One room, two looks - Brief Article

Sunset, August, 2000 by Ann Bertelsen

Revamp a room with quick-change artistry

Almost in the blink of an eye, interior designer Nikki Parr reworks the decor of her bedroom for new effect. For much of the year, the room maintains an atmosphere of richness and warmth thanks to the kilim-covered head board and bed frame (see photo above). But every so often, Parr changes the look and feel of the room with a different set of bed linens, artwork, and accessories.

"Change is uplifting; it makes you see a room in a different way," Parr says. "Rooms can become static over time, so it's good to give them a decorative makeover every so often." The designer retains the same basic furniture--including headboard and side tables--but brings in smaller pieces, such as footstools, benches, and artwork, from other parts of her house. "The same piece can assume new importance in a different location," she says.

For example, Parr's antique bench usually resides in a hallway, but it's equally at home at the foot of her bed. A Turkish saddlebag makes a great hanging above her kilim headboard, but when Parr wants a lighter and brighter look, she covers the headboard and replaces the saddlebag with contemporary artwork. "It's all about re-evaluating your art and accessories," she says. "There's no rule of thumb that dictates one style over another. It's a lot of fun to create different environments."

DESIGN: Nikki Parr, ASID, Stephen Miller Gallery, Menlo Park, CA (888/566-8833)

Easy makeover tips

* To convey a rich, warm, and cozy look, use heavily textured fabrics like kilims, woven woolens, and tapestries, and dark, fiery colors like reds and oranges. Add dense, complex patterns--in an area rug, for instance.

* To achieve a soft, romantic effect, use smoother, lighter-colored fabrics with looser patterns. Floral motifs and a fresh, light palette will also contribute.

* Experiment with accessories such as pillows, vases, boxes, and artwork. They can rejuvenate a space by changing the overall character of a room.

* Dark woods like mahogany, cherry, and oak work well in a traditional or rustic setting. Note how the matchstick blinds blend with the dark-colored furnishings to create a pleasing balance in the room (see the photos above).

* Rotate your wall art throughout the year, using dark pieces to underline warmth and bright pictures for a lighter ambience. The artwork can look surprisingly different in a new location.

* Warm and bold

The dramatic red kilim headboard and bed frame set a vibrant tone for the room, reinforced by the red side-table skirts and the lively area rug. Parr added a Turkish saddlebag, kilim pillows, and a footstool, upholstered in a kilim remnant, to complete the setting. With such striking patterns in the headboard, pillows, and rug, it became important to keep the bedspread as simple as possible; hence the pale covering.

* Cool and soft

A sage-colored sheet (which covers the kilim-patterned headboard) unites with table skirts of a similar hue for a light and airy look. Other elements contributing to the soft and romantic room are the floral bedspread that trails to the floor, a floral-design area rug, tapestry pillows, and subtle artwork echoing the colors in the decorative tiles on the window seat. The antique bench at the end of the bed adds a handsome point of interest to the room.