In a relationship each person brings to the partnership their own passions, interests and strengths – and, if you’re lucky that balance and combination makes it work. For the most part, Elizabeth lets me indulge one of my big passions, interior design (in the lay sense). I do get her buy-in during the process, but she mostly defers to me. When it was time to design our family room, I saw an opportunity to incorporate some of her passions, and truly blend design styles. And the result is something I call “Nancy Meyers meets Jane Goodall”. And, it is a love story.
Elizabeth LOVES Africa
She has traveled to Africa three times. After graduating college, she went to Kenya, did safari and climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro. The summer after we met, she had planned a six-week trip to Africa. She volunteered in Tanzania for three weeks with Global Volunteers and then traveled solo for three weeks. Then, ten years later, when we were on the verge of adopting our first daughter, I told her she should go to Africa. Subtext: because you’re not going back for a long time! She went to Ghana for three weeks.
On these trips, she has collected treasures. And for the most part, they were in the basement, which wasn’t great, or fair. Afterall, these are her treasures. They were all very cool – I liked them too, they just didn’t go with Costal Grandma/Nancy Meyers vibe.
The Perfect Room to Blend Styles
The family room, however, was the perfect place to bring in different textures and a more global flavor. With the sofa and chair in the foundational blue color palette, there was going to be plenty of opportunity to use fabric and some of her artifacts to give the room texture and richness. The “Nancy Meyers meets Jane Goodall” project had begun.
Elevated “Global”, Without Going “Boho”
Another way to describe what I was trying to achieve is “Elevated Global” style. But, global can be tricky — there is a point where “global” can cross over into “bohemian” (or ‘Boho”) pretty quickly. I wanted the room to feel elevated and substantial. So, I had to pay special attention to the texture and weight of the fabrics. Anything too light or whimsically colorful was going to pull the room into a style that wouldn’t fit with the rest of the house.
Fabric is key to “Nancy Meyers meets Jane Goodall”
As I was searching for the fabric for the room, I first landed on the different blues as I wrote about in this post. The different blues, both solid and pattern would give me a perfect base to layer in accent fabrics that inspired a more “global” vibe. This would be the perfect backdrop for Elizabeth’s African decor elements and treasures.
Key elements of the “Nancy Meyers meets Jane Goodall” style I was trying to create could be achieved with a mix of fabrics with these characteristics:
Nature-Inspired Fabrics
Elephants are Elizabeth’s favorite animal and when I found a fabric with a gorgeous blue background and a grey-ish Elephant on it that went in the “must-have” pile. On the game table and chairs, I used a blue/cream faux bois, meaning faux wood, fabric.
Color
Global styles use a lot of color. I love a pop of color, but wanted to be restrained about it. When I found the multi-color woven fabric, I was literally so excited. It had the weight I was looking for- wonderful texture in the rough threads, and a rainbow of other colors including pink, yellow, red, green and blue. It would be both a pop of color and a palette to build on.
Animal Prints
Given Elizabeth’s love of Africa, I wanted to incorporate an animal print somewhere. And when I was looking for fabric for these two antique side chairs, I wanted an animal print that could work in both the living room and the family room. I looked at a number of different styles, from more refined crushed velvet to this faded, rough blue and cream zebra print. As I wrote about in this post, I didn’t want it to be too precious. And it’s perfect. One of the chairs is in the living room and the other is in the family room, creating continuity between the two rooms.
Texture
The texture of fabric can convey formality. And I wanted to insure that this room had a more relaxed, comfortable vibe. The modern geometric of the indigo blue cut velvet over a rough jute-type fabric gave it a more casual feel. It has great texture and dimension. Then the blend of all the fabrics adds to the rich texture of the room, creating the perfect canvas for Elizabeth’s treasures.
Mix Patterns
In addition to texture (which can be it’s own pattern), another tricky interior design aspect is combining patterns. There are plenty of opinions, and some design theory on this, including this article from an actual designer. In other areas of the house, I tend to use geometric patterns that become neutral, like in the drapery of the living room and dining room. In the family room, I wanted to use pattern to create that elevated global vibe. Throughout the room, I played with a mix of sizes of patterns (scale) and mixed and matched.
Play Around Until it Works
I wish I could give you a Garanimals-type formula, but unfortunately none exists that I’m aware of. This is where honing your eye and sense of style will develop over time. I literally lay the samples out all over the room and live with them for a few days (and occasionally weeks). Every so often, I will move them around, layering a different combination until it feels right.
Showcase Your Treasures
Finally, with the right combination of fabrics, the palette was set to layer in some of the key items that Elizabeth bought on her travels to Africa. The room also is a great showcase for other treasures from our various trips to Europe, Guatemala, Eleuthera, Panama, etc.
Nancy Meyers meets Jane Goodall is a Success!
Sitting in this room now, I think “Nancy Meyers meets Jane Goodall” is a success. It is a true reflection of the passions, experiences and dimension that we both bring to our beautiful life together.
WETSU! WETSU!
XO JT
