Navy and Orange Living Room

I'm at it again.  Creating a room using a pillow as inspiration.  Call me nuts, but I've always loved orange (if you've been following for any length of time you're rolling your eyes), and paired with navy?  Gorgeous.

Here's today's room, inspired by the pillows on the love seat (from 6 Wilson, of course...)

 Here's how I came up with the room...

I knew I wanted orange chairs opposite the pillows, and these Mitchell Gold leather swivels totally fit the plan of an eclectic space rooted in tradition.  (Yup.  That's what I like.  Everything I do rooted in a bit of traditional elements.)

The Surya rug has a traditional feel with a modern twist, and brings the Ben Moore Hale Navy walls with Dove White trim to the floor to ground the space. 

Next up, an Ethan Allen antique inspired settee in white and a beige and white faux bois fabric, relating to both the rug and the linen window treatments, pulling those three elements together.  I'm sorry to say I pulled the lamp and side table from my unmarked (!) file, so I don't have a source.

And, if you can't live without the fabulous F. Schumacher linen trellis pillows, you can find them here. (hee hee!)

Thanks for reading, and have a great week!

Chinoiserie...Like it or Not?

I think chinoiserie is something you either like, or you don't.  Would you agree that there's not much middle ground on that? Me?  I like it, in small doses.  And what is it, anyway, you ask?

Source: bienenkiste.tumblr.com via Dande Dibiarma on Pinterest

Here's a look at a chinoiserie pattern on a dress (very cool), but most often we think of it as Chinese pastoral scenes painted on black furniture, blue and white porcelain vases, floral wallpaper, fabric or fine china.

Source: puttinghealthfirst.com via Stephanie on Pinterest

But did you know that chinoiserie is actually a French word?  And that it has European roots, not Chinese? (the following is from Merriam-Webster online...)

chi·noi·se·rie

noun \shēn-ˈwäz-rē, -ˈwä-zə-;
 Fanciful European interpretations of Chinese styles in the design of interiors, furniture, pottery, textiles, and gardens. The expansion of trade with East Asia produced a lively vogue for Chinese fashions in the 17th–18th centuries. The most outstanding chinoiserie interior was the Trianon de Porcelaine (1670–71), built for Louis XIV at Versailles. The style featured lavish gilding and lacquering, the use of blue and white (as in delftware), asymmetrical forms, unorthodox perspective, and Asian motifs. In the 19th century, the fashion gave way to Turkish and other styles considered exotic.

Source: kaspelimages.com via Michael on Pinterest

Chinoiserie is incredibly classic, and it can be used in excess (don't like), like French toile
(do love), or in the smallest of doses, like, say, in a pillow.  From 6 Wilson.  Ha!

Let's look, shall we?

Wouldn't this number...

paired with these guys...

be fun on the white, slip-covered sofa across from the table setting in this room...

Source: everythingfab.com via Samira on Pinterest

Indeed, I say.

And if you like your chinoiserie a bit more traditional, you could use this guy...

or maybe this one,

paired with these, perhaps...

On a classic sofa...

cozypad.com

Hello.  I think this one, with it's gold tones...

Belongs on a chair in this room...

Katrin Cargill Country Homes

Would you agree?

So what do you think, is chinoiserie for you?

Sister Parish Said It Best

 

"From the beginning, I never followed trends. If I was aware of them, 

I didn't care, for I believed as I do now, 

that rooms should be timeless and very personal."

 ~Sister Parish

 Isn't that just a brilliant quote?  It caught my attention when I saw it today, because, as a designer, it's what I truly believe.  In fact, it's very much the same sentiment as what I have posted on my Etsy shop, 6 Wilson.  So much so, that I fear you'll think I copied it!

Anyway, this image from Pinterest embodies what Sister Parish was saying.  You really can't tell when this room was put together.  And it will still look fabulous ten years from now.  

  But if this was your room, how would you make it personal to you?  

Maybe you would add one of these pillows on each cream sofa if you want to bring in some of your love of the southwest. (Branches of Bittersweet, too, instead of the flowers, perhaps?)




Or what about adding these to the cream sofas, and putting a cozy light blue throw over the arm of the brown one to tie it all together because you love the color blue and can't live without it. 

 Let's look at the room again...

Source: 4.bp.blogspot.com via Debbie on Pinterest

Or, if you can't get enough of layering neutrals,  maybe you just need to add more...




I show you all of this because I believe, really believe, that you should live with things that make you happy, and that your home should be more about your personality than what's overly trendy.  (Of course, if you are a trend-setter to your soul, well, you can find a bit of that at 6 Wilson, too :)

So, do tell, is your home true to you, or do you indulge in the of-the-moment?  And don't fear, I do believe in a bit of the right-now to keep a look fresh.