Opposite Becki and Steve’s bedroom is filled with warmth and love. Their remodeled bathroom is elegant and pristine with cabinets painted with Nell Hill’s “Picnic Basket” paint.
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little bare feet as they come down.” Repurposing items from the home isn’t a one-time occurrence, either. Upstairs, the two girls’ bedrooms are sepa- rated by a small sitting area landing, adorned with a unique coffee table. Look closely, and you will see that the
irst of all, let’s get it straight: Decorating with neutrals (most often considered white, off-white, tan, beige, taupe, khaki, light brown, camel, etc.) doesn’t have to be boring or bland. Every color (hue) has many values (shades or tints). White has over 100 shades alone. How can that be boring? You can really open up a space with this color palette, creating a calming, open and airy feel. It sounds over-simplified, but to keep a space from becoming stark or impersonal, incorporate as many shades as you can — or let’s say as many as you are comfortable with. In addition to color, there are three main areas I go to for curat- ing a well-put-together space: • Layering — This can be as literal as a throw on a sofa or chair, changing the paint on your trim a few shades lighter or darker to complement your wall color, or accessories on a table or shelf. Mirrors can give you a big bang for your buck in creating dimen- sion. You can even layer a mirror on a mirror for a little funk. • Pattern — Make sure you vary the size or scale of your pat- terns. Incorporate stripes, geometrics, florals, ethnic prints. Remember, variety is the spice of life. • Textures — There are so many ways to work texture into a room. You can begin with your walls or ceiling. Move on to your floors (wood, tile, carpet, combination) for additional texture. This is all before you even get to furniture. Make sure to bring in interesting pieces. Not every single item in a room has to be a stunner, but look for an interesting shape, size or style to mix in. Luxurious fabrics, woods, wicker or a shell chandelier are all good ways to showcase texture. You’ve heard me say many times before how important light- ing is to a space. Well a so-called neutral room is no exception. Natural light (window) is an automatic picture frame to a great view. Let nature paint that. And lastly, I feel it’s very important to use a touch of black (in any room really) to ground a space. This gives you an opportunity to rest your eyes. It provides you that moment to take a breath before moving on, taking in everything your room has to offer. Picture or mirror frames are great ways to incorporate that touch of black; hardwood floors are another. Showing a little leg on your upholstered furniture can also serve as a nice foundation for a little color. Remember, comfort is key. How do I create depth or interest with whites and tans? Deb Vogler has been creating her own brand of Comfort by Design for more than 15 years. She deals with all aspects of design, from budget- ing, to floor plans (renovation or new construction), to furniture, to color at her full-scale design firm. Have a designing question for Deb? Send it to erin@vintagekcmag.com. F -Deb
table is actually made from a door that Becki found in the garage. She also added casters, making it easy to move around and use in different ways. “I love not having to ask for permission for anything that I do in this house,” Becki said. “I feel like people are always saying, ‘Wait, can I actu- ally do this?’ Of course you can! I mean, we have two young kids, and I have a white couch! If you love something, it is totally okay.” Doing what she loves is ultimately what sparked the initiative behind LaLa Land. The two upstairs bedrooms are host to large dormers that create a mix of various angles in the space. The dormers also make for a less than ideal amount of headroom. Where an average homeowner might see a spatial problem, Becki saw a fabulous opportunity. “I used those dormers to put up a sort of cornice board that adds a cool element to my daughters’ beds. Anabelle’s was a mantle repur- posed, and Vivienne’s came from Restoration Emporium in the West Bottoms. They love them! And children, since they’re shorter, can really appreciate that use of space.” The results of Becki’s creativity are bedrooms that feel magical to both girls. Of course, Becki was sure to include each girls’ own unique sense of style in each room. Just like downstairs, the walls are adorned with eclectic artwork and accessories from First Fridays event stores. Vivienne, a dino- saur aficionado, hangs her necklaces on a large green Tyrannosaurus Rex toy. And why not? LaLa Land is a world of possibility without limits. “Right now, LaLa Land is a world of imagination and pretend play,” Becki says. “We don’t even have a TV up there. It’s all about the girls’ world and what they make of it.” Someday LaLa Land may change and transform, a possibility that Becki is always willing to entertain. After all, her own style and design aesthetic is constantly changing, and welcoming change is what makes this home so fascinating. As for her originally “DoubtingThomas” husband? “I’ll never get him out of this house now,” Becki laughed. “He totally gets it. This is our own little compound. It’s ridiculous to love a home as much as we do, but we’re totally okay with that.”
Kim is a writer, interior designer and sales rep. She is also a complete klutz that can crank out a killer cartwheel on demand. Her favorite place to write is curled up on the couch, with her weiner dog and two cats fighting for a spot on her lap. ^
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