Name: Joanna O. S.
Location: Brooklyn, NY
Why I use color:
"When rooms have color, their functionality can stay fluid. Rather
than calling it "Baby's Room," (which it is,) when it's "The Green
Room," it's also the rumpus zone, the art studio, the tea party
parlor. Color keeps the mind open to unlimited possibilities.
The Green Room walls lend themselves to a pastoral folk art dresser,
some excellent castle curtains, and everyone's favorite carpeting,
Flor tiles. It also offers a subtle backdrop to art by our budding
DeKooning. Extra bonus: Grandma's burgundy wing chair provides some
welcome contrast in the reading nook.
The drab photos are courtesy of ten days of unrelenting rain in New
York, but all you Apartment Therapy readers have good imaginations,
so think of a soft moss and extrapolate at will."
Color Tips:
"Make a mix of half white/half color and use this for architectural
accents in the room.
Keep an eye on other rooms: Anywhere you can see from the sightlines
of one room should be in complimentary or contrasting shades.
What's outside your window? Make sure your interior doesn't clash
with the outside environment."
Color Resources:
"Eliot Porter: The Color of Wildness, Aperture (2001)
Eliot Porter's photos of nature will rock the Pantone formula guide
any day.
Communication Arts Magazine
This bible has so many useful articles and beautiful examples of
color at work and play."
I love that green. Could you tell us what it is?
I think that's a very happy place to spend time as a baby! I helped my friend pick out a similar color for her guest bedroom...it's soft and nice and I never thought I'd like green until I saw it on her walls!
I know it's your grandmother's chair and it may be difficult to change it... but I think it's got a great shape that would better serve the room if it was in a complementary colour not a contrasty one-- perhaps reupholster it in a graphic pattern that's a soft blue and cream/white? man, if this was my room, i'd stare at that dresser for hours, how cute!
Dresser is so cool! Adds a lot of interest to this comfy little room.
This is a room for imagination, storytelling and the fun kind of learning. I can just imagine making a story of how the castle and "flying whale" are related!
And as hard a color as green is to get right, here I think it the perfect version of the perfect choice.
So many lovely and sweet touchs!
Love the dresser, the castle in the distance shade, the map, and orca . . .
I think the first photo is just killing you in the contest tho and that's a real shame.
If the gentle, happy variety of colors and things in this room reflect what kind of a mother you are, that's a lucky baby! Love the painted chest and the wall color--and the wood tones and other colors along with the wall color. There's a relaxed coziness here. I agree with Guido that the first picture (chest, changing pad, sterile white--what?--dirty diaper holder?--doesn't do you any contest favors. (I keep wanting to straighten the changing pad, too). And, sorry, I wince at the juxtapostion of the crimson chair and the castle curtains--looks very accidental and make-do. I HATE that I have these criticisms, because I love the room!
Au
Monitors must vary, cuz that chair looks more burgundy than crimson... and I disagree about it next to the castle curtains... that is SO the "read me a story" spot.
Perhaps this is not the most highly stylistic of entries we've seen, but it is sweet, designed, and achieves its goals.
Joanna-- You keep doing what you're doing!!
Oops, I REALLY didn't mean to come across as all cranky and critical, Patrick (the other one)! I must not have downed enough morning coffee yet. As I did say, I basically love this room. I agree about the "read me a story" spot, and I like that the room isn't stylized, but still is full of warmth and interest and coziness.
But I still think the story chair, which is a very nice chair, and the curtains, which are magical for a child and for stories, don't go together!
Au