Houzz Tour: Color and Character in North Carolina
Color, pattern and great furniture finds give a cookie-cutter home a splash of personality
When designer Emily A. Clark moved into a home in North Carolina with her husband and three children, she had a hard time envisioning her unique style in the cookie-cutter space. "Our house had absolutely zero character," Clark says. "The challenge was finding small ways to personalize it and give it some 'wow' factors."
Clark decided to play with a color palette that would differentiate her home from others on the block. A bold navy living room and striped tan walls did just the trick. Punches of color and pattern make the space feel current and comfortable, while thrifty furniture finds give each room a sense of patina. "I found 90 percent of my furniture on Craigslist. I think it gives it a good, eclectic feel," Clark says. "A great deal always inspires me, especially if it can be updated with a few coats of fresh paint."
Clark decided to play with a color palette that would differentiate her home from others on the block. A bold navy living room and striped tan walls did just the trick. Punches of color and pattern make the space feel current and comfortable, while thrifty furniture finds give each room a sense of patina. "I found 90 percent of my furniture on Craigslist. I think it gives it a good, eclectic feel," Clark says. "A great deal always inspires me, especially if it can be updated with a few coats of fresh paint."
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by Emily A. Clark
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| A sitting room just off the dining room is the perfect spot to relax after a big meal with family and friends. Almost everything in this room was found for a great price on Craigslist. The mix of products is a perfect example of Clark's warm and eclectic style. "I wanted our home to feel warm, cozy and very personal to us since there were several other houses on the street that looked exactly like ours on the outside," she says. |
by Emily A. Clark
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Using alternating shades of golden browns, Clark painted stripes in a little breakfast nook right off the kitchen. Because the home had such a plain-Jane feel, Clark wanted to mix it up and add character and personality with a rich color palette and various patterns. The beautifully worn table in this room has particular sentimental value to Clark — it was in her parents' house while she was growing up.
Chairs: Ashley Furniture
Wall colors: Sherwood Tan and Algonquin Trail by Benjamin Moore
Pendant: World Imports
Table lamps: HomeGoods
Curtain fabric: Pelagos, Windsor Smith for Kravet
Chairs: Ashley Furniture
Wall colors: Sherwood Tan and Algonquin Trail by Benjamin Moore
Pendant: World Imports
Table lamps: HomeGoods
Curtain fabric: Pelagos, Windsor Smith for Kravet
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by Emily A. Clark
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| The dining room uses the same tan color palette as the breakfast area, with a few different patterns and colors for extra personality. Except for the living room, most of the main living spaces in the rest of the home play with the same brown tones. Clark wanted to keep most of the home warm, so she used a neutral as a base and accented with chartreuse and orange. Wall color: Flatland by Dutch Boy Paint Chairs: Thrifted Bench: Recovered from Wal-Mart Table: Ashley Furniture Wall art: Botanicals from "Botanicals: Butterflies & Insects" |
by Emily A. Clark
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The living room palette was inspired entirely by the navy chain-link rug, which Clark found at Pottery Barn. After falling in love with the rug, she used it as the basis for the navy walls, crisp white trim and metallic accessories in the living room.
Wall color: Stunning by Benjamin Moore
Rug: Pottery Barn
Wall color: Stunning by Benjamin Moore
Rug: Pottery Barn
by Emily A. Clark
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Clark found the stunning bookshelves for $20 each on Craigslist. A few coats of paint transformed them, and they add a great storage solution that almost looks built-in.
Coffee table, couch, bookcase, chairs: Craigslist
Coffee table, couch, bookcase, chairs: Craigslist
by Emily A. Clark
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A thrifted TV console lends a vintage look to what can sometimes be an awkward living room piece. Clark decided to paint the far wall in the living room the same tan that was used in the rest of the home. The color helps warm up the darker navy in the rest of the room.
by Emily A. Clark
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Although the kitchen in this house was fairly builder grade, Clark decided to dress it up with a gallery wall of beautiful white plates and a fun chalkboard paint accent underneath the bar.
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by Emily A. Clark
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| A gallery of framed children's artwork lends a sentimental touch to the simple entryway. A row of hooks is at just the right level for her children to hang up bags and coats. |
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by Emily A. Clark
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| Clark turned a spare bedroom into an office for her interior design work. Gray walls contrast with bright white furniture and colorful textiles for a contemporary color palette. In lieu of built-ins, an Ikea Expedit bookcase was the perfect piece to store books, paperwork and decorative accessories. Wall color: Trout Gray, Benjamin Moore Curtain fabric: Wilmington by Covington |
by Emily A. Clark
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The dresser in her office was found for just $40 at a thrift store, and Clark painted it in a brilliant green for an extra pop of color. "The green made that piece come alive," she says. "It became the centerpiece of the room."
Table lamps: Local surplus outlet
Table lamps: Local surplus outlet
by Emily A. Clark
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Clark opted for a soothing silvery-gray for her master bedroom. The golden starburst mirror warms up the silver tones and echoes the mirror in her living room. Like the rest of this home, the bedroom is a beautiful mix of clean lines with pops of color and pattern.
Bed: Madison bed, Zocalo
Rug: Overstock.com
Dresser: Cindy Crawford for Rooms to Go
Table lamp: Rooms to Go outlet
Bed: Madison bed, Zocalo
Rug: Overstock.com
Dresser: Cindy Crawford for Rooms to Go
Table lamp: Rooms to Go outlet
by Emily A. Clark
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A bold pink polka-dot wall completely transformed Clark's daughter's room. She had the hot pink wall color custom-mixed by Benjamin Moore to match the polka-dotted pillow. A modern padded headboard and black and white accents give this girly room a subtle grown-up touch.
Yellow wall color: Lemon Parfait, Valspar
Headboard: Younger furniture
Side table: HomeGoods
Yellow wall color: Lemon Parfait, Valspar
Headboard: Younger furniture
Side table: HomeGoods
by Emily A. Clark
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A coat of fresh green paint, striped shower curtain and children's paintings keep this bathroom kid-friendly and gender neutral without feeling too childlike or over the top.
In just 2 years, Clark was able to completely transform the look of this plain builder-grade house into a colorful and warm home. Although she and her family had to move a few months ago, this cozy house still holds a special place in their hearts.
Wall color: Mackinac Island, Dutch Boy Paint
More Houzz Tours:
Living in Color
It's A Bloomsbury Life
Builder's Beige Gets a Makeover
In just 2 years, Clark was able to completely transform the look of this plain builder-grade house into a colorful and warm home. Although she and her family had to move a few months ago, this cozy house still holds a special place in their hearts.
Wall color: Mackinac Island, Dutch Boy Paint
More Houzz Tours:
Living in Color
It's A Bloomsbury Life
Builder's Beige Gets a Makeover
Ideabook updated on Jan. 24, 2012.
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I love decorating with vintage finds and one-of-a-kind pieces - It makes decorating much more interesting and pesonal when you discard the idea that everything has to come from a catalog or a store.
;)
You should send this to Nate Berkus..he is always looking for such talent on his show and without breaking the bank.