Lesson No. 3 – Narrowing down wood tones gives the eye a resting place
We love a beautiful wood tone just as much as the next design firm, but the truth is, using too many wood tones in one space can take away from the visual impact of it.
In this space, we had these beautiful wood beams against an all-wood ceiling in a slightly different tone, and we knew that if we wanted to achieve the fresh look our clients we’re going for, we would need to brighten it up.
After testing a few different mixes of paint and white-wash, we ended up going with a subtle white-wash that was transparent enough to bring out the knots’ texture while still brightening the home.
When working with any space, we always try to narrow down our wood tones to balance warm and cool tones. This applies to the big finishes like ceilings, floors, and windows and small finishes like furniture and decor. Typically, we find that using no more than two contrasting wood tones allows your eye to rest. However, there are always exceptions to this rule, and in a more rustic, cabin-feeling space, we might layer in more.
Lesson No. 4 – For kid-friendly spaces, it’s all about the materials
It was important to our clients that this space would become a place where they could rest at the end of the day and spend time with their kids. We wanted to use materials that said, “It’s okay to come lounge here”. When it comes to textiles, leather is always one of our go-to materials. Not only is it durable and comfortable, but it wears beautifully and adds a sense of character to your space.
Click to shop the textiles.
When we’re designing spaces for families with kids, we often use a material ottoman rather than a coffee table for added comfort and less sharp corners to run into. White might seem like a risky option for a kid’s space, but we’ve found from experience that sometimes it’s actually nice because you can bleach it to spot-clean!
Read our guide for choosing upholstery fabric here.