I’m taking a stab at dissecting another high end designer room into a space for “real life.” (See the last one I did here.) You may have already seen Bill and Giuliana Rancic’s living room designed by Lonni Paul in Traditional Home. It’s definitely traditional but still feels young and fresh.
There are some great take-aways from this space, but especially for those who generally consider themselves “neutral decorators” longing for a little color. It’s also a lesson in minimalism, showing how one bold piece can be enough color for an entire room.
This living room starts with a neutral base, incorporates few accessories and cool tones (no warm brass here!). Everything sticks to a calming theme with one big exception: statement art that really pops. Think about how different–and traditional–this room would look if you replaced it with a watercolor landscape painting in the same soft shades of blue and gray used on the rug and upholstery. If you feel like your home is too traditional to bring in a piece of modern art, this may help you rethink what you “can” and “can’t” do in your own space.
I love bold art with traditional decor. I’m glad you are well and back to blogging… I had “that” flu the first week of January and OY! It’s hard to bounce back.
Thanks for the resources, too. It has given me more direction for some art in our very staid dining room, full of dark cherry traditional furniture. We have a pretty navy wall color above the white wainscoting so that helps make it more lively but it needs something else!
Fun unexpected wall art! I wish I could find a chrome look for less of their chandelier. I know Williams Sonoma has one that looks similar but is still $$. Maybe i just need to save up for it. lol
Bold art certainly takes the room up a notch! I took a page from your book & made my own.
I told you it was easy–right?? :)
Enjoyed the post!
PS: I just purchased a pair of abstracts (diptych) from One Kings Lane called “Meeting Place”. You gave me the push and inspiration to do it and reminded me of that source. They’re really exciting, full of color and can’t wait to see them on the wall in our dining room! Thanks. :)
Just looked those up. So pretty!
I understand that the cool toned metals (no brass) gives this space a certain look but do you think it could also work with brass?
It would warm up the space but I definitely think it could work. I’m personally a brass fan :)
I love this! fresh, traditional and easy to add the art. wow what a difference it makes to the space!
I really love the art piece in the living room. It was great to see the contrast between the tones of the living room design and the art work on the wall. It wakes you up and energizes you .
thanks for sharing….
Taking a well designed space and showing options… is inspiring Emily! well done!