Using Red


I've never been a fan of the color red but I'm slowly warming up to the color especially when it comes to interior design.  I find that red can be so versatile, it can be played down to suit a charming design or played up to a penetrating color that enhances a classical-themed interior or even be used to accent a minimal or modern themed room or home.


THE KITCHEN


The red in the modern kitchen pictured above gives off a pleasant charming accent to what otherwise could have been a cold feeling kitchen.  The use of the color in the kitchen brings down the kitchen into a more welcoming atmosphere and lends an interesting view of the kitchen as a whole; mixing modernism with charm from the red wood of the cabinets is unusual... and yet, very pleasing.


The high gloss red cabinetry and island is contrasted with the light blue walls in the kitchen pictured above, the use of red keeps the kitchen bright and popping.  Light blue is not often paired with such a great amount of high-gloss red and usually in the case of light blue walls red often takes the role of the accenting color.  In this kitchen however the great amount of high-gloss red that is used seems to have a feeling of imbalance between the two colors (red v.s. light blue), red winning out naturally due to the deepness of the color.  However the two colors together although not naturally paired in this manner give off an eccentric vibe that is altogether fun.


In the kitchen pictured above a theme of white and red, the classic pair, comes together to result in a kitchen that is light and pops with fun, imagination and charm.  An interesting take on walls and trim also can be seen in this kitchen.  One wall red with white accents and another white with red accents.  A great way to play with balance and keep it fun.


THE EATING AREA


A classic designed dining room with red has a tendency to remind me of something I've read in Russian classic literature and usually scream "gaudy!!" to me.  The high-gloss red in the sleek walls accented by dark mahogany wood trim (seen in the above picture) is definitely something different.  The sleek red walls is very much modern while the decor and the use of mahogany is very classic not to mention the contemporary rug, and while the there is a mixture of very different and rarely paired styles, the outcome is rather exciting and sophisticated.


One of my favorite pictured red rooms (above), the eating nook.  The enclosed eating nook stands as an accent to the kitchen and set the space off even more-so than it would have already been.  The warmness of the red creates a fun atmosphere against the black and white while also keeping it cozy looking while at the same time chic.


THE LIVING AREA



Deep red walls accented with black and white with pops of lighter colors such as the yellow and peach makes for a very contemporary space.  Red walls can make one feel a little too enclosed, even a bit claustrophobic perhaps, but the cleverly used black and white photos placed along the height of the walls creates open space.  And while I don't believe an entirely red-walled living-room to be completely inviting and comfortable the amount of cozy sitting space offered, the lightness lent by the window and the entertainment of the pictures itself can't help me feel like I wouldn't mind sitting in this room for a while.


THE CHILDREN'S ROOM



Candy-cane lane!  Red and white stripes is a great way to go with children's room for the use of red.  What can be more fun for a kid than to be surrounded by a large candy-cane, because that is indeed what they will thinking.  It's a chic over-all design for use of this color while at the same time still maintaining a suitable atmosphere for kids.


THE ENTRYWAY


So I've saved the best for last, the red entryway, which I think is the perfect and best use for red in the home.  A stunning invitation to any visitors.  Using the red and white classic pair (pictured above) and keeping it clean and simple is always nice, but hanging black and white photos along the walls can also make for an interesting time for the new-comers, you can bet they'll be stuck in that room for at least 10 minutes.  I say it's the best room to use red because the use of red in the entry-way is always surprising to those who have never seen it, and I simply love the idea of starting off with a BANG!


Item of Note @ West Elm: Owl Mug


I have a thing for mugs.  I try not to have a thing for mugs because what am I going to do with a  collection of 100 mugs you know what I mean?  However, the  West Elm the Owl Mug is too cute to not talk about.  The owl mug with beautiful dark autumn colors against the white base screams morning coffee, and I do love my morning coffee.

Owl Mug - Autumn Branch $8.00 (sold individually)
Porcelain, measures 3.25" diam x 4.25"h

View other items @ West Elm


A closet pole in lieu of a shower pole


Upon moving into our newly renovated home we realized we had planned the master bathroom tub to be too long in length, for two months my husband and I showered in the guest bathroom for we looked high and low and was unable to find a shower curtain rod long enough for our master bathroom tub.  We then moved on to thinking about more creative options, wires and even ceiling hanging rod options, of course all of these were not actual shower curtain rods but possible ideas of what could work.  After two months of no shower curtain rod my sister came to visit one day and when she inquired about the curtain-less tub I told her our conundrum, and she, with a mere blink of an eye said to me, "why don't you just use one of those long wooden closet poles?"  I was of course happy and at the same time completely dumb-founded that we hadn't thought of it.  The next week my husband and I made a trip to our local Home Depot where we bought a pole for $10 and a pack of rubber caps for $2.00.

