Hello AT,
Though normally not a big Pottery Barn fan, their Stratton bed caught my attention. Space is not only limited in my bedroom but the room is also a funny shape (I guess right angles are considered passe by the architect), so I like the storage this bed offers. If I were to get it, I would get it with the rattan baskets. My question is this: I would have preferred it in black, but it only comes in mahagony or antique white...
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I want to keep the color versatile since I don't plan on keeping my current oak finish Ikea dressers, so I guess I am stuck with the white.
I hate white furniture because it reminds me of a farm/country style, which I detest. My current taste of the month for dresser finish is black (kinda like that antiqued, rubbed finish look).
How to mix two different finishes of furniture that don't come from the same design line in the same room so that it doesn't look hodge-podgy?
Love your site, thanks so much! Maria
Dear Maria,
Don't worry too much. White with rattan baskets is a very versatile color combo that won't clash with your oak dresser. White - in general - is good that way. What would be worse would be if you had the mahogany bed with the oak dresser. Two dissimilar woods will look like a mistake and tend to clash.
But how do you mix finishes? We actually prefer is things DON'T match too much, so variation is good. You just don't want it to seem random, and near misses look more like mistakes than big transitions.
With wood finishes, therefore, keep them similar.
With painted surfaces, they can differ widely, though it is good if they fit into a specific palette and relate to one another in some way, just the way you choose one color for wall trim and one for the wall itself.
As for all other finishes: metal, glass, etc... mix it up but - again - think of the overall effect as wanting to feel like a family so that there is a common theme somewhere underneath it all.
That theme could be color, era, size or height. Keep at least one element steady to lay down a theme and then play with the rest.
Anyone else?
I have a similar platform bed with drawers underneath for storage. The drawers are easily accessed but hidden from view by a tailored dust ruffle.
CB2 offers a similar bed in a dark espresso. Click my name for the link.
Paint exists for Every type of surface now (think paint store rather than megabox homestore), it's never been easier to paint furniture, even the wicker baskets could be painted if you prefer them in a color other than natural. The one caveat, you may need to prime the surface before painting and the primer is key to the project, so I urge you to consult a good paint store for advice about which one to use.
If you're really trying to avoid the farm/country look, it feels like the rattan baskets are going to create more tension vis-a-vis your other finishes than the white wood is. I totally appreciate the appeal of underbed storage, but I think you might be happier in the long run with a different bed altogether.
I just Googled "underbed storage drawers" and found tons of options - I'd find a bed you love in a finish that you love and just take advantage of the space that way.
Again, I don't think there's anything wrong with mixing finishes, I just think the rattan boxes will create more design challenges for you than they will solutions!
Paint it black!
Unless you plan on tucking in all your cover-ends and sides every morning, once the bed is made with standard comforter or duvet, you aren't even going to see most of the white wood (or the baskets).