We’re in the middle of winter with 2 major snowstorms headed our way this weekend. It got me thinking about the particular interior decor elements that make our homes warm and inviting during this rather bleak time of year. And so, this post is as much about how the artist lives as living with art.
As if reading my mind, Cottages & Gardens wrote a wonderful article about the artist Mariska Meijers, who’s created a home that’s just brimming with rich vibrant colors and dramatic artistic flair, yet very livable and oh-so cozy. A native of the Netherlands Mariska settled in Amsterdam permanently in 2003 after living in London, Singapore and Stockholm during her earlier high-adrenalin driven career in finance law.
Mariska is a painter of abstracts and still-lifes on canvas, a home decor store owner and designer. Hers is a world of rich jewel tones with Farrow & Ball Hague Blue, her favored neutral, covering all the walls. With her artistic eye Mariska puts together unlikely combinations of color, pattern and texture that play off each other unexpectedly well. All contribute to creating a cozy ambiance and needed antidote to winter.
Hague Blue by Farrow & Ball covers the walls making a vivid backdrop for this compact 860 sq ft 2-bedroom apartment
Blue and red is probably my favorite color combination for interiors, especially when my intention is to bring warmth and intimacy to the space…I have a red and blue media room which no-one ever wants to leave due to its high cozy factor...in Mariska’s workspace the bookcase continues the Farrow & Ball Hague Blue theme, giving the shelves high visual impact - you can remove a book without ruining the entire look…just love the porcelain elephant sitting on the ladder - I’m assuming no small children live here
pillows designed by Mariska on the sofa in a mix of patterns play nicely with the intricately patterned area rug…varying gold tones not surprisingly, add warmth to the room
No generic off-white paper lampshades here - this small change makes a big difference adding yet another opportunity to express color and pattern
This vignette features 5 patterns which don’t necessarily say let’s be together - however the gold highlighted throughout hangs it all together
Mariska looks very chic in one of her own designs and a marvelous artwork behind her…is that Yves Klein Blue on the Louis XV chair in the painting?