- Name:
- Suzanne
- Location:
- Salt Lake City, UT
- Division:
- Light
- Inspiration for my palette:
- The room was looking tired and dingy. I decided that I wanted a crisp and classic look (with a twist). I retiled the fireplace with herringbone Carrara marble tiles and painted it a glossy white. I chose white Billy bookshelves, which we hacked together, as a counterpoint to the unstained woodwork that had previously dominated the room. I painted the walls a light soft grey which contrasts nicely with the dark wood trim. To prevent the room from looking too stark, I've included things with lots of texture from the David Trubridge pendant, the wood logs, the jute covered chair to the sheepskin rug. Gold/brass accents round out the decor. The room does double duty as a library/music room so there's a lot going on in here but fortunately my son chose a drum kit that matches the decor perfectly (copper sparkle).
- Colors used in my room
- Behr Sterling Grey on the walls with accents of white, gold/brass, natural wood and oatmeal.
- Tips for using color successfully
- Go to Pinterest or google images and pin a bunch of different rooms. You should then see a pattern emerge of what style best suits you. Take your inspiration from the palettes that you're drawn too.
- Palette
- Color in Harmony
Categories:
Style,
Main,
2012,
Room for Color
Like this Room for Color 2012 contest entry? Favorite it below!
Small Cool Lessons: Discovering Small Space Design Ideas That Really Work
Marisa and Peter's Playfully Eclectic Home
Good Food to Share 
The Big Book of Small, Cool Spaces 
Apartment Therapy Presents 
The Eight-Step Home Cure 
Z2 iPod Dock and Wi...
How To Cook Fluffy, Tasty Quinoa
How to Make Fresh Pasta Dough in the Food Processor
I love it! Natural light, serene, calm, so pleasant. I love that it's not fussy. I would sit in that chair for hours...
did you really group your books by color? *sigh*
I love it! And the books grouped by color look nice in this room, although I typically don't like that arrangement.
Stunning!
It does kind of look like she grouped her books by color, though at least two shelves of those books are part of a series or are designed by the same publishing company. And at least two of those shelves are travel books, which would have similar color schemes if they were from the same publishing company. For instance, all of the DK Eyewitness travel guides have a black and white spine no matter what country they are for, and Frommers travel guides have red spines.
I'm usually a fan of LOTS of color but I love this! It is so bright and clean. That chair calls to me :)
Beautiful!
I think this is perfect for a music room. You did a fantastic job of incorporating everything this room is : music, books, fireplace and keeping it calm and serene despite its many uses. I love that grey paint behind the fireplace. Well done!
A really beautiful room; elegant without being stuffy, and neutral without being boring. And ignore the snark about book colour - I think it looks lovely here. It doesn't matter if decor bores consider something 'overdone' when it looks good in your home.
Beautiful space! I have this same issue in my home--how to fit in drums, guitars, keyboards without the room looking like a garage band took up residence. Even with the drum kit, this music room/library has style. The neutral colors and natural light--and that stained glass--are also lovely. Noticed the High West on the bar, but I can't stop chuckling about the giant brass grasshopper. Maybe you have to be a Utahn to fully appreciate it...
Beautiful space! I have this same issue in my home--how to fit in drums, guitars, keyboards without the room looking like a garage band took up residence. Even with the drum kit, this music room/library has style. The neutral colors and natural light--and that stained glass--are also lovely. Noticed the High West on the bar, but I can't stop chuckling about the giant brass grasshopper. Maybe you have to be a Utahn to fully appreciate it...
Beautiful space! I have this same issue in my home--how to fit in drums, guitars, keyboards without the room looking like a garage band took up residence. Even with the drum kit, this music room/library has style. The neutral colors and natural light--and that stained glass--are also lovely. Noticed the High West on the bar, but I can't stop chuckling about the giant brass grasshopper. Maybe you have to be a Utahn to fully appreciate it...
this room is well edited and thought out! i love it.
your books organized by colour makes functional design sense. the room is so nuetral that the system calms an otherwise intense wall.
normally i am a hater, but i love this!
Sophisticated. Gorgeous.
Mawrtyr88, you're half right. All of my husbands Beatles books are together, including some memorabilia, on 4 shelves. All of the kids books are together and within reach on another 3 shelves. Travel books and design books are together. I have a collection of classic novels that are together. Other books are indeed arranged by colour and size. I think I've managed to organize them in a way that is pleasing to the eye and functional. But it's OK not to like it.
And to everyone else who's left comments, thanks so much for the kind words. This is my 3rd time entering the competition and it's become a bit of a habit. But I really enjoy the competition and seeing the great ideas that other contestants have. If you want to see the room in action, so to speak, you can visit my blog www.backonfestiveroad.blogspot.com.
I like it. Where is that big cricket on the mantel from?
Jacasi, I picked up the brass cricket from an awesome consignment shop in downtown Salt Lake City. Isn't he cute? You can sometimes find similar ones on Etsy or Ebay, but they're usually smaller. And to funkytown, I wish I was that clever, but I didn't think about the Utah grasshopper/mormon cricket connection til now, but love the irony. I may have to tell people in the future that it was a deliberate design choice.
