Pink, at first, seems only suitable for nurseries, little girl's rooms, and dainty powder rooms. However, it's actually a much more complex color that can be sophisticated, edgy, and even cool. It reads most grown up when paired with moody browns, eggplants, modern art, and vintage furniture. A Sister Parish staple, pink, when applied right, can live beautifully in any room. We've rounded up some of our favorite pink references to inspire your decorating.
First published in House Beautiful October 1968 (photos by O. Philip Roedel), Sister's Manhattan apartment was, of course, extravagant. Varying shades of pink mixed with yellows, greens, and darker hues created a cozy bedroom that's completely enveloping. The patchwork quilt on the bed paired with the dramatic canopy above it creates a high-low contrast that was one of Sister's quintessential design touches.
It was later published in House and Garden September 1972 (photos Horst P. Horst). The dark walls paired with pink curtains, chairs, rugs, and fabrics look incredibly chic.
From the magazine: In the living room, a portrait of Mrs. Parish hangs between windows with curtains in a custom fabric that is now, in 2017, available via Sister Parish Design as "Pocantico". The rug in this room is a "pale-patterned linen rug used in 19th-century Indian summer palaces."
From the magazine: A corner of the living room, 18 by 21 feet, 11 feet high. A vastly comfortable and plump looking chaise in white cotton is in turn covered with bright zig zag-patterned cushions, an Indian throw. The same Alan Campbell wax resist dyed pattern covers the whitewashed signed French chair in front of chaise. Heavy cotton basketweave-patterned curtains in mauve and white with an orange trim hang in deep folds from a white rod.
Below is a photo from one of Sister's two adjoining rooms that she decorated for the very first Mansion in May in 1974. Pink appears to take a back seat in the color scheme of this room, being used only as an accent on the chair cushions, tablecloth, lampshade, throw, and even detail in the curtain fabric. However, the blues, crisp whites, and stenciled floor all seem to be setting the stage for the pink - drawing your eye exactly to this pop of color.
We love this quote from Sister in the Parish Hadley: Sixty Years of American Decorating book. She recalls advice her mother used to give and hearing the same years later in Paris from Madame Ritz. It seems that great decorating tips transcend time and space. Even today, we remain on the quest for good lighting - pink remains the answer!
