apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

I get what you did with the accent wall..but why not paint the wall that's what I think is your closet(s)? The green would look really nice next to the reddish-brown of the brick (but leave the doors white). Love the hardwood floor with that green color too. If you were to put a few paintings/photos above your bed, what kind of pictures/colors would they be? Maybe use something with a black frame and white matting to tie in the white walls, dresser, and mirror? I do really like your room, and I hope you get the help you are looking for!

I really like the colors, and I agree with miya's suggestion to paint the closet wall green as well. Regarding the possible pictures--a tip I've read a million times, which seems reasonable though I've never tried it, is to cut out paper in the same sizes/shapes as the artwork you're considering, and tape those up onto the wall first, to see how they might look before you actually put nails into the wall.

I agree with the above comments - the green is really beautiful, but I also find the contrast where the green meets the white kind of distracting. I think either keep going with the green or soften the white a bit. I love the cover on the bed but I feel like something needs to tie it to the green. Maybe some pillows that have both shades of green and red? Or maybe the art above your bed could tie it together. I've always thought about stapling fabric to a stretcher as a cheap art option; that could be an interesting in your room. But overall, I really like your color sensibility.

I really like the bright colors with the white furniture. And I like the idea of one big poster/art piece over the bed. My only negative note -- the director's chair by the bed makes me think "amateur porn!" ... it seems very out of place with all the other very crisp, bright elements.

I agree about painting the other wall green. Our bedroom actually has three blue walls with one accent white, and I kind of like that too (but mostly it happened because we ran out of paint!). You definitely need something above the bed. And I agree that the director chair does look a little weird, but I understand wanting a chair! We also have a similar type of mirror in our room but hide in behind the door, because it's not a beautiful mirror, so it really doesn't add anything to the room, even though it's functional. I'd try to find a nicer one or hide it. I'm not sure how I feel about the shelf next to the bed. It seems a bit tall, especially since you don't have anything on the top shelf, except candles I think. Seems somehow out of balance. But all in all, it is a beautiful room, with lovely color and the brick is great, and I like the bed a lot! Kudos to you for putting it up on the block!

Thanks for all the suggestions. Yeah the chair was given to me by my dad, when I first moved in, and didn't have much furniture yet. Eventually I was thinking of getting the curved chair from West Elm, when I get a bit more money together www.westelm.com/cat/pip.cfm?template=8grid&pkey=cfrnchr&gids=p072&cid=frnchr&area=shp
I have a big white mirror next to one of the dressers, the one behind the chair is a cheapy one, also from my early days. I was thinking of removing it, and putting 3 small pictures vertically?
Thanks again, keep the suggestions coming ;)

I'd go green with every wall except the closet wall and (obviosuly) not the brick. Or paint the window wall a brick-ish color. Yes, absolutely art (or a headboard or both) over the bed. Go with a single piece, and go big (especially if you plan to keep the high bedside cabinet).

Ditch the director's chair and the small between-closet mirror as soon as you can. I vote for a small upholstered cube in between the doors, and a much larger mirror, perhaps even a "floor leaner."

Don't confuse clutter with accessories. Or, better put, don't let your (warranted) fear of clutter prevent you from showing off stuff you LOVE.

(you'd be AMAZED at the difference a "real" headboard makes in how the whole bed area feels.)

(whoops, me again...)
Sorry, MRoman, I did not see that you do in fact have a real headboard!

Yeah its hidden amongst the tons of pillows...I like pillows can you tell.

I can relate!

This is very pretty and clean, but I don't see many personal treasures around. It's so spartan, it looks like a bed and breakfast instead of your own retreat from the world. Why not take those candles off the top shelf and put a few favorite plants, vases, things you've collected over the years up there instead?
Best,

I think you underestimate yourself.

I love the green and the duvet--it just needs some personal touches to pull it all together. Some art over the bed. Maybe a nice furry rug to scrunch your feet in when you get out of bed. I would also lose the light--replace with something warmer and lower that you can actually use to read in bed. Agree about the director's chair and mirror. Also, why isn't that wall painted? It's very stark.

