The Richness of Red

by Amitha Verma Interior Design, www.amithaverma.com

I just completed a powder room for one of my Houston interior design clients that turned out so lovely. The concept was richness, luxury and elegance. The couple I was working with love bold colors, but in moderation, so we designed the room around a single eye-catching element – the countertop. It’s made of a material called Vulcan Red Onyx – it even sounds sexy, doesn’t it? The color was this deep rich magenta highlighted with these gorgeous red tones

Amitha Verma Interior Design

The counter set the tone for the rest of the décor. I designed a palette of rich golds and pale creamy tones to complement the red, and had a custom Louis XV-inspired cabinet made especially for the room. The hardware was so much fun to select – we were like kids in a candy store! Eventually we settled on this beautiful mismatched antique brass hardware with a natural patina.

Amitha Verma Interior Design

We decided to wainscot the wall to get in a little more stonework and used this amazing border from Walker Zanger with our vulcan red onyx tones and deep gray coloring. It was so decadent, it really fit in with our overall look. On the walls we worked with Segreto Finishes to apply venetian plaster, and this ever-so-slight motif was sprinkled on top of the plaster. Finally, I picked a really subtle Rose Tarlow print for the small window covering, something that would blend in rather than detract from the dramatic red. And here’s the finished effect!

Amitha Verma Interior Design

Posted in Uncategorized, Wallcovering, bathroom, custom furniture, faux paint, light fixtures, mirrors, tiles, window treatments | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Something New, Something Old, Something French, Something Gold

by Amitha Verma Interior Design, www.amithaverma.com

In the course of my work, I find I go through phases. Some months, I find myself drawn to lots of bright fabrics and accessories – oranges and purples and pinks. Other times, I go through a phase of wanting to create very neutral spaces, in white, stone and ivory. These days, I have a new love: GOLD.

Bold and luxurious and almost indecently decadent, gold has a real wow factor to it when used in interiors. We’re not talking tacky glittery gold here, but gorgeous textured gold surfaces, dull gold finishes, and soft gold prints. It’s just a little bit showy but still oh-so-elegant…

(Source: Eclectic Revisited)

The foyer above is an extreme example of the use of gold, but I still love how the textured gold walls look, especially with the mirrored console. Such richness and depth! For my Houston interior design clients though, I tend to create more subtle gold tones, like in this kitchen I worked on last year. The stone in the kitchen backsplash had a lovely gold hue. See how the overall look is very ‘gold’ though the surfaces are mostly a warm cream color, and the extra glow is created with clever lighting?

Amitha Verma Designs

The wonderful thing about gold is how luxurious it looks. I adore using gold in the bedroom, for a truly ‘Parisian boudoir’ feel. Wouldn’t this bed heaped with gold cushions just make any girl feel like a queen?

(Source: French Interiors)

I often find that a subtly decorated space is instantly glamorized by the addition of touches of gold. This powder room I designed for a client was mostly decorated in shades of gray and blue, but the addition of a gold carved antique mirror really added a touch of style, I felt. I really love how the gold is echoed in the sheeny scrollwork of the faux finish on the walls too, and in the accents of the moldings on the vanity!

Amitha Verma Designs

In fact, gold mirrors and gold chandeliers are perfect accessories for just about any space – brightening up a foyer, finishing off a formal drawing room, even adding a touch of decadence to a bathroom. What do you think?

(Source: Veranda)

Posted in Wallcovering, antiques, bedroom, chairs/sofas, faux paint, foyer, kitchen, light fixtures, mirrors, tiles | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment