“My favorite project is always the next one.”
—Michael Graves
One of my favorite ways to approach the interior decorating process is to look at it from a 1D perspective. Meaning: I think it’s fun to lay out photos of the rooms I’m “done” personalizing in one collage, so I can get a better feel for what kinds of things I’d like to bring in next.
For example, here are some photos of the spaces I’m “done” decorating here at our house:
Walking around here is one thing, but when I look at them like that (1D), I can instantly see that one thing I want to bring in next is the color red. And interestingly enough, I was looking through my “Bedrooms” board on Pinterest today and I noticed that I seem to pin bedrooms with pops of red in them the most:
Guess it’s pretty clear what accent color I’ll be using in our master bedroom next year! 😀
I’m also thinking of using red as an accent color in the living room. Here are a couple of my favorite red-accented living room inspiration photos:
This one isn’t a living room, but I love the pops of red in this entry too:
(And look! There’s a big stoneware crock in the corner!) 😀
I mixed some of the photos in this posts together in the collage below so I could get a better feel of how it might all flow together, 1D-style:
And if you look closely to the collage, you’ll notice that other than the red-painted doors in that entry photo, the backgrounds are pretty neutral. Lots of brown, and khaki, and white- which I really like, too. You know- just in case I change my mind about the pops of red before I’m “done” decorating. 😉
PS- There’s a new app in town!
It’s called bHome, and you can find it (for free) in the App Store. In a nutshell, it’s all about information & inspiration on all things home & garden. For more, visit: bHome.us!
How about changing the throw on your son’s bed to something with red in it??
That’s actually an older pic, Jo. That buffalo check lives on the sofa in the living room now, and there’s a different blanket on Sonny’s bed. 😀
I have been adding “pops of red” throughout my house over the last 6 or so months. In my dining room, living room (http://beckwithstreasures.com/journal/2014/6/28/taking-the-color-leap?rq=poppy) and the “frosted berry”(http://beckwithstreasures.com/journal/2014/8/13/laminate-flooring-reveal?rq=master) in my bedroom. I have always favored “warm” colors but I have found the red colors liven up the warmer colors and compliment the “cool” colors (white and blue) I have been adding the last year or so. I was afraid the “cool” colors would clash with the “warm” colors…not so!
So pretty, Beck! Love that pop, and couldn’t agree with you more! 😀
I love your style and blog, but what really made me smile was Kit-Cat trying to play with your other fur baby 🙂
I love the red. It’s my favorite color. It will be perfect. You have such a lovely home! Thanks for the inspiration!
I have been doing the same for the past year or so. I got it all from pics like that. But one of my fav inspiration pics is the Makeover that you did for Emily. The red console table and french doors!! Loved that!! I have been slowly finding the right pieces for our home and I love how warm it makes it feel!
I always love your rooms and style (not to mention your blog), but if you start adding pops of red I’ll be hooked forever! A bit of red here and there makes my heart happy:)
So many inspirational pictures today, just what I needed !
Gosh, your home is SOOOO beautiful. Everything is so thought out and just flows so beautifully with such heart and character! I LOVE the red doors in the mudroom. That was from Sarah’s Farmhouse redo. Loved. I am obsessed with tans, creams, white, and greens–and texture!!!. That is my wish for my rooms now. I would love a version of that in every room. Rooms “speak” to me. I get a picture of what I would like to see and how the colors are best for the room. I did this with our lower level family room. The woman at the furniture store questioned my cream wool and jute rug from PB, along with my cream cable knit pillows. She didn’t see how it worked with the fabric I choose for the room. Dah!! 😉 She agreed it looked great! I am also drawn to red and had it as an accent in our last home (and this one–but it doesn’t work now!)
I want those drapes in that entry. I love red!!!
I LOVE those Sarah Richardson rooms. They have always been some of my favorite. Thanks for sharing!
Shoot, you could have added in the guest room slash office in your old house that you had just finished before moving. You added red to it didn’t you? Looking at your pictures shows you do need an accent color. Have fun with it.
It totally does, doesn’t it? 😀 Funny how blue and green can actually be neutrals!
HI, just love all your pictures, and story, but the things that rang my bell the most, was your initial quote: “my favorite project is always the next one”. How true for me to. I love nothing more than to be handed something that needs to be beautified!
Peggy
Good Morning Layla!
I have to do the same thing! Somehow seeing my house through through the lens (or iphone camera) helps me to organize my thoughts and hone in on design tweaks that I want to make. I felt like our old house was all over the map, especially since when we bought it, there were several partially done and disjointed DIY projects that we had to somehow try to tie together. (Thankfully when I saw our listing pictures it pretty much flowed!) And man is Pinterest helpful for getting everything in one place to see if it’s cohesive. When we were under contract on our current home, I started a board just for the new house, and I’d randomly have my husband survey the contents to see if everything looked like it belonged in the same house together.
You’ve got flawless taste and a great eye. I’m sure your pops of red will be spot on!
Happy Wednesday and I’m SO excited for you and Kevin about your adoption news! I’m adopted myself and can’t ever seem to get through your adoption posts without tears – either from empathy or joy – and today as I caught up on TLC, they were definitely tears of joy! God bless you all! 🙂
I love a pop of red and am finding that I’m using it more and more. Even just a touch here and there really warms up a space.
Great idea! I have heard before that when you are trying to really clean your house, you should take a picture because anything out of place or cluttered will jump out at you in a photo differently than it would in person. I never really thought about doing that for decorating, though! 🙂
Your place is beautiful and some great styled rooms! I love the pops of red, it brings in warmth, boldness and a bit of sassy.
