My clients, Spencer and Sara Skelton Yorke, recently purchased their first home. The Cotswold home is a one-story ranch with a ton of potential. Both in the real estate business, they can easily spot a diamond in the rough, especially in the right location, and they reached out for design help to transform their new digs into something they adore.
The ceiling height – a little low, and the windows – not dramatically large, but that didn’t stop me from wanting to create a cozy master retreat with…gasp…dark walls. I am asked more times than I can count if dark paint colors will close in the room. My response to that is, “not if it’s styled right.”
Sarah paused a moment when she learned my choice of dark chocolate paint, which I pulled from her existing headboard, but I urged her not to worry. The key in pulling off dark walls in a small room is, in my opinion, pairing it with light colored accessories, bedding, rugs, windows and (primarily) art. Using large pieces, light in color and content, as well as framing will not only pop from those dark walls, but also add so much depth.
In this space, I kept the new side table, lamp and overhead light all in shades of white and chose a large rug in a nubby white pattern. Sara fell in love with the window treatments I had in my office, and I was happy to give her space the same feel with these gorgeous gold and white Rose Cumming classic banana leaf drapes. A mix of styles and a heavy dose of eclectic artwork gave the space interest; it was a collected look.
This space was all about layering. I shopped local for interesting pieces and, keeping it in the neighborhood, I hit Cotswold Marketplace for just the right accessories to finish off my cozy, updated look. Don’t dismiss the idea of dark walls even in the smallest of spaces; it adds a ton of drama!
Beth Keim is the owner of Lucy and Company, a full-service interior design firm located at 1009 East Boulevard. For more information visit www.lucyandcompany.com or call 704-342-6655.