White Bedrooms

Nothing is more timeless, serene and restful than WHITE ON WHITE in a bedroom. I grew with a white bedroom and I can still remember the quality of light that came through my white curtains as the morning sun was rising. When I design an all white room I use several shades of white to bring out the architectural details, or I layer the space with strong forms in different tones and textures of white and then use some strong contrasts to outline and bring the white into focus. Every room no matter what colors are being used can benefit from a touch of black. Some of my favorite whites I use are are from Benjamin Moore: Cloud White, Simply White, Ballet White and Designer White. My all time favorite is Cloud White. I like it because it has a chameleon effect and it is a very soft. Not every white is snow white. Try using: ivory, cream, antique white, and palest beige, blue and yellow.

I like the way that Thomas Pheasant has treated this bedroom architecturally.
The wrap around tufted low headboard creates a unified feeling to a room that has angled walls.

Vicente Wolf is a master at juxtaposition.
His signature element in all of his rooms is a large over sized mirror, usually resting on the floor.

This is Nancy Corzine's very elegant bedroom. Photo via New York Social Diary
The mirrored screen creates a lively play of light and images.

Super Luxe by Alberto Pinto.
I like the layering of the padded headboard on a padded wall.

Fun & whimsy by Antonia Hutt

Hotel Luxe in Marrakech

This is a Master Bedroom that I did for a client, which was in a Heritage building, in
Vancouver's historic Gastown. There are recessed sliding glass doors on each side of the
bedroom to close it off from the dining room on one side and the ensuite bathroom on
the other side.

Mimmi O'Connell  I love the Campaign bed used here and also the textured white carpet.

Thomas O'Brien I like the use of paneled mirrors on the closet doors.

Mary McDonald Who doesn't love a canopy bed.

John Stefanidis

Tom Scheerer

David Hicks - the King of 4 Poster Beds

David Hicks

Alberto Pinto

Elle Decor

Williams-Sonoma

Click here to see other posts on Color

Patricia Gray writes about 'WHAT'S HOT 'in the world of Interior Design, new and emerging trends, modern design,
architecture, and travel, as well as how your surroundings can influence the world around you.
© Patricia Gray Interior Design Blog, 2009

Patricia Gray Interior Design: Knoll Saarinen Table

Patricia Gray Interior Design: Knoll Saarinen Table

Knoll Saarinen Table

Knoll Saarinen Table

Right now I am loving the cleanness of this table designed by Eero Saarinen in 1956. It has really stood the test of time and is now considered a "Design Masterpiece". I will never forget in Design School we had to do a two-point perspective rendering, hand drawn, of this table (the elliptical version) with 6 chairs with the same base around it. I hated that base for years, but I have finally come to terms with the beauty and versatility of the design. I particularly like the quote below by Saarinen and the fact that he referred to the legs of tables and chairs as "a slum of legs". As a designer I can totally relate to that. It is always a challenge to pay attention to the detail of "legs".

Knoll Saarinen Table

"The underside of typical chairs and tables makes a confusing, unrestful world,"

said esteemed Finnish designer Eero Saarinen.

"I wanted to clear up the slum of legs." Design Year: 1956

Knoll Saarinen Table 
Diamond Baratta

 
Knoll Saarinen Table
Eric Piasecki Photography (left) Dominio (right)

Tom Scheerer (above left and all below)

Knoll Saarinen Table

 
Knoll Saarinen Table

Knoll Saarinen Table

 

Patricia Gray writes about 'WHAT'S HOT 'in the world of Interior Design, new and emerging trends, modern design, architecture,
and travel, as well as how your surroundings can influence the world around you.
© Patricia Gray Interior Design Blog, 2009

Fifi Flowers - Artist Inspiration

I have come across a wonderful artist who writes a blog called Fifi Flowers.  She was inspired to do a drawing by a picture I posted recently on my inspirations on Patio Furniture.  I love what she has done and I never cease to be amazed at the different things that trigger the creative process in each of us. 
 

