Emily A. Clark

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Simplifying the Design: Dark Green Living Room

Jan162019

It’s been a while since I’ve done a “scaling down the design” post. I’m changing the name but the concept is the same. I take a designer room that would probably feel a little beyond most people’s comfort zones and break down how you might simplify the design for your home, taking some of the elements and using them in different ways. This dark green living room designed by Melanie Turner (and featured in Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles) is bold, cozy and has a lot of great elements to play up.

Melanie-Turner Dark Green Living Room-Simplifying the Design

Melanie-Turner_Dark Green Living Roo

Simplifying-Design-Dark-Green-Walls

I love the way she covered every surface (walls, trim and fireplace) with the moody green, using high contrast accessories, warm wood tones and modern art. I can envision a scaled down version of this room also being perfect for a small study or home office.

Simplifying the Design HEADER

I’d play up the yellow gold in the original design with a pair of small slipper chairs and keep things more casual by foregoing the drapery and using woven shades, also in a gold tone. (These are the same ones I used in my house.)

The original room uses a chocolate velvet sofa. I substituted a dark brown leather one because I’m sure some of you have something similar you’re trying to work with and again, because it gives off a more casual vibe.

The high contrast art is important. I found a couple of examples from Minted that you can order as oversized prints.

There are several touches of brass throughout. I used this pretty (and affordable) pineapple chandelier that looks vintage.

I love the burl wood coffee table, but they’re pricy and hard to find. I substituted trays instead, layered on a clean white coffee table.

With so much going on in the room, I’d duplicate the simple woven rug, using something like my go-to jute.

And a reminder that you can always take inspiration from a space, but put your own twist on it. . . Here are a few other accent colors besides gold that that you might try with this color scheme. (As you can see, I think the tiger print works as a neutral.)

 

14 Comments · Filed Under: design tips, designers, Inspiration room, living room, Simple Design Ideas, Simplifying the Design, Uncategorized · Tagged: decorating, interior design, living room, simple design ideas

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A Family Room “Before & After”

Mar42016

Since I’m no longer working with design clients, I like living vicariously through my blogger friends who are. Stephanie (who blogs at The Divine Living Space) sent me some photos of her most recent project, and I was happy she asked me to share them with you.

family room before and after

Despite the natural light, the room felt dark and heavy. Stephanie remedied that with lighter furniture and paint. One of my favorite parts of the update is how the fireplace was framed out with trim to give it more of a presence in the room. (That brass lantern—from Restoration Hardware—doesn’t hurt, either!)

living room before fireplace before family room makeover brass lantern pendant light coffee table styling living room sofa sofa pillows gold round hoop mirror IMG_3886 painted blue chair

 

 

 

See more of this family’s home (including that dining room you get a sneak peek of the mirror) on Stephanie’s blog, The Divine Living Space.

 

13 Comments · Filed Under: Inspiration room, living room

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Dissecting The Details: The 2015 Southern Living Idea House

Jul292015

You may have seen this year’s Southern Living idea house already, but I always like to go through and “dissect the details” or figure out why it is the spaces work so well. For one reason, it was all designed by Bunny Williams and of course, the house has beautiful bones to begin with (which always makes it easier). But, what ideas can we take away and use in our own (not-quite-so-ideal) houses? I took a few rooms and added my notes.

 

Southern-Living-Idea-House-2015

 

southern-living-foyer

 

 

southern-living-living-room

art-collection-living-room

 

 

southern-living-kitchen 

SL_kitchen_topiaries

 

 

SL-master-bedroom

sl-bed 

All images are from Ballard Design’s How to Decorate blog, where you can see more of this home.

 

Like these posts? Here’s where I dissected the HGTV Dream Home.

10 Comments · Filed Under: design tips, Inspiration room · Tagged: decorating

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I'm a wife, mom of five and habitual rearranger, trying to decorate our home one crazy day at a time.  This is where I share simple design ideas, affordable projects and the occasional deep thought.

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