Lauren
http://www.lbdesigns1.wordpress.com
xx
I think red will look great! I love that white chest of drawers you have next to the twin bed, where did you get that? I have been looking for something like that forever!
Funny how I’ve pinned a lot of the same images in today’s blog post! Equally funny how I love the color red since I named my biz RedBird! How fun
Great post today Layla! I too enjoy pops of red…as you can see in this picture of our master bedroom. Thanks for all the inspiration from your blog. https://www.pinterest.com/pin/91127592436569672/
Love the pops of red! Did you see the red lamps Joanna Gaines used in last night’s Fixer Upper on HGTV? I believe she got them from Round Top. Congratulations again on your exciting news!
I recognize the upper right “pinned” picture from an old Cottage Living magazine issue. 🙂
Funny, I’ve used pops of red against neutrals in my living room and bedroom for a few years–I’ve toyed with changing out the living room reds for blues, but I can’t seem to quite break myself of the red. It adds just enough of a “spark” without being overwhelming. Can’t wait to see what you decide to do.
I love the idea of looking at a “1D” view of the spaces to kind of get an overview of what the space looks like and give you ideas for what you may want to add to or focus on in the space.
http://www.lee-lee-land.com
How do you pick a project to start? My husband and I moved into our current home 4 1/2 years ago (2 days after our 4th child was born.) I am just now getting to a point (with my kids growing up & finances) that I feel like I could tackle decorating/personalizing our home. Up until now it has all just been about functionality. Our home was built in 1968, so just about everything needs attention. I have 2600 sq feet of possibilities that are overwhelming me. When the possibilities are limitless, how do you pinpoint where to start and what direction to take?
I love your style Layla! I have unfinished rooms in my house that just overwhelm me most of the time. I am going to try your stradegy! 🙂 xx
I have pinned some of those pics too! 🙂
Thanks for sharing your “process” – it’s so helpful.
It’s already made me re-think some spots I’ve been trying to figure out.
Great help!!!
Love the “red” — that’s my thing, so I loved his post. One thing though: With seeing how perfect your rooms are, I am thinking of your little boy, hopefully soon to be ‘home’ and since you are used to having everything “picture perfect” for your blog, I hope you remember that he will be under a lot of stress coming here, and to not put too much stress on him to keep his ‘room’ in order. Yes, I know: who I am to say that to you… but I want it to Just be a crumb to throw out there for you to think about. I’m sure some reading this will say, “How dare she!” and others might say, “Hmm, that is good that she reminded Layla of that.” Sorry if I’m out of line, just wanted to put that out there, being a mother myself, kids aren’t perfect. 😉 Apologies if I insulted you, or any of your readers…
Best, Gloria
Oh, please know that when we photograph interiors, whether it’s our own or someone else’s, the rooms are *always* completely tidied up for the pictures. These types of photos capture spaces for a very specific purpose: design talk. They do not feature everyday life! 😀
Many years ago I was told every room in your home should contain something red, no matter the color scheme. I don’t remember why, but I agree it’s a rule I like! Remember when so many of us were painting our kitchen walls red? I’ve never loved a kitchen as much as I did when I bravely painted my walls a medium dark barn red….made my white cabinets pop and warmed up the natural wood floors … always cheered me up!
Don’t you just love that old red and white quilt?
I love red and have pops of it throughout my house. However, when I was looking at the pics of your “done” rooms, I thought “how pretty and cool and calm these rooms look with just the light blues, greens, and wood tones. In other words, i would only add red in ways that it can be removed if you don’t like it…just like you are considering.
Exactly what I’m thinking, Linda. As a matter of fact, I’m leaning toward DARK GRASS GREEN as an accent color today- LOL! 😀 #ChronicChangerUpper
I can’t wait to see what you do with red because I have a red & khaki couch that I hate because I have no idea how to style it or make it work in my living room. 🙁
I love red too! This is funny, there are two photos in your collages above (the top left one with the red quilt and planked walls, and the bedroom in the second collage with the gray quilt and hat) that I have pinned on my Pinterest board and every time I look at them, I think of you. It’s a sign! 🙂
Oh my, I am SO thrilled that your post is this today! I have so many questions for you!
It’s funny because I was thinking just the other day, that I love your designs BUT you always seem to decorate using cool colours (in your own home) and I wondered, to balance it off a bit, how do you marry the two looks (warm and cool)?
I love the warm, earthy tones but you mostly use cool neutrals… so do you use shades of pinks instead of pops of red? And what about yellow? Its so cheery…
I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the “red entryway” photo (I think it’s a Sarah Richardson design, isn’t it?). I have it pinned as well and DREAM of copying it. I’d love to know where she got everything! I am totally in love with that!!!! I think its gorgeous. But I thought, given your cool neutrals, that it would be “off limits” with your decorating scheme, no?
I love learning things from you and then trying to apply that to life here in chilly Manitoba, so I really look forward to learning more and seeing what you do with it.
Cheers,
Maryjane
In addition to the pops of red, I am also seeing lots of texture – the woven rush of the chairs, baskets, textured rugs, etc. I find I am drawn to pictures of neutral rooms, but in real life I love colour. I have realized it is the layers of texture that I love.
So pretty! I look forward to being able to take some pictures of our place. Still a work in progress. I typically have a touch of red in most rooms. Linda
I love all your finished rooms and can see where you’re going with some pops of red! funny, I’ve pinned some of the same rooms that have the pops of red. It brings a little ore energy to the room. Love looking at photos of your home!
I loved your post on pops of red. I also noticed that in almost every photo there is also a light pale blue/green. All on top of a neutral walls, baskets, woods. That’s how I switch from warm weather to cold weather in my decorating. Heavier on the red in winter and remove much of the red in summer and let the pale blue, green or grey take priority!