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Home for the Holidays with Leanna S. Farrell
Reprinted from Spaces Magazine, January/February 2007 issue
Story by Erica K. Daniels
Photos by Brian Abrahamson
As you begin to transition your home from everyday to holiday, don't
overlook one important room: the guest bedroom.
Making guest bedrooms more welcoming for holiday visitors involves one
simple tip: avoid clutter. While you may be tempted to spruce up the room
with keepsakes and treasures of the season, a minimalist approach to decor
will actually speak volumes.
"One fabulous thing on the wall can say a lot," notes Leanna Farrell,
interior designer for Porter Baxter Interior Design. "You don't want to
overwhelm the room with Christmas decor that your guests will have to
navigate around. So, edit your decor. Just have a few pieces as focal
points in the room."
When creating a Christmas mood for the guest bedroom of a client,
Farrell focuses on using color to convey the spirit without breaking
continuity.
"Color is very important. Whether it's red, green, gold...you need to
find something that ties in with the colors if the room." For one
particular Lansing Island guest bedroom, Farrell chose red as the color of
the season. The everyday design was transformed from a subdued cream and
black scheme by adding crimson accents.
A few well-placed touches enliven the room--a fuzzy rug on the floor; a
cozy throw on the bed; a garland wrapped in ribbon and adorned with
starfish on the headboard; a vintage cranberry pitcher and glass on the
nightstand; and a wreath hung from the window treatment.
Keeping guest bedrooms uncluttered requires a controlled approach to
decorating. And because space is often an issue, homeowners need to be
especially mindful of their guests' comfort within the parameters of the
room.
From the cover, designer Leanna Farrell went on a quest for this
customer to find something unusual. The double mahogany doors with
elliptical glass insets create an eclectic look. For the holiday design,
Farrell chose bring red bows, greenery and large red and gold balls to
"pop" against the neutral exterior. Three large bows accent the entryway,
and a large wreath incorporating the same colors hangs above the front
door of the home.
Leanna brought in color to the porch's dark color scheme by using
bright red bows and greenery with large red and gold balls. A matching
wreath hangs above the door and greenery wraps around the home's four
stately columns and banister. Two small potted plants display a large red
bow.
The color scheme helped the decor to "pop" and be seen from the street.
The wreath is a mainstay in Southern holiday decor. It can be a
masterpiece made of traditional and personal items, depending on the
theme. If a large wreath is used in the doorway, smaller matching wreaths
can be placed in nearby windows.
Leanna S. Farrell of Porter Baxter Interior Design in Melbourne can be
reached via phone at 321-724-4777 or by visiting the studio at 404 S.
Babcock Street, Melbourne, FL 32901.
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