Ask the Interior Designer!
Mary Elizabeth Beal is not just the founder of Trend Funnel, she is also an experienced Interior Design Consultant. Mary graduated with a bachelors degree in Interior Design from the FIDER accredited School of Architecture at the University of Florida. She has 8 years of design, decorating, and visual merchandising experience in both residential and commercial retail design.
So go ahead… ask her a question! Or, if you see advice offered below and feel you can do better- go right ahead! We are certain that the person who asked will appreciate your advice as well. After all… design, like art, is in the eye of the beholder!
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February 17th, 2009 at 10:07 pm
I love all of the great beach stuff on the Coastal Cottage trend. I really want to do a beach or surfing theme in my bedroom but don’t want it to look tacky or juvenile. How do I keep from getting carried away?
Thanx Surfrgrl!
February 17th, 2009 at 10:28 pm
Great question… and sooooo important. The main difference between creating a room that follows a dominant trend (like a beach trend) and creating a room that some would categorize as a “tacky theme” room is employing a certain level of control and tact with the selections you choose.
I always like to start with the color palette and make my decisions from there. For example, if you select a beautiful bold color palette (like an Ocean inspired palette of deep blues and greens) then the intensity of the colors should dictate that you select lighter more delicate accessories and furnishings. Furniture that is either white or light in color (like the color of sand, coral, or shells) looks amazing in a room painted with a bold color… add in a few accessories with a coastal flair- and you’re on your way to a great beach room!
With a login name like surfrgrl and a passion for the beach… I’m guessing you probably are a surfer? You can take your surf board (when you aren’t using it of course) and hang it on the wall as a piece of art!
Let me know if you have anymore questions once you get started. Feel free to start playing around with some of the options on Trend Funnel by adding them to your design board- and then post them to the “Get Noticed” blog if you would like to get feed back from Trend Funnel blogers and other shoppers before you buy!
February 17th, 2009 at 11:18 pm
Hey surfrgrl,
I did kind of the same thing, but in reverse… I put a light, almost seashell like color on my walls and then selected fabrics that were a mix of ocean blues and a sand color, and because everything else was more subtle I felt more comfortable using some of the more whimsical accessories around the room. Then again I used the Coastal trend in the family room, not my bedroom, so I wanted something that everyone in the family could agree on (If that’s actually achievable!!!J/K).
Lilly
October 24th, 2009 at 8:40 pm
Always shop ethically. Don’t go buying furnishings that have been made by children in Indian sweatshops.
December 14th, 2009 at 2:10 am
hey mary, I’m replacing all the doors, casing and baseboards in my house. I will have a nice big crown on all the doors and windows in the house. My walls are a light brown color and dark espresso floors. I’m finding that the white casings realy blend into the walls and i am wondering if you would recomend painting them a dark color like black to make them really pop.. any help would be a huge help. thanks Ray.
December 15th, 2009 at 11:29 pm
Hi Ray,
Great question! My answer would depend on several key factors… mainly the size and scale of the rooms in question, the height of your ceilings, and the amount of light in each room. Typically white trim is a safe way to insure that the baseboards, and crown molding are adding a nice “finishing accent” without actually re-scaling or changing the perception of space in a room… Which it is so widely recommended. Also, for re-sale value it is the preferred trim color.
However, if your rooms are large enough or your ceilings are high enough that the perception of space is not a concern in your rooms, then darker trim can add an amazing dynamic to a space. (My husband and I have actually opted for the dark trim in our home as we have vaulted ceilings and the dark crown molding draws the eye upward making the space feel more expansive).
Rather than going with a solid black, I would recommend matching the tone of the baseboards, crown and casings to the rich color of your espresso floors. This will ensure a feeling of continuity with the selection of materials.
If you do decide to stick with white… I recommend choosing a darker shade for your walls so that the white trim stands out more. Changing the wall color may be a quicker solution than changing the trim color.
Let me know if you have additional questions! Mary Elizabeth Beal
June 19th, 2010 at 8:20 pm
[...] help or ideas for your outdoor room design? Ask Mary Elizabeth Beal, an Interior Designer that can also design outdoor [...]