A DIYer has given her dark landing a gorgeous pink makeover

The article explores the re-emergence of pink as a sophisticated and versatile color in home design, moving beyond its traditional association with baby girls' rooms. While often dismissed in home decor, shades of pink have historically cycled through various decades, frequently paired with colors like gray, chocolate, navy, and preppy jade green. For the past three years, pink has been noticeably re-emerging in European design, particularly in its beige-y blush variant, appearing in upholstery, cabinetry, and housewares like whisks and salad utensil sets. Variant shades such as petal, carnation, and deeper rose are increasingly integrated into fabrics and cabinetry. Additionally, attractive mixable metals like rosy copper and pink-toned glass or quartz are featuring in lighting, tabletop items, and accessories. Ann Haagenson, divisional merchandise manager for Anthropologie, notes that while pink has taken time to transition into living rooms and master bedrooms, blush or 'biche' (fawn in French) is considered a highly flattering color for the home. She explains that it enhances the appearance of people and objects, and is a neutral color, second only to cream, making it easy to incorporate into new designs or existing decor. Anthropologie itself offers bedding, lighting, and votive holders in this color. Stacey Senior, marketing director for fabric/wallpaper manufacturer Thibaut, emphasizes that blush pink/quartz can impart a refined, sophisticated, and pretty mood to a room, complementing brassy gold and sharp white tones. Integrating pink can be done easily with accessories like throw pillows or picture frames, or on a larger scale with pink wallpaper or rugs. The addition of gilt can give pink a luxurious quality, as seen in Thibaut's Marlow damask pattern from its Serenade collection, which offers an elegant wallcovering that feels fresh, especially when paired with blooms and raw quartz or coral decor accessories. Designers at Koket, a New York-based furniture company, chose a rose quartz shade for their Besame chair, describing the hue as calming and welcoming for its ability to create a relaxing and lighthearted ambiance. Designer Tobi Fairley uses pink in her Ellison table for Woodbridge, featuring a gold leaf border, and praises blush as a 'barely-there pastel' with a taupe tone, often mixing it with navy or citron to balance its sweetness. Fairley has also applied blush leather to sleek chairs and benches for CR Laine. Both Fairley and the Kate Spade brand advocate pairing pink with bright, almost Kelly green. Haagenson suggests that a taupe-y pink combines well with warmer neutrals like camel, nubuck, and orange, while cooler pinks are best paired with magenta, gray, and navy. She provides practical tips for integrating pink into home decor: accessorizing with small-scale linen pillows for sofas or beds, incorporating vintage blush pink/stripe dinnerware on tabletops, and making a bold statement with large-scale pieces like an upholstered sofa in blush pink leather, which can be both soft and hard, and a captivating centerpiece for guests. #HomeDesign #InteriorDecor #ColorTrends #BlushPink #DesignTips #FurnitureDesign #TextileDesign #HomeAccessories

The article highlights 'Le Refuge,' an oversized lounger designed by Marc Ange, which was prominently featured at Wallpaper's annual Handmade exhibition during Salone del Mobile. This piece of design furniture became the most Instagrammed project of the event, distinguishing itself with a candy-pink palette and an immersive outdoor installation. It offered attendees a much-needed respite from the sun and a playful contrast to the often-serious atmosphere of the furniture fair. The article emphasizes the artistic and conceptual depth of 'Le Refuge,' portraying it not just as a functional object but as a 'shelter under the sun, away from reality,' rooted in the designer's childhood memories. Marc Ange, the designer behind 'Le Refuge,' is introduced as a Rome-born, Paris- and LA-based professional with a background in car design. He is the founder of Bloom Room, a creative agency specializing in 'extraordinary design' across various fields, including interiors, furniture, brand identity, and automotive projects. This multidisciplinary background likely contributes to the unique and imaginative quality of his work, exemplified by 'Le Refuge.' The project marked Ange's first collaboration with The Invisible Collection, a design retail platform known for offering bespoke pieces to private clients, indicating a significant step in the commercialization and broader reach of his unique design philosophy. The immersive outdoor installation surrounding 'Le Refuge' was created by The Green Gallery, an online magazine that focuses on promoting plants and flowers as sources of inspiration for art and design. This collaboration underscores the project's connection to nature and its aim to create a transformative experience for visitors. A lush tunnel of exotic greenery served as a metaphorical gateway, transitioning guests from the ordinary world into Ange's fantastical design realm, enhancing the escapist quality of 'Le Refuge.' 'Le Refuge' consists of a cushioned bed complemented by a parasol crafted from stylized palm leaves, all presented in a vibrant pink hue. This combination of comfort, whimsical aesthetics, and functional design made it a standout piece at Salone del Mobile. The article suggests that the project's success was not only due to its visual appeal but also its ability to evoke feelings of comfort, peace, and nostalgia, resonating with a desire for escapism and childlike wonder amidst the bustling design event. The piece was originally featured in the July 2017 issue of Wallpaper* (W*220), cementing its status as a notable design creation. For those interested in acquiring 'Le Refuge,' the article provides information on its availability through The Invisible Collection website and the Bloom Room Studio website. This detail ensures that readers can connect with the sources for custom orders, highlighting the bespoke nature of the design and its target audience of private clients. The ongoing availability reflects the enduring appeal and custom craftsmanship associated with Marc Ange's work and The Invisible Collection's offerings, making the piece a lasting symbol of creative and imaginative design. #MarcAnge #LeRefuge #SaloneDelMobile #DesignExhibition #FurnitureDesign #TheInvisibleCollection #BloomRoomStudio #TheGreenGallery #MilanDesignWeek #DesignEvent

