What, When, Where: Medal-Winning Design

By Kaitlin Madden

There are still six days of Olympic competition left, but so far, Team U.S.A. has proven it’s a force to be reckoned with. The Fab Five won gold, Michael Phelps is now the most decorated Olympian in history and American athletes have medaled in rowing, Judo, diving and more. It’s safe to say that Team U.S.A. will leave London with plenty of hardware.

But once the Olympic flame goes out and the athletes have returned home, the question I’ve always had is: Where do you put your medal(s)? Sure, you could wear it around your neck for a while, or frame it and hang it on a wall. Or you could make like Michael Phelps and wrap your medals up in a tee shirt and unceremoniously stuff them in a makeup case. But, somehow, none of these tributes–especially not the last one–seem quite good enough. If it were me, I’d create an entire room to honor my victory–a shrine to a lifetime of hard work, paid off. Here, a few ideas for medal-worthy rooms.

Gold:
A gilded dining area is the perfect place for champions to breakfast.

Photo courtesy of Elle Decor 

Photo courtesy of southshoredecoratingblog.com

A ceiling with a medal-like motif takes subtler approach.

Design by Kristina Stonebreaker. Photo courtesy of ApartmentTherapy.com

Silver:
A generous home office (for fielding generous endorsement deals, perhaps?).

Interior design by Mar Silver. Photo by Björn Wallander for New England Home

After a hard day of training, a relaxing spot to rest.

Interior design by Mar Silver. Photo by Björn Wallander for New England Home

A sitting room worthy of the world’s best.

Room design by Anthony Como of Luxe Interiors. Photo by Robert Benson for New England Home

Bronze:
The warm tones of this study, featured in the summer issue of New England Home’s Connecticut, would pick up a bronze medal nicely.

Room design by Carole Winer-Sorensen. Photo by Miki Duisterhof for New England Home

A cool take on the color scheme.

Photo courtesy of Linda McDougald Design

Bronze accents take center stage in a neutral space.

Room design by Wendy Schwartz. Photo courtesy of cocokelley.com