Base Color Gray—just add Yellow, Red, Blue

Tony Stavish draped the walls and windows in this room with kilimesque striped cotton by Andrew Martin for Lee Jofa and played off its colors when choosing other fabrics.

BOHO TRADITIONAL
Tony Stavish (awstavishdesigns.com) draped the walls and windows in this room with kilimesque striped cotton by Andrew Martin for Lee Jofa and played off its colors when choosing other fabrics. The rich gray in the nubby cotton is echoed in the headboard, making for a pleasing backdrop to the room’s brighter shades—which would have been overwhelming against a lighter canvas.

“I’m using gray as the neutral instead of black or white or beige. It’s sort of muddy, and it makes the other colors come alive. I use it a lot with reds and yellows and pinks. It adds energy to the other colors.” —Tony Stavish

 

GRAY—Get the Look

Vintage-washed Belgian linen shams and quilt in Fog, $49 to $279, at Restoration Hardware.
Vintage-washed Belgian linen shams and quilt in Fog, $49 to $279, at Restoration Hardware.

 

The Ecks' great room

Capri bottle lamp with polished nickel accents, 33½ inches tall, $275, at Jonathan Adler.

 

Capri bottle lamp with polished nickel accents, 33½ inches tall, $275, at Jonathan Adler.
Jaipur printed dhurrie wool-cotton blend rug, $29 to $199, at West Elm.

 

Tate upholstered platform bed in Charcoal, $1,399 to $1,599, at Crate & Barrel.

Tate upholstered platform bed in Charcoal, $1,399 to $1,599, at Crate & Barrel.

 

Silver-painted resin Timber end table, $399, at Z Gallerie.
Silver-painted resin Timber end table, $399, at Z Gallerie.

 

Dransfield & Ross Corcovado flame-stitch pillow, 12 by 18 inches, $190, at Elements.
Dransfield & Ross Corcovado flame-stitch pillow, 12 by 18 inches, $190, at Elements.

 

 

Dahlia cotton fabric in Dove, $29.59 per yard, at Calico Corners.

Dahlia cotton fabric in Dove, $29.59 per yard, at Calico Corners.

 

 

Mrs. Godfrey chair in Cashin Ocean, $1,695, at Jonathan Adler.
Mrs. Godfrey chair in Cashin Ocean, $1,695, at Jonathan Adler.

 

 

Archive credenza in mango wood with a gray wash and
Archive credenza in mango wood with a gray wash and “grellow” powder-coated steel pulls, $899, at CB2.

 

 

National Geographic grass-cloth wallpaper, $51.78 per bolt (20½ inches wide, 33 feet long), at The Home Depot.

National Geographic grass-cloth wallpaper, $51.78 per bolt (20½ inches wide, 33 feet long), at The Home Depot.

 

 

PHOTOGRAPH craig dugan/hedrich blessing

 

 

Base Color Navy—just add Gold, White

Sarah Back (backinteriors.com) loves to use navy to anchor a light-colored space or to create a homey haven. It transitions easily from summer to fall with a quick change of accent colors—pair with coral and kelly green during warm months, red or olive the rest of the year. Or simply stick with blue and white as Back does here, and add gold for a touch of glam.

PREPPY CHIC
Sarah Back (backinteriors.com) loves to use navy to anchor a light-colored space or to create a homey haven. It transitions easily from summer to fall with a quick change of accent colors—pair with coral and kelly green during warm months, red or olive the rest of the year. Or simply stick with blue and white as Back does here, and add gold for a touch of glam.

“Navy shows up in every project I do. It’s making a resurgence, and it’s so versatile. It looks as great on a wingback chair as it does on a Barcelona. It’s practically a neutral, and gives a space a warm and cheerful feeling.” —Sarah Back

 

NAVY—Get the Look

Gilt Plaster Cloud mirror made in the 1950s for Blue Mound Furniture by Marko Manufacturing, $1,100, at Douglas Rosin.
Gilt Plaster Cloud mirror made in the 1950s for Blue Mound Furniture
by Marko Manufacturing, $1,100, at Douglas Rosin.

 

 

Regina Andrew tapered hex column lamp with distressed gold finish over cast metal, $225, at Classic Remix.

Regina Andrew tapered hex column lamp with distressed gold finish over cast metal, $225, at Classic Remix.

 

 

Prince Regent Stripe viscose-cotton blend fabric in Aegean, $198 per yard, at Lee Jofa.

Prince Regent Stripe viscose-cotton blend fabric in Aegean, $198 per yard, at Lee Jofa.

 

 

Vintage Marcel Breuer for Thonet armchair, $2,100, at Arts 220.

Vintage Marcel Breuer for Thonet armchair, $2,100, at Arts 220.

 

 

Cole & Son Tropical Birds wallpaper in Midnight, 21 inches wide, 30-inch repeat, $68 per 11-yard roll, at Lee Jofa (through designers).

Cole & Son Tropical Birds wallpaper in Midnight, 21 inches wide, 30-inch repeat, $68 per 11-yard roll,
at Lee Jofa (through designers).

 

 

Wood­house queen bed in Ireland Marine, $2,950, at Jonathan Adler.
Woodhouse queen bed in Ireland Marine, $2,950, at Jonathan Adler.

 

 

Down-filled gold Suzani pillow, 24 by 24 inches, $195, at Jayson Home & Garden.
Down-filled gold Suzani  pillow, 24 by 24 inches, $195, at Jayson Home & Garden.