I have a theme going on in the other rooms as well. Mixing white with colored walls. So 2 walls are white, and one is green. In my living room I have yellow and white.
Though now I'm thinking maybe all the walls should be green in the bedroom, brick excluded of course.

I think I'd still leave the closet wall all white. Or else those doors will draw too much attention to themselves. Or, find a warmer color that relates back to the brick. (even tho I think MGR is not a fan of mixing the warm and the cool!!)
Also, Pottery Barn catalog and web used to have a really chunky seagrass rug that was flecked with red (cranberry, they called it) which might bridge your wicker to bedspread nicely

Is that one piece of wall behind the tv/cabinet the only brick, or does brick flank the doorway?

I really like this room. The wall color and the bedspread work well together. I agree though that you should paint at least one other wall with that green, probably NOT the closet wall for the same reasons as Patrick. Also you might want to soften the harshness of the white by bringing in more accents or accessories with colors from the wall or bedspread. I like the large plant in the corner, perhaps some more on the shelves or dresser would warm it as well. Maybe in baskets that tie in with your storage baskets.

Good advice.
The brick flanks the doorway. One of the things I like best about my apartment is the large amount of brick walls it has.

The green is great, the bedspread is great. I'd take those closet doors off and replace them with curtain panels (something like this - apartmenttherapy.com/main/archives/000688.html), to help bridge the brick/green gap.

Tough love - The canvas chair, mirror and tall lamp are, um, they gotta go. Get a freestanding mirror, two wall-mounted lamps to go on either side of the bed, and replace the chair if you really really want to but put it at an angle in the corner instead of centered on the wall.

Also, maybe swap the locations of the shelves and the second (non-tv) dresser?

Can you shoot for symmetry with both dressers flanking the doorway, too, each against the brick?

That would (might) free up some space for a comfortable upholstered chair...

The other thing, I think your white framed mirror would look amazing against the brick... atop the newly repositioned dresser?

ooo the fabric idea sounds nice. Maybe in some type of green that closely resembles the color on your walls? It would help put in the color that is missing on that side. oo and another idea- light brown blinds to tie in the brown baskets?
And not to go all Ikea on you, but if you still want a mirror on that wall, try one with a more interesting shape? (if you don't go with the vertical picture idea. Since you already have a mirror in the room though, pictures would be really nice =) )

And I'm totally envious of your brick walls!

Luckily what can't really be seen in the pics, I was afraid it was going to be totally obvious, and have people make fun-- but one wall isn't straight, but crooked, so each wall is actually a different size, so the dressers wouldn't fit. Trapazoid type shape might be a good description.

And don't succumb to the whole "white walls are evil" mentality, either!! In some rooms, white walls are there just by default. But in this space, with your white furniture, it looks intentional.

I just you love Patrick (the other one)

White walls aren't evil, but not making a choice is lazy. Most rooms with white walls simply look unfinished to me...

I really like your bedroom! Thanks for putting it out there. I would give up on the director's chair and maybe turn that little nook over by the air conditioning unit into a small reading area. I may be over-estimating the size of it, but you could probably squeeze a little something out of it with a low bookcase, bench or ottoman.

If you feel nervous about getting a piece of art to go on your walls, start simple. It may take a while before you run into the perfect thing, and it's better to have something you like enough but didn't invest in than buying something prefab that you feel like you can't throw away.

Damn the trapezoid! ;)

I've been postponing putting up my own paintings, theres only one up right now.
You all can see my stuff at www.micheleroman.com
Little plug there ;)

Nice layout. I can see why you put the white on the other walls, the green is great but too much green could be overkill. I definitely think that white CAN be a choice, not just a "lack of choice". Although I see the points about the director's chair, I have to admit I have one by my computer too(it's comfy!)

Overall I think you did a great job with a small space. Kudos MRoman!

Also, is that painting in the corner of one of the shots one of yours? I like it, and I like your site too!

