This week, in anticipation of the launch of the new One Room Challenge on April 2, I will be answering some frequently asked questions about the ORC and on designing a room. I received some great questions yesterday from followers. No Linda, I will not be doing a post for you on combining driftwood and Chinoiserie.
Today we look at where to begin with a room design. You can, of course, start anywhere - a paint color, a rug, a painting, a piece of furniture, an accessory - there are no rules. But I almost invariably start with a patterned fabric or wallpaper. By starting with a fabric or wallpaper that speaks to you, you will in one fell swoop have accomplished three major tasks for the room -
*Set the tone
*Establish the style
*Choose the color palette
Let's take my laundry room that I did for the last One Room Challenge. I had always wanted to use Brunschwig & Fils' Ironing Bored in my laundry room. This wallpaper has long been a favorite in the laundry rooms of the great mansions of Palm Beach. I found 18 rolls of it on eBay, about $2,000 worth, and won it for $150!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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| Brunschwig & Fils Ironing Bored |
Tone - This wallpaper is very high end and dramatic. It sets the tone that this is going to be a very special and unique laundry room.
Style - Formal, traditional, classic, whimsical.
Color palette - Blue and white - I knew this wallpaper should take center stage with no other colors competing with it. And I knew that it would be perfection with blue and white Chinoiserie accessories.
And here is where I went with this great wallpaper as my starting point- my finished laundry room.
