When I bought my house years ago, what sold me on it was the great room and open kitchen nearby. The spacious room with a super high ceiling and big windows really appealed to me. The room seemed light and airy, good for summer and for gloomy winter days too.
I joke that I painted the rooms of my house colors that set off a redhead to good advantage. But it’s probably true. I have rooms that are deep red, pinky salmon, coral, and green.
Not everyone is a fan of green, but I chose a soft shade of green for the great room because it’s a calming shade for a large space. It also helps bring the outdoors in. In Massachusetts, we are stuck with a grey-brown-white landscape for 6 months or more, so having color inside my home makes me feel less depressed during the long winter.
Once the walls in the great room were all green with a big white ceiling, I had to decide how to decorate. I like the combination of green and blue (two cool shades) with pops of red (warm shade) to perk things up. I also brought in different shades of green including chartreuse (yellow-green) to brighten up the room. I bought a deep blue leather couch, and found two chartreuse Chinese end tables.
Next, I thought about pattern. I love polka dots, stripes and patterns of all kinds. I inherited a traditional Martha Washington barrel chair that my mother bought in the 1960s, and I had it covered in a fun eye-catching blue and chartreuse polka dot fabric.
I bought patterned area rugs to create different conversation areas throughout the big room. Most are rugs that were hand woven in Nepal. But the Klimt-inspired rug from ABC Carpets in New York that was made in China still remains one of my favorites (see photo below). At the Clark Gallery in Lincoln MA where I have purchased many of the paintings that I own, I bought three fabulous statement chairs from two different Massachusetts furniture designers. The big chair designed by Jay Stanger is made from dyed satin wood that feels like silk. Although I think it looks like a big surfboard, it’s surprisingly comfortable to sit on.
The other two colorful chairs from Mitch Ryerson are indeed comfortable as well as fun to look at.
A recent purchase is this set of multicolor striped candles that I bought at the Museum of Fine Arts Boston.
For $6.95 each, they tie into the big striped chair as well as other multicolor patterns throughout the room. I love them.
I think that museum gift shops are a terrific place to shop for interesting and often unique pieces.
How about you? Are you a fan of patterns and colors or are neutrals more your thing?
On a different topic, congratulations to Dana R. and Lisa M., the winners of the Aveda Thickening Tonic! Thanks to all of you who entered the giveaway, and stay tuned for new ones coming as soon as I can write them up.
I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE your house, Allison! What a great eye you have!
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Thank you, Helen xoxo
Wow, Allison, this is amazing! I’m more a neutral person, but when I see how you have pulled everything together, I just love it and feel inspired. You’ve brought vibrancy but kept it serene somehow at the same time. Can I have the rug from ABC Carpets? Just kidding. HaHa. 😊 Everything is so coordinated without looking like it. Just beautiful!! Thanks for sharing.
Thank you so much, Michele, for taking the time to comment and let me know. I had fun decorating the room! Next time, I’ll show my red living room 😉
My daughter Kim P-Cole (who also follows you) is in the midst or remodeling her kitchen. I know she is going with some shades of gray but anxious to see what fabrics and granite she chooses. I love my bedroom which is pale khaki with white woodwork and doors. But I have a “subdued” red print quilt and shams. Also an off white dressing table with red chalk paint drawers and the chair seat is in a fabric very similar to my quilt. Also have a shelf and two night stands that I chalk painted in the red. I love adding color. My chests and bed set are a dark wood.
That sounds so sophisticated, Sandy! I love neutral khaki with red accents. Thank you for taking the time to let me know about your style. It’s great that you embellished your night stands yourself!
Love the polka dot chair you recovered, so cute! You’ve done a great job of blending together colors and styles!
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Thanks, Cindy! I enjoyed it. It’s hard to stop. I need to say enough is enough.
Your house is amazing. You have wonderful taste. The chairs you picked out are just beautiful. I’m pretty contemporary but I know those would fit my house well. But I have no eye for design. I wish I did since I’m trying to decorate my new home.
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Thank you, Marcia! I loved decorating this house. I’m sure you’ll do a great job with your new home. I didn’t do everything at once.I was lucky to find some wonderful pieces here, there and everywhere!
I love that green room!
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I love all the colours in your home! The stripes on those candles is such a fun addition to the room.
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Thanks Bailey! I agree about those stripes
Your house is beautiful, Allison! And I love how you dressed up those vintage pieces in fun patterns.
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Thank you, Anastasia. I had fun doing it 🙂
Wow, your house is so gorgeous and I love all of your decor. I am horrible at decorating so my house has a very minimal feel. lol
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Thank you, Kristina! I don’t have young kids so it was easier to decorate
I love this color scheme! It’s so calming but the pop of colors make it exciting!
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Thank you, Miranda!
I love the cosy, lived-in look of your interiors. Very Victorian. The stark “minimalism” and sterility that seems to be in vogue today scares me.
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Not really Victorian except that I have so much stuff like the Victorians did!
Nick and I love pops of patterns in the house! We stick to a beige and white look for walls and flooring, then pops of patterned color in certain spots
Your neutral color scheme with pops of color and pattern sounds wonderful, Lisa!
Hello Allison, it is such a great idea to decorate the room! This is a thought and a lovely post. You have such a nice home and accessories. I love all the things. I just feel inspired by your post. Thank you for taking the time to let me know about your style.
Thank you so much, Kate!
You have the most amazing home! I love how, in the last picture, the candles pick up the patterned chair! You have quite an eye for decorating. I love the polka dots too
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Thank you so much, Shelley. I couldn’t resist those candles when I saw them, though I don’t usually spend that much on candles that I go through so quickly. They did seem like the perfect thing to tie into the other pieces in the room.