My Decorating Process - Fabric and Color Inspiration

One of the projects I've been working on here in Arizona is my parents' bedroom. A few of you have asked me about my design process, and since this project will be in major fast forward (less than a week, start to finish), I thought it would be fun to document and report on the project day by day.

When I'm decorating a room from scratch, I always like to start with fabric. I am so inspired by pattern and color. Put a piece of pretty fabric in front of me and I can dream you up a room in about 30 seconds flat!

So when a couple weeks ago my mom asked me to start brainstorming ideas for her bedroom, I knew I needed to look for some fabric inspiration. Right bef0re we left Delaware, I stumbled across about 18 yards of remnants of this gorgeous Barbara Barry for Kravet linen, "Poetical', and that was the starting off point for the room.


It's gorgeous - a little bit modern, but still with a floral and feminine feel. The gray and creamy white colors are perfectly neutral and were a great jumping off point. I emailed my mom a photo of the fabric when I found the remnants and she gave me two big thumbs up.

I brought all the fabric with me to Arizona. When I got to my parents' house, mom and I sat down with my new collection of Ralph Lauren paint chips, and we brainstormed color palettes.


We decided on a very pale blue/green/gray for the walls, called 'Mountauk Driftwood'. My parents four poster bed would be painted a dark and moody slate, called 'Smoked Glass'. The en suite bathroom walls would be a dusty gray called 'Hopsack', cut 50%. Other accent colors would be a gray green called 'Kauai' and a deep aubergine called 'Persian Violet'. These colors would be used on bathroom cabinets and other accent pieces.


Next step: Painting!

55 comments:

  1. Hey Jenny:
    Have loved that fabric, but been fearful of the pricetag. Do you mind sharing where you find so much yardage, or for what price per yard?
    Thanks!
    So far....so lovely!

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  2. Thanks so much for sharing your design process! Seriously, you always share your tips, resources, step by step process....makes your blog the best! Can't wait to see the finished result - as always, it'll be fabulous!

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  3. That is a great process, thank for sharing... I never know where to start, so maybe this could work for me!
    love the fabric too.
    :)

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  4. Beautiful fabric, Love the paint colors you have pick. What a lovely bedroom your Mom will have.Can not wait to see the finished product.

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  5. That is going to be a gorgeous result. Thank you for sharing your process.

    And here, I will display my ignorance--what does it mean to "cut" paint?

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  6. Can't wait to see the transformation! How wonderful that you and your mother have a relationship like this!

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  7. Where are some goof places to find discount/leftover fabric?

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  8. What a beautiful color palette for a bedroom!

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  9. I have the poetical duvet from Macy's and I LOVE it. Such a beautiful pattern. Can't wait to see the end result of this room! :)

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  10. love the fabric! can't wait to see how it turns out.

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  11. I really love that fabric. It is gorgeous. Thanks for documenting the process, this will be fun!

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  12. Love the fabric and especially love the paint choice!

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  13. Explain "cut 50%" I'm guessing that means that they take the color but add half the pigment when the put in the formula and it is lighter?
    I headed out to Show Low home depot to get my ralph lauren paint half off! I'm putting off painting some furniture until it warms up- but got the paint now. I found some nice greens that I liked but wished they were darker...could I ask them to make it darker at home depot? deepen the value?

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  14. beth already posted about the macy's fabric (didn't see her post before i happened on it at macys.com this morning. here is the link if anyone was looking to incorporate this fabric in their bedrooms! http://www1.macys.com/catalog/product/index.ognc?ID=367624&CategoryID=29550

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  15. Love your choice as well as the stripe fabric next to it with the tans, creams and aquas...it already lives on a beautiful built in bench in my laundry room!

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  16. Great lesson for your readers. Love the fabric and paint choices. Looking forward to the end result!

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  17. Love this fabric. If you have any remnants . . . I would love to buy them from you. I have a small chair I'd like to recover with this. My email is erikatracy(at)gmail(dot)com

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  18. That fabric is awesome, such a perfect mix of classic and contemporary. The colors you have chosen are beautiful.. I can't wait to see the finished product!

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  19. Thank you so much for sharing your design process. I'm attempting to decorate our dining room from scratch, so your words of wisdom are appreciated! Can't wait to see the results, the fabric looks lovely.