                  Briger and Briger                                                   Fifi Flowers

Summer Shopping in Seattle - Gucci & Tory Burch

   Tory Burch Cork flats                                       Gucci catch all                    Moroccan Influenced Caftans

                   

Tory Burch cute take on sneakers                     The season much have- cropped white pants

 

 

White is hot - Tory Burch coat & Gucci purse

  

                                                                Nautical influence on Tory Burch Flats

 

  Eli Tahari  - beautifully detailed                   Tory Burch Wedge

Blue is the New Black

And I mean a deep, dark, luscious Blue. It is showing up in walls, fabrics, carpets and accessories. It is a blue that doesn't have green or red in it. It is almost black and is warmer than lighter blues and has more life and depth than Black. It is the deepest shade of Indigo as seen in Ikat Textiles. It is the color of the sky on a moonlit night. It is mysterious, moody, classic, timeless, calming, and refreshing. It can have a glossy finish or be totally matt. It is beautiful when contrasted with pure white. My favorite Benjamin Moore paint colors are Polo Blue, Blackberry Punch, Kensington Blue, Blue Gaspe, Hale Navy, and Old Navy. Some deep blue colors are: sapphire, azure, beryl, cerulean, cobalt, indigo, navy, royal, midnight blue, slate, steel blue, Prussian blue.

The high gloss finish on this wall has a subtle reflectivity to it that changes at different times of the day and literally sparkles at night. Design by Tom Scheerer

I love how the walls, bookshelves and fabric of the banquette seat and sofa are all the same color
Design by Robert Burke and Todd Romano

A beautiful color of blue to set off the antique prints and porcelains in this Dining Room
House Beautiful March 2008

This room by Victoria Hagan is destined to be a classic with her crisp and geometric use of color and pattern

Alberto Pinto has used a deep blue in the bold geometric carpet as his only color in this wonderful Master Bedroom

A deep and refreshing Mediterranean blue has been used on the walls at JK Capri Hotel in Italy

The Inkiest color of blue used for the walls in this room are a great backdrop for colorful artwork

A deep "French Blue"

The deepest of blue used in an updated traditional paisley pattern
Windsor Smith

Deepest Indigo blue as used in traditional Ikat textiles

Madeline Weinrib cushion Thibaut Ikat Fabric

The company Sea Cloth is reinventing and putting a modern twist on Indigo dyed fabrics

This is a classic Wallpaper pattern in a classic deep blue that will never date

Let me know if these deep luscious shades of blue are slated to become one of your new favorite colors?

I am in the process of designing my own guest bedroom and I have chosen a deep blue silk for the curtains called Moonlight. I am putting a natural woven raffia roman shade on the window behind the curtains for some textural interest. The walls will be painted the same shade as the silk curtains: Benjamin Moore "Blue Gaspe".The Headboard is a heavy white Belgium linen. The bedding is white Egyptian cotton with an Hermes cashmere blanket in a deep charcoal color on the end of the bed. The carpet is wool and is the color of white coral. I will hang black and white "ocean"photographs that I have taken on my travels on the blue walls to finish it off. So you can now see where the inspiration for this post has come from. My friends and family are very anxiously awaiting the unveiling of this room.

I'm Back

I have been frantically trying to stay afloat.....that means I have been doing the proverbial juggling act of a circus acrobat.  When that happens in life some things have to give and that happened to be my daily Blog Postings.  Thanks to all of you who missed me and expressed your concern as to my whereabouts. I was in my office, and out and about town(s) - Vancouver and Seattle, creating and designing for 3 new clients.  The dynamics of the creative process is a very nebulous thing for me.  It happens in a vacuum of frenzied momentum and somewhat wondrous, and at times, inexplicable flashes.  So now that things are settling back to normal (not that I have that word in my vocabulary) I will be eagerly posting on my current inspirations.....Ready, Set, Go..........