MY WEBSITE:
COLOR COLUMNIST FOR:
HELPING YOU CHOOSE THE RIGHT COLORS:
-
POPULAR PARTY IDEA – GIRLS SPA @ HOME:
-
Popular Posts
Pretty Purple Centerpiece
I was in the grocery store the other day, as I am quite often — having three teenage boys and all — when a bunch of pretty purple carnations caught my eye.
I rarely see purple carnations in different color tones bunched together like that {unless I’m at the flower wholesaler}, so I grabbed them up and created a simple centerpiece using a $5.00 vase that I found at Marshall’s.
Pale lavender, lilac, aubergine and magenta make a very pretty palette for parties, weddings and showers. Or, if you love purple, you may just want to buy a bunch of these carnations for yourself. Note: Flowers are not just for special occasions.
If you can’t find purple carnations, you should be able to special order them at your local grocery store or florist. You can also purchase them on-line from fiftyflowers.com.
photos by Porter House Designs
Ideas For Painting Your Trim
My clients often ask me for advice on painting trim and molding, so a couple of years ago I decided to write a post about painting picture-frame wainscoting. To my surprise, it has become the most popular story on my blog, so I thought it was time to do another post about trim.
{Cleverly ‘camouflaged’ picture-frame molding by mhouseinc}
Painting any type of trim can be a challenge, especially when you want to do something other than white. But it really just comes down to amount of impact you want your trim to have. Do you want it to stand out and be a focal point in your space? Or would you prefer that the trim blend-in and quietly reinforce the room’s color scheme? If you answered yes to either question, then take a look at the following photos for inspiration:
In the room pictured above, the crown molding blends into the room because it’s painted the same color as the walls. Design Tip: For a subtle distinction, paint the trim in a different finish, such as a lacquer or high gloss finish.
Your trim will pop the most when you paint it with a vivid hue that contrasts against a more understated wall color or wall covering.
Design Tip: Create an elegant, monochromatic look by using two or three colors from the same color family, as shown in the photo above.
{domino}
For more tips on painting trim and molding, check out Ideas For Picture-Frame Wainscoting.
Color Trend: Black And Bright
Black rooms {and black accent walls} have been gaining in popularity over the past couple of years.
Black walls have been on a slow ride to the top, and with good reason: It’s a bold choice. Plain and simple. Black was my first choice when I recently re-styled my sitting room {shown above}. I painted just one accent wall and left the other ones crimson, at the request of my husband. Even painting one wall black was a bit scary…
…but I love it! Using black is very tricky. Unless your room gets a ton of natural light, has ample artificial lighting or is open to other rooms — I strongly suggest painting just one accent wall. Yes, this is where an accent wall really makes sense. Otherwise, you’ll end up with an extremely dark room.
Some designers like to use white furniture and fabrics in black rooms. That’s OK, but I think using bright, vivid colors looks much better and it’s way more fun! In my sitting room, I used my red chairs, and brought in splashes of orange, pink, yellow and wasabi green.
Here are a collection of other black rooms that I love:
If you decide to paint a black room or wall, here’s an important tip: Unless your room is very low-traffic — meaning no one will ever go in there — do not use a flat finish. Black paint in a flat finish is like a chalkboard. You will not be able to even brush up against the wall without a smudge showing. For the best results, use either a high-quality, cleanable matte or satin finish. And bold as it may be, you’ll love having a black space in your home!
Color To Watch In 2012: Yellow
If last year’s color sightings are any indication, 2012 could be a huge year for yellow.
This radiant color has already graced the cover of House Beautiful’s February 2012 issue. That’s a prime example of how home design often follows fashion:
Yellow was spotted all over the runway during New York Fashion Week back in September, and this sun-drenched hue quickly moved into celebrity wardrobes…
…Including the closet of Malia Obama, who is becoming quite the tastemaker herself. She wore this gorgeous yellow, satin dress to the Christmas In Washington event.
Yellow has the amazing ability to add sunshine where there is none…
{michelle hinkley via houzz}
…And it makes a sunny space feel even warmer and more inviting.
{style illuminated}
Yellow also represents the first flowers of spring.
{My spring daffodil centerpiece}
And yellow shines on swank accessories of all kinds.
Are you warming up to yellow? If so, you can learn more about how to pick the right yellow in my featured Ideabook over at Houzz.com. Enjoy!
-
-
LET'S GET SOCIAL:
-
