Room with a Hue

Like a blushing bride on her wedding day, this room blends just the right amount of pink and white. The walls, soaked in a delicious shade reminiscent of blooming azaleas (Pink Sky from Ralph Lauren Paint), lend a happy background to crisp white linens. A monogrammed upholstered headboard stands tall against one wall. On another wall, panels hung high above the window casings avoid the choppy look of white curtains meet pink wall meets white ceiling. Ooh la la! This is bright done right.

Sassy and Sophisticated
Homeowner Diane Smith of McKinney, Texas, pulled together this charming look for daughter Logan’s bedroom. It’s the careful balance of backdrop and decor that makes the space.

On the bed, a hot pink fleur-de-lis design on a lime green pillow offers enough graphic punch in a room with this much color.

Other accessories, while pretty, are basic so they don’t compete: lamps with soft green shades, a framed photo and clock on the dresser, and a citrus green faux-suede chair. Faux suede is a great choice because it’s budget friendly and easy to clean with mild soap and water. The pine chest by the bed and a pair of antique prints hanging above ease some classic simplicity into the otherwise posh room.

Diane painted this design but you could frame a piece of wallpaper. Visit www.creativewallcovering.com to search hundreds of wallpaper choices.

Swank Paints

The fashionable scheme flows into the adjoining bath, where this space just keeps on giving--ideas, that is. Diane, a faux-finish artist, stenciled a block of fleurs-de-lis (inspired by the pillow) onto the wall. She framed the design with gold strokes that mimic the curves of the headboard. The intricate painting adds one more special touch to this gem.

Pick a Pink, Not Just Any Pink
See if one of these options tickles your fancy.
1. Cheery (#6584), Sherwin-Williams
2. Bubblegum (#4069-32), Sico
3. Begonia (#6599), Sherwin-Williams
4. Dragon Fruit (#6855), Duron

Sources

• Paint color is Pink Sky from Ralph Lauren Paint, available at The Home Depot (R)
• Green-and-pink fabric on pillow is Who’s Your Daddy print (discontinued)
• Green faux-suede fabric on chair from Cutting Corners, Dallas, www.cuttingcorners.com or (972) 233-4503 (R).

"Room with a Hue" is from the May 2008 issue of Southern Living.

Grograin Ribbon Accents

Inspired by everyone's craftiness, I decided to show you a preppy solution to a problem I had. My favorite shopaholic shower curtain shows window displays from different countries, so Tokyo has kimonos in the window, London has Burberry plaids, Paris has lingerie, New York has trench coats, etc. etc. I found it for our freshman dorm and have enjoyed it ever since. Unfortunately, it was ripped off the rod by a past Evil Roomie (can you believe that people are that mean?!). This action resulted in multiple holes for the shower curtain rings being broken, ultimately keeping it from being able to hang. :( I was determined to figure out a way to bring it back to life AND make it look cuter than it did originally.

Off to Michael's I went... and I came back with a roll of Ultra Stitch Witch and 2 rolls of black polka dot ribbon. Here is what the final product turned out looking like!


I used the thick ribbon to fold over either side of the top, and made sure to Stitch Witch both sides really well. Then I was able to hang it back on the rod, but I still felt like it needed a little something extra. This is where the thinner coordinating polka dot ribbon came in handy. I just knotted this ribbon onto the shower curtain rings, and let them dangle naturally.


After I got finished with this project, I decided that my bathroom clock was looking a little bland. I decided to use the leftover thick ribbon to add a bow accent. All I did was tie the ribbon in a bow and hot glue the ends to the back of the clock. I then hung the clock with a nail, and attached the bow to the wall with 3-M Poster Tape.


P.S. -- If you don't have a clock in your bathroom, you will be amazed at how it helps you get out the door on time. I am notorious for taking a long showers and completely loosing track of time. This way, my clock is right outside the shower; and I can gauge exactly how much time I have to get ready.

Don't you love it when $4 makes your day!

Sorry that I have been MIA for a few days. I made the long haul back to the farm this weekend to get some work done and managed to squeeze in a nice long trail ride! I haven't been on a horse in 3 weeks, and let me tell you... my butt was sore the next day!


Here is one of my latest shopping finds that made me happy. It is a hand painted terracotta pot, that sits on top of the Lilly look-a-like pants. I have this nifty ledge on my bathroom mirror that now houses my find... I am thinking it will hold my makeup brushes.