We measured out the length of the wall and cut the wood to the proper length with a handsaw, popped rubber caps on the end and hung it up, we both took a shower in the master bathroom that night and we really could not have been more excited about it.

There is the concern that the wooden rod will warp into a condition that will eventually deem it unusable due to moisture, whether this will actually happen or not I have no idea but it beats not being able to use the tub at all.  The thought that coating the wood with a paint seal did occur to me, this may possibly help it from not being affected by the moisture.  Other than this moisture concern on the wood the closet rod worked beautifully, not just mechanically but aesthetically as well.  The natural wood color of the closet rod goes perfectly with the other natural wood colors in the bathroom and ended up tying the bathroom decor  nicely together, something I did not expect and a very pleasant surprise.  

The wooden rod seems to have other advantages when compared to all other shower curtain rods, it is not only cheaper than purchasing an actual shower curtain rod but can also be painted to a color of your liking, naturally this would require a little bit more work than purchasing a shower curtain rod but it would be an original, your original, with this in mind painting and sealing doesn't seem half bad does it?


Home of: Jonathan Adler


Jonathan Adler
A.K.A Jonathan Adler known for his "happy chic" home furnishing & interior design
Hailing from New Jersey
Born in the year 1966

His start as a potter gave way to home furniture & interior design


Pictures from Architectural Digest
The living room & kitchen and dining table at back

The dining terrace

Ocean-side pool

The Master bedroom

Read AD article: Jonathan Adler And Simon Donnan's Shelter Island Retreat


New Noteworthy Item @ West Elm


This traditional-wood turned modern bench literally made me go "Oooo~", something no doubt Jonathan Adler would eye as well.  The dual colored frame and leather handwoven seats of the Source Bench at West Elm is definitely a user-friendly decorative choice.  Whether you are placing this piece at the dinner table, family room, entry way or even mud-room you will sure to be jazzing up the area with a little bit of eye candy that can give a whole lot of character via color and design.



Available in red and white
Measures 49"w x 14.7"d x 35"h



The home office that says 'you'


Having just moved into my very first new home I've learned plenty of things, such as decorating a single bedroom apartment is much easier and faster than decorating a three-bedroom home.  First lesson learned?  It's going to take a lot longer to get it just the way I want it.  

And since I'm currently working on getting my home office together I figured why not do a lovely post on home offices with loads of personality.  Whether you're going for modern, contemporary, minimalist, charming, country or the extremely cluttered route the home office could be set to exemplify your personality.








I Stand Behind: the Hose Reel


When you buy a home you are buying land- this has never been so apparent until now, trust me, when you stand out in the yard for a hour watering the lawn that came with your property, it will never be clearer to you.  And it will be even more clear if you do not own a hose reel.

Dragging a 25 feet or 75 feet hose around the yard from corner to corner to water every inch of your dying yard is one thing, but after a hour of watering the time has come to reel in that 25 footer or 75 footer, whether you want to do it by hand (the hard way) is up to you.

I have to admit that just up until recently I have been letting my front yard whither away, currently it is an ugly yellowish brown plot with a few green spots here and there.  This unfortunate event came to be when I decided that watering the lawn was way too strenuous because, well let's face it, I was being just plain lazy.  In an ideal world I would have a sprinkler system set up, but I don't, so it has come down to either sucking it up and watering the damn lawn or not.  So what if I have to drag the hose around for a hour and then drag it back to where it belongs, right?!  Wrong, because simply dragging the hose back to where it belongs is not where it ends, afterwards, you have to attempt to wind it up as nicely as possible so the long hose isn't just strewn about hither and thither.  And you all know what this attempt leads to, pure AGGRAVATION because there is no possible way of coiling, not even semi-nicely or even semi-neatly, the long wet hose that has been slithering hither and thither all over the yard full of dirt and grass.  And ever since, I have been dreaming of a hose reel, I remember watering the lawn as a young teen, half my size and it was still easier with the hose reel.  All you had to do was turn the handle and guide the hose a bit, no dragging, no huffing and puffing, no profanities passed through those lips.  

I suppose I had been wishing for a hose reel hard enough, because the next day I awoke to find a hose reel in my front yard, just like that. Odd.  I watered the plants and reeling in the hose was a cinch, but best of all?  No ugly half winded hose strewn about the front yard.


LinkWithin

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...