We’ve been big fans of French designer Caroline Gomez since 2009, when she launched her first collection of home furnishings and accessories. Light of touch with practical purpose, the designs are first prototyped in Gomez’s studio in Bordeaux, France, before being sent out for artisanal manufacturing by French craftsmen. Partial to keeping things close to home, Gomez invited us into the live/work home and studio that she shares with her husband and young daughter, where her specialist training as a colorist is soon evident.
Photography by Julien Fernandez via Style Me Pretty.
Above: Gomez's live/work house is in a former jukebox repair shop that was built in the 1930's. In the open, all-white, main space, she uses color to define the living, dining, and work areas.
Above: By introducing a wall of windows, as well as skylights and internal glass partitions, Gomez was able to fill the house with daylight and greenery and her urban courtyard feels like an integral part of the main space. Her furnishings are a mix of her own designs with midcentury Scandinavian pieces.
Above: Defined by a yellow wall, the dining area sits outside the kitchen which is separated from the main space by a glass partition. Around her dining table, Gomez arranges an assortment of midcentury designer chairs: the Panton Chair by Verner Panton, the Series 7 Side Chair by Arne Jacobsen, and an Eames Molded Plastic Side Chair.
Above: Gomez introduces color into her kitchen with an under-the-counter pink Smeg refrigerator and a few well chosen accessories.
Above: A painted rectangle of mint green demarcates the living room area, while a light blue calls out Gomez's studio beyond.
Above: An Eames RAR style rocker in mint green sits in front of a pale gray wall.
Above: A closer look at the mint green that quietly defines the living area. The standing wood lamp is Gomez's La Baladeuse design.
Above: Gomez painted her studio a light blue that crosses a corner and extends two thirds of the way up the walls.
Above: The color specialist finds inspiration in fabric color samples and organizes her books on the top of the bookcase by hue.
Above: In the master bedroom, Gomez plays with blocks of color. La Torche, another of her lamp designs sits on bedside wooden drawers painted pink and gray to match the walls.
Above: By turning the corner with the block of gray paint, Gomez alludes to a headboard.
Above: In the family room area, Gomez painted a band of gray to wainscot height to ground the daybed and midcentury credenza. She used her own Linge Longue shelves to form a corner display of cards, drawings, and photographs.
Above: Gomez introduced a painted blue/green backdrop to the wooden desk outside her daughter's bedroom.
Above: Canvas curtains hide storage while an assortment of paper lanterns create understated whimsy in the daughter's bedroom. See 5 Favorites: Paper Lantern DIY's for more ideas.
Above: A pink Pigeon Light by Ed Carpenter hovers over an assortment of floral and geometric patterned cushions.
Above: An unxpected combination of mint green and black tiles brings an otherwise plain and standard bathroom to life.
Above: In the pale blue entry outlined with bright yellow, Gomez paneled a wall with a sheet of galvanized metal to wainscot height to protect against wear and tear.
Above: Gomez and her young daughter outside their Bordeaux abode.
To see more of Gomez's furnishings an accessories, have a look at Display-Worthy Mood Cutting Boards and Lean-To Shelving and Storage. Her website and online shop are at Studio Caroline Gomez.
Intrigued by Gomez's use of pink in her master bedroom and want to give a it a try? See color specialist Eve Aschcraft's post about Ways to Introduce Pink.