It’s takes a lot to wow me on a morning when I’m coughing up a lung and still haven’t had any coffee, even though it’s almost 9am. Still, it can be done. But let us not mince words. Let us instead look upon some rooms that have the wow factor I found a little lacking in my mockup of Ike’s room. And let us not make comparisons between me and Simon Cowell. I would hate to think that this blog is devolving into the American Idol of interior decor… or maybe that would be awesome? America — you be the judge!
So what can we ascertain about the wow factor from these pictures?
#1. It looks expensive, because it often (but not necessarily) is.
#2. Scale is an issue — bigger is better in terms of creating a focal point.
#3. It could be paint, wallpaper, lighting, textiles, a giant head shaped sofa, you know — whatever. But it’s the hook that compels you to look at the rest of the room.
Now my background is in art, not interior design, so someone will probably come along and tell me what an ignorant douche I am.
No biggie.
But I would like to know what your favorite means for creating a visual hook is.
Tell mama.
[too sick and lazy to link -- go to my pinterest for sources]
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Oh jeeez, it depends on the room. Room number 2 makes me do a happy jig, so maybe its wallpaper.
Great lighting ‘fo sho. A bit of pattern somewhere- be it the rug, or fabrics or art.
For Ike’s room I would think art, because it’s low commitment. And a kick ass big boy bed.
I vote for unique pieces on a grand scale. That head sofa on that carpet with that lucite bed…are you kidding me?
These are extraordinary. I especially need that pink velvet living room furniture.
I’m not sure I have the budget or the good sense to design rooms for impact in this way. When it all comes together, it’s because I got lucky, or my tastes happen to coincide with themselves well enough to create the impression of coherence at some point in time. So insofar as this happens for me, if there’s a (little baby) wow factor in a room (in my eyes when I look at it), it’s because I had the good sense to buy something I really loved. So in my living room, I have a collection of Eastern religious icons on the mantle. Both my husband and I love them, so we would buy them, and people would give them to us as gifts. They were collecting dust, and other people had design-y stuff on their mantels and I had stacks of unread mail, and I got the icons out of various boxes and the favorite part of my house was born. For me, the key is that it has to be not fashionable or trendy, but beloved. Then the money isn’t wasted and I will love it always and forever.
FOUR TIMES yesterday I sent links to affordable wallpaper that’s less out-there than the fascinating print you showed me, and WordPress ate them (and then started saying they were duplicate comments! The evil!). So today I am just sending this, with no explanation:
http://totalwallcovering.com/p32848/Earth-Galaxy-Wall-Mural.aspx?cid=35
I type too fast. Not “showed me.” “Posted” – showed everyone. Sigh.
It has to start with something that gives your heart contractions and makes you lose sleep at night because you can’t stop thinking about it. Then the rest of the stuff just pays homage to that. For me it’s usually color or fabric. Or wallpaper. Or an amazing vintage piece…Or a fab rug…… or…..
I sort of think that the ‘wow’-ness of a space is dependent upon your own personal expectations, and how far the actual visuals take you from that expectation. Drama. Contrast – whether it be scale (big with big, or big with small), texture (rough v fine), light (v dark) – can inform your personal reaction to a space. (However, all of this is theory since I have yet to achieve anything ‘wow’-ie in my own home.) Maybe you need something unexpected in Ike’s room – that hot air balloon light created an unexpected darkness and sculptural quality in an otherwise light, smooth ceiling… and the olden times rug paired with modern nursery furniture created some contrast… and the drummer boy painting was unexpected, and decidedly not child-like. I’m sure something will hit you, you’ll see it and you’ll know. But, sometimes, you have to see everything else first. Good luck, mama. (Oh, and here’s a song for you to listen to whilst you ponder your design decisions: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1iMrpkusato&feature=related )
For me the WOW factor has to go to Room 1! I love the grandeur of the room offset by the vibrant purple (almost Royal)…definitely furniture coupled with colour for a visual hook!