Often
times when we decorate a room, we are absolutely sure that an
element we love will work in the room, but sometimes it just doesn't work!
This recently happened to me while designing my family room.
WHEN IT IS “NOT” ALRIGHT
It is NOT alright to make a mistake, and not remedy the problem.
Sometimes
we can overlook the reality of the situation because we want the item
so badly, and we won’t make the proper changes to the room.
Leaving a mistake in a room is a bad choice to make.
KILLING YOUR ROOM
In my career I have often seen a homeowner
who wants the newest color, or trend, and they will try their hardest
to incorporate it into their existing design, and it just does not work, but by golly they are going to make it work if it kills them.
It won’t kill them, but it most likely will kill the room that they were trying to make look better.
MY MISTAKE
I made such a mistake in my past when I was trying to make an addition to my family room in my previous home.
The room reads very fresh, crisp, and airy. I wanted to make a few changes for the summer season, and a sailboat seemed like the perfect addition.
When I received the sail boat I was disappointed in the actual color of the sails.
In the images the sails read as an off white, but in reality they were a khaki, and in my room that really did not work.
The
actual sail boat was rich looking, and beautifully crafted. It would
look better in a very traditional setting with a warmer color scheme,
but not in my room with it's Spring-like color scheme.
(
I left the light linen shaded lamps on the console so you could see just
how dark the sails are.) As you can see even the scale is off. We could
have used the one that was closer to 5 ft than this 4ft. size.
I still would love to incorporate a sailboat somewhere in my new home and will be on the lookout for the right one. That is why it is important to study your mistake so you can remedy the problem the next go around.
Study Your Mistake
By
studying the right, and wrong of an element you can make a better
choice the next time around. If you ignore what you are learning from
the mistake, chances are you will repeat it again.
Study the scale, color and texture that the element brought to the space as well as the feeling it gave the room.
Write down what you need in the room that this particular element did not give you.
What I learned from my mistake:
- The ship is just too heavy for the room.
- I realize the scale is also off, it needs a larger piece.
- The colors need to be light, and airy.
- Maybe something a bit more whimsical for my style would work better.
- The textures were nice, the rough texture of the sails vs. the smoothness of the hull of the boat. So I should vary my textures in this area.
LESSON
So remember even designers make mistakes, but they are not afraid to admit it, and they have no problem eliminating the mistake. Nothing is worth ruining the look of a room in your home!!
14 comments:
Kathysue, I just love the way you put things together. The sailboat had to go and you knew it. Your room really is perfect.
Sometimes you just have to see it in the room! ....in fact it takes a Good Designer to admit to mistakes!
Fabulous post! And what an absolutely GORGEOUS room you have envisioned and put together!
I'm going to print this post with the lessons! I need to remember these.
Thanks, KathySue! You are a gifted designer!
Hi Kathysue! Well, your room is so gorgeous and I probably wouldn't have noticed that the sail boat didn't fit! :)
Be a sweetie,
Shelia ;)
Kathysue, you are so good to share all this wisdom with your readers. I can see what you mean about the scale being off. I love the fresh new look of your room. The simplicity and crisp look of the mantel is perfect!
Wonderful post, Kathysue! Isn't amazing how one thing can throw a whole room off...great lesson for all of us! Enjoy your weekend! ;)
Really love the details on the white console.
Wow, you are reading my mind! I was just struggling with the placement of new furniture in my dining room. I became really hard on myself, because I thought real designers never make mistakes. Glad to hear I may not be alone. :)
I don't think of it as a mistake because you had to see it in the room to determine if it's right. All the measuring and visualization won't work if it just doesn't feel right for whatever reason. I think that boat is wonderful, but the sails being khaki read "dirty" next to your yellow walls, and the scale is off as you said.
Thank goodness you can return it and it's not a huge and costly mistake. Or maybe it will look better in another room?
Design sometimes is trial and error!
Have a great weekend! xo~Delores
a lesson learned (who knew, looked so good taped to the wal!!!) and shared, we ALL make mistakes. as i write, i have a client who left a message i need to answer, "wrong color trim!" grrrrrr
xx
debra
Live and learn. I can never decide for sure unless I see it in the space....and the hunt continues.
Kathy, your room is so lovely and it is nice to see your thought process laid out.
Personally, I would use some large scale wall art behind the lamps and a tray with smalls on the console but you have a really great eye and I can't wait to see what you come up with.
All decorating is a matter of trail and error, but the key is recognising when it's not right and identifying what needs to be changed, and that's the skill. Great post.
Great advice....we have all made mistakes but its learning from them that really matters. The room looks fabulous with or without a sailboat!
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