COLOR ME HAPPY: NICK OLSEN'S DESIGNER ROOM AT LEE JOFA

 

The other day when I was running around the D and D Building working on a project, I entered the Lee Jofa showroom to find the front room transformed. My friend and brilliant colorist designer Nick Olsen had his way with the designer room, creating an energized pink and green bedroom. Complete with pink and white striped walls, mirrored lattice walls flanking the fireplace, a green satin tufted headboard and seating area, and captivating modern art provided by the Spanierman Gallery, the room was move-in ready. With Miles Redd as a mentor, it's no surprise Olsen knows his way around color, and probably has never met a color he didn't like. Everything he creates I love.  His work has graced the cover of Domino, the pages of Veranda, and he's been quoted in the Wall Street Journal. He's just got it.

 

One of my all-time favorite tree of life prints by Lee Jofa has been recolored in bold hues. The printed loveseat at the foot of the bed balances out the striped walls and glam solid green headboard. To add to the walls, turquoise vases sit on simple brackets surround a gilt wood starburst miror.

The mantel, with classical and modern accessories.  Check out the crenelated detail he used to lead the eye up to create an additional architecture  element below the molding. So chic. Olsen and the other talented designers of his generation know how to use modern art to take a traditional space to a completely new place-- one of excitement that harnesses a certain energy in it's juxtaposition.

 To create the illusion of additional space, he mirrored and latticed swaths of wall surrounding the fireplace to enforce symmetry, then put ball topiaries in front to add a natural element. Chic little benches in teal leather provide an additional perch.

A suzani print with a geometric border on an English chair provides an additional cozy spot by a round topped table with a va va voom hot pink tufted barrel chair on the other side.

 Swirly ceramic Lamps from Beeline Home by Bunny Williams add a nice irregular pattern against the strong linear stripe on the walls.

Using a chest as a night stand is a nice way to create a good mix of pieces.

 A diminutive glass-topped coffee table has accessories chosen for their color palette as well as providing a good read and a place to put things.

 

A chinoiserie lamp and decorative accessories chosen for their color and texture.

I am in the process of getting the names of the fabrics used, so stay tuned...

If you need to reach Olsen, who is also a blogger with a wonderful and wicked sense of humor, here you go!