With a bright 2020 already in full swing, I thought there was no better way to celebrate than with a mini makeover. I had the pleasure of working with the talented Anna Petrow, who is a photographer in Kansas City, Mo., in giving her sunroom a little update. She had never worked with a designer before, and I wanted to make sure she had a wonderful time from the initial home visit to the final reveal.
Anna has a lovely house that has all the charm and character you could ask for. One thing I loved about her space is how she mixes antiques and older pieces with new items and modern touches. She mentioned she has been trying to figure out how to update an antique daybed she had picked up years ago and had not been able to successfully place in a room.
Anna's home is so light and airy that the dark, necktie-inspired fabrics on the daybed were creating a heavy visual space that didn't quite fit. We agreed that once reupholstered, it would be perfect for her adorable sunroom. Anna herself has a great eye for design, color and spacing, so I knew this would be a fun project.
After some chatting, I had her come into the shop to peruse our fabric room to find out what colors and patterns she gravitated toward. It can be easy to get comfortable in your decor choices, so I thought it would be fun to shake things up by presenting three very different options for her. We wanted to help her complete her space but also push her out of her comfort zone.
Our first look was one we called "Calming Chambray" and is made up of muted blues, dark denims and light creams for a dreamy and casual appearance. The collection is light on color variety but heavy on texture. We thought this would tie in her existing denim chair beautifully to her new reupholstered piece and fit with her current room theme. Ultimately we decided it was too familiar, though she did spy one of her favorite fabrics (which luckily we could fit into our finished look).
As a second option, we went in the opposite direction. The look was a collection of spicy reds, eye-catching jewel tones and whimsical prints that we named "Southwest Spice." Full of color and texture, the collection was a new direction for her home, but one that created interest and added depth. While this was not the look we finalized, it did offer a nod to her love of animal prints.
The final option was the fresh and fierce "Jungle Bungalow" look. Full of animal prints and soft leafy accents, it plays perfectly with the plants that line the sunny space and the natural woven elements throughout the room. We knew almost immediately this was going to be our winner. The playful jungle elements fit perfectly in her sunroom, and the bursts of color helped tie in her existing decor.
Get creative and step outside of your comfort zone to find the perfect design match. Being able to play around with fun looks to find the perfect fit reminds me why I love design in the first place.