Design Eye Training : 112

Design Eye Training : 112 - roomfortuesday.com
design : whittney parkinson

Happy Friday, friends! It has been awhile, but I’ve got a new Design Eye Training post set for you today. We’ll be analyzing and admiring a gorgeous high contrast living room designed by the talented, Whittney Parkinson. I’m often looking to Whittney for interior inspiration and I love that designs in Indiana. It’s fun to watch her transform the beautiful & familiar homes I grew up admiring. Today we’re going to look at a butler’s pantry that doubles as a mudroom off of a gorgeous kitchen. You can see the entire remodel and tour here! Click through for the twelfth post in the series and chat design with me…

To quickly recap… in our Design Eye series, we observe and admire design fundamentals like scale, texture, pattern, material use, lighting plans, color, floor plan & layout, and a variety of intentional styling & interior moments pulled together by the pros. It’s an exercise I used to practice often in design school, and one I still enjoy today. By discussing and breaking down well designed spaces in greater detail, you’ll begin to train your “design eye”, build upon the design fundamentals, and can apply some of these things to your own home, if they appeal to you. I also feel like this series can really help you hone in your personal aesthetic, determining what you like and dislike… and most importantly, why. Ready to give it a try?

Design Eye Training : 112 - roomfortuesday.com
design : whittney parkinson

The most obvious and striking part of this space for me is the pattern play. I absolutely love the wallpaper, the herringbone brick floor, and the textural wood elements throughout the space. The millwork is also exquisitely done. Did you notice the contrast trim? The cabinetry details also really stood out to me- I noted the die cuts and slightly deeper depth of the lower cabinet drawers with the wood ledge. Whittney is so great at incorporating these little thoughtful details.

Design Eye Training : 112 - roomfortuesday.com
design : whittney parkinson

I’ve always loved the use of furniture as cabinetry- or custom cabinetry built to look like furniture and the above component is exactly that. The apothecary style drawers, the brass hardware, the inset drawers, and the entire cabinet being wrapped in matching baseboard really makes it feel fully integrated. This little area seems to double as a workspace or storage cabinet, with the pin board styled directly above… complete with a gallery light for added emphasis.

Design Eye Training : 112 - roomfortuesday.com
design : whittney parkinson

This room feels very balanced and symmetrical, thanks to the matching lower cabinets that frame each side of the room. The window allows for ample natural light, and as a result- this space looks really open, inviting, and functional. I’m also admiring the lantern pendant fixture, that I’m sure perfectly illuminates this space during the evening hours with a cozy glow.

Design Eye Training : 112 - roomfortuesday.com
design : whittney parkinson

You know I love a good vintage stool, and the minimalistic styling is perfectly executed in this room. In regards to the floor plan, this space is right off the kitchen, which I’m imagining would be great for kitchen storage that spills over. It also includes a bank of cabinets with a marble countertop and beverage cooler… ideal for a butler’s pantry. I also like the styling moment that the marble shelf provides. Leaned artwork, pretty stoneware dishes, and florals add the right amount of warmth, texture, and life to this vignette.

Design Eye Training : 112 - roomfortuesday.com
design : whittney parkinson

What did you love about this room? Did anything specific jump out to you? The color palette is especially beautiful. Be sure to follow Whittney on Instagram for more traditional & classic design inspiration. She’s amazing! Here’s to a wonderful weekend ahead. I hope you have a good one!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

6 Comments

  1. Good morning! Yay, Design Eye! Putting us to work on a holiday Friday. Sarah, you’re a taskmaster.🤣 Who knew a mudroom could be so glorious? Of course, that lovely wallpaper and gray/blue trim color jumps right out at me. Such a soft play on the red & blue palette that I adore! Add brick herringbone floors and wow. I might actually enjoy sweeping up the constant mud and leaf litter. I love those (apparently) original windows allowed to shine without blinds or curtains. In fact, the overall minimal styling seems just right for a busy, utilitarian space. The tall closed storage and smart bench-topped drawers are enviable. The apothecary cabinet and pinboard are perfection for an entry. Drop your keys and the leashes; tack up a note or grocery list. And speaking of cabinetry and millwork…impeccable. I also can’t deny the genius of that beverage fridge right inside the door! Yard work is thirsty business. In general, I’m intrigued by the transition from dark to light as you move into the kitchen. I also noted (in the full tour) the mix of different wood tones and countertop stones. Artfully done. To me, this is traditional but with a country/rustic edge. (I won’t say farmhouse…) Would you agree, or is there a more proper term? Whatever you call it, definitely a beautiful, inviting space. I was already following Whittney, but I need to go like a bunch of posts because I never see them! *curses algorithm* Thanks for a lovely end to the week! Enjoy your holiday decorating and happy Pizza Friday, friends!!💜🍕

    1. Yay!! I can’t believe I let so many months pass before another Design Eye post. Shameful! I love a good mudroom moment and this one is what multifunctional dreams are made of. Your notes are spot on! I would definitely call this aesthetic traditional with some rustic elements. You hit the nail on the head. I like that it doesn’t look like new construction and has lots of character. The algorithm hates me, so I’m right there with you… although Whittney has (thankfully) been consistent in my feed these days. I hope you had a fantastic weekend!

  2. Hooray for a design eye post! You chose a stunner. I’m immediately captivated by the blue colored cabinetry and I love that she continued the blue on the rest of the millwork. This is the look that always makes wallpaper pop! I’m noticing that the natural wood elements are the perfect tone to play well with the fruits in the wallpaper. Are they peaches? Oranges? We may never know, but the warm tones are complementing each other rather than competing. The floor is my favorite element of the room. The muted tones bring a calming element, while the darker bricks play off the wood, and there are even a few in there with a bluish gray shade that make it all feel so cohesive. I love the subtle metal mix; did anyone else notice the polished nickel window hardware? There certainly Lu isn’t a lack of storage here-what an amazing idea for this space, and the transition between this butlers pantry/mud room and the kitchen couldn’t be more superb. Marble was the perfect choice- the veining plays so well with the blue. I imagine the kitchen space contains more cabinetry in this same white shade, and more marble. This feels seamless to me. There are definitely lovely textures happening here: the flooring, the woven basket of greenery, the wood pieces…but I’m still missing the textile element. Maybe a pillow on the bench, or an apron hanging on a hook, a towel on the countertop. I’d enjoy just a little more texture. It’s still a gorgeous space. I hope you all enjoy pizza Friday. I’ll be spending my weekend painting most likely, and aim not mad about it. Haha! Have a great one friends!

    1. Hooray for a much needed Design Eye post! I love these and I can’t believe it had been July since my last one. Whittney Parkinson is just so talented, and of course I loved reading about all of your observations of this beautiful room. Did you get lots of painting finished over the weekend? I hope so! I know you’ve got sick kids to care for. I hope everyone is on the mend soon!

  3. My first thought on this beautiful room is a question about the contrast trim. It makes sense that the color of the trim and built in cabinets need to be the same. Is there any way to not do this? I also see contrast trim in a single room and I’m thinking you’d have to pick a color that would go well with your entire house. Assuming you don’t want each room to be different. I’d love more insight to doing while house contrast trim lots of questions!

    1. Great question, Jody! I actually have a blog post specifically on contrast trim that may be helpful. To answer your question, all rooms don’t have to match. I definitely painted contrast trim in one room and not the others. As far as the cabinetry trim goes, it can also go either way- matching or not, depending on the look you’re going for! I hope that helps!