The other week, just for fun, Marley put up an Instastory asking followers what they needed advice about in their homes. It was meant to be just an Instagram thing, but then we decided it would be silly not to share our tips on the blog too! So that’s what we’re doing today. There are 3 rooms, 3 different design problems, and 3 (or more) possible solutions. Let’s jump right in!
Accent wall…
First of all, it’s definitely not terrible, but we have some tips to give her the look we think she’ll want. Also, as a general design “rule”, accent walls tend to be harsh. They were a massive trend in the early 2000s, but since then, designers advise against them unless it’s drawing attention to an architectural feature, such as a nook. Arlin wrote a great post about it here. It is advisable to avoid these as they may cause a burning sensation and may cause your eyes to close suddenly. I think she feels the same way about herself.
We’re not sure this room is part of an open concept plan; If that’s not the case, we really suggest going all out and painting all the walls like Ryan did in his previous home. It feels brilliantly intentional and keeps the eye moving throughout the space. Again, if it’s in the budget, a darker, colorful rug will really help balance the space. Additionally, increasing the size will make the space feel better in terms of scale. Just like Ryan’s home, we recommend focusing on colorful furniture and decor. In conclusion, we think the broader issue she feels is that the space doesn’t feel balanced. So, painting all the walls and focusing on those rich colors will definitely fix it.
And for fun, here are some rug options to remind you of what the space looked like 🙂
aymer copper rug , plaid wool reversible rug
Romantic patterns are not an issue in what we collect from wall hanging baskets. Both of these rugs are rich and warm with a pattern that won’t crowd the room. copper rug A little more neutral and has a similar vibe to baskets brown and blue A little more unexpected and modern.
Pierce & Ward Deco Border Hand-Woven Wool Rug , Katasha Checked Wool Area Rug
Then again, if they want to choose a less intricately patterned rug, I guess This golden carpet Would be so much fun and match the bright color of the wall. Or they can reduce it but still add richness to it checked He will also talk to the brick on the chimney.
Hope this helps!
A bathroom that needs more color
this follower In fact She wants to add more color because she feels there is too much white. Well, fear not because we’ve got you. The good news is that this is a beautiful bathroom, so this will be very easy.
We really decided to just recommend a change to the decor. Can they paint the walls? Sure. But we don’t think it’s necessary to inject a healthy dose of color to cure her of those “boring bathroom” blues. Naturally, there are two mood boards (we couldn’t help ourselves), and we based the style and some of the colors on what already existed – florals, pink tones and a modern traditional look.
Deco Blossom Shower Curtain , Blair Warm Brass 3-Light Bath Light , Half Moon Dual Mount Shower Rod , V Hook Shower Curtain Rings , city bath mat , raspberry vine print , caspian soap pump , marble toothbrush mug , metal waste bin , candle , Lux Faux Marble Bath Tray , black round toilet seat
This first one is definitely greener, but we like that shower curtain So much so that we couldn’t include it. Talking about shower curtains, they should take a rod, hang it towards the ceiling and make sure that the curtain is long enough to almost touch the floor. This will make the entire room feel longer. Now, as you can see, we mixed metals. This is totally allowed, but make sure each metal looks balanced. However, we felt that stick Must match the shower door frame. Again, while it’s not necessary, we like the idea of turning off the current vanity light a brass one To heat the space. Just one option. Remember when I said that metal tones should be balanced? That’s why soap pump And dustbin There are also brass. A little brass high, medium and low. And if you’ve been paying attention, you know our deep love for Burgundy. It’s a rich, warm neutral that’s anything but boring, and it matches perfectly with green. so that bath mat And tray (which will work on top of the toilet tank) is the perfect addition and will really add the color this follower is looking for. But their current bath mat might be great too. Now, in terms of toilet seats, I’m very pro black seat coverI have one myself, and I think it really makes the room look a lot better. It feels vintage but not old, and since this is a modern traditional bathroom, it’s perfect, right?? I also like its extra green texture toothbrush holder And candleAnd finally, a piece of art. There’s nothing wrong with the beautiful piece they have, but it looks a little short and/or hangs a little too high. So if they’re looking for a new piece of art, I like this idea print this Because it has all the tones of the established color palette, but is a little more saturated/brighter to add a little pop to the entire space.
