Design Star – Britany Simon’s Hollywood Regence Look

Britany’s Dining Room Makeover

When the ticker tape fell and the pronouncement was made, Britany Simon may not have been the Design Star winner but her design is a winning genre of style that creates that magazine layout result in every instance. Hollywood Regency is a true mainstay in design, and I like it because its slightly more formal quality creates an unmistakable impression of a space that is cared for and about. It may seem a little too formal for some people with growing families, but where there is a will there is always a way to design it.

Hollywood regency is a design style characterized by its proportions of negative space; the shapes created by moldings, large areas of negative wall space, behind art hung very symmetrically, and molded doorways and ceilings that always play a negative role, crisp and white and frequently in contrast to emboldened color statements on walls. Britany has toned the formality back slightly by choosing a small-print patterned wallpaper, not characteristic to the look but maintaining the black and white disposition that can be characteristic to this style. The small pattern was a terrific decision for the architecture of this room, highlighting the decorative glass detail, and highlighting the lost detail of the exuberant yellow flowers visible from the window-box outdoors. Never lose an opportunity to bring the outdoors in! It imbues your design with a spacial sense of infinity, that defies the boxed room boundaries.

Britany’s Dining Room – image via HGTV

A very traditional or formal space is instantly de-formalized by personalization. Britany accomplished this, and balanced the corner window with two photographic portraits she took of the family.

I really like the one of the little boy – I watched the show, and he was not making it easy for her – but she overcame his reservations via do-nuts. I would love to have seen that moment in the photos – its something they could have talked about there after. She may have gone for a formalized pose because of the formality of the style she chose – but I tend to favor portraits that reveal a bit of the soul they portray. It’s impossible to communicate individuality in a posed picture.

Some of Britany’s photography – image via HGTV

The other walls gave testament to the Regency formality. Single framed objects in the Wedgwood vibe are spot on for Hollywood Regency. I smiled when I saw Britany’s wall art choices, because I knew immediately they must be thomaspaul. (you can get them by clicking link). His images are always classicism with a twist, in sonorous shades of color that fit Hollywood regency style.

Britany’s wall art choice – print from thamaspaul.com, image via HGTV

I don’t think that this piece belonged to the home owner nor that it was reupholstered for this show – they did all this in 3 days! But winged arm chairs are chameleons  of style – you can find one that literally fits every style of design, and they always make a statement!

Wing chair from Britany’s Design

Britany chose medallion accents and a room service sectional for seating in her space. The modern clean lines are perfect – but if you have small children coffee tables with corners can be a hazard, as can the accents.

Just replace the wood piece with a square ottoman in easy to clean microsuede, like this one from Target for under $350

micro-suede ottoman from Target – image via Target.com

If you love the medallion look blended with Hollywood Regency style, you may love this reupholstered sofa and loveseat I found on Etsy! They are really unique and would be amazing with charcoal grey walls and some thomaspaul wall art! They are priced at $1200 for both, and the seller can have them delivered for a fraction of the cost you might imagine – her husband has a trucking company! No, not a friend; I was actually considering them myself…

Click the image to beat me to it!

reupholstered sofa and loveseat from Kayleigh Barnes on Etsy

It’s Friday – think about trying some Hollywood Regency this weekend to glam up your home!

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