If you’re here for the first time, welcome! I’m Jana Bek, an Ann Arbor, Michigan based interior designer with a lifestyle line of home décor, textiles, & lighting. I have a love for bright colors, bold prints, and designing spaces & home décor that help transport you to your dream destination.

I’m so excited to be included in my tenth season of One Room Challenge (ORC)! If you are new to ORC, this “competition” is merely against yourself to transform a room in your home at top speed. Everyone ends up a winner, and if you’re participating this season, I wish you the best of luck in working towards your reveal!

As a refresher, this season I’m designing our dining room for my ORC, you can catch up on all the reasons why in week’s 1 post.

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With the devastating climate of our country, I’ve been inconsistent in my postings, it feels so trivial, but I’m doing my best to get back into the swing of things.

This week, I’m excited to reveal the stunning Hudson Valley light fixture that will be incremental in transforming the space, and the other new items I’m layering in to round out the design, and bring it to life. 

Serenity Light Fixture

Could there be a more elegant and romantic light fixture? The stunning stone pieces will add an air of delicacy to this otherwise heavy space. I love mixing metals, and that this fixture harmoniously blends gold leaf and polished stainless steel, is a beautiful relief to the outdated stance that a space should reflect one metal finish.

SHOP THIS LIGHT

Some insights I took away from Eddie Ross’s gorgeous tablescapes are: reinforcement of color, varying item heights, and adding a bit of fun for personality. As the palette is emerald to aqua, and pinks to reds, I wanted to vary the decor to create a rich layer of colors. Since the artwork is predominately fuchsia, I wanted to only add subtle hints of pink to prevent the room from looking overly feminine. I love that the water glasses walk a fine line between gray and pink, and the dinner napkins add another layer of soft blush. The simple white taper candles will add some nice height to the mix, and the star hurricanes will hold some ethereal arrangements to play up the romance.

I’m playing up the aqua to green spectrum with some of Frontgate’s gorgeous ceramics. Three of these vases will add some aqua to the table, and the planters will add touch of emerald (and gorgeous pattern). 

As pieces are coming in, I’m very excited with how it’s looking, but two integral items to the design will be arriving just before the photoshoot, so I have some harried days ahead! Join me next week for what the final items are, and (hopefully) some sneak peeks of my progress!

For interim inspiration, follow me on INSTAGRAM, and PINTEREST!

If you’re here for the first time, welcome! I’m Jana Bek, an Ann Arbor, Michigan based interior designer with a lifestyle line of home décor, textiles, & lighting. I have a love for bright colors, bold prints, and designing spaces & home décor that help transport you to your dream destination.

I’m so excited to be included in my tenth season of One Room Challenge! If you are new to ORC, this “competition” is merely against yourself to transform a room in your home at top speed. Everyone ends up a winner, and if you’re participating this season, I wish you the best of luck in working towards your reveal!

As a refresher, this season I’m designing our dining room for my ORC, you can catch up on all the reasons why in last week’s post. This week I’ll be sharing my inspiration for the space, and next week I’ll focus on how I’m “shopping” my house for pieces to bring the room to life. 

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These months of social distancing have me thinking about how easy it was to take friendships and togetherness for granted. And as we set our sights on a brighter future, what better way to reconnect than the Classic Dinner Party? By this I have in mind the sort of gatherings that are both relaxed and elegant; and where lingering, multiple conversations, and laughter are really the “main course.” To bring this about, every detail needs to be considered and layered; and it must all look effortless at the same time. 

I want to romance our guests with lingering nights of food and friendship.

As it is now, our dining room is heavy and not well integrated into our open floor plan. It’s the sort of space where we tend to eat and move on to other areas like the kitchen and living room. But with motivation from ORC, inspiration from great designers like Eddie Ross, and my renewed appreciation for togetherness, I want to romance our guests with lingering nights of food and friendship.

Photography by Trevor Dixon

When “pinning” inspiration, it wasn’t lost on me that many of my favorite finds were of Eddie Ross’s design. His vast portfolio (and fabulous Instagram feed), are filled with magical dining rooms and decor. This garden room he designed for House Beautiful is exactly the vibe I’m hoping to capture, and his dreamy tablescapes have my wheels turning too. 

So, in a nutshell, my goal is to create a design that includes nods to nature, romance, and light, neutral pieces to break-up the heavy wood dining set. An abundance of florals and fauna will instantly add warmth and energy to the room.

Sometimes the right pieces are already in your home.

