When envisioning how I wanted to style the dark grey sitting room in my master bedroom, I knew I wanted it to be a truly relaxing refuge.  Being it’s an extension of an already tranquil room, I wanted to create a space that welcomed cozy nights to watch movies by the fire, and slow mornings to sip on coffee cuddled up with a book or magazine.  

My bedroom (as seen here, here and here) dons a warm, dark grey on the walls and ceiling.  This color has an obvious dramatic effect on the room (because when have you known me to shy away from bold design?), but a dark grey room is also incredibly calming.  Word to the wise, though… it’s hard to pick the perfect paint shade of grey, so be sure to test out a few swatches near and away from the light.  Light matters a LOT with grey paint as it has a tendency to pick up and reflect color, tones and hues.  Try to think of grey in two different families; warm and cool.  Warm grey will sometimes appear green while cool grey can seem sometimes blueish.  Always keep that in mind when choosing your perfect grey.  

For the accompanying decor, I wanted to highlight the juxtaposition of dark and light while still embracing that calm feeling.  By choosing classic light linens, warm ivories, lacquered whites and bright gold, as well as a tiny pop of red (because every space needs that a pop of red!), I feel I accomplished just that. I kept the drama alive with these statement armchairs which are are surprisingly incredibly comfortable.  Pull over my all-time favorite furniture staple, x-benches, and I promise you’ll quickly find yourself embraced in a bear hug and perched up in one of them in no time. The white and gold coffee table (similar here) houses all of my current reads, and always shines with a few fresh blooms.  And of course what room of mine would be complete without a bar cart?  I snagged this black bamboo gem from Pottery Barn and it’s the perfect size for the space.

Our sitting room is full of drama, but still so cozy and incredibly inviting…something that was important to the Mr. and me. I couldn’t be more thrilled with the result, and find myself sneaking up to the room to unwind with a glass of wine earlier and earlier these days. Truly, MKR

Late last year I was asked by one of my favorite designers, Julianne Taylor, to participate in a little “X Bench Style It Challenge.”  The rules were simple; 5 bloggers/designers would customize her most popular TBH X Bench and style it in any room, and in any way they see fit.  The customized X Benches and room reveals would then go up on One Kings Lane’s site for two weeks where individuals would be able to see how each blogger/designer styled the bench in their home and could buy one (or two or three) of the benches for themselves.  And at the end of the two weeks a winner would be crowned and awarded a Room Refresh courtesy of TBH and OKL.  So now that you know the rules, let me tell you a little bit more about my X Benches. 

When it came to designing my benches I’m not one to really play it safe so I knew I wanted to do something a bit more on the bold side.  I had been eyeing Cotton & Quill’s foo dog fabric for some time now, and if you’ve ever seen a peek into my home you’d know I have a thing for foo dogs and anything blue.  While it may seem like a somewhat wilder choice in fabrics, don’t let a print ever scare you.  Mixing prints and patterns is one of my absolute favorite ways to decorate.  When done right it adds interest and a personal touch to any room, and if you’re scared of mixing it up just follow my golden rule; mix within the same color family.  And just remember these benches will be a staple in your home for years to come but that doesn’t mean you have to live with your fabric choice forever.  You can always have them re-upholstered and let them evolve with you and your decorating choices.

Another reason I adore benches in general is because of how versatile they are.  A good bench can be used as an extra seat, a foot rest, or an end table and these benches in particular are the absolute perfect size.  Not too big, not too small.  In fact I’ve moved them into several different spaces within my home and while you see them styled here in my living room I think they may end up actually living in the entry way.  How perfect would they be for a seat to throw on your heels before going out or to drop your bag and everything else you need on a daily basis?  Who knows though, that’s why I love decorating, it’s always changing.  

So tell me, are you feeling our bold benches?  Happy Friday Loves!  Truly, MKR

Photography, Rustic White