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Goldie's Corner Decorating for the sexes. Can a man be comfortable in a room a woman decorated? Don’t wage a battle of the sexes...
Her home is lovely and decorated with a very Victorian flair. It is homey and very feminine, from top to bottom. The bedroom has a large, four poster canopy bed, with all the frills, pillows, and lace. Her new mate was not at all comfortable with the existing decor, but my friend loved her home as it was. He was drawn to the more slick looking modern furniture -- she loved the feeling of being surrounded with old antiques and over-stuffed comfortable furniture. My friend asked if I could help her put a home together that would please both her and her new mate. I can’t go into complete detail on how we made the honeymooner’s bedroom a place where both could feel relaxed and comfortable, but I will share with you a few changes that were made that both bride and groom approved of, and were quite pleased with. The big, old carved canopy bed stayed, but it was stripped of all its ruffles and frilly linens, along with the frilly canopy cover. In place of the full canopy cover, a bolt of sheer fabric in a neutral color (taupe) was merely draped over each end of the bed to pool on the floor at each pole. The new spread was a soft Caribbean print, with the colors taupe, sage green, and light beige. The pillows were replaced with new silk pillows in the colors from the bedspread, along with a few drab lavender pillows. With the soft new colors the room took on a very relaxed feeling. At her bedside table my friend displayed some of her old keepsakes -- a wonderful old fan, and an antique beaded bag, that was lavender and also had touches of drab green. She also added a picture of her best pal, her little dog. On her husband's night-stand, he chose to display their wedding picture. We used one of her old frames, and she also added a vintage cigarette case, and a small catch all box that was covered with tiny seed pearls. We painted one wall drab lavender, to pull in this pretty, soft relaxing color, the rest of the walls were very light beige. The couple were pleased with the changes. How do you create a room that is aesthetically pleasing, comfortable, rugged or romantic and equally appealing to both sexes? Number one, keep it neutral. Blend and harmonize the stronger hues into your decor with accessories and wall treatments (paint, wallpaper). Go sparingly on the stronger hues. The best neutrals are beige, off white, gray, taupe, tan, brown, and black. Stay away from highly personalized color, such as pink, purple, and red. These are called the colors of passion. You will rarely find that many people will share your passion for these hard colors. Use natural materials such as granite, slate, stone, wood, marble, terracotta, porcelain, clay, and bamboo. Natural materials such as these add depth and texture to a room. Likewise when choosing a fabric to incorporate into your gender neutral decorating scheme, stick with wool, cotton, linen, silk, or any other plant or animal fiber. Avoid excessive prints and florals when choosing wall coverings, upholstery, or window treatments. If you love the floral look, balance it with color coordinated stripes or plaids. This adds interest and changes the look of the texture. Balance rustic with the refined, the rough-hewed with the polished. For example, a collection of floral tea cups looks less fussy if displayed on a rustic pine table or shelf. Avoid ruffles and flounces and stick to a tailored look. To make it a bit feminine go with soft colored prints in light shades. Piped pillows are also a great feminine touch to add to your pillow selection. Create personal, private spaces in order to add individual taste and whim. Utilize his and her collectibles in these spaces. If you keep to this neutral theory you will create a home that both sexes will be comfortable in and enjoy. Please take time to browse here at Old And Sold. The auction pages can offer you some wonderful treasures to add in making your dwelling a very unique and special home. Hugs, L.A. Goldie |