When redecorating a room in my house, I typically start by “shopping” from my own house first. I find that pulling decor from other rooms in my house (or second home), is a great way to integrate the space in with the rest of the my home, while giving me a chance to enjoy some of my beloved pieces in a new light. That’s why I’m very excited to layer some pieces from old Brooklyn apartment into the space.

An Oversized Mirror

This room gets terrible light, so our oversized mirror (60” in diameter – it’s 1” shorter than me!) will replace the art where the buffet table was, and reflect the light from the windows beautifully.

A Mirrored Screen

Then, speaking of amping up the light, and romance, our stunning mirrored screen will sit in the darkest corner, and reflect the light of the oversized mirror.

A colorful print

One of the few pieces I’m keeping in the space is the Paule Marrot birds print. I recommend in splurging on art that you’ll enjoy forever, and the rich emerald and blush tones, and lush tropical branches, make it a perfect fit for an enchanting room.

Our Family China

I’ll also be using our Wedgewood Wild Strawberry china, a wedding gift passed down from my mom. I love how it will “talk” to the tropical artwork and greenery I layer into the room.

I hope you’ll join me next week where I’ll show you how I’m further shopping my house, and the stunning light fixture that will be this room’s anchor!

For interim inspiration, follow me on INSTAGRAM, and PINTEREST!

If you’re here for the first time, welcome! I’m Jana Bek, an Ann Arbor, Michigan based interior designer with a lifestyle line of home décor, textiles, & lighting. I have a love for bright colors, bold prints, and designing spaces & home décor that help transport you to your dream destination.

I’m so excited to be included in my tenth season of One Room Challenge (ORC)! If you are new to ORC, this “competition” is merely against yourself to transform a room in your home at top speed. Everyone ends up a winner, and if you’re participating this season, I wish you the best of luck in working towards your reveal!

Here’s a look at some of my past ORCs:

This round I’ll be tackling our dining room. If you happen to follow me on Instagram, you’ll realize it’s a room I never share, and this is why:

It’s cold and heavy with the wood dining set blending into the floors. Then there’s the baby elephant in the room; the too-small, sad, high hung light fixture. We opened up the main floor and this room went from hidden through a doorway to being really visible, and now it sticks out as a sore thumb. 

My main goals are to make this room stand out in contrast to the adjacent spaces, but still keep a sense of cohesion; and definitely warm it up so it feels inviting. That said, what inspired me to finally transform the space is that I love to cook, and usually guests engage in, and around, the kitchen.

In January, I received my first copy (in a gifted subscription to “Flower” magazine, and many of the stunning stories end up, at heart, illustrating what it means to be a proper hostess and truly delight your company. I instantly fell in love with the all too rare art of entertaining. When I can finally have guests over again, I know I’ll find joy in all aspects of doing just that: welcoming them into a space that’s open yet still intimate, and inviting. I can’t wait to celebrate the outcome of this ORC!

I hope you’ll join me next week where I’ll walk you through my design inspiration for the room, and in the coming weeks where I’ll show you how I’m shopping my house, and the stunning light fixture that will be this room’s anchor!

For interim inspiration, follow me on Instagram, and Pinterest!

I adore seeing our lighting and décor in every home, but spotting them in kid’s spaces is especially sweet! With Mother’s Day around the corner, and with most of the world confined to close quarters, our own homes (and the kids in them) are top of mind. We asked some of our talented trade partners for their top tips when designing children’s spaces that will transition as they grow, reflect their personalities, and where to spend vs. save. 

“I love, love, love to use kid's artwork in their room! This is such a fun way to involve the child in the design of the room and a way for them to express themselves creatively! We actually did a gallery wall of the girls' artwork in this bedroom and had them custom framed for the space. Such a personal touch.”

Room photography credit: Margaret Rajic

Q: An easy way to make a piece of furniture feel more kid-friendly?  

Find some playful hardware for their casegoods now, and swap it out when they're older for something more refined.

Q: How do you get kids involved in designing their own space? 

I like to ask their favorite colors and try to work those in somehow. I also love to have them pick out their own sheets! It's an easy way for them to get involved and it really excites them when they feel invested in the decor.

www.kiradaviddesign.com @kiradaviddesign

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“A simple coat of paint can transition beautifully-crafted casegoods and cabinetry as little ones grow into their own special styles and preferences.”

Photography Credit: Anna Routh Barzin

Q: How and when to use color in a kid’s room…what are the basics?

For bigger ticket items like upholstery and casegoods, I tend to stick with neutral finishes and fabrics (usually performance fabrics so they hold up well!). If the foundation is easily pared back to a blank slate, then it's easy to refresh the space with smaller accents like pillows and artwork. If I do begin with color, I always like to start soft! That way, introducing new hues is a much simpler task.

