The Wallpapered Dressing Room

Wallpaper is back in a big way. A dressing room or walk-in closet is the perfect place to experiment with a dramatic paper you may be hesitant to use elsewhere in your home or that might be too expensive for a larger room. Here is some great inspiration. I also love papering the inside of small closets like coat closets. This is such an overlooked decorating opportunity, takes a small amount of wallpaper, and will bring a smile every time you open the door.

(Photos courtesy of Juicy Couture, Domino and Elle Decor)

Orangery

Following up on yesterday's post on orange rooms, here is a room painted in Farrow & Ball Orangery. Created by D.C. interior designer Camille Saum for the D.C. Design House 2009, it is a refreshing change from the ubiquitous red in the dining room. This is another perfect example of how orange can be used in a more traditional elegant room. And head over to Chinoiserie Chic for more pictures of Sara Story's wonderful orange Chinoiserie bedroom.

Orange in a New Light

I have never been a fan of orange in interior design, probably in large part because it is typically used in very modern or hip rooms. However, these three rooms have caused me to see orange in an entirely new light and I am frankly smitten. This first room is from the apartment of Mary Jane Pool. I love the tufted orange day bed, the deep orange glazed walls, the leopard carpet, and the pink chair.

This second room room is by interior designer Sara Story and was shown at the 2008 Orchard Hill Show House. It was featured just recently in the April 2009 Traditional Home. The use of orange to create the feel of sunset with this gorgeous hand painted Chinoiserie wallpaper, instead of the more expected blue Chinoiserie was inspired. Notice too how the black really pops against the orange.

This stunning room is from the Greystone Show House and was created by interior designer James Lumsden in this gentleman's bedroom. I love the orange walls and the mix of  French Moderne, Italian, and English with the bold graphics. Notice the use of red and blue accents.

If you are looking for an elegant orange paint color, check out Farrow & Ball Orangery-a typical 18th century terra cotta color used much in orangeries.

Orange is the the New Pink

Orange is a color many people tend to shy away from both in fashion and in decorating. This spring, most of the great fashion houses showed orange in their collections, including Lanvin, Chloe, Louis Vuitton, Christopher Kane, and Dries Van Noten. If you are like me, you will will always adore pink, but I must admit I am finding that orange has an edginess and freshness that is very appealing. I decided to take a look at orange in interior design and found some great ideas to share with you. Orange in the home encourages happiness, sociability, and energy. Designers are also quick to point out that it is a very flattering color, especially the coral tones. I have always wanted to paint a room in Farrow & Ball Orangerie, a very tasteful orange inspired by the great orangeries of the Georgian period. 

1. I love the orange glazed walls, velvet daybed, and leopard rug:

   2. These orange boxes are so Hermes:

   3. One of my favorite photos from Domino- the pink and orange Prada-inspired curtains:

   4. Benjamin Moore Jeweled Peach-wonderful next to the pink walls:

   5. Manuel Canovas Bengale in Paprika-a modern toile in electric orange and pink:

   6. The vintage phone is too cute:

   7. Benjamin Moore Calypso Orange in a boy's bedroom:

   8. The brilliant Geoffrey Bradfield-I love orange with black and white:

   9. A very elegant use of orange:

(photos courtesy of style.com, dominomag.com, and housebeautiful.com)

Farrow & Ball The Lotus Papers

Farrow & Ball makes some of the most beautiful wallpaper in the world and its brand new collection, the Lotus Papers, is over the top gorgeous. In case you thought English wallpaper was all about little ditsy prints, think again, this is show-stopping glamour. The artisanal lotus flower design is drawn from 19th century French Archives and is influenced by the Arts and Crafts Movement. It comes in 30 colors and the pattern comes in 2 different sizes. Choose a bold color for a theatrical and striking look, or select a tone-on-tone neutral for a more subtle approach. Don't think you have to confine this large scale print to large rooms-it would be amazing in an entryway or powder room. Consider mixing the two sizes in the same color in a room for a very modern and dramatic look.

For some inspiration, here are some rooms pictured in Domino Magazine wallpapered in Farrow & Ball.

1. This stripe emphasizes the high ceilings-in "Five Over Stripe":

   2. Inside a closet-in "St. Antoine":

   3. In an office/dressing room-"Calamine":

   4. Drew Barrymore's powder room-"Ranelagh Papers":

(photos courtesy of farrow-ball.com and dominomag.com)