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KELLY'S COLOR CLIQUE
An Eye For Detail
Apartment #102
Apartment Therapy
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Blu Label Bungalow
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COLOR INDEX
Valentine’s Day Dessert Table
Today’s post features a fun and funky dessert table that I created especially for Valentine’s Day. I wanted to design a colorful table that was romantic, whimsical, and a little bohemian. My inspiration pieces? Two sarongs that I purchased while vacationing in Jamaica a few years ago. With their bright colors and tribal print motifs, they made the perfect tablecloth to build upon.
To pull this look together, I headed over to Antique Depot, one of my favorite antique stores in the DC – Baltimore area. Then it was off to the Salvation Army Thrift Store. Definitely not the most glamorous shopping trip, but it resulted in a fun and surprising mix of candy jars and other dessert table essentials.
One of my favorite finds was this terrific ruby red cake plate. I placed it on top of one that I already owned to create a delicious cupcake and cookie tower.
This trio of retro candy jars turned out to be a cute addition to the dessert table. As you can see, they provided plenty of love and happiness.
Other elegant finds included pairs of vintage candy dishes to display grapes, atlas vases for the Tootsie Pops and Asian mini-vases for the flowers.
I added personal touches {and additional color} with scrapbooking paper and ribbon — my two entertaining must-haves! The baked goods, candy and flowers all came from the grocery store. I really saved time and money by mixing in items that I already owned with my new purchases from the antique and thrift store.
This dessert table is clearly a reflection of what I like, which is a mix of modern, vintage, color and cultures.
These days, entertaining is all about injecting our own individual style. So make sure your table and displays include your unique, personal touches. Happy Valentine’s Day!
All images by Kelly Porter of Porter House Designs
Romantic Bedrooms
Valentine’s Day is right around the corner…what better time to bring sexy {and maybe even a little color} back to the bedroom?
A romantic, cozy bedroom can do wonders for your marriage, and with our busy schedules these days, your bedroom should be a place where you can feel comfortable and unwind.
Whether you’re married or single, your bedroom should be your haven — that serene space for relaxing at the end of the day and an inspiring space that rejuvenates you in the morning. And yes, bold colors can be relaxing if they are colors you love.
Aside from crazy, sexy, cool colors, your bedroom should have great lighting. Make sure your lighting sources are on dimmers, or switch some bulbs to a low wattage so that you can create a romantic mood. See more great tips at the bottom of this post.
My tips for a romantic bedroom:
- Remove clutter! Get rid of those piles of clothes, magazines and mail, and return your kid’s toys to their rooms. It’s difficult to relax and romance in a room filled with out-of-place stuff.
- Invest in quality sheets with a thread count of about 400…and if it’s been a while since you’ve purchased a mattress, you may be due for an upgrade. These days, mattresses are thicker, have pillow-top options, and will offer you a better night’s sleep.
- Layering equals comfort & versatility, so use a combination of silky and textural bed coverings {duvet, coverlet, throw, etc}.
- Be disciplined with T.V. watching. Viewing too much television or watching the wrong thing can kill romance {and give you weird dreams}. Instead, hook up your ipod or invest in a Sound Soother to hear the ocean waves.
- Use scented candles, home fragrances or fresh flowers to make your bedroom smell scrumptious.
- Give yourself permission to linger and enjoy your space by having a late-night dessert or morning breakfast in bed.
By all means, put your bedroom first! It really is the most important room in your home.
All photographs from House To Home
Wedding of Many Colors
This is one of the prettiest, most colorful weddings I’ve seen in a while, and I just think it’s terrific!
Designed by Paige One Events, this gorgeous wedding features a sizzling mix of vibrant colors and cultures.
The main colors are green, orange and fuchsia, with some blues and yellows mixed in. I love how the flower girls wore Japanese kimonos in different hues.
Latin and Indian cultures were also represented at this festive wedding. I think the super-colorful cupcake tower takes the cake! This is such a fun idea — using a variety of flavors, flowers and berries.
Why limit yourself to just one or two wedding colors when you can have a multi-colored celebration? This gorgeous wedding proves that, when it comes to color, more is magnificent!
photos by: Paige One Events & Hostess With The Mostess
Fuchsia-Friendly Apartment
Straight from the pages of Architectural Digest’s February issue: an eye-catching renovation by New York designer Roderick Shade.
This 550 sq. ft. Harlem apartment belongs to the designer himself, and I love the fact that he courageously used a vibrant shade of fuchsia as the focal color which ties all of the rooms together. Roderick also demonstrated a hefty dose of thriftiness in designing his new home…
…He shopped at thrift stores, flea markets, and he even scored a few great furniture pieces for free {including the slipper chairs shown at the top} when he grabbed up what others had put out on the curb. Also, check out his choice of lighting fixtures: paper lanterns purchased for $6 each! Love it!
