Before + After: Brightwaters Residence + Color Tip!

I haven’t yet posted this project on my website, MANDARINA STUDIO, but thought I’d share “Before” and “After” shots here as well as a brief description of this recently completed residence on Long Island.  (Be sure to read my tip about color at the end of this post).

For this project, the goal was to create a formal  living room that is elegant yet comfortable for the family of four.  The client is a fashionable young couple with two small children so it was important to incorporate fabrics that are chic yet durable and cleanable.   The design and color concept was inspired by both the clients’ love of the sea and the homes proximity to Long Island’s Great South Bay.   Employing an analogous color scheme (colors that are adjacent on the color wheel) composed of  pale blues paired with lavender in accents such as the pillows, Moroccan poofs, rug and decorative objects, the effect is harmonious and sophisticated.

Living Room_Before

Living Room_After

DESIGN TIP:   If you have just moved into a new home or are interested in redesigning your existing home and are stumped about color, I recommend finding an inspiration.  There are endless sources of color inspiration and here are my top 3 recommendations:

1.  ART:  whether you own it or it hangs in a museum, whether it be a painting or a textile, look to art for inspiration on color.  Artists are often color masters and combine colors in unique and/or beautiful ways.  Let them guide you.

2.  NATURE:  whether it be the Fall in New England, the Mediterranean seas or the desert landscape, look outside and be inspired by the colors of nature.  This does not necessarily mean to literally translate a beach theme with a nautical feel.  For example, while the project shown here was inspired by the sea, it does not feel “beachy” or “nautical”, instead it feels elegant and sophisticated.

3. YOUR WARDROBE: look inside your closet, what colors do you wear and buy most often?  How do these colors make you feel?  The colors you wear most frequently are the colors you love – think about how they make you feel and what you like about them.  Consider incorporating these colors into your home.

Of course, if you still need help, you can always contact me : )

Interior Design:  MANDARINA STUDIO

“After” Photography:  Tim Williams