Decorating Guides
Expert Talk: 14 Designers Show Their Stripes
Painted stripes can create huge impact in a room for little cost. See how and why these professionals gave 14 rooms their stripes
Singer and actor Justin Timberlake made his foray into the world of design in May 2012, unveiling a home decor collection. When he was asked about some of his pillow patterns, The New York Times quoted Timberlake as saying, "I do love a stripe." Apparently, he's not alone.
When it comes to painting rooms with stripes, these designers are in no danger of "losing their way," to paraphrase Timberlake. Here's why they are so enthusiastic about the technique — or, as one of them puts it, "obsessed" — and how to use the look in your own rooms.
When it comes to painting rooms with stripes, these designers are in no danger of "losing their way," to paraphrase Timberlake. Here's why they are so enthusiastic about the technique — or, as one of them puts it, "obsessed" — and how to use the look in your own rooms.
Paint with the future in mind. "For this little girl's room, I wanted to select a base decor and furnishings with longevity in mind," says Kathleen Burke of Kathleen Burke Design. "Kate couldn’t be more in love with her stuffed animals, so the idea of a circus tent to showcase her collection was appealing."
She adds that "the soft, tone-on-tone striped walls were also a practical decision, since little girls grow up quickly. The soft yellow doesn't feel too young and can easily transition through the years. The pattern is neutral and sophisticated enough to suit a growing child's taste."
In terms of the budget, Burke says "it made sense to spend money here on the faux-stripe paint rather than linens, since bedding wears out and is easily changed. A future modification in the linens would transform the look of the room overnight."
She adds that "the soft, tone-on-tone striped walls were also a practical decision, since little girls grow up quickly. The soft yellow doesn't feel too young and can easily transition through the years. The pattern is neutral and sophisticated enough to suit a growing child's taste."
In terms of the budget, Burke says "it made sense to spend money here on the faux-stripe paint rather than linens, since bedding wears out and is easily changed. A future modification in the linens would transform the look of the room overnight."
Create contrast with tilework. "We wanted to do something decorative on the walls, but since this is a bathroom, we couldn't use wallpaper," says Anastasia Faiella of Faiella Design. "I employed the help of my decorative painter, Ted Somogyi of Probert Art, and we thought that hand-painting a mix of light colors directly onto the wall to mimic wallpaper would help balance out all of the tilework. Hopefully, it also makes the space feel a bit bigger then it really is."
She adds, "I love pattern and color, and typically look to textiles for inspiration in my design projects. But the stripes here are a completely custom design that we came up with during our design process."
She adds, "I love pattern and color, and typically look to textiles for inspiration in my design projects. But the stripes here are a completely custom design that we came up with during our design process."
Take inspiration from fashion. "I was inspired by my client's clothing," says Alfonso DiLauro of Special FX. "She's a very chic businesswoman who dresses in perfect-fitting outfits, and I felt that it made sense to transfer her personal style into her bedroom."
He explains that "the walls are painted in a Benjamin Moore historical color, and then I used a latex metallic silver paint to create a transparent stripe by dragging it with a brush. I find that using stripes in any space adds height and crispness to the finished product."
He explains that "the walls are painted in a Benjamin Moore historical color, and then I used a latex metallic silver paint to create a transparent stripe by dragging it with a brush. I find that using stripes in any space adds height and crispness to the finished product."
Give a girl her dream room. "For this pink-loving little girl we wanted to surprise her with not just one but two shades of her favorite color," says Shoshana Gosselin of Designs by Shoshana. "We chose to do larger 20-inch stripes so the walls wouldn't feel too busy."
Add the illusion of space. This is another project by Shoshana Gosselin. "With small spaces everything you do needs to be thoughtful," she says. "From the first moment I stepped into this tiny kitchen, I knew that back area needed to have a wall treatment that tricked the eye into thinking it was bigger. I chose horizontal stripes because the direction pushes the walls outward and makes them feel longer."
Take a cue from nature. "From watching the movies Finding Nemo, Shark Tales, and The Reef to chatting about sand and surf in the days leading up to their first beach vacation, my kids have always been infatuated with all things ocean related," says Erika Ward of Erika Ward Interiors.