In the AD article, Roderick says that color is “the strongest, simplest weapon in my arsenal.” By looking at his liberal use of fuchsia, you can see that he is not afraid to draw his weapon. However, he has also made sure that this strong color was tempered by using grayish taupes and white — creating a cozy and colorful home. Bravo!
All photos from Architectural Digest
Fabric. Color. Love.
I’m really loving the colors and patterns in these gorgeous fabrics by Amy Butler. Tons of color inspiration in these bohemian, retro, happy fabrics…
…and notice all of the mixing and matching going on here. Of course, I love that too!
{Very pretty Amy Butler prints}
There is definitely a place in my home for these fabrics! I’ve lived in my home for 10 years now, and this year I’ll be making some fun changes. I plan on blending in really cool bohemian-style touches through fabric, layering, funky accessories and new lighting fixtures {or at least new lamp shades}. I look forward to sharing it all with you and passing on my new love for Boho-inspired interiors.
All photos from amybutlerdesign.com
{Hot! Hot! Hot!} Colores
I don’t know about you, but I’m freezing!
The winter here in the Mid-Atlantic region has been frigid and snowy thus far. So to heat things up a bit I’ve decided to showcase sizzling colors from south of the border. Caliente!
As a color lover, I totally heart Spanish and Latin American design — an aesthetic marked by hacienda-style architecture and pure, vibrant color that naturally gives you a feeling of warmth. In Mexico, color is used abundantly. For centuries, hues have been inspired by the sun, sky, soil, clay and indigenous plants and fruit. A signature color that you’ll often see in Mexican interiors is called Rosa Mexicano.
Rosa Mexicano is a very vivid pink that is often paired with orange and yellow. Other popular color combinations include a mix of red, indigo, violet and mid-tone green.
Although these colors are used in a way that is pleasing to the eye, the overall goal of the Mexican color palette is to emphasize the architecture, such as ceiling beams, arches, stairs, shutters and doorways.
Colorful Mexican and Talavera tile is also used in a variety of striking combinations.
One more…
You may remember this photo from my ‘House of Paint’ post. This house is not located in Latin America. It’s the home of one of my clients, who bravely selected bold colors reminiscent of Guatemala — definitely one of my favorite projects.
Well, I’m feeling much warmer now, and I hope these photos have brought out the color courage in you!
Colorful Catalogs
Today is my birthday and the mailman brought me a bunch of catalogs.
After I got over the fact that I didn’t get that million dollar check in the mail, I figured I might as well flip through the catalogs to compare hot new items and look for color themes. Here are my picks:
I love the delicate patterns of these colorful throw pillows. After a long, cold winter {like the one we’re having on the East Coast}, these pillows will be just the thing to usher in the spring.
This year, CB2 is featuring items in fun, bright colors such as this lemongrass sofa {above}. In line with the current trend, the catalog showcases contemporary hues along with gray, black and white.
Love this chest! That gorgeous blue is somewhere in between turquoise and peacock blue. I’m actually thinking about painting my front door this color. Below is a chair and pillows in the prettiest of patterns.
I love West Elm for their budget-friendly, casual seating. These ’scoop-back’ chairs {above} are no exception, and why choose just one? 2010 will be all about mixing and matching, so select one of each and place them around your dining table.
Here is another great chair that can double-duty as a dining chair and accent chair. CB2 calls this color persimmon — which is really a variation of coral — which you’ll also see described as mango this year. I’m really loving this color right now.
If these featured items are any indication of what’s to come, this will be a year of bountiful color {and way more catalogs}!
Color Trends For 2010
Welcome to a colorful, new decade! In 2010, more of us will embrace color with a free-spirited approach as we become more comfortable expressing our individual sense of style.
The hot colors for 2010 are a fun mix of vibrant hues and neutrals that reflect our desire for casual, cherry and relaxing personal spaces that balance our hectic lifestyles. Take for instance, Turquoise, which has been declared the 2010 Color of the Year by Pantone.
With tones that mimic the sea and sky, Turquoise is already a classic favorite; it has long been our go-to color when we’re looking for serenity. In 2010, this color will take on a more vibrant chroma. We’ll also see Violet, Coral and Iridescent Yellow. I’m quite certain that our very fashionable First Lady Michelle Obama has something to do with this. It’s important to pay close attention to fashion, because home trends almost always follow clothing trends.