 

 

Carved-wood elk antlers covered with 22-carat gold leaf, $900, at Branca.
Carved-wood elk antlers covered with 22-carat gold leaf, $900, at Branca.

 

 

Kennedy sofa upholstered in navy linen (Jackie), $3,895, at Jayson Home & Garden.
Kennedy sofa upholstered in navy linen (Jackie), $3,895, at Jayson Home & Garden.

 

 

PHOTOGRAPH  Kelly Marshall
PHOTOGRAPH (mirror) rebecca uhle

 

 

Base Color Lime—just add Fuchsia, Turquoise

In less able hands, bright colors such as the ones in this room by Deb Reinhart (debreinhart.com) might seem childish. But when combined in sophisticated accents, fuchsia, turquoise, and lime evoke just the right sense of fun. Maintaining a roughly equal representation of each member of this trio is the key to pulling it off.

CHIC WHIMSY
In less able hands, bright colors such as the ones in this room by Deb Reinhart (debreinhart.com) might seem childish. But when combined in sophisticated accents, fuchsia, turquoise, and lime evoke just the right sense of fun. Maintaining a roughly equal representation of each member of this trio is the key to pulling it off.

“This color combination reminds me of a rainforest I visited on Vancouver Island—I just love the brightness and the balance of it. I think this is an inviting room that would suit lots of tastes.” —Deb Reinhart

 

LIME—Get the Look

 

Marina Stripe acrylic fabric in fuchsia, available $74 per yard at Lee Jofa (through designers), Merchandise Mart.

Marina Stripe acrylic fabric in fuchsia, available $74 per yard at Lee Jofa (through designers), Merchandise Mart.

 

Paisley foulard silk jacquard pillow, 12 by 26 inches, $195, at Jayson Home & Garden.
Paisley foulard silk jacquard pillow, 12 by 26 inches, $195, at Jayson Home & Garden.

 

 

Fiji cedar stump stool by Riva 1920, $735, at Haute Living.

Fiji cedar stump stool by Riva 1920, $735, at Haute Living.

 

 

Tolix Marais perforated steel chair in plum, $382, at Design Within Reach.
Tolix Marais perforated steel chair in plum, $382, at Design Within Reach.

 

 

Wilde Carnation metallic and lacquer wallpaper, $93 per 11-yard roll, at Osborne & Little (through designers).

Wilde Carnation metallic and lacquer wallpaper, $93 per 11-yard roll, at Osborne & Little (through designers).

 

 

Blue glass hurricane lamp with silver base, $4,600 for a set of two, at Maze Home.

Blue glass hurricane lamp with silver base, $4,600 for a set of two, at Maze Home.

 

 

Trolley Stop ceramic and brass hook in aqua, $12, at Anthropologie.
Trolley Stop ceramic and brass hook in aqua, $12, at Anthropologie.

 

 

Diane von Furstenberg Gingko Forest duvet, $200 to $335, at Bloomingdale's Home.

Diane von Furstenberg Gingko Forest duvet, $200 to $335, at Bloomingdale’s Home.

 

NEXT: Buy Guide »

PHOTOGRAPH (top) bruce van inwegen

 

 

Buy Guide

ABOUT OUR SOURCES  We attempt to provide as much information as possible about the products and professionals involved in designing the homes we show in our pages. Items not sourced here are probably not available for sale; they might be antiques or part of an owner’s personal collection. When an item or product line is widely available, we may not list a specific store for it. If you have a question about our sources, please write to us at chicagohome@chicagomag.com.

Anthropologie, 108 N. State St., 312-899-0969, anthropologie.com. Arts 220, 895½ Green Bay Rd., Winnetka, 847-501-3084, arts220.com. Bloomingdale's Home, 600 N. Wabash Ave., 312-324-7500, bloomingdales.com. Branca, 17 E. Pearson St., 312-787-1017, branca.com. Calico Corners, 777 N. York Rd., Hinsdale, 630-920-1955, calicocorners.com. CB2, 800 W. North Ave., 312-787-8329, cb2.com. Classic Remix, 1015 W. Webster Ave., 773-661-6796, classicremixchicago.com. Crate & Barrel, 850 W. North Ave., 312-573-9800, crateandbarrel.com. Design Within Reach, 1574 N. Kingsbury St., 312-482-8661, dwr.com. Douglas Rosin, 730 N. Wells St., 312-337-6556, douglasrosin.com. Elements, 741 N. Wells St., 877-642-6574, elementschicago.com. Haute Living, 222 W. Kinzie St., 312-329-9000, haute-living.com. The Home Depot, 1232 W. North Ave., 773-486-9200, homedepot.com. Jayson Home & Garden, 1885 N. Clybourn Ave., 773-248-8180, jaysonhomeandgarden.com. Jonathan Adler, 676 N. Wabash Ave., 312-274-9920, jonathanadler.com. Lee Jofa, Merchandise Mart, 312-644-2965, leejofa.com. Maze Home, 735 Elm St., Winnetka, 847-441-1115, mazehome.com. Osborne & Little, Merchandise Mart, 312-467-0913, osborneandlittle.com. Restoration Hardware, 938 W. North Ave., 312-475-9116, restorationhardware.com. West Elm, 1000 W. North Ave., 312-867-1770, westelm.com. WPA Chicago, 314 W. Superior St., 312-335-3855, wpachicago.com. Z Gallerie, 938 W. North Ave., 312-475-9808, zgallerie.com.