blue & white by sig bergamin for the pink pagoda's april bash!

Party, party! This is my fifth time attending Jennifer's Blue and White Bash over at The Pink Pagoda. If you are a blogger, you too can link-up and share your own post, or if you are a reader, simply sit back and behold all of the beautiful blue and white!

Last month, I posted about the progress in our blue and white guest bath. The bathroom is still a work in progress, as I decided to change the shade of blue on the wall...my painters looove me! My goal is to complete the bathroom by the end of the month, which may be a bit late, considering my in-laws arrive to see our new home on Friday! :-/ Regardless, I will be sure to share the finished product!

But in the meantime--as I approach my one-year-blogiversary in a few short weeks (!)--I am going to re-share my first interior design-related post for today's bash. The post featured a primarily blue and white space, but with splashes of fuchsia which add to the fun and make it very party-appropriate ;-)

Here she is:

"There is nothing more beach-y than wood painted white--I especially love it on floors, although the white wood ceilings in this interior by Sig Bergamin featured in Elle Decor demonstrate just how big a change a bit of white paint can make. White paint can take a space from stuffy and formal to bright and welcoming…in a weekend! But with its bold blues and Ikat accents, this room does the perfect job illustrating how sophistication can be retained without formality. Additionally, the white backdrop allows these accents the attention they deserve.

And can we talk about those beams?! Although they are likely original to this space, the addition of decorative beams to any room can be completely transformational. Beams can assign meaning to spaces with tall ceilings, and organize awkward extra space (and windows) floating above your room.

I suppose if I can't live the rest of my life in this room, I can at least try to recreate it. Although some of this room’s best features are architectural (such as the cathedral ceilings and beams), others are easily replicated:

If you don’t feel like replacing your walls with wood beams, beadboard is an easy and affordable way to achieve a similar look. Lowes offers a selection of looks.

Dark wood furniture, such as this buffet from CB2 (Crate & Barrel), will be the perfect counterpart to those decorative beams, once you add them ;)

 

Or, if you can still afford to splurge (after adding the beadboard and beams!), I also love this one (with removable matching trays!!!) from Crate and Barrel:

 

Adding Ikat accents is an instant way to make a dated room current.  Pillows, such as this one from Joss and Main, are particularly easy to swap in and out depending on the season...or century ;)

If this interior design were mine, I'd be marking it with a monogrammed pillow, too! I like the simple sophistication of this one from Lauren Ralph Lauren sold at Bloomingdales...

...or a ticking stripe pillow such as the following from Restoration Hardware:

Ginger Jars add instant sophistication and interest to a room, and their traditional blue and white palette fit perfectly by the beach. 

Ginger Jar lamps, such as this pretty pair from One Kings Lane, are a fun and functional way to incorporate the design into your room:

Williams-Sonoma Home also has a selection of Ginger Jars, such as this one:

I was surprised to find such an extensive collection of lighting from Anthropologie, where I found this little gem of a light:

Add some navy nautical art for the wall, such as this set of four ship blueprints from Williams-Sonoma Home:

Gilt.com has a fabulous selection of cobalt colored glassware, like this beautiful blue set, which would be perfect for this room:

 

And this pitcher from Pier 1 would be great to hold mojitos or flowers!:

Include some exotic fuchsia orchids or potted palms to help achieve this exotic Indochine interior. If you're like me and manage to kill every plant that comes within a 50 feet radius of your home (including cactus and bamboo), Joss and Main has a great selection of tasteful faux flowers, such as this one:

And last but not least, bring the beach inside by adding some shells, like these ones from Pottery Barn:

Here's how it comes together:

It is fun to take a look back and see how my blogging style has evolved, but my love of blue and white hasn't changed a bit!

Have a good week and I hope to see you back here on Thursday for my next One Room Challenge Linking Event post in which I will share the progress in my office!!!