The 2010 colors will also reflect our own confidence when it comes to adding and combining hues in our homes and our wardrobes. The trend is to create palettes that are original and unique to our own experiences and personality.
The Refreshed palette, by Sherwin-Williams, demonstrates a bold, uninhibited approach to combining happy colors. Even blues, such as Sapphire {shown below} will take on a more vivid appearance.
The Free Spirit palette, by Colour Futures, showcases muted colors in an unexpected mix. We’ll see this ‘mix-and-match’ trend much more in 2010 — with color and furnishings.
Also in 2010, Gray will continue to gain popularity as the new neutral — replacing beige, tan and khaki. The Dark Glamour and Soft Structure palettes {below} by Behr, show us how grays can work with a variety of other hues to create a sleek, modern space.
{Notice the Pumpkin Orange shown here and in some of the other featured palettes. We’re sure to see that color in 2010, also.}
Finally, 2010 trend colors will most likely be reinforced and shaped by 2009-year-end influencers. For example, the innovative blockbuster movie Avatar.
This feature film took us to the fictitious planet, Pandora, where color was abundant. Even the natives {above} were patterned with intriguing shades of blue. Here I’ve created an Avatar palette that includes a few colors you’ve already seen in this post:
{Colors from Sherwin-Williams: Blue Beyond, Cloudless, Frolic, Larchmere, Bohemian Black, Yarrow, Real Red, Verve Violet}
So many colors to consider in 2010, but don’t let it overwhelm you! Remember, although color trends can point us in the right direction, you will be happiest in your space when you choose colors that make you feel comfortable. It could be your favorite color, one that brings back good memories, or a color that just makes you smile — even if you can’t explain why. So, begin with that color and then add on to create your personal palette.
Have a Colorful New Year!
5 Last-Minute Christmas Ideas
With just one day left until Christmas, I wanted to share 5 easy, last-minute decorating ideas from the Porter House — just the thing for those holiday procrastinators {you know who you are}!
1. Candles and Holiday Greenery
Arrange an assortment of pillar or votive candles, along with fresh sprigs of holly, pine or magnolia leaves. You can find all of these varieties at your local garden center. Or, if you already have mature evergreens in your yard, you can do what I did here and just clip a few branches.
Place your arrangement at the front porch to greet your guests or create a tablescape indoors on your dining or coffee table.
2. Pine Cones and Pomanders
Combine cinnamon-scented pine cones and orange pomanders; arrange them in a bowl, platter or basket. Use fresh oranges for the pomanders. Using a toothpick, poke holes in the oranges and create a pattern. Then push whole cloves into each hole. This centerpiece is laden with texture and fragrance. It also makes a great conversation piece!
3. Candy Cane Displays
Candy canes are not only inexpensive, but they come in a variety of colors and flavors. Create a festive display by arranging them in colorful goblets and mugs.
This is a great party idea because it’s always fun to let your guests help themselves to edible arrangements.
4. Ornamental Displays
Place pretty ornaments in a bowl or decorative platter for a very simple, elegant centerpiece.
5. Put a Bow on It!
Purchase ready-made bows from the craft store or make your own. Bows make the perfect finishing touch on wreaths, topiaries, chairs, lamps…you name it. I made all of the bows shown above. It’s pretty easy, but you may need a little practice. Click Here to learn how to make bows.
I hope you’ve enjoyed these last-minute ideas — from my house to yours. Happy Decorating and Merry Christmas!
{Click Here for more inspiration from the Porter House}
All photographs by Kelly Porter of Porter House Designs
Decked Out Dressing Table
Come holiday season, there are very few areas in my home that go undecorated. Even my dressing table gets a festive, glam treatment.
Tiffany Blue is my Christmas color of choice here because it’s the accent color in my bedroom {it’s a very serene and romantic color}.
This dressing table is actually a small desk that I bought from a thrift store over 10 years ago. As you can see by the photo below, it was less than impressive…
…but it was nothing that glossy white paint and new hardware couldn’t fix. I also re-surfaced the top with a ceramic tile mosaic. The ‘vintage chic’ chair came from an old, wrought-iron garden set that belonged to my husband’s grandmother. I spruced it up with a new seat cover.
I love decorating with ribbon because it’s inexpensive but makes a huge impact. I was very excited to find festive gold and aqua ribbon, which coordinated perfectly with everything else.
I’m a firm believer that busy women and moms need a pretty space of their own. You can turn any small table into a delightful dressing table. Just gather up your perfume bottles, photos and other special mementos, and bring in a glamorous free-standing mirror.
Then, during the holiday season, you’ll have a special space to decorate any way you want, using the colors you love.
All photos by Kelly Porter of Porter House Designs
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