COLOR & DESIGN HELP:
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IDEAS FOR MOLDING & TRIM:
IDEAS FOR YOUR BEDROOM:
Modern Centerpiece Idea For Spring
If you follow design trends closely, you’ve probably noticed that vintage bar carts and drinking glasses are super hot right now!
{pinterest}
So, for my latest spring centerpiece I decided to play on this trend by using vintage drinking-glasses as my containers. I snatched up my drinking-glass caddy at the thrift store for less than $20 {you can also find them online at Etsy, eBay and on-line flash sale sites}.
Pink roses and yellow tulips create a classic, casual centerpiece that can work for a bridal shower, baby shower or any spring party.
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Stay tuned for more spring entertaining ideas!
Design and photographs by Kelly Porter
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Amethyst and Gold
{pinterest}
I’m feeling a bit regal today, so I wanted to share a color combo that includes my favorite hue {pale purple} and the most royal of colors — gold.
{a lilac bathroom with gold fixtures via kendallwilkinson.com}
Whether you call it amethyst, lavender or lilac, pale purple captured my heart when I was very young and I haven’t outgrown it. It is a feminine, magical color that just speaks to me. So, if you’ve always thought that pale purple was just for little girls, I’d like to change your mind. This delicate purple actually looks very grown up when paired with neutrals like brown, gray, silver and of course, gold.
{pretty lavender twin beds via bhg.com}
{a gold bathtub fit for a queen via caribbeanlivingblog}
{a living room with amethyst accents and gilded picture frames via tumblr}
{lavender patterned wallpaper with a great gold mirror via decoist.com}
{an amazing amethyst bedroom via designsponge.com}
Each of these rooms has some sort of fantasy element to it. Don’t you agree? I think that’s because amethyst is such a day-dreamy color and gold is so ritzy. When you put the two together, these colors create a look that is filled with endless imagination fit for ‘girls’ of all ages.
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Pink and Gray Craft Room
Today’s post tells the story behind one of my recent projects.
Not long ago I had the pleasure of working with Jayme, who lives in the Baltimore area. She contacted me because she needed help designing a craft room for her two, adorable little girls — Skylar and Hayden.
When I visited Jayme’s home, she showed me a large space that was already dedicated to the girls’ playthings and craft supplies. But the girls were beginning to outgrow many of their toys, and the space needed storage, organization and a fresh new look.
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Jayme wanted the new craft room to have a fun, finished look that the girls could grow with — something that was “more sophisticated than cute.” She also wanted a space that would allow the girls to do their homework, in addition to crafting and playing. Taking all of that into consideration, I created a DIY Design Plan that included this Design Board and Rendering:
After receiving her plan, Jayme wasted no time with implementing the design. The result is a craft room that is sophisticated, streamlined and stunning — if I do say so myself.
••••
The room is very long {over 20 feet} but it is also narrow, so using a vibrant wall color would have overwhelmed the space, especially with the bright overhead lighting. The solution was to use a subtle color on the walls {Evening Shadow by Sherwin-Williams} and a more savory hue {In the Pink by SW} on the expansive ceiling. This also brought a fun ‘wow factor’ to the room. Jayme did a great job of clearing out the space by giving away many of the toys and books. This made room for two new desks {from IKEA} where the girls can work on projects and do homework. For the girls’ names above each desk, we used custom vinyl lettering from trendywalldesigns.com.
The plan also included dress-up stations.
Design Tip: Hanging costumes on wall hooks allows for easy access and also adds colorful ‘wall art’ to the space.
The ebony stained desk was the only piece of furniture that stayed in the new craft room. Jayme bought it from IKEA a while back, and it has held up well. It’s also long enough so both girls can pull up a chair and work on craft projects together. And did you notice the paper towel dispenser on the wall? Jayme’s husband thought of that, and I must admit it was a great idea!
Storage and organization were also a big part of this design. The room already had built-in shelves, so it was just a matter of finding containers that would work the best and fit on the shelves. Jayme decided on the Smart Store totes from containerstore.com.
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We also brought in another great piece from IKEA that provides additional storage for items of different sizes.
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Jayme says that the girls love the new craft room and they are spending a lot of time in their new space…which makes mom and dad very happy. Now, that’s music to my ears!
If you have any questions about this design, or if your room needs a new look and you’d like to become a client {eDesign services are available}, contact me at kelly@porterhousedesigns.com.
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Bohemian Bedrooms
If you’ve been thinking that your bedroom could use a burst of color, this post will be a feast for your eyes…
…but only if you have a taste for something a little unconventional. That’s the one word that comes to mind when I think about the Bohemian design style, and I mean that in a good way.
In a world when many people jump all over whatever trend is hot at the moment, there is something very refreshing about those who do the unexpected. Bohemian rooms are an eclectic mix of vivid colors, patterns, retro and vintage pieces, and global influences. These spaces are always unexpected and definitely eye-catching.
{pinterest}
Some people say that color relaxes them. If you’re one of those people, a Bohemian bedroom may be perfect for you. Start with a traditional/vintage headboard or bed {you can find one at thrift stores, flea markets and on eBay}. Then, pile on the colorful fabrics – bedspreads, blankets, quilts and throw pillows. You can paint the room with a vivid or subtle color, but be sure to include colorful wall art, area rugs and/or lampshades in a great color.
