There's a fine line between a calm, relaxing neutral room and one that's just boring. Crossing the line from monotone to warm modern often involves texture. Designer Louise Bradley's rooms offer some lessons in ways to use texture well. She pairs natural fibers with metal and glass, or combines rustic details with sleek furnishings, achieving inviting rooms with just a tiny bit of an edge to them...
The fur throw is the same hue as the dark wood closets, creating an interesting contrast between the two textures.
All of the accents in this room (including the glass coffee table, framed pictures, and bowl next to the hearth) respond to the texture and color of the artwork above the fireplace.
In a bathroom, mirrored surfaces both create and reflect texture. The horizontal mirrors above the bathtub frame vignettes from the other side of the room.
The rough-hewn wood hearth sets a rustic tone for this room, reflected in the fur pillows and basket of kindling by the hearth. For more from Louise Bradley, click here.
Photos: House to Home and Louise Bradley
© 2009 Apartment Therapy
That first room is lovely, except for all the crap on the coffee table. That would drive me nuts. The mantel is especially fabulous.
view madsarah's profile
The bathroom looks sterile and cold...
view dnice's profile
I like her work.
Subtle.
Quiet.
Elegant & refined.
(I'd echo dnices' remarks - personally- I'd like to see a "splash" of color in the all white bathroom- maybe a wall hung Vase with a few Gerber Daisies-
or a colorful piece of framed Art.......)
view Man_ofSteel's profile
The bathroom reminds me of a hotel. It is too angular and too white for the other rooms. I would have expected something more "country" for lack of a better word. I see grey marble countertops and more tradition fixtures. Her other surfaces are all covered with objects, so the contrast is noticeable that there are bare surfaces here.
view aums's profile
*traditional
view aums's profile
The wide variety of neutrals and textures more than make up for the lack of color - very restful and soothing.
view bepsf's profile
Ah, for the most part this is a great example of how to do neutral.
Don't agree with everything, and I personally need color in my decor, but still, very classy without being stale, sterile or boring (except the bathroom. It's sterile).
view Lizzy C's profile
I surprised myself this time.... I really like it. Any idea where I can find those fur pillows?
view sunrise's profile
It's hard to achieve a refined look like this without resorting to color as a device. Bathroom looks like someone else designed it, but the other rooms are very inspiring and well thought-out.
view farmhousemoderne's profile
Nice. I like both fireplaces a lot.
I have seen faux fur similar to the pillows at JoAnn's before, you could make pillow covers for yourself.
view SherryBinNH's profile