Quirky Cool Candy

How to bring a quirky character into your home that’s cool, contemporary and fresh

Another first edition to the blog. Yay! This new subject revisits previous home stories and look at the styles and elements that make up those creative spaces. Our first story is the curiously curated home of artist Marguerite Nel from November’s Round House feature and how to find inspiration from her quirky cool style.

“Nel has done an incredible job at curating the space. Every detail has been carefully thought out, every piece telling its story. Old iron hospital beds, -trollies and -lockers add to an industrial theme that feels surprisingly warm and modern thanks to accompanying second-hand, mid-century pieces sourced at great length by Margaret.”

What makes this room so striking is the surprising mix of colours: grey-green walls are paired with bright candy-pink hues and pale grey blues. The spots of brilliant orange and vibrant greens in the decorative elements really brighten up an otherwise cool space.

Dark grey walls and quirky artwork in this quirky artist's bedroom

pale blue, bright pink and grey green walls for a quirky cool space | sitsitso lookbook

The warm wooden mid-century furniture and vintage hospital trolly or bedside lamp combined with modern items like the candy-colour-block bed throw creates a contemporary look. Another way to add interest is through the creative use of quirky but well chosen deco pieces like the antique manequin and hand-made sculptures.

Grey green walls and mid century pieces | sitsitso lookbook

Style-step-by-step

1. Choose complementary colours

Here the green and reds are complimentary colours. Choosing different hues that fall into a complimentary spectrum creates a fun and unusual colour scheme. Like the different hues of green combined with spots of bright reds (in the painting) and pale pinks (in the art pieces and bed throw.) Blue and orange are also complementary, which is why the bed spread goes so well with the artwork as well as the golden yellow orange tones of the wood.

2. Combine warm colours with cool colours

Here the grey-green walls and dull blue hues creates a cool, tranquil and calm feeling. Combining this with very warm colours like pink and orange in selective areas not only creates focus but adds a dash of energy and warmth to the room.

3. Use old with new

Combining good quality vintage pieces like the mid-century modern furniture brings a timeless quality to the space while pairing it with modern pieces like the colour-blocked bedspread and artwork makes it instantly contemporary.

4. Don’t forget to breathe

It’s important not to overfill the space with too much decor. Carefully select your pieces and rather go for a few things that says more than filling the space with ornaments. Adding bright white also adds a freshness and allows the spaces to breathe.

5. Create a focus point

A focal point can be anything from a very striking chair to a brilliant piece of art. In this case the artwork by Margaret pulls the entire scene together. The bright colours draw you in while the rest of the colours set the tone and mood for the entire space. It’s often easier to choose your focus piece first and then allowing the piece to inform your decision making when it comes to choosing colour or determining a theme.