Photography by Rett Peek

 

Mara Lamb Malcolm, designer and co-owner of Lamb Interiors, was recently contacted by a west Little Rock, Ark., family to update the look of several rooms in their home, one room at a time.

First on the list, changing the family’s 15-year-old daughter’s bedroom from a tween/teen décor to a design befitting a young adult.

“This room had a really vibrant, funky color scheme, which was fine for a younger child; however, this teen now desires a calmer, more mature color palette, a room that was pretty yet serene,” Malcolm said.

This chair is actually part of a dining set. Malcolm added this Traci Zeller pillow to bring fun and color to an otherwise classic but traditional chair. With the addition of this decorative drum, flowers and a painting, she created a lovely nook.

This chair is actually part of a dining set. Malcolm added this Traci Zeller pillow to bring fun and color to an otherwise classic but traditional chair. With the addition of this decorative drum, flowers and a painting, she created a lovely nook.

Every teen room needs a desk or table for work space, whether it’s used for homework, crafts or as a vanity. “We used two ottomans, versus a chair; they are super easy to move around for use as extra seating,” Malcolm said.

Every teen room needs a desk or table for work space, whether it’s used for homework, crafts or as a vanity. “We used two ottomans, versus a chair; they are super easy to move around for use as extra seating,” Malcolm said.

 

Tips:

Be cool. Start with a neutral color for the walls. The right color can create a soothing, spa-like haven, which is ideal in a bedroom. This also allows you to easily redecorate, should your tastes change.

Don’t dumb it down. Using quality furniture and original pieces of art in a teen’s room is a great opportunity to introduce them to exceptional elements. And remember quality doesn’t necessarily mean expensive.

Mix it up. Speaking of expense … consider spending a bit more for foundational pieces, and accessorizing with less expensive items. Malcolm said, “For instance, the chairs in this room are family heirlooms and we’ve added fun and trendy items — such as these inexpensive mirrors from a local department store — without compromising the overall design.”

Lighten up. Light fixtures finish the room. The pendant Malcolm used in this room is larger than the norm; however, the size of the room accommodates it, and it really adds to the space, achieving both functionality and style.

Reflect on it. Be certain the client’s personality is reflected through the design. This room has classic lines and the color — yellow, purple and shades of blue — is injected through the bedding, art, accent pillows and flowers.

Mara Lamb Malcolm

Mara Lamb Malcolm    photo by Meredith Melody

Resource List:

At Home Décor Superstore
11801 Chenal Pkwy.
Little Rock, AR 72211
athome.com

Cynthia East Fabrics
1523 Rebsamen Park Road
Little Rock, AR 72202
(501) 663-0460
cynthiaeastfabrics.com

Lamb’s Interior Design
(501) 813-0202
lambsinteriordesign.com

TEC Electric
9221 Maumelle Blvd.
North Little Rock, AR 72113
(501) 758-5483
tecelectric.com