#14 - Sarah's Signature Secret Weapon | Apartment Therapy Chicago

#14 - Sarah's Signature Secret Weapon

Name: Sarah
Location: Chicago
Type: 2 bedroom, owned

Why I use color: I use color to compliment some feature of the space or of its surroundings. The one variation from this approach is my bedroom, though it is the one constant from apartment to apartment. I took a note from Diana Vreeland and decided that deep pink will be my signature (bedroom) color since it’s the one that best compliments my skin tone. A girl has got to have a secret weapon when she’s got nothing else!

My last apartment was essentially unchanged since the 1940’s—windows, kitchen, bath and all. I decided to play up the wide slat floors by painting them white to make an urban cottage using a variety of blues and oranges, trimmed in white. At my new apartment, the canopy of the trees produce a tree house effect, so I decided to go to the garden for inspiration, using lots of greens.

2 good color tips:

1. The paint chip will appear more intense (darker or brighter) when it's covering your whole wall and playing off itself.

2. I don't buy the warm, cool approach to color. I find that if colors share another factor, like the same level of muted-ness, they'll work together.

2 good color resources:

1. I use everything for inspiration, including travel photos, a favorite article of clothing, film sets.

2. I like Ralph Lauren colors, but not the paint. Bring in a chip to your local paint shop and they'll mix it for you with whatever brand of paint you prefer.

Comments (24)

I love your space. Interested in finding a rug like the one Sarah includes in her photo.

posted by sarah on 2006-10-12 14:11:40

rosy red against the weathered, pickled, cottage looking wood finish very interesting and beautiful, as is the milky green wiggly thing on the dresser. light furniture+red+deco vanity+ asian inspiration= kudos from me.

posted by carol on 2006-10-12 14:17:15

I love the way this particular color grounds the other elements in the room.

I like the bleached effect on the dresser and the headboard. It keeps light in the room.

All this pink/red I'm seeing. I might have to find a way to use some in my apartment. Somewhere. Lovely room.

posted by Jackie(the original one) on 2006-10-12 14:25:22

LOVE this. I agree ... the color palette is gorgeous (I too have dark pink/orange bedroom ... must be in now!). And the green squiggy is a nice accent that doesn't make it all matchy matchy.

All in all, this looks like a very cozy space to settle into.

I'm totally jealous of your vintage vanity too ;-)

posted by ridge. on 2006-10-12 14:58:17

I really really like that dresser, the wood is so different looking, and I love that the miror is round. The color of the wood is a nice contrast beside the red of the walls. I also love your headboard. Very nice room. Good luck hun!

posted by Cassandra on 2006-10-12 15:16:23

I LOVE that color pink! I've been searching for a great pink to paint my dining room. Can you please provide the name of the paint color? Thank you!

posted by Megan on 2006-10-12 16:58:00

These are really nice photographs. I like the wall color with the wood. And I really like the bedside table and lamp. The geometry of the objects are especially nice.

posted by Tricia on 2006-10-12 17:41:00

Loving that pink!

posted by Maryam in Marrakesh on 2006-10-12 17:59:47

Sarah please, the sheets -giveth all the info. They are beautiful! Your room looks cozy, serene interesting and pretty.

posted by Lady J on 2006-10-12 18:47:58

Ypur first picture is fantastic--the reflection of the bed makes it seem cohesive (opposed to entries with 2 completely different rooms so you don't get a complete feel for either), but the colors on the vanity are amazing together. I love the worn wood, pink, and green milk vase together. Very nicely done.

posted by Shannon on 2006-10-12 19:35:54

I love this. I only wish I could see what you've done with the window coverings, what I can see is intriguing. I'm not a big fan of pink, but this is a great shade. Good luck.

posted by Lisa from VA on 2006-10-12 20:23:14

Good colors but a little more editing is needed to make it work.

posted by charlene on 2006-10-12 22:15:24

My teen years were spent in a sort of dark red bedroom with white trim and when I think about it now I cringe. Your room is what that room aspired to, but never could've found the sophistication to become. Love the pink color and the colors and textures of the furniture, bedding, etc. Please tell about the headboard, which really intrigues me!
Thanks for sharing your photos.

posted by LW on 2006-10-12 22:16:03

Hi everyone...Sarah here.

Thank you for all your generous and kind-hearted comments!

Rug - Bought on sale last January at IKEA for about $35.

Paint - Racer Pink by Ralph Lauren, MINUS the white. I used Racer Pink in my last apartment and tried it again at my new one, but the light was more direct, so I called RL and got the formula, brought it to the paint shop and had them omit the white.

Sheets - On sale at TJ Maxx a couple years ago. A great resource for sheets and bedding.

Dresser - Props to my Aunt Patty who had a vision in 1968 to faux the old dresser. Just worked out that it matches the "headboard"--really a folding screen from the seventies that I garbage picked.

Green Squiggly thing is from a local glass blower, who I'll have to look up and post at a later date along with the manufacturers of the sheets.

And thanks to Michele Ritchie of Chicago Interiors who helped me cut out the trim, ceilings and baseboards on the bedroom. She's a master painter!

posted by Sarah on 2006-10-13 10:16:55

I really like the way you managed to make a pinkish/red room calm and relaxing. Only one other entrant (Xing) from the Northwest managed to do this.

Kudos to both of you.

posted by Laura on 2006-10-13 14:24:58

Very nice, I like it. Creative shot for the first pic too.

posted by Candice on 2006-10-13 16:48:00

Although I'm not generally a fan of pink, it looks almost like a "cerise" color and I love the way it is rich and eclectic and not too over the top. You did a great job of choosing the color and like someone else said, making a 'hotter'color feel serene. Almost has a 'vintage Cuba'/The Lost City (Andy Garcia movie) glamour look without being obvious. Clever mixing of other accessories, I like it! Love the round mirror...have 2 of those myself-one vintage, one new.

posted by Lizz on 2006-10-13 22:10:44

The color works. Love the tip about using RL colors but with other paint brands.

Also, the point about sticking to warm/cool not always being the formula to follow is a good one. Using equal tones of 2 warm/1 cool or 2 cool/1 warm will create a harmonious effect.

posted by Lisa(theOriginal) on 2006-10-14 08:27:16

Hi all, it's Sarah again.

I was wrong on the green vase...it's not local, but from Bob Rynearson of Ryno Glass in Temple, Texas.

Also, the window covering is a simple panel that I picked up in Dakar, Senegal.

And the sheets are from Echo.

Thanks again everybody!

posted by Sarah on 2006-10-15 09:15:56

I love this! I have a hot pink kitchen, but this rose is so much nicer. You're causing me to rethink, which is really great. Thank you.

posted by Judy on 2006-10-16 13:06:19

Sarah,
It looks fantastic and it is apparent that you put alot of time into it (i.e. calling RL to get the formula) and your pro-activeness pays off! Question- where did you get mirror? it's beautiful!

posted by Leigh on 2006-10-30 09:45:12

What is with all the "no" votes? This is gorgeous and I can't find one negative comment.

posted by noisy on 2006-11-02 11:47:41

I agree, noisy...I'm start to get a complex ;)

Leigh, the mirror is original to the dresser...vintage, but I'll bet you can find them on-line, craigslist, ebay, etc.

Thanks again everybody!

posted by Sarah on 2006-11-03 16:33:06

Lots of unique touches yet uncluttered. The colors don't fight or compete but are still passionate and lovely for a bedroom.

posted by gabbi on 2006-11-06 17:40:06