Q: What should every kid's room have?

Our room is our sanctuary. Every child deserves a space with a personality that reflects their own! 

www.kate-h-design.com @kate.h.design

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“If the child is younger, a place to hide and play in privacy is key (like a tent, or the bottom of a closet).  So many special memories are built in tiny spaces where kids create their own worlds. A great reading nook or reading spot, is a must as they get older. I think there is a close connection between having an enjoyable spot to read and how much they love reading later on.” 

Photography credit: Jason Kindig

Q: How do you choose what pieces in a room to invest in? 

I like to think long-term and invest in classic pieces that will never go out of style. Even though my daughter is 12 and was 10 when I designed this playroom, I was already thinking of how her special reading chair could move with her when she gets her first apartment, as well as the art in this room.  The smaller, decorative accessories are the ones that can easily be transitioned as she gets older. So, I like to have fun with those.

Q: What are your go-to durable pieces for kid’s spaces? 

I especially love the West Elm Parson's Desk. They hold up pretty well, and look great in any space.  We have had ours for over 12 years.

www.mimosalane-blog.com @mimosalaneblog

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“I'm a big fan of adding memo boards to kid's rooms, so that they have a place to express themselves.”

Q: What pieces that are worth splurging on for kid’s spaces & where do you save?

I splurge on items that can grow with the child, and with the room. Items like a quality dresser and custom window treatments will live in the space for years to come, so they are worth the investment! On the other hand, items that will get a lot of wear and tear, and will inevitably need to be replaced anyway, like bedding, are places to save! 

Q: For the quick and practical in us, do you have a go-to suggestion for personalizing a room?

I'm a big fan of adding memo boards to kid's rooms, so that they have a place to express themselves. Kids' interests change so quickly that I never recommend designing an entire room around their hobby du jour, but it's nice for them to have a designated space that they can curate however they want.

www.katesmithinteriors.com @katesmithinteriors

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“A fun way to integrate a child's personality is showing off their artwork. This is an easy DIY project and the artwork can easily be switched out as they get older.”   

Q: Kids can be designers at heart! How do you bring them into your process?

When I design a child's room they are present every step of the way (with guidance from their parents, of course!). I ask them about their favorite colors, TV shows, where they like to shop, hobbies and sports they might play.  I even show them pictures of rooms and ask what they like and dislike about them.  

Q: What are your tips for creating a space that kids don’t want to leave? (Asking for a friend.)

You've decorated this great space for your child, now you want them to stay in it! Give them a reading nook or corner. If the room allows, I always design a cozy "corner" space filled with a chair, pillows or poufs, a bookshelf (there are great wall mounted options now) and a reading light.  This can be transitioned from a reading corner to a desk and chair as they get older and can study in their rooms.  

www.summitdrivedesign.com @summit_drive_design

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“To maximize storage in kid’s spaces, I like to use storage ottomans at the edge of the bed along with free standing baskets, and wall mounted shelves. I try to always think about safety, and utility, as well as aesthetics.”

Q: How do you design a space that will transition with the child as they grow?

I always like to take the long-term view when planning a room, and that’s why I keep the selections sophisticated (even when it’s for a baby). You definitely want to have a foundation that grows with the child. 

Q: What pieces are worth splurging on for kids spaces?

I’m always in favor of mixing highs and lows and children’s rooms are no exception. I find fantastic wallpaper and light fixtures are always worth splurging on because they’re so transformative to a space.

@doeringdesigns

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These designers covered the spectrum on tips & tricks, and I was inspired to share a few of my own!

“Invest in window coverings with blackout lining, both babies and irritable teens will sleep more peacefully!”

Q: Where to save?

I agree, children can wreak havocs on beds, so I actually did a simple DIY upholstery for my stepson’s heardboard, first with a punchy palm print, later recovered with a sophisticated Schumacher print when he started high school. Artwork replaced the shelf that housed his no longer prized knick-knacks. One of my favorite sources for beautiful, affordable art is Artfully Walls.

Q: Where to splurge?

Invest in window coverings with blackout lining, both babies and irritable teens will sleep more peacefully! For kid’s play spaces, I opt for indoor/outdoor rugs, and Dash and Albert’S’ are my go-tos, soft underfoot but so easy to clean up spills.

I hope you enjoyed all of our tips, and from this step-mama to you and yours, I hope you have a very happy Mother’s Day!

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Brushstroke Ginger Jar in Navy

Champion Lamp in White

Mini Scribble Lamp in Navy

Brushstroke Lamp in Yellow

Brushstroke Wallpaper in Blush

Brushstroke Lamp in Navy

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