Pondicherry for the Master

I have made an exciting new purchase for the master bedroom. 



Serena and Lily Pondicherry Bed




This is the Serena and Lily Pondicherry Bed with Nailheads. 

I'm obsessed with the super high headboard (75" tall).  When I set out to decorate the master bedroom, I had not intended on getting rid of our Merlot colored headboard.  Now that the furniture has been in there for a few months, I've had time to contemplate a few tweaks and adjustments I'd like to make to the room. 

I spotted an uber tall headboard similar to this one from abcddesign and a light bulb went off in my head...I have never loved those silhouettes I made of my family in the location above the bed.  I would love them on a side wall but just not as a main focal point in the master bedroom.  This Pondicherry headboard will solve that!  There will be no room for anything else on that wall!

And, remember my little trip to Lillian earlier this week?  While I was there, Lynne helped me search the bedding samples and suggested I try this John Robshaw stripe for the bed. 


John Robshaw

 Envision it with a coverlet or throw on the bottom and lots of colorful pillows.. .I think it may actually be a hit. 


I played around on Olioboard with some ideas. This isn't perfect but will give you an idea of how it may look:

Wow, what a hot mess.  Let me explain this hodge podge...
The x benches are already in the room. The Serena and Lily Charing Cross rug is already there. The pink polka dot print is meant to resemble a colorful throw. I found the patchwork patterned throw on Layla Grayce. I don't know if the colors match but it could add a bit of texture to the bed. (Obviously I would only select one throw, not polka dotted pink and patchwork teal).  The pillows are just place holders to symbolize "color."


Lot's of progress made during my little trip to see Lynne. I'll be excited to share more with you soon!

Lillian August Field Trip

I started my week with a fun day trip to Lillian August in Norwalk (more here)  to throw around some design ideas for my guest bedroom.  I've been working with Lynne Methot and she's such a great designer who always listens to my outlandish ideas about molding colors and textures and patterns and hues.  She's got a brilliantly subtle way of encouraging me to push the limits while also trying to maintain some traditional style that will have some longevity. 

As you recall, before I set out on this trip, I was all gung-ho about using Meg Braff's Up in a Tree Bamboo wallpaper in that guest bedroom.  I wanted to go for a certain shock factor...something that may make my guests think, "holy crap...you didn't wallpaper your entire room in green trees and paint your ceiling orange sherbet strips and think I would actually fall asleep in here?" 

OK, so sometimes I get carried away by the super stylistic rooms featured on pinterest (see my pinterest here).  Within the first minutes of our meeting, Lynn casually suggested..."How would that Meg Braff look in your sunroom?"

UPDATE:  (PSSSSSST--we interupt this post to announce that Pink Pagoda has just announced on her blog that Meg Braff will be on OKL tonight! )

I  contemplated for a moment.  Hmmm.  I hadn't thought of that.  Why hadn't *I* thought of that?  I love the idea of the teal blue and the pea green...it's a combination already played out in there in the rug and the sitting chairs and the sofa. 


Obviously, that's why I am not am official designer. I'm just ballsy enough at times to "act" like I know what I'm doing.  Only I lack the true skill to take that extra step and figure out how to best apply it.  That's where Lynne comes in.  What a great idea.  And I know you are secretly breathing a sigh of relief that you don't have to work around such a bold paper!  (hey, there's always the next room. Kidding)


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Nina Campbell Orchard Blossom

Introducing the new direction for the guest room.  Oh...don't loose faith in me now.  I promise this is not going to be a snooze-fest!  Remember that velvet ottoman with the fuchsia, orange, violet colors?  That's still in this room.  We plan to create a vintage meets modern feel in the room.  And I must admit, this wallpaper has much more of a bedroom feel to it.  More tomorrow on my visit with Lynne! 

House Tour: Dining Room

My dining room is a work in progress.  I have the necessities such as my china cabinet and dining table but am still working on the additional details.  True to my decorating tastes, I wanted to mix unexpected colors and patterns to create a more non-traditional eating space. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(After wallpaper--see more photos of wallpaper here)

 
Bar cart in the far corner:
 

 

 

The chairs are Arden Park from Lillian August for Hickory White.  I fell in love with the Highland Court Zoe pattern (In Currant 180936H 338).   This textile was the first thing selected for the dining room. 

My Lillian August decorator at the time was Holly Russo and she helped me find the Casamance Paris Texas fabric for the backs (361 40 40).  I love how the back seems simple and serene and then the fronts offer a pop of pattern.  The chairs are finished in a black leather contrast welt. 

The rug was custom by Lillian August.  The chairs are definitely over stated so the more subtle design in the rug helps to calm the room. 

The drapes are silk with hues of raspberry flowered embroidery.  They have a black velvet leading edge and a celery green silk finish. 

Right now, the walls in the room are Benjamin Moore Revere Pewter HC-172.  It was a good neutral base when we were building our house, but once the drapes were put up, the wall color did nothing to enhance them.  Introducing, this fabulous Moroccan Grass cloth print by Phillip Jeffries.  It's on order now and I can't wait to have it installed!  (Thanks to my current Lillian August decorator, Lynne Methot, for finding this match.  Love it and it exudes my style).   

 

I selected this Jonathan Adler Ventana Chandelier when we were building our house.  It's a perfect size for the room with the right amount of 'moderness.'   The hutch in the background is Crate and Barrel.  They don't usually feature such sleek dining room furniture.  It has a Danish modern feel to me. 

Once the wallpaper is installed, I may consider painting the tray ceiling.  To see more on how much I love a painted ceiling, see here. 

Before photos:

 

And here are more samples of potential wall coverings for the room.  They were all very nice but in the end, I felt like the Moroccan weave was the most 'my style' and would also still be bright in the room. 

Here's the view from the dining room into the foyer. 

In the future, future, I'd love to have a sliding door system like this built into the foyer.  Sometimes when we have dinner guests, our voices travel right up the stairs where the kiddos are sleeping.  I think it would also add character to the entrance.  If anyone can tell me where to find fabulous doors like that, let me know!

View of room with table set

I'll be sure to post updated photos of the dining room once the wall covering is installed and additional accessories are added.  If you'd like to see some of the other inspiration photos for my dining room, please feel free to check out my 'Dining' board on pinterest.  (This started as a repository for wallpapers that I wanted to consider for the room and has since grown into a space for all dining rooms that I love). 

 

 

Big update:  the wallpaper is up!  check it out here. 

It's been a pleasure to show you around this room.  If you'd like to visit the rest of my house, you're welcome here anytime.