College Dorm Reveal: A Classic Contemporary Design

College Dorm Reveal: A Classic Contemporary Design

“ Some girls were just born with glitter in their veins.”

Creating a stylish college dorm design scheme doesn’t have to break the bank, especially when using basic dorm essentials from retailers and hiring a designer to pull it all together. In just a few weeks and a bit of online shopping… options were sourced and decisions could be made in time to install before the start of school. This recent dorm design won the Dorm Decorating Competition at UVA!

By adding elements of contemporary style with acrylic base lamps and layering these rugs. You can see how these added touches make this dorm room sparkle. The headboards and bedding have a more sophisticated look to bring in a little bit of chic and yes the rose pink leather moroccan poufs are like icing on the cake.

We love to infuse local artist work into our clients spaces and this client happens to love Sunny Stack Goode artwork. A perfect way to personalize and inspire creativity while studying or hanging out. The client’s mother found these Lovesquare prints which blended into the design perfectly and gave that special touch from Mom.

LOVESQUARE PRINTS

dorm room essentials

In smaller spaces it’s important to have lots of creative storage to keep things tidy. This book shelf is classic white and the gold striped bins at a contemporary touch.

Framed pictures and photo collages are a special way to keep memories of friends and family close while being away during the year. A great way to also remember to pick up the phone and give them a call to say hi once in a while too.

A room schematic helps provide scale and a sense of space

By drawing out a room we show clients ways to maximize their space. This is also helpful to have during move-in or install day to easily place things. Make the most of your room by planning out the placement of furniture storage and seating. We like to measure out rooms to ensure the spacing of furniture is just right and to also find the right size we’re looking for.

Layering bedding is not only stylish but practical, especially in different climates or seasons. By having a balance in the patterns and textures it delivers a thoughtful sense of design that isn’t an overwhelming theme. We love these subtle colors that bring a calm but still girlish feel to the room. It’s o.k. to still love polka dots and ruffles too just in a paired back way.

CONTEMPORARY ACCENTS

We’re so excited that our client loves their new space. It was so fun collaborating with the student and her mother as we combined their finds together to create a home away from home. Hearing they won for best dorm room design is also pretty amazing too.

Cheers!

Melissa Mathe

Contact us for all your Interior Design and Decorating needs @mathedesign.com

Mother Nature's Colors

Mother Nature’s Colors

"Nature always wears the color of the spirit." ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

As you look around your home you may have “that space” – the room that needs an update, but you don’t know where to begin. You spend your evenings pinning rooms on Pinterest and browsing hashtags on Instagram. There are so many great ideas out there – how do you pick the right one for you?

The term “Natural Color” originated in the film industry in the 1930’s, but today it means colors that are found in the world around us. Take a moment to look out your window - nature gives us color palettes to jumpstart the design of your space. In Richmond we have so many rich flowers outside our windows that make a seamless transition into your home. We also have the James River and the natural habitats found along the river.

The beach is a buffet of color inspiration – it provides us a sense of calm and respite. The sand beneath your feet is textural speaking to all your senses. It’s not just “beige” – it’s a multitude of whites, golds, greys, and beiges, too. A way to accomplish this is to layer chunky fabrics with smoother finishes – linens and sisals.

The sunrise – a fresh start. You watch the waves rolling in as the sun appears bringing the first touches of light to the day. The blues, reds, and oranges provide a color inspiration that mesmerizes the eye and mind with an optimistic fresh and cheerful presence. Serenity with a touch of excitement. Pull in fabrics that are patterned filled with splashes of color. While every space should have a touch of texture, using fabrics that are soft to the touch will play off the colorful patterns.

Through the summer heat, the Black-eyed Susan brings color to our garden.  This flower has a happy warm color with its golden hues supports other colors in its midst and fulfills the desire for playful expression. This offers a feeling of happiness and joy. Mixing large scale and small-scale patterns with bright happy colors will have you feeling joy every time you walk in.

This is the south and one flower that is signature is the hydrangea. There is simply no such thing as too many hydrangeas! The Limelight and French blue varieties are classic addition to any local landscape. The French blue hydrangea is vibrant with blues and regal purples with the bright green leaf. Soft colors in classic textures of linen with a hint of velvet and your space will be classic and warm. Your dinner guests may never want to leave!

I recently saw a Caesalpinia and immediately had a sense of a firecracker filled with anticipation. This flower is wild, bold, and daring. Deep hues of reds paired with all ranges of calming greens will have you bursting with excitement.

We are so fortunate to live in a town where our space around us is filled with color palettes, especially in summer. I challenge you to look out of your window and see what kind of color palettes your home is asking to be brought inside.

Cheers!
Melissa Mathe

Contact us for all your Interior Design and Decorating needs @mathedesign.com

Wake Up Refreshed: Bedroom Design

Wake Up Refreshed: Bedroom Design

“ All you need is love… and a good design.” ~ Melissa Mathe

Bernhardt Furniture

A well designed bedroom will allow you to get your best sleep… waking up refreshed and ready to take on the day. As a beloved sanctuary it deserves a fair share of attention to details to create a serene space. Thoughtful planning will provide not only a beautiful result but one that functions especially for you. In working with a designer it is helpful to talk about how you utilize your space. We’re sharing a few bedroom designs in this blog post to show how a design is pulled together for a client

Bernhardt Furniture

In the first spacious master bedroom design Bernhardt furniture was selected for it’s timeless silhouette and impeccable crafted quality. The upholstered panel bed draws your eye in with it’s bold curved lines. Combining with it a more traditional dresser and a contemporary nightstand gives the master a feeling of grand updated sophistication. While selecting paint the tray ceiling was chosen in a complimentary paint color to the walls so to accent the architectural details. Custom draperies made with additional trim detailing were fabricated for those added designer touches our clients love.

A quiet sitting space was created as a separate area where the couple can retreat to unwind reading or talk about the day. Unique furniture pieces and lighting fill this area and reflect our clients personal style. Personalized touches such as monogrammed pillows give attention to special details that make a room feel more intimate.

We’ve included resources to share for the sourced furniture and fixtures selected on this residential project.

A second bedroom design is pulled together with an adapted theme to it in a subtle way. This particular residential project is located in a warm climate where the sky and sunset were drawn from as inspiration. The cool blue tones paired with warmer coral toned colors create the sense of sunny skies and soaring temperatures all around.

Crane & Canopy

Soft blue walls painted in Benjamin Moore color Harbor Fog bring in the sky inspiration as a backdrop. The design board shows a custom covered upholstered headboard and bedding in a complimenting color palette. For additional interest the dresser selected has capiz shell covered drawer fronts to lend a nod to shell fish from the ocean. Flanking the headboard are two high gloss lacquered navy blue night stands with brass bamboo pulls for that added designer sophistication.

More resources to share with you here for sourced furniture and fixtures selected on this residential project.

Having a bedroom that is designed in a style all your own will help you to related to your space and feel comfortable in it from day-to-day… especially in moments of much needed unwinding.

Cheers!

Melissa Mathe

*Contact mathedesign.com for specialty pricing and all your Interior Design needs.