Fabric & Wallpaper: Mr. Decor Happy’s Den

So, I have been slowly but surely working on Mr. DH’s den (aka the “man cave.” ) I received creative and inspiring input from my design savvy blogging friends and took something from each.

After I figured out the layout (it’s a small room, so this was easy), I put my mind to the colour/pattern scheme.  Mr. DH likes navy and grey (and it’s manly – no pink allowed in this room) so I knew those would be the main colours. Interestingly enough, four out of the five blogger moodboards had a shot of orange/tangerine.  So when I spied a linen called “Spice” at Tonic Living, I knew that had to be the “happy” colour in the room to balance the grey and navy.  Even “man caves” need a happy colour so it doesn’t end up looking like, well, a cave! I would call this colour a “burnt orange” as it’s not bright and I think that’s why I like it.



I fell in love with this Robert Allen fabric (below) and thought it would be perfect on a custom ottoman – every room meant for TV viewing and relaxing needs an ottoman, don’t you think? (I think I have designed one for almost every client’s family room!) I love the ethnic/tribal feel of the fabric.
 

I knew I wanted wallpaper on one wall.  I love seeing all walls papered in a room but that is something that I just can’t commit to – so one wall would be enough.  Which wall though?  The idea of papering the TV wall in a dark wallpaper really appeals as in this image below.  The TV just disappears on the Nina Campbell wallpaper.

Credit: Style at Home

But when I brought home samples of wallpaper with a black background, it just wasn’t Mr. DH’s cuppa. So, then I thought a lighter wallpaper on the daybed wall (the opposite wall.)  That probably makes the most sense anyway since I am only doing one wall.  What wallpaper? How to narrow down the thousands of choices? You know I love floral but this is Mr. DH’s room where he goes to chill, watch TV, read – no florals allowed. What about trees? Trees are manly, right?  I narrowed it down to these two.

Nina Campbell’s new Woodsford papers are beautiful (they are so new that they aren’t even on the Osborne and Little site at the time of writing.)  They have a real hand painted quality and when you touch it you can feel the “paint,” i.e. it’s not smooth.

But I have always been a huge fan of Cole & Son’s Cow Parsley papers so when I heard they recently came out with five new colourways, I headed off to Kravet to see them. (One of my first posts included an image with Cow Parsley which I loved.)

Isn’t it lovely? It’s like a mural so that kind of justifies my “one wall” plan. I was going to choose a hex print (you probably know the one I mean!) which was very cool and manly but I think this tree/plant wallpaper/painting is more fitting for a one wall application.

This is how everything will look when complete.  The Daybed is for napping but this room also doubles as a guest room and a room where I can go when Mr. DH’s snoring is too loud. :) (He is not going to be happy when he reads this!)

As soon as the room is done, it will be revealed in a national newspaper (online), so you have to wait until then!  So, what do you think of the room?  When I do the reveal, I will show you the before – it’s pretty scary and a far cry from this!

Happy Halloween! Hope the kiddos don’t get too wet/blown away.

(And PS – my thoughts are with everyone in the US affected by Hurricane Sandy and dealing with the aftermath. )  

If you require design/decorating help, please contact me at vanessa(at)vanessafrancis.com.

Guest Post: Tim's Take on "Mr. Decor Happy's Den"

Happy Friday Decor Happy friends!

Today is the last blogger design concept for Mr. Decor Happy's Den and I think you will love it! Tim is an accountant by day and a mad decorator by night (and weekends). His home has been featured in all types of media (TV (Steven and Chris), magazines (most notably, Style at Home) and newspaper (the National Post.) So, you can bet that his moodboard will be genius! Take it away Tim!

Hello Decor Happy readers! So great to see you all again and this time, I am here to share with you all my idea of a "Man Cave".  Being the only male in the crowd actually makes me a little nervous of creating a space that is not "man" enough for Mr. DH compared to the amazing rooms designed by all the talented ladies.  So I decided to go with the "What would Chris and I want for our man cave?" approach, destined to strike the right balance between masculine/ practical functionality and soft/ sumptuous sensibility that would impress Vanessa and her significant other.

Here are a few prerequisites for this man cave redesign:

* West Elm daybed

* Special edition paint by Para Paint

* Love of The Beatles  

* A place to watch TV, read a book, or take a nap

This is the mood board I came up with, and I call it: Whimsy Industrial Chic meets Refined Rustic Glam  

Man Cave by designmazetim on polyvore.com

1.  Jumping Off Point: the overall direction of my man cave design came from this whimsical yet exquisite wallpaper from Clarke & Clarke.  I love the hand-drawn, cartoon-like illustration of landmarks from around the world.  The matte charcoal grey and muted gold pencil line detail sets the tone for a cozy media/den/over-night guest retreat.

