Men are from Mars, Women are Better

Once upon a time a man and woman fell in love and decided to live together forever under the same roof. One day, the woman came home and found a small mountain of nail clippings on the coffee table and asked herself, "Did I think I was living with a human and in reality he's an ape?" The man later explained he intended to throw the nails away when the play-offs were over. And so begins the wonderful journey.....
For any space it's important to create the right balance between colors and shapes; even more so when working with a couple. When men and women join parties it's a difficult task to show both perspectives in their shared space. He wants a fish tank that runs across the whole wall and she wants lots of frames with pictures where she looks good and he looks really cute (fat.) A tip for the ladies: it's best to let him think he's part of the design process like when he comes up with the idea of built in cup holders in the arm rests, nod your head in agreement and then do the exact opposite.



Here are some examples of a spaces working for couples living together;

This space blends both interests together seamlessly. The color palette is neutral and soft, the shapes are varied from severe to curved and it's not over accessorized. Had those womb chairs been darker it would have felt more grounded and masculine. The drapes in the background also add softness.

Again this is a more neutral color palette but the neutrals are darker. The sofa and arm chair are very masculine in their shape so the throw and pillows tossed around work well to soften it. The different sized bowls and flowers on the coffee table bring in femininity and so does the rug; it's a strong pattern with a very soft texture. The core pieces in this room are very dominant so accessorizing becomes the balance of the room.

This is another example of a balanced space, it does lean a little more to the feminine side with the zebra ottoman and that sculpture light fixture. With the rug, walnut wood chair, muted colors and simple architecture, the room works nicely together.



Here are examples of spaces working for just the women:   

This room is really pretty, warm, layered and welcoming; to most people besides men. There are way too many blush tones in this room for a man to feel comfortable with. It would take one time for the guy to stand up from the couch and knock his head into that petite dollhouse-like chandelier. 
For a guy to live in this room, it would be like him saying he likes it when women wear harem pants;

Ladies think this is the hottest coolest thing right now, the men on the other hand think we should keep these pants in the Disney movie 'Aladdin' where they belong.

I love this little vignette, it's almost like a period piece. This delicate corner has everything on the feminine check list;
-the floral wallpaper
-the crystal chandelier
-the vintage shaped mirror, that's hanging from a ribbon
-the 'flea-market-feel' chair and table
-framed butterflies
This vignette leaves women lingering and men running. 


Here are some spaces that work well for the men:

I think a man should be scared to bring a woman into this room, within days there would be an area rug, the pillows would slowly become smaller and fluffier and there would be a bunch of little things on the coffee table leaving no room for anything practical.

I happen to appreciate the simplicity of this bedroom but I don't know if other women would share my opinion. Maybe it's the lack of color or the vastly empty brick wall, but this bedroom needs a little TLC from a woman.

This bedroom is done really well. The blues, camels and light greys are all more masculine but with all the fabric and textures it brings in the feminine. The walls are padded, there's wall to wall carpeting, the drapes are full, the throw on the bed looks luxurious and the stools outside with the white pendant by the bed bring in all the softness the room needs for a perfect coupling. Jeff Andrews was the creator of this room. He is one of my favorite designers, if you request it, I can write a whole post on him :)
Just make a request in one of the many comments you plan on writing.... yes that's a hint.