The Personality of a space... revisited.

Niche styled with repurposed picture frames, bronze medallions and a vintage mirror re-imagined.

I wanted to dedicate some time to talking about the personality of a space, and cosmetically (when construction is not part of the equation) re-imagining a space through not just paint or wallpaper and window treatments, but also through changing the most subtle of details. What better example than our very own dreamy niche here in the studio!

I have grown to love this little niche more and more as the days pass! It is it's own isolated little corner of personality! Currently I have it featured with the most glorious green paint of a very specific tone. We used Sherwin Williams: #SW6754, Ionian. The look is an asymmetrical symphony of various thrifted picture frames in combination with a vintage mirror, all styled/ drenched (or semi-covered in the mirror frames case) in this beautiful green! Elements of gold and bronze sprinkled through out the niche, on the walls, on the window seat and the table at mid point help to lead the eye throughout the entire niche. White elements to create interest / relief and also in the case of the floral bouquet... a bit of organic softness.

This is a look that can be completed ANYWHERE in a room where you are wanting to create an intoxicating and complex focal point. You do NOT need an actual niche and you do not need to utilize an entire wall of a room! How? Your designer knows how! The trick is to select a purposeful area of impact that makes sense... trim/ frame the area (size/ proportion of the designated area is KEY) and choose also the perfect element to anchor that space (could be a console, bench or cabinet/door chest, again... appropriate in size and style).

While it is true that the mere removal of the "frames" in the niche pictured will change the overall feel of the space for sure... the paint color is doing a lot of the heavy lifting because of the uniqueness of the color itself!

Moody dark blue pigment emotes a space of classic, revered distinction.

Some colors lend themself to being tied to the past in classic ways. The niche when featured in the moody, dark blue color that we had chosen: Sherwin Williams #SW7605 Gale Force feels much different. Blues in general, especially those with "Navy blue" type roots have long been considered as being the only neutral color within the spectrum. It is timeless and classic and really can be mixed among many other colors and tones. It tends to carry a grounding effect and has historical relevance... and because of that it can absolutely allow for pushing boundaries in and around many different styles and genres. We see here pictured... the same lamp, same table, the same floral as the green space... but instead a whimsical, one of a kind, artist created mirror and traditionally inspired pillows as supporting cast members.

So, what happens when we take the same basic elements used in the "blue scheme" and but we go all in on bright energizing colors, in a way that is just as simple?

Bright coral wall color supported by an organic floral pattern brings a fresh yet nostalgic approach to a room.

A major personality and energy shift happens when we look at the niche featured in Sherwin Williams #SW6598 Dishy Coral. What are we seeing? The same artistic mirror, the same end tables, lamp, floral bouquet and even the same decorative candle. What's different? The paint... and a pair of pillows that support the energy of the coral colored wall paint. In this instance, the pillows are now doing the heavy lifting here at this point in that they are carrying the bones of the overall style. Imagine if the lamp was a totally different style with no shade on it and instead some kind of contemporary metal form with an exposed Edison bulb... and if the pillows were created out of a very modern fabric made up of color blocks. What would the space feel like in that scenario? Definitely it would be more contemporary, but still bright and almost playful!

Geometric, multicolored fabric.

This is what finishing a room is like. This is also what cosmetically reimagining a room or space is like. It is examining what pieces are needed as a whole to fill and balance the space... but then critically choosing each of those elements independently... paying attention to the details of what they are and how their personalities will effect the room as a whole. What elements are supporting one another?

Creating a well balanced space / room / home is not about choosing the most recent trendy pieces... or implementing the most talked about and popular social media ideas and tossing them together into your existing space and hoping that it sticks because it looked good in someone else's home or on tv. No two spaces are the same, which is an opportunity! If you take the little bit of extra time to respectfully stretch and tweak those trends to better fit the pieces and parts that you CAN'T change in your existing space... THIS is where the magic happens!!!

Any space can be spectacularly elevated with a little bit of thoughtful consideration!

Best,

- A.O.