Morning, forgive the late one my body won’t let me get up yet at the normal 5 o clock, although it had no trouble doing so in NYC every morning I pretty much woke at 1.30 am, so we are a little messed up to say the least!
I get asked alot if you can use dark colours in isolation in a space, by that I mean the odd room, the odd wall, I think there is a worry of a space feeling disconnected in some way if it all doesn’t blend. Fear not, you absolutely don’t have to go all out and convert to the dark side, one wall, one room, two rooms, or the whole shebang it all works. The most important tip is to follow your inner voice, ignore friends, family or who ever else throws seeds of doubt in your way and follow your heart. AND yes you can go dark in hot countries, cold countries, luke warm countries it all works. Take Adam Levine’s pad in LA (he being the front man of the band Maroon 5). Some rooms are dark, some rooms are light and it all kind of works. Think no rules, no wrongs and no rights.
More than anything else you need confidence and the ability should it go wrong to get back on the tracks. I make mistakes, all the time I make mistakes but the thing about mistakes is you learn from them, you get yourself up, dust yourself off and you don’t give up. One life (wish there was more) but one life we have, and by hook or by crook we have to make it the best we possibly can, by taking risks, making some tough decisions, failing, but also learning. Am I sounding like a therapist this morning – its jet lag apologises!
Mr Levine’s pad below:
Loving the feature dark wall, see how beautifully it sets everything off.
Cool bedroom, not totally convinced on the choice of bed linen with the dark wood but you know what you’re Adam Levine you can do whatever you so wish, I won’t say a thing promise.
I should probably be talking here about how pattern totally brings the space alive, and the interesting play of textures except you know what who cares. To darn cool for school Mr Levine!
Happy Wednesday
Hi Abigail
Do glad your back,the best thing in a morning coffee and your blog then I start my day,just a quick question can you paint or stain laminate flooring,it was down when I moved in but I want dark grey floors.(have to have)
You can’t really, I have in the past and it doesn’t really adhere to the surface very well. Maybe with a rug on top so it wouldn’t wear to much but its a tricky one as the surface of laminate is quite shinny for the paint to adhere.
A very timely post! have been quizzed by husband ,builder, painter ,children ,the entire world it seems about going to the dark side! Have had to really hold my nerve and as you say ,follow my heart. Thanks for the never ending encouragement
You will love it I promise
welcome back we have missed you, my morning cup tea not the same without your blog to read!!!, as for adam levine pad loving the dark walls but not the rest ummm just looks like a decorator has been in and just left, leaving me a bit cold hate to say
Thank you and I know what you mean it has been decorated to perfection leaving it exactly as you say a little cold
I don’t know, but I would like that my rooms to be more colorful. If they are dark, seems monotonous. My rooms are all colored in bright colors.
There is no right or no wrong if bright colours work for you go with it, for me they don’t but colour is a personal thing, and the best advice I can give is totally and utterly go with what you love and ignore what anyone else says, including me!
Glad you’re back. Try taking vit C and eating a jacket potato before bed. Something to do with blood sugar levels but it works for me. Just wanted to say that today, thanks to your encouragement, we took the big move forward in going dark in our bedroom. Not there yet but the edges are all cut in and it looks amazing. Thanks for bolstering our courage to break the mould with a non traditional beach house. Looking forward to seeing you in Sydney in October.
See you in Sydney in October and you will love you the new look of your beach house, promise
Are you still thinking about doing ‘the dark side’ section on your blog. I can’t wait that’s going to be so awesome.
We are apologises that it still isn’t up its been so crazy busy its been a little bit neglected. Will get back on the case
what about painting just the chimney breast in a dark colour to show off a painting? It’s a large room (open plan dining/living) and I may at some point paint the entire wall a darker colour than the others but after a quick fix at the moment.
Will totally work and look fabulous, do it I say!
Hi Abigail, I love these thoughts on going to the dark side as your blog has so inspired me to do, but the one thing I’d like to know your thoughts on is- low ceilings! I live in a small cottage and as much as I want to go to the dark side I worry that it’ll feel like going in to a hobbit’s cave! I know i’ll just have to take the plunge and just go for it at some stage, as you say, but Id love to know where you stand on this one.
X
With low ceilings painting it out the same colour is even more transformative and important I would say. I have a low ceiling in the basement and it doesn’t feel cave like it feels grandeur and way cooler than it really is. Go for it once you’ve done one ceiling you will do all the others just as I did
Thanks Abigail! I feel much better now knowing I wont wake up in a hobbits house! Hope you’re not too wrecked from lack of sleep today! x
Hi Abigail- I’m a big fan of your work and I see you posted Adam Levine’s bedroom, which features one of our patchwork cowhide rugs in chocolate brown. Just wanted to let you know about our brand Pure Rugs! Keep up the great posts! Meredith
Beautiful beautiful rugs just looked at you site and the selection is fabulous am loving the Oak cowhide very cool indeed as are all the others. Thanks for letting me know about your brand its now totally on my radar
Thank you Abigail! Let us know if we can help you with a rug! We ship worldwide
Have a great day!
Cool thanks