HORSIN’ AROUND
Despite being around for hundreds of years, it was Ralph Lauren who made equestrian style commonplace in our homes. Originating in the English countryside, leather upholstery with nail heads and heavy, dark wood furnishings usually come to mind. While today’s designers continue to embrace this style, many are interpreting it in a more casual, modern way.
Ashley Garrison of Ashley Garrison Interiors is one of these. Look at what she did do to incorporate an Auburn, AL teenager’s love of horses into her bedroom design. Garrison’s challenge was to create a bedroom that would capture her imagination and evolve with her as she grows older. Our challenge at DIW was to make and install everything in a month…there was no time for any horsin’ around!
The room features a custom headboard upholstered in a graphic black and white Bergamo fabric and a “mane” trim that Grant added during the installation. A palette of pinks and chartreuse was used to add a bright splash of color. With Pantone’s 2011 Color of the Year being Honeysuckle, “a dynamic reddish pink”… that is “encouraging and uplifting,” pink will be very popular this year.
A vibrant pink and lime floral fabric by Jane Churchill was used for the hand sewn curtains and pink tones were used in the other fabrics and accessories.
The shower curtain features butterfly pleats and covered buttons that were sewn by hand and the rectangular skirted table DIW built is covered in a playful leopard print with the inverted pleats and piping in a multi colored stripe. We lined and inner lined the table skirt.
Two of the pillows are boxed and button tufted with a custom dyed trim and the other pillow has a box pleated trim.
So, by making an iconic statement with the headboard, Garrison created a chic, modern equestrian feel and let this teenager’s love of horses show through without decorating the entire room around a traditional horse theme.