The article details a DIY home improvement project focused on transforming a long, dark hallway in a prewar apartment into a brighter and more functional space. The hallway, measuring 38 feet, originally served as a cluttered area with poor lighting and lacked aesthetic appeal, creating a negative first impression of the home. The initial lighting consisted of a single hanging fixture near the front door and a randomly placed wall sconce, both deemed inadequate and unsightly. The homeowners sought to improve both the functionality and the visual appeal of this significant, yet underutilized, area. They considered various lighting options, including track lighting, but ultimately decided against it due to a preference for an industrial aesthetic that felt less refined and more timeless. This decision was influenced by previous successful DIY projects, such as a kitchen renovation, which also incorporated an industrial style. Inspiration for the new lighting came unexpectedly when the author's father salvaged four industrial lights from a demolished building in Las Vegas. These lights, though old and in need of rewiring, were embraced for their authentic industrial character, contrasting with commercially available 'industrial chic' options. Despite their considerable size—18 inches across and 19 inches tall, originally designed for 15-foot ceilings—the author envisioned them working in the apartment, albeit with some modifications. The first step in customizing these salvaged fixtures was to spray paint their cool aluminum shells with a metallic goldish-green color called “Rosemary,” aiming to introduce warmth into the industrial design. This process was done in a suburban backyard, allowing for ample space and proper ventilation. The painting transformed the lights, giving them a refreshed appearance while retaining their original character. The installation process, largely handled by the author's father who is an experienced handyman, involved several technical steps. Since the hallway previously lacked overhead lighting beyond the entryway, new mounting points were established. Outlet boxes and box covers were used to securely attach the heavy light fixtures to the ceiling. To ensure even illumination and visual balance along the long hallway, the lights were strategically spaced approximately every eight feet. Three of the four salvaged lights were ultimately used, as incorporating all four would have made the ceiling appear too crowded. A key aspect of the installation involved wiring the three new lights to a single switch, specifically the existing one by the front door. Instead of hardwiring, which would have necessitated extensive electrical work and patching, a more pragmatic solution was devised. The end of the wire connecting the new lights was fitted with a plug. This plug was then inserted into a socket plug adapter, which was screwed into the socket of the old light fixture at the entryway, effectively converting the old fixture's power source into an outlet for the new pendant lights. The decorative glass globe of the old fixture was removed to accommodate this modification. Additionally, the old light switch was replaced with a dimmer switch, offering adjustable lighting control and further enhancing the hallway's ambiance. The article emphasizes that tasks such as wiring and installing dimmer switches should be handled by a professional electrician or an experienced individual if one lacks the necessary expertise. The thick black cable connecting the lights was intentionally left exposed and slightly slack, contributing to the desired casual, industrial aesthetic rather than being concealed with plastic wiremold. The finished installation resulted in aesthetically pleasing and functional lighting, significantly brightening the once-dark hallway. However, the newfound brightness also highlighted other areas needing attention, such as painting, indicating ongoing renovation plans. #DIY #HomeImprovement #HallwayRenovation #IndustrialLighting #InteriorDesign #LightingInstallation #PrewarApartment #SalvagedMaterials #NYCRealEstate

Homeowner Taylor Greeley successfully transformed her “dated” beige bathroom into a bright, airy space using affordable paint kits, spending less than $100 on the main materials. The bathroom, which was previously a standard beige rental-grade space from 2008, suffered from poor lighting due to a large tree outside the window and was cluttered by an oversized vanity. Despite the challenges, Greeley aimed to create a serene and clean aesthetic with white walls and a light-colored vanity. The renovation began with painting the existing vanity cabinet using Rust-Oleum Cabinet Transformations Kit in White. This kit, priced around $70, allowed her to achieve a fresh, bright look without replacing the entire unit. She also replaced the outdated vanity knobs with clear ones from Amazon for $15, adding a touch of modern elegance. The original beige countertop was resurfaced using a Rust-Oleum Countertop Coating kit in white, costing about $25. This application required two coats of primer, two coats of the coating, and a topcoat, significantly brightening the space. For the walls, Greeley chose “Whisper White” paint from Behr, which she described as a slightly warm white. The entire project, including paint and hardware, cost under $100. The total time spent on the renovation was approximately five days, spread out due to the drying times required for the various paint applications. Despite the time commitment, Greeley found the process manageable and rewarding. Several minor updates further enhanced the bathroom's new look. Greeley purchased a new tension rod and shower curtain from Target for $18, which complemented the updated aesthetic. She also added decorative elements such as a small white basket from Target, a clear apothecary jar, and a small plant, contributing to the airy and clean feel of the room. A hand towel from Target and a small woven rug from Amazon completed the decor. The final result was a bathroom that felt significantly larger and more inviting, moving away from its original dark and cramped appearance. Greeley emphasized the importance of minor, affordable updates in achieving a major visual impact, especially for those on a budget or in rental properties where extensive renovations are not feasible. Her project serves as an example of how strategic use of paint and small decorative changes can dramatically improve a living space. #BathroomRenovation #DIYHomeDecor #AffordableMakeover #PaintKits #HomeImprovement #InteriorDesign #BudgetFriendly #RentalFriendly