Hydrangea Hill Cottage: Carolyne Roehm

Thursday, March 28, 2013

Posh Nursery #2 - Blue

Here we are again!

Let's say a little prince arrives in the royal household this summer! What is prettier and fresher looking than a blue and white color scheme! Nothing, really! And blue and white is one of (if not the most!) coveted color combinations in interior design......it works anywhere and everywhere!

And actually, this particular scheme and look could easily be unisex.........just as beautiful for a little princess. Simply by changing the ride on toys to something girlier, it becomes a gorgeous girl's room. If it was for a girl, I might switch to a soft floral fabric instead of the blue ticking, but not necessarily. Everything else could remain the same.

When planning these moodboards, naturally I have the Kensington Palace apartment of William and Kate in mind, as that will be their homebase. So, I am keeping with this very traditional look as I think the palace rooms might expect that...........you know, pure English country and comfort.

As for the artwork in the nursery, it's always fun to go with animal art and in the case of this Salvador Dali elephant giraffe, some whimsy is welcome, as well.

I imagine the rooms at Kensington Palace are fairly large, so a lot more artwork will be required, but this piece is just an example of the direction one could go in...........

It's been reported that Victoria Beckham collects Damien Hirst art for her children's bedrooms and that little Harper has some Hirst butterfly art in her room. Why not buy original art if you can afford it? It's another lifetime investment and an instant heirloom. Remember, we are talking about 'very posh nurseries' here for people with unlimited incomes.

Speaking of unlimited incomes, Kate has proven over and over again that her style is not always about money - she has shown it is about comfort, sensibility, practicality and fun! Whatever she comes up with for a nursery, I know it will be tasteful, warm, functional and a wonderful environment for her and her new little prince or princess!

I have one more posh nursery to come! It will be completely gender neutral and gorgeous! Be sure to check it out!

The Moodboard!

This furniture from Poshtots and Art for Kids is really beautiful with the chest and armoire long-term investments......solid, beautiful and will last a lifetime. And the crib is just too beautiful to resist! The upholstered, tufted head and footboards are just added comfort.

This is pretty special, I must say!

Isn't this a stunning chandelier? Another perfect item for a regal nursery.

A necessary table lamp........beautiful colors.

A large damask area rug.

This is such a comfortable looking nursing chair for Kate.....the blue ticking indicating the cushion could be used for the window treatments, as well.

This child's chair is perfect for a little prince!

Love this elephant giraffe by Salvador Dali. The elephant accessories are a nod to Prince William's work on behalf of saving the elephants and preventing poaching of these magnificent animals.

Some ride on toys and great art.

How about some original dog art - this piece by Mary Sparrow Smith. It adds color and charm and what better time to start teaching children compassion and love for animals, but in the nursery. Same as reading......you can never start too early!

Topiaries are a nice addition to any room!

White roses!

And more white roses!

And when the little prince is old enough, he's going to need a roadster to get around those long palace hallways!

Poshtots, Artforkids, PetitTresor, Art.com, Google

SpoiledRottenToo, Unitedbmonline, Steiff,

Mary Sparrow Smith Art, Salvador Dali

Carolyne Roehm florals

Tuesday, April 03, 2012

Decorating with Red

Red! The color of passion, fire, power, stimulation, energy and romance!

Unlike most colors in a palette, red evokes emotions. What other color can you think of that can bring out so many different responses or describe so many situations, such as a 'red hot' romance celebrated with red roses, a scarlet woman, 'red carpet treatment' just to name a few.

When a woman wears a red dress, she is noticed and remembered, just as a man will wear a red tie to standout and exude a semblance of power. Red indicates danger and is the color of fire...... is used on fire engines, stop signs and, of course, red lights.

In decorating, just as blue is calming and green is serene, red is stimulating. Whether to use a lot of red in a room, or just a splash of it here and there, can be determined by the use of the room, as well as the personality and emotional wellbeing of the homeowner.

This color not only stimulates our appetites, but our emotions, in which case if you feel you need a lift or want stimulation, then by all means, use red. If you feel your life is already in overdrive and you want to relax when you get home, red would definitely not be your first choice of color.

I'm sure you've heard before that restaurants often use red to stimulate their diners appetites....well, that's true. And I have heard 'never use red in a bedroom or you'll never be able to unwind!' and whatever you do, never use red in a nursery or kid's room if you want a calm and happy child!

Having said all that, take a look at the rooms below and see how many red bedrooms there are. As stimulating as they may be, they are also warm, cosy and welcoming.

Some of the world's greatest artists, designers and decorators use red with abandon - just another indication of their passion for life and living! From rustic to regal, it's a knockout!

Enjoy!