One of the biggest drawbacks of marriage is that a woman is constantly forced to compromise -- not just in the big, important areas like money, but in more superficial areas as well, like home decor. While there are many joys to sharing your home with a man, it does by default restrict a girl's decorating choices. For example, few men (and Dave is no different in this respect) would sign off on a bold pink bedroom, like the one shown here, which was designed by Jamie Drake for Kip's Bay 2007. Too bad, too, because this room is a gorgeous fantasy for just about every woman I know.
Generally, I'm not what I would consider a "girly-girl" -- I tend to eschew pink in favor of blue, doilies in favor of chrome...and yet, I can't help but feel giddy about this room. It's playful and fun, but it also manages to come off as sophisticated and smart thanks to a fearless mix of serious antique furniture, modern art and a generous dose of gilt. Pink walls aside, this is definitely not a little girl's bedroom. Deep wood tones and pops of black add gravity and rich contrast to a room that might otherwise run the risk of looking (to quote one of my all-time favorite movies) "like it's been hosed down with Pepto-Bismol".
Jamie Drake is a master at using bold colors -- in fact, House Beautiful dubbed him the "King of Color" back in 2001 -- and I think a great part of his success with color is his willingness to keep a room relatively monochromatic. Even bold choices like turquoise or pink can come off as sophisticated and calming when paired with neutrals like white, ivory or even metallics.
I love the visual tension created here by pairing a very traditional and ornate inlaid wood desk with a very modern lucite and pink-upholstered chair. Pink orchids next to a white ceramic snake ups the ante further with the additional contrasts of soft and hard, safe and dangerous.
I adore this amoire -- the black lacquered trim really pops against all the pink in the room. That ceiling fixture is great, too. I think a more typical crystal chandelier would have made this room look prissy rather than edgy.
This is the bedroom of a very, strong confident woman who mixes without fear: vintage with modern, lucite with gilt, and stripes with checks. All in all, I think the room is a very sexy space. The pièce de résistance, however, has to be the gorgeous walk-in closet...or should I say, boudoir:
Be still my beating heart. Floor-to-ceiling wall of shoes? Check. Open storage to display fabulous purses? Check. Luxurious bench on which to perch and stare at all your gorgeous things? Check.
I dream of such a space. Perhaps Dave will agree to a pink closet, even if a pink master bedroom is off the table....
What about you? In what ways do you have to compromise your design style to accommodate the tastes of your spouse/partner? If you live alone, in what ways do you indulge your own design eccentricities?
