Friday, May 1, 2020

Mixing Pattern

Leta Ann Foster - House Beautiful

This is a very pretty breakfast room with a blue and white palette and fabulous Chinoiserie wallpaper (Quadrille China Seas Trellis Background) and a wonderful blue and white lantern.

But, do you think there are two many patterns going on here? With the wallpaper pattern (1), fabrics in different patterns (5), and lantern trellis design (1), that's a lot of pattern. Seven patterns in a small breakfast room. Do you like it, is it too much, or does it work because it is all in blue and white?

And a second point, what is your take on a roman shade on one window and cafe curtain on the other?

Personally, I think it's too much pattern and especially do not care for the window treatment. I would have gone with roman shades on both in linen in a solid color. Then navy blue Performance velvet on the chairs and bench with pillows in one or two fabrics. Less pillows and less patterns. I think with such a bold wallpaper, one or two other patterns works best personally.


24 comments:

  1. I like lots of patten, but I am not sure I like the pattern of the window coverings with the wallpaper. I am not offended by the two different styles. It seems privacy was wanted in the cafe area while maintaining a green view at the top. Probably the view on the other side wasn't as pleasant. Just a guess. I think it would have been less noticeable had the window coverings been made with matching wallpaper patterned fabric.

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    1. I agree - I focus on the window treatments and not much else.

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  2. The patterns don't bother me,they work well together and add tension. And I think the curtains work because they are the same pattern. What does bother me is the shelf crammed in the corner and that the wood ia all the same on the bench chairs and table.

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    1. You are so right about the corner shelf - and the wood color.

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  3. Not a fan of the two different window treatments. I agree with Courtney, the unit in the corner clutters the space. The room would be much better without it.

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    1. I agree about the corner unit - it adds nothing to the room.

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  4. 1. I like the bold wallpaper pattern and periwinkle color.

    2. I prefer the roman shade but the fabric is too dainty and should have a substantial amount of periwinkle, green, blue (to match the bench cushion) and a natural brown to tie in with the furniture.

    3.Pattern should be carried through for 2 pillows with an addition of 2 plain blue pillows (matching the navy chairs per your suggestion).

    4. I agree with Courtney, the corner is cluttered. Remove the shelf and replace with a tall green plant.

    5. A rug to provide contrast between the floor and the furniture.

    6. Love the chandelier.

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  5. I would eliminate the wall paper and the light blue pillows on the bench ... it's that tone of blue that doesn't work with the more saturated blues ... A solid "saturated blue" grass cloth paper with two roman shades would make this morning space more appealing. IMHO

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    1. I agree with you that a blue grasscloth would be a great choice here.

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  6. This is one of the very rare times I disagree with you, Beth! There are a lot of somewhat confusing patterns in the room, but I think that's the point of this particular room and it lands up looking pretty because of them, not despite them. The fact that they are all in blue and white as you mention makes it work for me. And I ADORE that window treatment! I think it's unusual, quirky but balanced and the polka dots bring it all home!

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    1. Interesting analysis - thanks for your comment!

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  7. It is a pretty breakfast room. I actually love the fabric on the window treatments, especially in combination with the ceiling fixture, but you're right about the cafe curtain. The Roman shade is so much more attractive. I'm not so fond of the wallpaper, but I guess that's just a personal choice. And yes, ditch the corner shelves.

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    1. I love the wallpaper and the window treatment fabric, just not together. And to me, cafe curtains are never chic.

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  8. I do agree with the consensus about that wood color--it's drab and drags the room down a little. I think it would have been better as a simple bright white, or maybe a polished burl, or a shiny tortoise shell. Maybe if the wood in that corner unit were prettier, it would fit more. It does seem practical to have a place for some books there, as lying down on that window seat/sofa with the sun shining in would be a great place to read between meals!

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    1. I love the idea of tortoiseshell!!! And what about a brass or gold pagoda etagere in the corner?

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    2. Yes! A brass or gold pagoda etagere in the corner would be perfection!

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  9. Too much pattern and the shades of blue contrast harshly.. They're not in the same family. There's a navy, a green-blue, ..the hues are all wrong. Pick one blue and go up or down in the color palette.

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    1. Such perfect advice on how to make blues work together.

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    2. Yes, too many contrasting blue patterns and colours. Suggest that changing the wallpaper to a celery green ticking stripe and the window treatments to simple white would calm the place down while bringing in some green freshness from the view outside. We all need a shelf for our cookbooks, and from the little I see, I don't mind the shelf unit. A closed cabinet with some glass front doors on the top might add more calmness if it is still needed after changing the wallpaper and curtains. I really do like this room...I love breakfast nooks and tables near windows.

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  10. The main problem I see is the window fabric. It's the first thing you see when you look at the picture and it dominates everything else in the room. It's way too bold and it's dotty. A plain white linen or a fabric to match the wallpaper would work better.

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    1. I agree - the window treatments completely take over.

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  11. The fabulous patterns kinda cancel each other out because there's too much pattern.
    Incidentally, when I was younger, I loved mixing patterns and contrasts. Now that I am older and have young children, I abhor visual clutter and like calmer interiors. This is too busy.
    I love that quadrille trellis but I'd be more apt to make it the star of the room. The different curtains bother me too

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    1. I am the same. I mixed patterns, but it seems busy and dated now to me. And I agree that the wallpaper should be the star.

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