Deco Blossom Shower Curtain , Blair Warm Brass 3-Light Bath Light , Half Moon Dual Mount Shower Rod , V Hook Shower Curtain Rings , city bath mat , Velas, Vinho e Flores Fine Art Print , caspian soap pump , marble toothbrush mug , Wicker Waste Basket , candle , rattan tray , black round toilet seat
This mood board leans more strongly into warm colors, so you may see the same color palette but with a different color emphasized. we also changed the dustbin tray Natural woven materials are a must, as bathrooms naturally have a lot of hard surfaces like tile and stone. Oh and that wonderful print Again, there is a brighter version of the rest of the colors to add freshness. The only thing I didn’t mention that can be turned off if they want is the mirror. That’s totally great, but a thinner frame might feel more balanced in the space. I think a black frame would still be an ideal color, but silver or brass would look great too. Happy decorating!!
Adding Character to a Builder Grade Kitchen
Now, this follower has a great kitchen, but seeing as it’s builder-grade, they really wanted to add more character to it. Obviously, it’s very modern, so we’re hesitant to recommend it for being “too vintage.” This doesn’t look quite right for this type of design as it may seem like too much contrast to the overall look. Like they are fighting each other instead of working in harmony. We only say this because when most people hear “character,” they just think of “add all the vintage.” keep reading:)
So what we’re going to recommend is a little bit old school, but mostly things that add color and texture. It’s really about adding personality, right? That said, the biggest change they could make is the handle. The brushed silver they currently have isn’t helping the space feel warmer. But to be fair, the cabinet colors aren’t that warm either, so adding bright gold highlights that would contrast excessively (and could visually overwhelm) isn’t the answer either. So what can work??
Lacquered Oak Wood “Join” Cabinet Handle , Oval Bar Wood Handle Cabinet Pulls
We first thought the mid-tone wooden handle pulls. They may heat up the shelves a bit and become a more unexpected choice. The other issue is that we couldn’t find any wood pullers longer than 12″, and some of those drawers look much longer than that. That’s one option, but we think we have a better idea.
linear drawn bronze , antique brass cabinet pulls
Bronze. It’s not as bright as gold brass, and it seems like it’s easier to find extra-long options. We think this might be the best option for what they have. Warm but not too hot, you know? 🙂 Plus, we love intricate details like the one above.
On to the decorations!
We want to start with the space above the shelves. Currently, they only have a few grayish-brown baskets that look similar to the brown color of the brown cabinets. A rich, warm vintage basket like this one (along with others) would look great there. It’s got texture, it’s got warmth, and it’s nothing but builder-grade.
Orsino Green Marble Fruit Bowl , Hand Carved Wild Olive Wood Bowl
But as we said at the beginning of this space, decorating with all things vintage isn’t necessarily the first step towards an ultra-modern kitchen. so like piece together This beautiful green marble bowl (which also adds a wonderful rich color) would look amazing displayed above cabinets. the same goes for These hand carved bowlsThey’re not vintage, but they have a lot of texture and dynamics. The biggest thing to remember when decorating an area like the cabinets above is to make sure that all of your pieces are not the same height, and that they are large enough to make a visual impact when you’re looking at them from the ground. Create levels and don’t forget the scale!
Handmade Studio Pottery Polka Dot Utensil Holder , xl utensil holder
We also think this kitchen could use more color and/or pattern. We love a well-placed polka dot, and that utensil holder Just the right amount. But you know a splash of color is just as effective, and you can bet Nikki Kehoe sells the prettiest green pot holder In the city 🙂
Rechargeable Dimmable Rattan Touch Table Lamp , Ryland LED Table Lamp
This can be tricky because it’s obvious that there is a lot of activity in this kitchen with at least one child living under the roof. But if they could clear a small corner, we’d love that kitchen lamp. It adds a lot of personality, atmosphere and guaranteed character. Both of these are rechargeable, so no need to take up space in an outlet.
Moon Face Wine Dinner Plate , Antique Upper Hanley Semi-Porcelain Dinner Plate , My main passion in life is the bagel plate
Well, at first, the idea was to hang a mix of modern handmade and vintage plates over the tile backsplash, but obviously, they would/probably need holes to secure them, and there’s the whole issue of the cooking grease mess. However, we still think that maybe a wall with a window or the wall next to the fridge could be options. Whether it’s just a vertical line of plates or more than a gallery Like thisThe best thing about plates is that they are great for saving too! But then, for this kitchen, make sure it’s at least a mix of more contemporary and antique.
Thank you to those who submitted! And when we do it again, those who weren’t selected will be revisited, and we’ll definitely make sure you ask our Only Blog readers too <3
I love you, it means it.
Opening Image Credit: Design by Ryan Trombetti | Styled by emily bowser photo by sarah ligoria-trump From: Ryan’s Living and Dining Room Reveal
