Sometimes a studio is a place for one accent wall. What if you painted the wall behind the sofa in a rich blue from the rug, and painted the rest a creamy rich ivory?

You have the perfect opportunity to use a blue and white scheme. Blue and white looks great with dark wood furniture. A very restricted color scheme keeps a place looking crisp and serene, and you already have the big things. For inspiration, the link below takes you to a collection of blue and white rooms that have been featured in House Beautiful. As you'll see, the use of some dark navy works wonderfully in such a plan.

A small space is also given life by good table lamps all around the room, with white fabric shades to let plenty of light out, and to create pools of light where you need it. Three-way bulbs let you control where the light is strongest. It's amazing how cozy and lively a small place can look when you create light and shadow.

Here is a link that might be useful: Blue and white rooms

DCSam, sounds like she's off to a lovely start. I have just the thread for you, in our Gallery. LOADS of inspiration pics in there for cottage living. You can save your/her favorites to your own computer. Is there a way you can sit your mom down in front of a computer to view these?

Here is a link that might be useful: Show me your Cottage Decor

WOW!!!! Great forum. Thank you so much. I did 'copy' the page where you can view the rug. We looked through thousands of rugs, and this is the one we kept going back to. But now I'm wishing we would have gone with more of a 'country look' rather than with her espresso-colored furniture accent furniture.
Thanks again
Caroline

http://www.homedecorators.com/P/Toile_Area_Rug/910/

I agree with the rich blue accent wall with the color taken from the rug. On using cream on the other walls... I kinda like the idea of picking a cream with a undertone of goldish yellow to it. Then I can see putting some of the yellow/gold accents in pillows, pottery, whatever. It could be a rich understated space with a hint of french country to it without being too "themey" for a small space.

I think remodelfa hit it exactly - a "hint of french country". But a deep blue wall seems extreme to me. In looking at the rug, do any of you have other suggestions for wall color?
Thanks so much!
Caroline
WA state

I did the blue accent wall with 3 cream / off white walls.