"When you're decorating on a tight budget, paint gives you the most impact for your decorating dollar," she says. "Painting stripes is an added bonus because it eliminates the need for wall decor but at the same time gives the space interest. And the horizontal stripes make a room appear wider and more expansive."
The three colors here are by Sherwin-Williams: Ebbtide, Jetstream and Marquis Orange.
"When you're decorating on a tight budget, paint gives you the most impact for your decorating dollar," she says. "Painting stripes is an added bonus because it eliminates the need for wall decor but at the same time gives the space interest. And the horizontal stripes make a room appear wider and more expansive."
The three colors here are by Sherwin-Williams: Ebbtide, Jetstream and Marquis Orange.
Go for a tailored look. "This bathroom was inspired by boutique hotels I've seen in California and Europe," says Kerrie Kelly of Kerrie Kelly Design Lab. "The tailored wall covering in soft gray and white gives the room a French feel while setting the backdrop for a Jonathan Adler mirror and Restoration Hardware vanity. Overall the design gives a nod to the past while incorporating modern styling and functionality."
Add visual interest. "This room was designed for a 3-year-old boy," says Petra Scroggins of Inview Interior Design. "The stripes are composed of three different colors of blue and were meant to make his room more interesting and obviously to add more color to the space."
Expect the unexpected. "The inspiration for the stripe effect in this room was a total accident," says Jessica Pakzad Bennett of Jessica Bennett Interiors. "I was laying out four colors for the client to decide if we wanted to do alternating stripes in light and dark blue, or light and dark green. But when I saw them all on one page, I loved the idea of doing all four colors, especially because they referenced the colors of the bedding I wanted to use. The client loved it too, and ta-da!"
Satisfy your obsession. "For this nursery I was inspired by an image of a dining room I saw in Elle Decor," says Melanie Morris of Feathered Nest Interiors. "The stripes are gray and brown and large in width. I feel that they help enlarge a smaller room, and the wide width seemed to be more fun and youthful. I am also obsessed with stripes."
Complement the architecture. "I am a huge fan of overscaled stripes. They're even on my business cards," says Shelly Amoroso of Amoroso Design. "The stripes were perfect for this 1920s Spanish-style house, since they bring in a Moorish, Moroccan feel that's often seen in Spanish architecture."
She adds, "In this case the scale of the stripe is larger, at 8 inches. The technique is pretty simple — OK, simple for someone who knows what they're doing. Paint the entire wall the lighter of two colors, use a laser to tape off lines and then fill in the lines with the darker color."
She adds, "In this case the scale of the stripe is larger, at 8 inches. The technique is pretty simple — OK, simple for someone who knows what they're doing. Paint the entire wall the lighter of two colors, use a laser to tape off lines and then fill in the lines with the darker color."
Borrow from the best. Clare Donohue of 1 2 1 Studio tells it like it is. "I admit that I stole the idea outright. I had the steel bed and rug already, and when I moved into a very art deco building I was thinking I'd do gray walls but wanted a little something extra. Just in time I saw a room Thom Filicia had designed for a show house. He had actually nailed up batten for his stripes, but I painstakingly taped mine off."
Accentuate existing elements. "To be honest, my inspiration for this playroom isn’t anything very exciting," admits Tracy Lynn of Style On a Shoestring. "I was confined by the fact that the existing flooring had blue in it and decided to run with it and pull in the blue stripes."
She explains that "the client’s home design was of a coastal vibe, so the blue in this room didn’t feel too different from the rest of the house. Still, the kids own the space without being in your face, if you know what I mean."
More:
DIY Secret: How to Paint Stripes Right
Get in Line With Striped Bedrooms
She explains that "the client’s home design was of a coastal vibe, so the blue in this room didn’t feel too different from the rest of the house. Still, the kids own the space without being in your face, if you know what I mean."
More:
DIY Secret: How to Paint Stripes Right
Get in Line With Striped Bedrooms
They started with a favorite neutral, Benjamin Moore's Texas Leather, and "found other colors that played off of it," Davis says. "Although we've been told it looks like a boy's room, I think the colors are pretty gender neutral."