a sense of light and warmth.
This child's room might feel closed in and cluttered without the interior window, pale walls, and natural wood tones. Large framed black and white prints on the walls provide drama without further intruding on the space as more brightly colored artwork might have done. I personally might have chosen a less busy pattern for the rug, though the use of red and white is a good choice that has been carried through the rest of the room as well.
A strong unified scheme of black, white, and neutral infuses this room with the same kind of orderly chic and charm. The unexpected contrast of ruffled bed-skirts and soft draperies with black painted wood (and pillows) and white quilted coverlets provides a quirky sort of whimsy and dignity. The round porthole mirrors and artillery basket on the wall lend an almost military air that is played against the stark simple lines of the furniture and the almost dainty lamps. Soft grey walls complete the air of calm retreat.
The same elements are at play in this patio. Note the way the curve of the stone planter wall leads the eye softly into and out of the patio. (Round tables and chairs echo this curve...) The vertical columns and tall windows break up the width of the space while overhanging trees further soften the hard-scape and lend natural color to the pale walls and patio floor. The view through the windows to the front of the house visually extends the space, providing a sense of depth.
Bright pops of Citroen enliven this work space with its tones of black, white, and natural wood. Glass, metal, wood, wicker, and leather provide rich visual texture. The grid of the art wall echoes the window grid of the door and extends the work surface of the desk vertically, making the space appear larger and deeper than it is. That wall grid belies the dense saturation of items within it, conveying a sense of calm and order.
This is not my personal color scheme...or even stylistic...preference, but it is pleasant, sophisticated, and coherent. The black in the cowhide rug anchors the space while the deep indigo wall provides a backdrop for the white upholstery, lamp shades, and ground in the large painting. Red on the table and in the painting provide pops of color...echoed in the seashell cushions...as is the indigo in the central cushion. Earthy texture is both soothing and energetic in elements such as the architectural brackets framing the painting, the metal lamps and painting frame, the wood, fabric, and hide rug. It all works together.
Here's a stunning formal space...not at all my style, but it works because of balancing elements such as the black, white, gold, and wood tone color scheme (including the "appearance" of the carpet colors)...the repetition of forms like vertical lines, triangles, and circles...and the formally symmetrical furniture arrangement to name a few of the themes going on here.
I love the colors and textures in this little slice of a room view...Everything works beautifully to play off the framed illustrations on the wall...echoing colors, shapes, organic forms, contrasting textures...Even though I'm not a fan of the camel velvet on the sofa or the ivory walls, I love the effect of it all.
The contrast of materials and embellished textures, enlivened by green growing plants and natural light make this space rich and exotic even with predominantly neutral tones.
Q