Room of the Day: Proudly Pink in San Antonio
http://www.decor-ideas.org 06/02/2014 23:06 Decor Ideas
Jamie Hernandez’s home office was such a mess, she was afraid to let anyone see it. Which can be a problem when you’re an interior designer and you work from home.
Hernandez commandeered the ground-floor bonus room shortly after moving into the San Antonio, Texas, home, closing up one archway and installing solid double doors in the other — so no one could see in. But the room had no closets and lacked surface space for floor plans and samples. “Everything was just falling in piles on the floor,” Hernandez recalls with a shudder. “It was really embarrassing.”
When she finally saved enough money to redecorate the room, the self-proclaimed “modern traditionalist” looked to role models like designer Kelly Wearstler, whose bold patterns inspired her. “I love anything with graphics and bright colors,” Hernandez says.
AFTER: The designer painted the walls Benjamin Moore’s Peony, a shade of pink so deep, it safely sidesteps any associations with Barbie or bubble gum. “This one was just the right dose of sophistication; it was that perfect lipstick color that you wear,” Hernandez says. “Even men like it.”
Since the house was what the designer calls a “builder-beige box,” she decided to add a little interest overhead by painting a glossy black frame on the ceiling. “I feel that it adds another dimension of detail,” she says. “It adds drama.”
As do the curtains, an Ikea find that she suspended from partial rods — instead of a continuous pole — to soften the edges of the windows while preserving the light.
Hernandez had her eye on a Lindsey Adelman chandelier for the room, but was cowed by the four- and five-figure prices. Then she discovered the You Make It page on Adelman’s website, which allowed her (well, actually, husband Eric) to assemble a similar version for just $145.
Hernandez wanted to maximize storage in the office while still providing enough space for visiting clients, vendors or family members.
AFTER: To keep costs low, she purchased the furnishings from mass-market retailers. These bookcases are from Ballard Designs; the Parsons-style étagères across the room are from Home Decorators Collection.
The furnishings are all white, which helps offset the power of the wall color. “I just wanted to show that you shouldn’t shy away from pink,” muses Hernandez. “It plays well with others. It’s such a good team player. I think that’s why I love pink — it represents a little bit of who I am.”
The striped rug from Ikea was another Wearstler touch. “That is my love letter to her,” says Hernandez, who paid a mere $299 for the floor covering.
She oriented her desk toward the doors; when opened, they frame a favorite pink buffet and a family art wall. Black paint outlines the door panels for an added geometric touch.
All told, the designer ended up spending $6,400 transforming the space, which has since become a magnet for clients, vendors, friends and family members. “Not only is it a workspace, but it’s my hangout,” says Hernandez, proudly.
More: 7 Ways to Make Your Home Office Work Better for You
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