2.  Textile Collection: it is no surprise to many that I adore pattern plays and love to inject textile interests via pillows, upholstered pieces and area rugs.  Vanessa and I both love the grey and yellow palette (I kid you not, did you see the Decor Happy banner?) and on that note, I have selected stripe, quatrefoil, and a horse print for a sophisticated look, while the zebra and woodland prints will definitely add a sense of youthfulness to the space.

3.  Daybed Companion: the daybed is fantastic but to maximize the square footage of this multi-purpose space, Vanessa definitely needs additional seating and a coffee table to put her feet up to enjoy a movie or two.  To contrast the hard, geometric frame of the window daybed, I opted for the tufted Chelsea ottoman and the Coco high back chair from Sarah Richardson Design to appeal to Vanessa's chic and elegant design aesthetic.  I would love to see the Coco high back chair upholstered in this grey and cream linen geometric print to echo the window daybed.            

4.  Window Treatment: a black out moment maybe in the cards during those movie viewing moments, so why not add another layer of pattern and color at window dressing? Inverted pleat is my pick for an luxe window delight and Dwell Studio has exactly what I need.

5.  Statement Piece: books, TV, and decorative accessories must co-exist in this space, so why not have an aesthetically pleasing bookcase that provides both open and closed storage to max out clutter control?  I know Vanessa will love the traditional details (i.e. molding, panel, and beadboard) and the library ladder definitely had me at hello.  Similar library inspired bookcases will be available at your local HomeSense locations very soon.  

6.  Showstopper: lighting is important in any spaces and this man cave is no exception.  I am absolutely in love with this Modo Chandelier for its industrial and masculine sensibility.  Let's be real, which man would not want a chandelier like this, if a chandelier has to make an appearance in his life?           

7.  Art Work: this is where "Whimsy Industrial Chic meets Refined Rustic Glam" comes to life with a pop art Beatles print and a hand crafted, sculptural deer head.  Talking about icing on the cake!

This is my man cave idea for Vanessa and Mr. DH.  Well, actually I will have this man cave for myself and Chris in a heart beat.  Thanks so much Vanessa for this fabulous opportunity to share my dream media/den/guest getaway with your readers.  Hope you enjoy this room as much as I do!

Thanks Tim! What did I tell you? I am a huge fan of Schumacher's Chenonceau wallpaper and have had a sample of that charcoal colourway forever. Hmmm...And that light? "If I had a million dollars, I would buy me a light, not just any light..." That Sarah chair is a beaute and in that fabric...dying! Thank you so much Tim for taking time out of your busy life to put this together. 

Stay tuned and I will put together my version of the den taking into account all of the lovely concepts which you can read here.  Did you enjoy this series? Did you have a favourite design or product? Let me know! Would love to hear your thoughts.

Have a wonderful (long) weekend (fellow Canadians!)

Guest Post: Barbara's Take on "Mr. Decor Happy's Den"

Happy Wednesday and first day of August (summer, please slow down!)

 Have you been enjoying the design concepts for my hubby's room so far? I'm loving what everyone has come up with and today is no exception. Barbara is here to show us her take on the room. Welcome Barb! 

With Vanessa wanting to re-vamp her husband's den, aka "man cave" I am thrilled to give her a bit of design inspiration with my vision for the room.

A man cave to me screams leather, woods and animals. 

The whole notion of cave brings to mind a hunter-gatherer, hence I made sure that was represented by the gold resin zebra head and sheepskin rug. The wallcovering is Woods by Cole and Son, my all time favourite wallcover. One day, when we finally buy a house, it will be used somewhere. But for now it is the feature of my man cave.

My man likes to be surrounded by books, not that he reads them, but just like to "have" them. So an Expedit bookcase from Ikea is perfect to hold books, trophies and other manly accessories. And to add a bit of class, an Hermes throw, and Batavia Ikat pillow in Amethyst from Tonic Living, to add that layer of coziness to the tufted leather sofa from Horchow. 

Sources:

1 : Cole and Son Woods Wallpaper

2: Gold resin zebra head

3: Ikea Expedit bookcase

4: Pharmacy brass floor lamp

5: Sheepskin rug

6: Hermes throw

7: Batavia Ikat: Amethyst: Pillow from Tonic Living

8: Tufted leather sofa from Horchow

Good luck with the design of the space Vanessa. Thanks for having me visit and share my moodboard!

