Room to Grow

Teenagers change their minds on a whim. So when designer Alison Smith’s daughter asked her mom for a teenage bedroom makeover, Alison opted for transitional pieces that can be reaccessorized for a whole new look as tastes, color preferences, and personal style changes.

By
Cathy Still McGowin
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While the modern light fixture is large, the white color keeps it from overwhelming the room.
Alison Smith

Alison Smith

Evolving Designs

START WITH A NEUTRAL BASE
“A neutral base allows you to add big or small doses of color all around,” says Alison. “The natural backdrop in this space includes a light stained floor, white walls, and metallic gold as a neutral accent.“

CHOOSE TRANSITIONAL PIECES
“I love to mix styles!” Alison says. “In this room, we combined furniture with straight lines and with curves. While the desk is more contemporary, the desk chair is an antique piece purchased from a local trading site and painted in a metallic gold. I covered it with a fresh herringbone chenille upholstery. The drapery panels have a more contemporary, metallic fabric, but the style is traditional with Euro pleating.”

SPLASH ON COLOR
“The starting point for this room was the navy-and-white fabric found at ADAC in Atlanta,” says Alison. “The idea was to add in a color or two with the navy to make it more feminine and playful. When we found the rug, it drove the design towards the orchid/lilac palette. Custom-made square pillows on the bed combine the colors with an orchid velvet fabric and a navy gusset, both from DSR, Inc.”

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“It’s amazing how a room can evolve from a simple something that you love. In this room, it was the navy fabric of the bed pillow.” — Alison Smith
Sherwin-Williams Novel Lilac paint gives a contemporary twist to the more traditional design of the vanity.

ALISON SMITH INTERIORS // 205.427.3547, alisonsmithinteriors.com

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