Design Star Janet Morganti knows a thing or two about using the color blue in the home. Ok…she knows a lot more than that! The award-winning designer has been with Ethan Allen for twenty years creating interiors in the U.S. and abroad. Her design philosophy is, and always has been, to make clients happier and more comfortable in their homes—and that’s exactly what she did in two notable projects, where she used the classic blue and white color combo to create two very different desired looks.
“Blue can be very cool, but very calming,” says Janet. While she points out that pairing it with white can really make it pop, her projects demonstrate that the color combo isn’t just a nautical style. With the right mix of tones, textures, and styles, blue and white can be anything from dress-down to dressy. Take a look at how she used blue and white and pick up some pointers for yourself!
FARMHOUSE FORMALITY
Janet took an unexpected formal twist in an older farmhouse-style home, choosing an inky blue and white palette to create a bright and cheery elegant look in the living room. Its well-appointed style is a mix of old and new—combining the client’s existing Ethan Allen pieces with new furniture and accessories in updated traditional styles.
Janet enhanced the glamorous quality of the blue with a tufted Chadwick sofa. She dressed the rest of the room up with metallic and glass Jocelyn coffee and end tables, along with dazzling accents. The deep blue wall color and lustrous Loomed Wool rug in navy create a rich backdrop for the room’s elegant furnishings.
A pair of Rand wing chairs upholstered in a blue and white paisley print fabric inspired the room’s overall style. Also a pair of white leather Corbin ottomans by the fireplace, as well as the spider back Cristal Chair by the windows, provide everyday functionality with a fashionable flair.
BEACHY KEEN COMFORT
For a client with eight grandchildren and aging parents, a beach house family room needed to be comfortable (and resilient) for everyone from the age of eight to eighty. Janet turned to the crisp and classic navy blue and white color palette to create a coastal comfort zone for beach days to rainy days.
Janet strikes a perfect balance between comfort and style—and it’s all in the details. The Retreat sectional with chaise is upholstered in a soft, easy-care outdoor fabric with contrast welting, and accented with fashionable outdoor pillows. The artwork and custom drapery on the windows weave the blue and white story throughout the space with clean, crisp symmetry.
High performance meets high style: the indoor/outdoor rug handles all the high traffic beautifully while the Villa media center—finished in a striking white with contrasting navy blue interior—provides ample storage for kids’ games and electronics and displays chic coral accents.
