The House // Powder Room Part Deux

So many of you emailed and commented about the powder room that I thought I would give you more of a peek. Like everything else in my life, this room is never finished (although it's one of the farthest along).

 

Short term wish: paint the vanity, find a great little rug to warm things up and add a hit of color. Possibly paint out the trim, but I'm still too tired from the dining room. Long term wish: tear out the vanity altogether and buy valuable real estate with a pedestal sink. But that will mean more work (and mo money) than the sink alone, so there's quite a list of projects ahead of that one.

Wall color is Benjamin Moore Wrought Iron in semi gloss. Literally everyone that walks out of this bathroom thinks it's a different color (is it gray? black? navy? dark green? brown?). I love that. I spent some time collecting the many gilded frames and mirrors, and have replaced the art in a few of them with pieces that I love. Ahem. Like watercolor leopard from Jessica that I will probably never shut up about.

I originally left large gaps on the walls with the intention of drawing in ornate frames with a white paint pen for interest, but I decided that I liked the composition as it was, so that may or may not ever happen. As I stated in the last post, there's still one empty wall to address but, again, I'm in no hurry. There are more pressing matters than the rarely used powder room. (We need to have more parties, I guess!)

 
* Sorry for the grainy cell phone pics. When I'm ready to actually photograph this joint, I'll be hiring. Plus, I'm still in high hopes that this baby can be published someday. I don't want to give everything away now, do I?  :)

house guest // the aestate

i really doubt that today's house guest needs any introduction. if you haven't been following jessica before now, you have seriously been missing out. she's hilarious, stylish, honest, and has an unbelievable eye for design. i'd be lying if i said that i don't occasionally want to lick my computer screen when i see her posts. i'm also fairly certain we'd be fast friends in real life if we ever met. super honored to have her visit today!

. . . . . . .

Jessica here from The Aestate! I want to give a big thanks to Tobe for having me as her house guest!

Variety is the spice of life and nothing gives a room the “wow” factor like a great pattern combination, but mixing patterns can be tricky. The pros make it look easy- throwing together mixes that looks effortlessly chic and daring. Its a skill I'd love to master myself, but it takes time and practice to develop an eye for patterns that play well together, so I want to share with you a basic method used by many decorators. Remember we’re not just talking throw pillows here. Upholstery, curtains, rugs, wallpaper, lamp shades, and trims are all opportunities to inject some pattern and texture into a room. When you’re feeling stuck, try this method for selecting patterns…

1. Pick a large-scale pattern with many colors in it: This one will set the tone for the whole room. The more colors it contains, the easier time you’ll have finding textiles to fit the mix in the room.
2. Pick a medium-scale pattern with a few colors found in the first pattern:  Doesn’t need to have all the colors, but it definitely should have a different motif.
3. Now, pick one small scale pattern with just a few or one of the colors found in the first two: This one can have a similar motif as one of the first two.
4. Bonus:Add one or more very small-scale patterns or textures.

I hope these rooms will inspire you to mix it up...

{1 2 3 4}

Have any pattern mixing tips to share?

a very kelly wearstler easter

hope you're all having a fabulous holiday weekend!

couldn't you just dye over these??

 

 eggs famously decorated by jessica of the aestate