2011 January | Color Sizzle

Celebrate Winter!

With all of the snow that some of you have been getting lately, I’m so excited to give a bit of winter decorating advice on Family Circle.com this month!

It’s no secret that I’m definitely passionate about color, but I’m also crazy about snow –the white stuff!  I love big blizzards, a good snowball fight and snow tubing, but what I love most is just watching the snow fall from the sky.  I’m continually amazed at how snowflakes appear underneath a microscope {and sometimes without one} — like little, flowers made from ice crystals.  I mean, how does God do that?

We just had our first major snowstorm of the year.  I enjoyed walking around my neighborhood taking pictures and taking in the scenery.

In the Family Circle article, you’ll find suggestions from several designers on how to brighten up your space this winter.  Among them:  new accessories, flowers and a different furniture layout.  All wonderful ideas, but my advice — Embrace The Season — means something a little different.  It means enjoying winter for what it is, instead of making it feel like something else.

I shared my tradition of making paper snowflakes with my kids.  Although they are older now and would rather be text messaging, I managed to bribe them into making a few this year {above}.  This is a great project for younger kids, especially when they’re home from school on snow days.

I also like to display treasured ‘cold weather’ finds such as my vintage skis that I found on eBay…

…and here is our Snow Buddy who hangs around all winter long.  Well, actually he’s my Buddy {my husband doesn’t like him very much}.

I’m truly convinced that the best way to brighten up winter days is to celebrate them.  Let It Snow!

January 30, 2011 | Filed Under Winter Decorating | 3 Comments 

Colors To Watch in 2011 – Part 3

If you’ve been following my recent posts, you know that I’ve already named the following hot hues as Colors to Watch this year:

Wasabi GREEN | Peacock BLUE | Smoky GRAY

In this post, I’m presenting the fourth and final color {and the hottest of them all}.  Drumroll please…..

{decorpad}

This alluring shade of red is one of my faves right now.  I love warm colors and I’m also drawn to ‘in-between’ colors.  In the case of Fiery Red, is it red or is it really burnt orange?  I like that you don’t know for sure.  Hey, color should be a little mysterious sometimes….it keeps things interesting.

Fiery Red was spotted on the runway recently…

…and pop princess Rhianna is rocking her red ‘do all over the globe.  It’s no surprise that this super hot color has also turned up in HGTV’s Dream Home 2011:

Only Fiery Red {Tomato Red by Sherwin-Williams} could warm up this cozy Ski Dorm, which is part of HGTV’s newest Dream Home located in Stowe, Vermont.

Of course this color isn’t just for colder climates.  Fiery Red adds a warm, welcome pop of color to any space any time of the year:

{design redux}

{jennifer flanders}

{google images}

{amanda nisbet}

{decorpad}

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January 19, 2011 | Filed Under Color Trends | 8 Comments 

Colors To Watch In 2011 – Part 2

You may already know that I’m ‘forecasting’ four hot colors to watch this year.  In my last post, I featured the first two:

I heard from many of you saying that you love the Wasabi Green, so perhaps I’m on to something!  In this post, I was supposed to reveal my final two picks….but in an effort to create a wave of total suspense, I’ve decided to go with just the third pick:

{decorpad}

{mochihome}

No smoke and mirrors here!  Gray has really grown in popularity with designers and homeowners.  This color has been seen everywhere in interiors and fashion — replacing beige to become the new neutral.

It has been speculated that Gray’s popularity stems directly from the rise of technology — think chrome laptops and industrial, hi-tech office spaces.

{picsdecor}

{family circle}

We’re also using Gray to capture the silver tones in stainless steel appliances, nickel fixtures and even the white gold in jewelry.  However, the Gray that I’m featuring here is a deep, slate color which is very cozy and chic.

{homeanddecor}

{bellalife}

{family circle}

{hamptons}

These stylish spaces show that we are indeed Going Gray. Be sure to check back for the next ‘Colors To Watch In 2011′ post to see my final pick!  In the meantime, here’s a hint:  Where there’s smoke….

CLICK HERE to see ‘Colors To Watch In 2011 – Part 1.

January 7, 2011 | Filed Under Color Trends | 11 Comments 

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