Girl Power

Under preteen Virginia O'Connor's direction, designer Elizabeth Reynolds and Virginia's mother, Cynthia, created a vibrant retro room inspired by Virginia's love of music from the '60s and '70s (she plays the guitar). The décor of this '80s Georgian-style home in McLean, Virginia, is characterized by confident use of clear, bright color throughout, although Virginia's room is certainly the boldest.

WHAT MAKES THIS ROOM WORK

•  Bold color. Pink becomes empowered rather than demure in this vibrant shade of fuchsia mixed with orange and purple.

 •  A brightly patterned wallpaper on the ceiling. "The pattern balances the bold color on the walls better than a void of white would have, and it brings down the scale of the room," says Reynolds.

•  Simple furnishings with modern touches. The maple bedside table and ivory carpet don't compete with the brights. On the other hand, the re-covered vintage lounge chair suits the '60s vibe perfectly.

•  Colorful details. Beaded trim bestows the candy-striped lampshades with a chic touch of "jewelry." Fabric-covered nesting boxes enliven a corner.

BEDROOM BASICS: Designers agree that swing-arm lamps by the bed offer the best adjustable reading light. If there is a canopy or draped fabric panel behind the bed, the lamp can slip through a buttonhole notch in the fabric or even have a matching fabric shade to blend into the bedding. As a rule of thumb, Donovan suggests a height of 42 inches from the bottom of the shade to the floor, but experiment to find the right height for you.

RESOURCES: Elizabeth Reynolds Interiors, 703/ 470-6606, www.elizabethreynoldsinteriors.com; all fabrics and wallpaper by Osborne & Little (to the trade), 212/751-3333, www.osborneandlittle.com.

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