XO Barbara

No, thank you Barbara for putting this together. There is no doubt that a man would love this room. I love the floor lamp and the Hermes blanket is on my wish list - one day! The bookcase is a great idea as Mr. DH is an avid reader. Thanks again Barbara!

Guest Post: Amy's Take on "Mr. Decor Happy's Den"

Happy Monday! Today, Amy (one of the sweetest bloggers I know and soon to be a Mom!) is here with her take on Mr. Decor Happy's Den. Take it away Amy!

Hello Decor Happy readers! I’m thrilled to be providing some suggestions to help Vanessa with her hubby’s den. The space will mainly be used to chill, watch TV and take the occasional nap. Hmm perhaps I need a room like this? 

 The West Elm daybed was already in the space and the walls are painted Special Edition by Para. Vanessa wanted to keep those elements so I designed a room around them. It’s very rare that you have the opportunity to start completely from scratch. And, if you’re that type of client, then I’m your type of decorator!

 I love using masculine elements in such a way that even the most girly girl would still feel comfy in the space. I don’t think any of us have the luxury of unlimited space and all the spaces we do have, should work for all members of the family, right?

  For me, a lounge space must contain a place to put my feet up.  I love the kilim covered ottoman from Restoration Hardware.  The rich pattern is not only beautiful but practical and hard wearing.  Other elements of pattern in the room are the plaid chairs from Crate and Barrel and the gorgeous striped drapes (currently mulling those over as a contender for my bedroom!)

The black Mira rug from West Elm is overdyed in black and provides a bit of interest but doesn’t interfere too much with the other strong patterns in the room.  The accent pillows are in a Thomas O’Brien fabric (one of Vanessa’s favourite designers!) and are available on Etsy.  The horn and feather accessories are from Snob and add an organic vibe without being too literal.  Plus Vanessa wouldn’t let me throw cowhides all over the space!  The lamp is from Design Within Reach and is designed by Rich, Brilliant Willing (one of the designers is Theo Richardson aka Sarah’s brother!).

I think the room is multi-functional and comfortable.  There is nothing that is too precious and the dark patterns really help disguise some of those dropped game day beers! 

Daybed, Area Rug, Chairs, Drapes, Pillows, Headdress, Lucite/Horn Sculptures, Ottoman (discontinued), Floor Lamp

 

Amy, you know me so well! (except for the horns! :) ) I love just about everything you have chosen especially the kilim ottoman. Thanks for putting this together! Stay tuned for a few more renditions of the space from some of your favourite bloggers! In case you missed it, you can read Jen's post here and Lindsey's here.

Guest Post: Lindsey's Take on "Mr. Decor Happy's Den"

Hello! Today I would like to welcome Lindsey from Recreated with her ideas for Mr. Decor Happy's Den.

Hi there! I'm Lindsey from Recreated and I'm so excited to be here today guesting on Decor Happy as part of Vanessa's series as she tries to decide how to give her hubby's den a makeover. The only parameters she gave was that she has already bought the Window Day Bed from West Elm for the space, the walls are painted Para Paints Special Edition which is a light greyish and that the floor would be a light berber carpet. She also mentioned that hubs uses this room (spare bedroom) for reading, watching TV and loves music especially the Beatles. So, with that information I came up with this rendition of the den/Man Cave....

Clockwise from top left: 1. Beatles Poster, 2. Nautica Throw Pillow, 3. Kaden Spot Floor Lamp, 4. Orange throw pillow, 5. Kaden Spot Floor Lamp, 6. Lomond Grey Plaid Fabric, 7. Houndstooth Fabric, 8. Crate and Barrel Sloane Leaning Media Stand, 9. Tivoli radio, 10. HW Home Betty leather chairs, 11. Zentique Recycled-Metal Round Coffee Table, 12. Window Day Bed from West Elm

For a man's space I like textural fabrics like the houndstooth and the grey plaid wool. I envision those as a duvet cover or throw for the day bed. Then add in interesting materials like those in the recycled metal coffee table and the leather chairs. The camel chairs have a great modern design and add a pop of colour to the dark and muted colour palate. And finally throw in a media stand with a bookshelf, industrial-style floor lamps, a cool radio and, of course, some Beatles art for the wall. And now this man cave is ready to enjoy!

Thanks Vanessa for having me here today....XO, Lindsey

Thanks Lindsey! I love the Osborne and Little plaid fabric and those chairs although they are a little out of the budget, gorgeous nonetheless! So many great ideas, now what to do...

