COLOR & DESIGN HELP:
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IDEAS FOR MOLDING & TRIM:
IDEAS FOR YOUR BEDROOM:
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.
- BEFORE PHOTOS -
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.
- BEFORE -
- AFTER -
We also brought in another great piece from IKEA that provides additional storage for items of different sizes.
- BEFORE -
- AFTER -
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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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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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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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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Black And White Rooms
Why did I write a post about Black and White rooms on a blog called Color Sizzle?
You all know that I’m crazy for color. Black and white is achromatic — meaning void of color — so what gives? Well, I’m always moved by color, but I also love contrast. Sometimes, it’s the contrast in a room that speaks louder than anything else. And a black and white ‘color’ scheme creates the most powerful contrast of all.
Black and white is not only visually striking, but it’s also a classic look {think Art Deco} that has real staying power {like Modern Glam}. Black and white is tried and true when other trends have come and gone.
{kwid.com}
{digsdigs}
Another plus with this achromatic ‘color’ scheme is that you can add any other color or pattern to it, and it always works. That’s good news for those ADD types {like myself} who get bored easily and want to change things up a bit.
{marthastewart}
{tyid}
Although, there is no real color with the Black and White combination, this duo offers a ton of energy, {from the contrast} balance, and the presence of perfect harmony…sort of like Ebony and Ivory…and maybe that’s the next best thing to color.
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Room Tour: My Gray Dining Room
I’ve finally completed the re-design of my dining room, and here’s the big reveal!
Years ago, I designed my dining room in the Spanish Mediterranean style…complete with Venetian plaster faux finished walls and tapestry-inspired fabrics. I love the warmth of this look, but it was time for a modern makeover:
The glass dining table and sideboard {shown below} remain in the room, along with a couple of clay pots. These pieces give the space that Spanish warmth that I wanted to keep. I purchased some new items for the room, like the white leather dining chairs…but it’s the older pieces, passed down from family members, that add real character.
My husband’s aunt gave us the sideboard when we first moved into our home. It’s from Century, made in the 1970′s so it’s solid wood! It originally had brass handles but I switched them out for new chrome pulls. The mirror above the sideboard belonged to my grandmother-in-law. It had a dark wood frame that I spray-painted silver.
Another special and unique addition to my dining room are the acrylic bubble panels:
These panels are my prized possessions. My favorite aunt gave them to me after many years of displaying them in her home. I remember looking at them as a young girl and thinking how cool they were, so I was thrilled when she “handed them down” to me! I love that they are so 1970′s retro. My aunt passed away a few years ago, so I’m glad to have such a special reminder of her in my home.
To the right of the bubble panels, you may have noticed my ‘plant stand.’ This is yet another family piece that has a fun story behind it…literally! It’s a city-issued metal box that my grandmother-in-law kept on the front porch of her Washington, DC row house. Back in the day {before I was born, I might add}, a real-live milkman delivered jars of milk and left them in the box.
Years later, after the milkman became a thing of the past, Grandma kept the box on her porch and it was used as an extra seat for family and friends. That’s why I say it has a story behind it! The box has a dent in the lid because so many behinds have sat on it over the years! It’s a fun accessory, and the red stamp helps it fit in the room perfectly.
Wondering why I chose red as an accent color? A couple of reasons. First, the adjoining room is red and my husband’s favorite color is red. I also wanted a color that would pop and stand out from all of the gray and white. When incorporating an accent color, here is an idea that you may want to try yourself: The chandelier in my dining room came with all clear crystals, but I replaced all but one of those crystals with red ones. This is very easy to do. You can find a great selection of crystals at crystalier.com.
{My thrift store finds: a ceramic lamp, amber pedestal glasses and red water goblets}
I used gray paint colors that have warm/taupe undertones: Dovetail and Gauntlet Gray, both by sherwin-williams.com. Because of the different undertones, selecting a gray can by tricky. I originally started out with a lighter shade, but ended up going with the darker tones which look more rich and inviting.
If you have any questions about this re-design, or if I can help you select the perfect shade of gray or any other color {through my Online Design Service}, contact me at kelly@porterhousedesigns.com.
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Color Scheme: Shades of Coffee
Do you start your day with a cup of coffee? I do! But even if you don’t, it’s hard to resist the warm, cozy color of all things coffee.
Whether it’s the lighter shades of mocha and latte or the darker tones of espresso and cappuccino, coffee colors are trending these days. And they look and feel even better this time of year when the weather starts to turn cooler and the landscape appears more brown.
{buffington homes via houzz}
I guess you could say that these earth tones are just different shades of beige but that sounds so un-cool. After all, beige is boring. Coffee colors are — wait for it — stirring.
Not too long ago, brown was the hottest neutral on the planet before it was upstaged by gray. Brown is still around, and one current trend is to pair it with vibrant colors as shown in this dining room by Tobi Fairley:
But more often I’m seeing brown combined with different variations of itself. That is the ‘shades of coffee’ color scheme. I like it because it’s classic, very easy on the eyes and it’s very easy to bring other colors into the mix.
{traditional home}
{bedroom photo above from bhg.com}
Coffee colors are very easy to incorporate into your home because you don’t have to rely on paint. Go for a leather sofa or chairs, stained wood furniture and cabinets and woven window shades.
You can also install a dark wood flooring, stained planked ceiling or play up that exposed brick wall.
{buffington homes}
{jim howard}
{bauhaus via houzz}
{decoholic}
…And even though yellow seems to be a color that wouldn’t pair well with mocha or latte, the bedroom shown above proves that this color scheme can work really well. So, if you’re ready to brew up a shade of coffee in your room, I hope you now have fresh ideas to get started.
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Fall Color Scheme: Orange and Brown
Fall is my favorite season and I’m always inspired by the beautiful, warm colors that emerge this time of year. I especially love the color combo of orange and brown.
Yesterday, I took this photo of my front yard:
This is ‘peak week’ in my area — a time when the fall colors are at their best. But today, the DC – Baltimore area is also awaiting the landfall of Hurricane Sandy. This storm is expected to blow through, cause wide-spread damage, and take the fall colors with it when it leaves. I’m praying it won’t be as bad as some are saying, but we are preparing, nonetheless. If you’re in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast corridor, be safe!
I hope the rest of you will have the chance to get out and enjoy the fall colors in your area this week. And, no matter where you live, if you love warm colors and want to try an orange and brown color scheme at home, here are some very pretty ideas:
{the lennoxx}
{bedroom shown above from hisugarplum.com}
{juxtapost}
{hi sugarplum}
{pinterest}
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