Love the brick and the white against it. Like the plant, too, but you need to balance the two sides of the bed, maybe with more shelves? Or at least put the plant on a stand. Haitian art has the terrific colors you've used in your duvet and perhaps a large, brightly colored picture above the bed would tie things together. Great room, though. (And I agree, some people need a tv in their bedroom.)

tried to reach your site, michele, and got some kind of linux test page. ???
martha

I like the green wall but in this room with an exposed brick wall
white walls crate a fresh contrast. As said by others the mirror and directors chair should go.I would like to point out that in a room where you spend most of the time lying down or reclining
you have a lot of tall furniture. the chest of drawers, floor lamp,
and shelf unit next to the bed are all high pieces next to a low bed. Try a low table next to the bed with a table lamp instead of that floor lamp. West Elm is the capital of low furniture with low prices, they are worth a look.

Nice place. Organized, together. Great example of what can be done with collected and given pieces when you have taste.

Eeek, thanks Martha, I need to talk to the person who created my site to see why thats happening, oy.

It has a great start, the green is a great soothing colour, but the white has to go. What you have is a face slap of colour, that then is left to stand on it's own with out any help from the other walls or details. Soften the room and boost the lasting effect of the green by painting the other walls a complimentary colour, tone the white trim so as not to be so stark. Definitely artwork or some very creative one piece shelving (one piece meaning the shelf is only large enough to accommodate one unique piece of sculpture or collectible). A collage of art and this type of shelf or wall mounted sculpture would add texture and interest. Also, add a nite stand on the opposite side of the bed to the wall unit, to counter the heavyness of the unit.

MRoman--

The Mano Stool is on sale now at DWR--
http(colon)//www.dwr.com/productdetail.cfm?id=3678

It could work in the slot between the closet doors, if you didn't want to go with a fully-upholstered cube. If you prefer fully-upholstered, check out Chiasso's--

http (colon)//chiasso.com/productshowdetails.asp?Designer=0&PriceRange=0&Keyword=cube&Keywords=&Department=&Category=&Interests=&Occasion=&lstManufacturers=0&BrowseID=&AgeRange=&search=0&specialorder=1&Vendor_Name=&outlet_center=&ReturnPage=1&StartPage=3&redirectTarget=&saleItemsOnly=&NewItemsOnly=

Wow, isn't it fun to advise others? This could be a whole website. I love any shade of springy leafy green, but since it's impossible to evaluate colors from photographs, I think it's impossible to tell about the white. Love any kind of striped fabric. The torchiere lamp is harsh- looks like you would have room for a small table next to the bed with a lamp, or a pair of pin-up reading lamps instead, one on each side. Sounds like you don't need the cheap mirror and could lose it. Although replacing the black thin molding with wide molding painted white is an option. Do you ever actually sit in that chair? Maybe lose it as well, move the plant there, and hang the vertical row of prints or suggested individual shelf units above it for drama and enjoying from the bed. More stuff on the shelf for sure- books? You might even shorten it by cutting off the bottom and losing a shelf, then moving everything up so it isn't so tall. (but not if it screws up the basket arrangement.) A padded fabric headboard hung on the wall would be an affordable and luxurious touch, easy to make with plywood and foam, fabric stapled around, one of the rich burgundy/red tones from the spread, if the existing headboard is removable.

Hmmmm. . .a bit "how do you say"? "Boring."

I am a film stylist & think you have a great start. I agree that the mirror has to go - put it on the back of a closet door. Put your plant between the closet doors. I also agree that it would be nice to see you group the highboys somewhere together, if that's even possible. If not, maybe move one to another room.

On that note, it's too bad your TV doesn't fit on the open-backed shelves. They would let some of the brick show through and open the room while giving you texture. The highboy hides most of the brick. You could move it and use that space for a reading nook. Don't paint the closet doors. If you have to, paint the wall surrounding them. The white doors are classy.

I like the color scheme the way it is & think the least expensive & easiest way to tie it all together is to place three sharp contrast black and white photos framed in black on the wall over the bed. It will pull in the closet area and let the brick, green wall(s), & duvet pattern & color speak for themselves. I think the colors of a painting may be overkill.

"Snuggle Puddle"?! Well, I liked it before THAT! ;)

THAT totally describes me, and especially describes my 3 day weekend, hehe.

How about some white cubes from West Elm to hang on the wall?