Guest post: Jen's Take on "Mr. Decor Happy's Den"

 Today, Jen from Rambling Renovators is here with her take on Mr. Decor Happy's Den. (I'm changing the terminology from "Man Cave" which I just couldn't get used to!) Welcome Jen!

Hello Decor Happy readers! I'm so excited to be guest posting here today and sharing my ideas for "The Man Cave." I've had the pleasure of seeing Vanessa's lovely home in person so designing a room (even virtually) for her is a bit intimidating! I've never designed a man cave before (my husband gets claim to only one room in our house - the garage, lol!) so this was a fun exercise in exploring some masculine style:



Vanessa mentioned that her husband uses this room for reading, watching TV and napping. He loves music and is a huge Beatles fan. I think this Retro Industrial Man Cave will be the perfect place for him to escape and indulge in all those things.

1. These Bowie Beatles Rolling Stones prints are totally rad. I love the manly colour palette and the retro vibe. The prints are sold as a set of three and I'd frame and mat them as shown together on a wall.
2. The existing wall colour, Special Edition by Para Paints, is a warm light grey. A perfect neutral against all the cooler, more vibrant elements in the room.
3. For comfortable reading, I'd put in this high back wing chair. The Jameson Wing Chair from Ballard Designs is down filled and has generous proportions and the brass nailhead trim lends it an industrial edge. Drape it in a classic stripe fabric and you've got one hip chair you won't want to get out of.
4. Building on that industrial feel, I'd put this wood and metal side table beside the wing chair. I love how its rough lines and raw texture play against the softness of the chair. Plus, its got lots of surface area... just the right spot to stack some books (and maybe a gin and tonic over ice?)
5. A man cave demands some edge, some drama, so instead of a standard table lamp I'd hang a pendant light over the side table. This one from Barn Light Electric has all the right features: mirrored interior shade, edison lightbulb, a stem wrapped in heavy, textured rope. So cool!
6. Hopefully there's a window somewhere in this man cave to let in some natural light. These Links Indigo custom drapes from Tonic Living are graphic and fresh. The vertical stripes mimic the stripes in the chair and play well with the other patterns in the room.
7. What's a man cave good for if not to relax and maybe enjoy an afternoon nap? The Window Daybed from West Elm is the perfect place to do just that.
8. Picking up on the orange in the retro prints, I'd add these Greek Key pillows from Tonic Living. Plus, they'll help with the aforementioned afternoon naps ;)
9. A stylish guy space needs a stylish rug. The always classic Union Jack rug says modern and retro at the same time.
10. And, of course, you need to have an HDTV.

What do you say Vanessa? Will this room make both Mr. and Mrs. Decor Happy happy?

Jen, this looks fab! I love the prints, chair and drapes. You have given me lots to think about. Thanks for putting this together! (and thanks for the lovely compliment on my home!)

Decorating a “Man Cave”

(First let me say, I’m not a big fan of the term “man cave” so if you can think of something else, please do share!)

While out for dinner with my blogger friends the other night, I mentioned that one of the rooms in my home that needs a lot of attention is our 4th bedroom.  We (our family) actually refer to it as the TV room but it’s a room predominantly used by Mr. Decor Happy.

We don’t have a finished basement with a large screen TV and I don’t see that happening any time soon.  We have plenty of space for the three of us above ground.  This is the room where Mr. DH goes to watch TV, read and nap.  It’s really his room and I rarely venture in except to iron (actually, come to think of it Mr. DH does my ironing for me!)   (It’s also the catch all room where we keep the ironing board and things that don’t really have a home.)  For this reason, I won’t be showing a Before pic. But if you picture a sad little room with a sofa bed and a TV from the 90’s then that would be it.

via

 

So, I got to thinking that Mr. DH should have a room of his own with some personality.  Maybe something like the one above.  Because the room is used for the occasional guest, I am replacing the sofa bed with this West Elm day bed which arrived some time ago.  I recently lightened up the walls in my home, so this room got a coat of Para’s Special Edition, a light grey. Also, I should mention that it is a small room at only 12’ x 12’.

While at dinner, the ideas for the room were flying and I thought why not have my friends guest post about how they would decorate the room. They all had such unique ideas.

So, over the next week or so, Jen, Amy, Lindsey and Tim will give their take on The Man Cave.  And if you would like to participate, please let me know!

Check back on Monday for Jen’s take on the room.

We’re off to spend some time with Rick’s Mom in upstate New York.  Have a great weekend!