With the Boho style, just about any fashion accessory can be turned into accessories for your room: jewelry, scarfs, handbags and hats. Bohemian is all about personal expression. It’s a look that is artsy, unique and it embraces the beauty of imperfection.
{tumblr}
{tumblr}
No keeping up with trends here. It’s about doing what you want {in a colorful way} to create a a place that is pleasing and relaxing to you — that’s what makes the Bohemian style a great choice for your bedroom.
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Yellow and Pink Rooms
When it comes yellow and pink rooms, many people limit this color scheme to a baby’s nursery or a girl’s bedroom. These colors do work very well in those spaces, but yellow and pink is also very grown up, too. I love the office pictured above {by artisticdesignsforliving.com}. It’s total adult elegance — as well as being exotic and very chic.
{via pinterest.com}
Above is another sophisticated yellow and pink office. This photo made quite a splash on my facebook page. The vintage, painted-pink desk has so much character, and the trellis wall pattern adds beaucoup glamour. Below, lemons and flowers are all the yellow that’s needed to add a spark to this pink and white room.
{source unknown}
And for an eye-catching twist, pair acid yellow with a deeper berry pink:
Here are a few more savory ideas for ‘grown-up’ yellow and pink spaces:
{sfgirlbybay}
{lonny}
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Happy Easter!
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Color Scheme Idea: Gray and Red
Gray is still holding steady as the neutral you need now.
It took a while before I became a fan of gray {it seemed so drab at first} but I’ve come to love it’s versatility and I’ve enjoyed helping many of my clients select the perfect gray paint colors for their homes. I also chose gray for my own dining room and I’m so happy I did. I love a gray room best when it’s graced with a stand-out accent color, and out of all the hues that go so well with gray, my favorite is RED.
{brian patrick flynn}
Gray and Red go together so naturally. I think this is true because these two colors really do complement each other. All by itself gray can appear cold, reserved and tranquil. On the other hand red is hot, sexy and exciting. When these colors are paired together, each one gets some of what the other color has. It’s a match made in color heaven.
{alijab}
{styledhaven}
Many grays are achromatic {void of color} like black and white. But some grays do have blue, purple or green undertones…and that is what makes it such a great, all-around neutral. Just be mindful of these varying undertones when you’re choosing a gray paint color. Other than that, trust me when I say…you have a room in your home that wants to be gray.
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Color Trend Alert: Denim Blue
Denim is one of the biggest fashion trends for Spring 2013. That’s funny because denim jeans and jackets are such a classic…I live in my blue jeans! However, this year’s trend focuses on wearing denim in creative and retro ways:
No matter how you wear it, denim clothing is super versatile. You can dress it up or down but it’s always comfortable and chic. That’s why it works for almost every outfit, and that’s what makes denim blue a great color choice for any room in your home.
{elledecor}
Just like wearing jeans, using a denim wall color or accessories in your home will make your room feel relaxed, even if the overall decor is formal.
{architectural digest}
{Above: denim delights — includes pillow covers from etsy.com}
{trailer park gypsy}
A denim-blue and gold color scheme is elegant without looking too stuffy. A room with a denim and gray color palette feels modern and casual.
{terrysfabrics}
{lilyoake}
Denim blue works with any design style — country, traditional, modern, anything. It’s a color that is very easy on the eyes, and because denim was a hot hue on the Spring fashion runways, it’s only a matter of time before we’ll see it popping up more in home design.
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Choosing A Color: Emerald
Emerald has been a much talked about color lately.
It is Pantone’s Color of the Year for 2013, and we are also getting close to St. Patrick’s Day. Other than the fact that my name is Kelly, I’m nowhere near to being Irish but to those of you who are — Happy Celebrating!
Emerald is a true green. Unlike pine or sea greens which have strong blue undertones, or chartreuse which is heavily influenced by yellow, Emerald is the perfect 50-50 balance of blue and yellow. That makes it a very rich, saturated hue that always makes a statement. Painting a room with Emerald can be scary because it is such a strong color, but if you’re brave enough the result is a space that is refreshing and regal.
{makinglemonadeblog}
For a glam color scheme, pair Emerald with black, white, brown or gray. For a more casual, playful look, add other vibrant colors to Emerald like fuchsia, orange, purple or turquoise.
{via pinterest}
Adding just small “statement” touches of Emerald is a very sophisticated way to create a focal point:
{marcusdesigninc}
{iarbuzz}
Here are four of my favorite Emerald paint picks. Give one a try!
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7 Spring Color Schemes {inspired by México}
Hola, color lovers! I’m just getting back from a vacation in México. My husband and I got some much needed R&R in the Riviera Maya, a beautiful resort area on the Yucatán Peninsula. We spent much of our time at the beach, and we also toured the town of Puerto Morelos. Mexico is such a colorful, vibrant country so I found tons of color ideas to share with you — just in time for spring painting! In this post, I’ve curated seven color schemes. I hope you see something that you’d like to try in your home this year!
We went on a bike tour in and around Puerto Morelos, a bustling beach town. My husband and I rode on a tandem bike and he was the “driver,” so I was able to snap pictures as we rode along. Unfortunately, many of my pictures came out blurry but I did get a few good ones. The houses were so charming and colorful, and the vegetation was very lush.
A few more snapshots from México:
As you can tell, we had a great time! I hope you enjoyed this post and if you want the names of paint colors that closely match any of the inspiration colors, please leave a comment or send me an email at kelly@porterhousedesigns.com.
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