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  20. That fabric is gorgeous! I can't wait to see the final result. I've been following your blog for awhile now and just love everything you do.

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  21. Just an FYI - our great room is painted Montauk Driftwood and it is more blue than anything else. Barely any grey or green, so be careful if that's not exactly what you're looking for. It's also more colorful/less white than I imagined from the chip.

    You can see it in these pics: http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=50084583&l=4ab897b389&id=2213583

    and

    http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=50084583&l=4ab897b389&id=2213583

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  22. Jenny, I found some fabric that I'd love to make into a duvet for my bedroom but I have no idea how much to buy or where to start. Would you mind sharing a duvet tutorial at some point? Thanks so much!

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  23. Cant wait to see the finished product. Love the fabric and color choices.

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  24. Jenny this is beautiful! I'm so excited to see the step-by-step this week. This has become one of my favorite design blogs. It's given me so much inspiration for my own place!

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  25. I'm with happy place...can you clue us in on some of your resources? I spend HOURS scouring ebay everyday, and it is really hit or miss, but you always seem to have the best finds! This one is one of my faves by far, can't wait to see the rest of the process!

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  26. Shoot. The links are not linking to the right pictures. I will email you. Sorry!

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  27. Thanks for sharing your process. You are such an inspiration.

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  28. This is awesome to know!
    We are considering buying a new house. And what a great way to start each room :) Thanks!!

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  29. gorgeous fabric, can't wait to see the finished product (in less than a week)!!!

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  30. That's a great starting fabric! I love that it's neutral but has a fun pattern. Thanks for giving us some insight into your design process!

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  31. Ooh, this is going to be a super fun series. I love that we'll get to see the results so quickly. Thanks for sharing.

    Loving that fabric, by the way.

    jbhat

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  32. LOVE that fabric - great insight into your process!

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  33. This is going to be a very relaxing room. Beautiful fabric.

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  34. Thanks for sharing. I am just embarking on a full house redo and am feeling overwhelmed. I wonder if a piece of artwork could also be a starting off point? I'll be back to watch the transformation.
    Take care,
    Dana

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  35. Very nice!! Thank you Jenny!
    I loved your idea of getting the paint chips to have with you for projects too!

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  36. Ooooh, can't wait to see the whole room. I LOVE that fabric!

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  37. Gorgeous fabric, I'm glad we only have to wait a week to see the finished room !

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  38. Gorgeous! Can't wait to see it come together!

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  39. Gorgeous, gorgeous fabric! Can't wait to see more!

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  40. I love that inspiration fabric you are using. Your lucky mother!

    I was just at the paint store yesterday and another girl was having hopsack mixed. Pretty color!

    Have fun in AZ!

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  41. Oh I can't wait for the reveal...I adore that fabric....

    Hope you are having a good time in AZ

    Kathy :)

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  42. Love the color palette! Can't wait to see it. Please post before and afters. We just love those!

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  43. That fabric is beautiful! I can't wait to see what you come up with.

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  44. So elegant. I can't wait to see how it comes together.

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  45. Beautiful fabric...where did you find it? Looking forward to seeing what you "whip up"!

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  46. what a gorgeous fabric, can't wait to see the result! And I'm loving the color palette

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  47. I love that fabric! I cant wait to see it. I know its going to turn out amazing!


    www.bazaarofserendipity.blogspot.com

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  48. Thanks for sharing, Jenny. Gorgeous fabric and color ideas. I would love to know where you shop for fabric?

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  49. Jenny, I am already in love with how beautifully the colors go together. I love the light and airy color palette, but those dark tones really add drama. I can't wait to see the next step!

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  50. Hi Jenny, I've been reading your blog for a while (love your taste), and I just want to tell you about this funny thing that happened Saturday. My husband and I had a couple over from our ward, and we somehow got on the subject of crazy pregnancy/birth stories. Our friend that was over started telling us all about his sister having her baby at her home on Christmas Eve. He talked about his sister living back east, and his dad visiting and being able to deliver the baby, etc. I kept going huh, that sounds familiar, wait that sounds REALLY familiar, then hey! Does your sister have a blog?! Turns out it was your story! John and Sherawn are in our ward, and we love them :)

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  51. What a gorgeous source of inspiration. Fabulous fabric!

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I so appreciate hearing from you. Nice comments make my day! Thanks for keeping things light here, friends! :)