What a lovely room! I want to plonk myself down on that chair with a gin in one hand and a good book in the other. Where is that fabulous bar cart from?
Delaks, yes it's the perfect spot for a G & T and a good novel. I bought the bar cart from a consigment store for $30! I saw the exact same one on 1st dibs for 20 times that amount. Thanks for the comment!
I love how you used neutral furnishings and then used pops of color throughout. Very calm, serene and fun at the same time! Love that comfy looking chair!
Ahhh....pure bliss. A music room/library...a lifelong dream of mine. I must confess, that books arranged by color & size near send me over the edge. I wouldn't even mention this out of politeness except that you said it was ok not to like it *grin*. Having admitted that, I must also confess (and if you repeat this I'll deny it) I really like it here. Ack! Can't believe I just said that. My anal tendencies cringe at the mere thought but it is truly lovely.
Perhaps it's because [it appears to me] your love of books shines through...or perhaps it's because it's in small doses...or both. In any event, I'd like to come & camp out there for a week...or two. Really, I'd be no trouble at all, you wouldn't even know I was there. I'll even bring my own sleeping bag & pillow. I can imagine, after exhausting myself working my way through the instruments & books, being lulled to sleep by a symphony of crickets outside open windows.
I'm only half kidding here but joking aside...I WANT a house tour. And I NEED that cricket. Thanks for the virtual mini-vacation tonight. I needed it, did my heart good.
Agreed. House tour, please.
I love the patterned piping on the solid chair!
Just gorgeous, thank you for sharing your home :)
I just love your space! So elegant, yet comfortable, functional, and inviting. Can you tell us where you got that wonderful chair?
+1 on the chair. Do tell.
Hyzen, thanks so much for the lovely comment. I got the chair on clearance from Anthropologie (for less than a 1/3rd of the price!). It's the lunet chair, and unfortunately they don't sell it anymore. It's super comfortable so I have to fight with my husband over who gets to sit in it.
You have my vote...I'm a book lover too.what is a billy bookcase ...you put it together.looks custom!
The color choices are perfect for all the accessories for pops of color
I don't have the musical components.. the books balance a dual purpose room. Mine will have grandchildrens ed toys and sewing basket along with good music.
I saw the cart on ONE KING'S LANE like yesterday.
Rae)ycle, the bookcases are the Billy bookcases from Ikea with Olsbo doors. We bought 3 tall and 3 short bookcases. We had to cut the short bookcases down to fit. We then attached them to the tall ones. So you could say that they are semi-custom. Thanks for the vote!
Just noticed that I have over 1000 pins on pinterest. So exciting. Thanks everyone who's pinned my room. Please don't forget to vote also ;)
Beautiful room-- and so much sunlight! Where are your bookshelves from?
Royalla, yes the room is lovely and sunny which makes it a bit of a challenge to photograph. The bookshelves are Billy bookcases with Olsbo doors from Ikea.
really like how this room looks rich and luxe yet is clearly used for lots of different things.
It's gorgeous! So comfy and inviting. Well done!
First, let me say that I envy you your stained-glass window! And your Billy-remake is lovely.
Now for my question -- how do your instruments do being in the same room with your fireplace? I'm asking because my grandmother blamed her piano's cracked sounding board on being too close to the fireplace. And I will be given my Dad's piano when I finally get a bigger house. If I don't have to avoid a fireplace, you will have just expanded the list of houses I can look at!
MaryHS, I haven't noticed a problem with any of the instruments. The room has two large pocket doors which are usually open so the air circulates throughout.
Nice one once again
I'm in love with this space!! Shame the great room designs in this competition don't get the votes...
You really did an amazing job, Suzanne! Can hardly believe the before and after.
WooHoo! Just noticed you have over 2000 pins on Pinterest. Way to go. This REALLY is the best room and deserves to win!
A sympathetic combination for both body and soul, a room of great beauty.
Diana
What more does one need in life? Sunlight, music, liquor, good books, and a comfy chair. Perfect.
Where did you get the gold grasshopper?? Want! :)
A music room that exudes "serenity" with a drum set! It works. Brilliant!
Nicely done!
Hi Suzanne! I absolutely adore your room and reading your comments has led me to Blogger. You've inspired me to create my own blog so thanks for that :) You're the first blog I have added to follow...it's fab and I love your taste. Where are you from originally? I live on the borders of North Lancs, Cumbria and North Yorkshire.
Wow Katerina, I'm so flattered. If you've been on my blog you'll know that I'm not very good about keeping up to date with posts, must try harder.
Growing up I lived in Macclesfield (about 20 miles south of Manchester) until I was 13. I then moved to Aylesbury (about 30 miles west of London). And finally I went to university in Bristol. I moved to America in 1994. I'm ashamed to say that I've never been north of Manchester but I hope to one day.
Thanks so much for the wonderful comment and good luck with your blog.
Suzanne
Well Suzanne, next time you're visiting home, make sure you DO travel further north than Mcr! It's absolutely stunning up here (but shhh, don't tell anyone). And when you do, let me know. Come for tea and cake! :)