I have always been a leaper and a grabber. I make bold decisions, with a vague sense of what will be good for me, and then forge boldly ahead to reap the consequences and rewards. I fly to Africa knowing no one and nothing of what that might mean and settle there for a season, eyes and heart open...
Then to New York, coasting like Mario with my raccoon tail down the streets and subway halls, ducking in the next open door of a train that hurtles me that much further in some direction. When I got my first New York apartment, terrified of the empty space, I marched down to the basement of ABC Carpet and Home with $300 cash in my pocket and muscled through rug after rug until I found the one that - for no predetermined reason - was perfect - and then matched everything else to that relatively random foundation.
On the other hand I am also a grabber - I wear my favorite jeans until the patches themselves are worn through, I sit in my newly decluttered room, declare it perfect, and swear never to let it change: the way my bed is snug against the wall, the light hits my bookshelf, the wooden elephant rests on my dresser. I leap towards the unknown and then sit in that meadow I chanced upon in the clouds, grasping at the grass, shivering for fear it will disappear as quickly as it came to be.
So putting together my style tray was the perfect way to allow my creative spirit the freedom to dream, without committing to anything (even change!). Interestingly enough, I found myself pulled towards two pretty different realms - dens with deep red walls and ornate tapestries, lots of books, and impossibly cozy couches - also deep blue walls, rich and vibrant, with antiques hanging on the walls (see rich color palette photo). And on the other hand, inspired first by some small silk pillows I picked up on clearance last month (also at ABC!) - the cool calm of velvet green, the white light through the window, deep grey and white linen. The simple lines that encourage peace and meditation (see calm color palette photo).
So what do I do with these impulses that seem to pull in different directions? Is there room for both in one room? My room is primarily my sleeping place, but I also want it to be a place where I can write, read, think, create - where a friend can sit and talk with me about ideas and dreams. Which style will best facilitate these things?
Also, there is the question of fitting in with the rest of the house and with the things I already own. How far away from the rest of the house is it tasteful to go when creating the color palette for my own personal space? Is it worth it to paint? I do like the rich color of my walls (though the dark ceiling is not so great), and they (again, by chance) do match that first rug I bought. Even the gold trim, which I originally hated, is growing on me.
Hmm... advice?
One thing I do know - life without clutter is amazing. My room is manageable, and is at last peaceful to come home to at night (with the exception of a minor panic at the loss of my voter registration card, which somehow ended up in my outbox!). This week I also threw away an old pair of favorite (but very ratty) jeans, a last stronghold, and celebrated with the purchase of a deliciously swingy skirt and knee socks. (In with the new!) I am SO ready to go through my outbox and gift my things to their future owners. That's on the list for next week!
Best, Rebecca "the winsome clutterer" Bea
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You can always paint the ceiling white even if you keep the colors on the wall. Your ABC rug looks ilke a lovely blue in the top picture, but almost black in the view in your room- which is more accurate?
I think you can drift far from the rest of the house in your decor choices since you are living in a group house. I like the bright color palatte myself, and think it would be harder to create the calm serene palatte with your existing furniture etc.
Great job on the decluttering- isn't the outbox just the greatest concept ever?
view CQ in DC's profile
rebecca, i really love your style trays! i find myself in a similar predicament when i look at my own personal tastes. A way i have found to balance these warm colour tastes with cool breezy fabrics and natural finishes, is to paint the walls a warm shade (which will look stellar with your rug), include natural finishes on the furnishings in the room. If you can incorporate white breezy fabrics on the windows and possibly some cool blue glass on display (or something similar) I think that would really look nice and create interest in the space.
good luck and make sure to post pictures!
view eryn's profile
In the photos, the room's color scheme looks fantastic as-is -- both soothing and exotic.
If I were thinking of tweaking it, I'd leave the wall color alone (it's warm and gorgeous and goes with the brick) and consider adding some color on the bed in the form of linens. A rich brown duvet cover would work well with both the space and your Style Tray, and then you could add throw pillows from there.
(While my instinct is to hate the yellow trim, it seems to work in the actual space.)
view wende in the twin cities's profile
Your room looks to me the assemblage of both style trays already.
Is it possible you are "done"?
view patrick (the other one)'s profile
Very nice... the wall/trim color combo really works in this room. If this was my room, I would add something turquoise (maybe a throw) and call it done! Good work!
view sarah nin's profile
Good job decluttering!!
view Clairepetrol's profile
When I look at your photos, I so want to rotate your furniture, ha! I.e. rotate the large bookshelf to the wall with the rocking chair, rotate your large dresser right- to where the bookshelf was, rotate the short dresser right- to where the large dresser is now under the window. Put the rocking chair in the window alcove where the short dresser was. I guess the reason is that it would bring down the level of the furniture near your bed so the tall bookshelf doesn't dominate. And the rocking chair would be very nice in the window alcove.
Although there are probably practical reasons for having it as it is now! So... just an idea to consider!
view JG's profile
With the current wall and trim colors so strong- and you currently living in it- I think it can be hard to visualize different colors on the room walls. Maybe you can put photos into photoshop or a paint company's software and see how different colors and combinations will change the look for you and play with all of your ideas and see what grabs you!
Also, unless you want to put your favorite rug or pieces of furniture in storage or paint them, you can work in reverse and figure out which of your styles will work better with the pieces and the room you have. Since you have such an abundance of styles to choose from!
(Personally I find the yellow trim too overwhelming - but that is my style!)
view JG's profile
Your room is looking wonderfully decluttered! The carpet and pillow purchases seem to point more towards the exotic, rich color palette. I'd accent that direction by choosing a table lamp with softer lines.
Perhaps the tabbed curtains are the obstacle here? Personally, I love the unexpected yellow window trim. It works so well with your carpet.
view wig3000's profile