When interior designer Sally Matak found out she was going to have a baby, a question instantly popped into her head: "How will I design his bedroom?" The Bloomfield Township, Michigan–based designer quickly went to work on her plan for the yet-to-be-born baby Theo.
"I wanted clean lines, because that's the aesthetic we like," recalls Matak, who owns MATAKdesign. "No teddy bear, cowboy or frog themes for us."
That's a far cry from the bedroom Matak had as a little girl growing up in Ontario, Canada. "As a kid," she says, "I had this wallpaper that was primarily green with a woodland theme … cute little animals like squirrels and beavers – really!"
"Once we knew about Theo, there was no question but that we were going green," she says. That commitment enhances her home's overall vibe. "We like to use natural materials throughout the house, like wood and stone," she notes. Natural fiber rugs and drapes also add to the mix.
For Theo's room, Matak set her sights on a cheerful, graphic appeal, including jaunty stripes, fresh polka dots and bright colors. "A happy look was key," she says, "since we have some gloomy days here in Michigan, in the way of long winters and lots of snow."
When it came to wall colors, Matak gave the crib wall a vibrant blue-striped motif, while a "quieter" blue was selected for the remaining walls. "That way, the window treatments, artwork and accent wall could really pop." Both blues are reminiscent of the Caribbean Sea. For sheen, she used eggshell. "For kids' rooms, an eggshell finish is a must," she notes. "There's a slight hint of a shine, and it holds up better for cleaning."
The blue wall colors enabled Matak to harmonize the scheme with decorative punches of orange and lime green offset by whites. Espresso wood floors and window trim provide a rich, warm tone and run throughout the home. "I love the contrast, but the man who worked on our floors wasn't too happy when I asked him to dye the floors this dark color. After all, the darker the stain, the harder the work," recalls Matak.
