With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, I wanted to share a recent project of mine that incorporates liberal doses of the color of the season — red!
Yes, red is on everybody’s mind these days, so I figured why not work it into my blog, too.
First, there’s no better color for injecting a quick jolt of warmth and vibrancy to a space (or a relationsip – ha!).
And, as many of you may know, red happens to be a favorite color of mine.
So this seemed like the perfect project to share in the current moment.
Now, those who read my posts regularly will also know that one of my preferred design tricks is to add pops of color to otherwise neutral surroundings.
The way I see it, there’s no better way to liven up a room.
And that is exactly what happened with this project, so I’m eager to give you a little tour.
Color Me Red at Chaumette
This is another one of those villas that I’ve been working on over at Chaumette Vineyards & Winery. Again, can we have a more perfect post in advance of Valentine’s Day?!?
After all, what spells love better than red, wine and blue skies? Nothing. Well, maybe chocolate and flowers. But, I digress!
As with many of my design projects at Chaumette, I worked closely with the villa owner to create a space that suits their needs and tastes.
In this case, the client was seeking a more contemporary look. And we established the wall color, Sherwin Williams’ Mindful Gray (SW 7016), pretty early on. Those two choices would serve as our guideposts for the entire project.
I started with the living room, to lay the groundwork for the rest of the villa. Here, you can get a sense of my whole design philosophy. And it really didn’t shift much as I moved room to room.
With our wall color and accent color already chosen, it was simply a matter of finding furniture and other pieces that could further incorporate the red and gray tones.
Notice how some elements, such as the rug, include both colors, to create cohesion and avoid a choppy look as the eye moves around the room.
The armchairs, from Uttermost, have a really cool design and are surprisingly comfortable, so I knew I had to use them in the space.
I had the window treatments specially made, and used a gray diamond pattern for visual interest. The throw pillows are perfect for my pops of red.
And I worked with the villa owner to select photography for the walls that was serene and meaningful but also in the color family we were pursuing.
The stone fireplace and reclaimed wood mantle perfectly round out the look.
A Romantic Kitchen and Dining Area
I was working with an open concept floor plan, so carried the same draperies and imagery into the dining area.
The chandelier, also from Uttermost, is unique and feels just right for a winery. It also does a nice job of coordinating with the mantel with its reclaimed wood element (You may have noticed that I’ve been having fun finding really distinctive light fixtures in many of my recent projects. Read more on making bright lighting choices here.)
The dining room table, in a farmhouse style, is from Hooker furniture.
Moving on to the kitchen, which also flows from this space, you’ll see lots of beautiful white cabinetry from RSI Kitchen & Bath.
I felt simple was better here, so I went with a neutral glass backsplash and some dark grey/black countertops.
The leather counter stools incorporate more of that grey/black. This is a color combo that I have used in a couple other villas, so I was excited to bring it into play again in a new way.
Sticking to a Theme
One nice thing about carrying a consistent theme throughout a house is you get to see just how far you can take a concept.
With the two upstairs bedrooms in this villa, we used the same gray and red pairing as the downstairs, but for two very different effects.
Let’s start with my favorite of the two. (Am I allowed to have favorites? Or are rooms like kids?!? Ha!)
In this first bedroom, I took the pop of red and put an exclamation point on it.
The deep red of the rugs, accent pillows and armchair is sophisticated and sexy. And it’s even more so once you throw that wall art in.
I also love having a sitting area just beyond the foot of the bed. Nothing says all-day lounging like a sitting area in your bedroom!
The wood flooring here, which is repeated on the main floor, is from Hoods.
Now, as I’ve mentioned in other blog posts, these villas are often rented out by bridal parties who are having weddings at the vineyard. So I always try to keep that in mind when designing the space.
For example, here, both of the upstairs bedrooms have their own bathrooms with full length mirrors. This makes it easier for for the brides and bridesmaids to get ready.
In this first bathroom, the tile is the star of the show. I also included lit mirrors from ProSource, for an elegant touch, and a walk-in shower.
Notice that I kept mostly to our white and dark grey/black pairing here, with just one pop of red in the wall art above the toilet. I wanted to be careful not to overwhelm the smaller space.
Room for Guests (and More Red)
Now, in the second bedroom, you’ll see that I still have pops of red, but a more muted red. This appears in the pattern of the bedspread.
It lends to a gentler look, and provides a nice contrast to the other bedroom, which definitely has more punch to it.
Finally, on the lower level, we have one more bedroom. Here again, I pulled together grey and red and kept with a contemporary feel. But this bottom level floor has a bit more of a breezy feel, which you pick up on in the throw pillows on the bed and the grooved nightstands, which are in a gray-stained wood.
The floors are finished in a faux-wood tile, which is great for pleasing the eye while also standing up to dirt and a lot of foot traffic.
I used quartz countertops and a sculptured, glossy tile in the bathroom shower that has a more modern look to it, and just feels really cool and unique.
An Ongoing Design Partnership
I hope you enjoyed the virtual tour!
As I mentioned, this is a project born out of my ongoing partnership with Chaumette. I’d love for you to check out some of the other work I’ve done for them, because it truly has been a blast. And I think my other clients could get a lot of good ideas from the designs I have completed in these villas.
Here are a few links to get you started.
Love is certainly in the air at Chaumette, and I relish the opportunity to be a part of this fabulous experience for its guests.
And as always, I’d love to get your thoughts and entertain any questions you might have about incorporating pops of color into your next design project or remodel.
Just give me a call!
