Unique Color Combinations – How to use unique colors but still keep the room feminine

If you use a color scheme that seems more fit for a boys room like this orange and blue room, be sure to go with feminine and curvy patterns or patterns that are more playful. The curves and floral wallpaper keep this room from crossing the line into boyland.

The greens and blues in this picture are already more feminine versions of the colors. While this isn’t an over-the-top unique combination, it’s refreshing not to see any pink. The white touches and subtle ruffles add just a touch of softness.

This scheme is hard not to love. It’s colorful but soft at the same time. While the yellow is pretty gender neutral the softness of the green adds the feminine element. Of course the floral wallpaper and curve of the headboard add to the element too. The larger geometric pattern on the bed keeps it from going overly girly.

While this scheme and decor is certainly not for everyone (it’s a bit much for my taste!), the color scheme is certainly refreshing and it still feels fit for a princess. The look is certainly eclectic, but the scheme could be interpreted in various styles. I love the combination of green and yellow with a hint of red and pink. You could adapt this scheme by going more conservative on the patterns to make the room more transitional or modern and not so eclectic.

To put together a unique scheme you can start in a couple of different ways. The easiest way is to find an inspiration piece to go from. Typically that piece would be a fabric, wallpaper, or area rug that has a couple of colors to pull from. Of course, in this case the color scheme already needs to be unique on the specific piece, or you make it unique by how you pair it all together.

You can also start by just choosing a color you love and paint or select a fabric in that color. Slowly pull pieces together that go well with that color and a new unique color scheme can be born.

Always keep in mind the overall feeling you want to create in the room and select either intense colors or soft colors from there. Keep contrast low if you want a more subtle approach even if you do want it to still be very different.

The more modern you want to go, the fewer colors you should use in the scheme. Just don’t go overboard. 3-4 main colors is typically plenty.

Here’s some other random inspiration

Schumacher bali vine: Select something neutral but feminine and your possibilities for pairing it up are endless. Match up this fabric with a painted dresser like this one above in any fun or soft color and your new scheme has begun.

Kravet XU Garden:

I love the idea of using this green geometric for a girls room. It’s modern and fresh and very unique. You could take this more bold by pairing with bolder colors and larger patterns, or soften it with fresh or airy colors in smaller scale patterns. Pair this geometric with various shades of blue, yellow, green (or a yellow-green would be so cute!) to create something different for your girls room.

LIV daringly

Project Update: Girl’s Bedroom

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No designing could be more fun than a little girl’s bedroom! This one was no different. Designing for children can be more whimsical and creative. And that’s what what we went for in this room. Isn’t it a charmer with the unique and modern color scheme with still a touch of “princess”? Even modern girls want to be a princess!

The room was a blank slate with neutral walls. The floor plan called for this double layout which functions great for sleepovers (or when baby sis grows up!) but it also makes for a more dramatic look of repetition. And the blank ceiling called for…..something. So we added the beams and tongue and groove ceiling. And….remember last weeks posts on painted ceilings? Well a color was a must to balance out the dark navy walls and pop against the beams.

The color scheme began with the headboard we had in the showroom. We made a duplicate headboard and started pulling the scheme together from there. It was by happenstance (the fabric was laying in the design studio from another project) that the bird fabric was found. The color scheme was already mostly decided and this Robert Allen fabric pulled it all together. How cute is this!

And then for the chandelier. To keep the room from going “shabby chic” we opted for coral pink color. It keeps the room more modern and fun.

Adding few DIY touches kept cost down on this room redo and added a personal touch.

We love this unique color scheme. Do you like a more modern twist like this, or traditional girl’s room schemes?

LIV adventurously.

Painted Ceilings

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Painting the ceiling in a room can be a great way to complete the space. It’s an unexpected detail, and in some cases, can be just the right touch to pull a tricky space together.

Spaces that would especially be benefited by a painted ceiling would be smaller rooms like bathrooms to cut down on chopping up the space too much. It creates balance and some cases, leaving the ceiling white can make the room seem unfinished. Cutting the strength by 1/2 is a great way to introduce color without being too heavy. Painting the ceiling a light blue also gives the illusion of the sky.

Our designer, Pam, shares what she did in a recent project, “I painted the ceiling rice grain which is a creamy tan with a hint of green. I did that to high light the crown molding. I also think it creates the illusion of a taller ceiling. Painting the ceiling the same color as the walls when not using crown molding makes the room feel a lot bigger and the ceiling a lot taller. When the wall is one color and the ceiling another you are essentially drawing a line where the walls end and the ceiling begin. When you eliminate that line of demarcation the walls blend into the ceiling making it seen bigger since there isn’t anyway for your eyes to stop.”

Painting a bright pattern worked great in this nursery. It tied in the yellow and makes a bold statement.

Our designer Deboni says, “You have to be really careful doing ceilings, but when done right it looks awesome.”

For advice on how to pull off painted ceilings in your home don’t hesitate to call us or stop by the showroom.

LIV comfortably

Discussion with Our Pros – Creating Cohesive Floor Plans

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Today we have 3 tips from our pros on creating cohesive floor plans.

{1} – Divide large rooms into zones with specific purposes.

A perfect example of this is the living room we featured a couple weeks ago. It is a long and narrow room so Pam divided it in to three zones. The main seating area is centered around the fireplace, the game table/homework zone with storage and a music zone which will eventually have a baby grand.

{2} – Use architectural details to anchor a seating area and use an area rug to ground it.

{3} – Create small conversation areas so there aren’t wide expanses of dead space making conversation difficult.

LIV cohesively

Project Update: Dining Room

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Do you remember way back when we shared this design plan with you? We just got back the final photos from the photographer and we are soooo excited with the finished product. When we started our this room was just a “pass through room” between the living room and kitchen but the fabulous wallpaper makes this space stand out on its own and demand some attention. A collection of plates as interest to our walls while letting the wallpaper be the star of the show. Since this room is off of the patio and has a garden inspired wallpaper an oversized lantern was the perfect lighting choice. This one from Ralph Lauren through Visual Comfort is a stunner.The vintage Chippendale chairs are painted an accent color that really pops off of the darker trim color. We wanted to create a more gathered and lived in look and the vintage buffet and collection of milk glass contribute to that feel. We are in love with the red high chair! This room connects to this living room and the red ties into to the pops of red throughout that space which helps tie the home together. We love the finished space, but more importantly our client loves it. What do you guys think?

LIV beautifully