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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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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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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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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Make Summer Last With A Pop Of Yellow
If summer is your favorite season you’ve got a little more time to soak up the warmth of the sun’s yellow rays…
…And if yellow if your favorite color, now is the time to add it to your home so that you can enjoy a bit of warm sunshine during those chilly fall and winter days {photo above from olivebranchinteriors}.
Back in January, I wrote a post about Yellow being the color to watch this year. Yellow was very popular this year — especially as an accent color. Many people were using yellow for a pop of color rather than to paint an entire room with it, but I love to use it either way. Yellow makes a home feel casual and comfortable, and it makes us feel cheerful. What more could you ask for in a color?
{kitchen photo from drastic-plastic}
{I love yellow and navy — a classic color scheme that is always on trend. Photo by eclecticlivinghome.}
{Stencil your stairs with a vibrant shade of canary yellow! I love how different patterns were used here. Photo by houseandhome.}
{Totally glam..and painting a mirror frame is very easy! Photo from houseandhome}
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Christmas Colors Preview
I know…it’s only August but Christmas will be here before you know it. So, take a quick break from the Olympics and back-to-school planning, and check out some colors that I think we’ll be seeing this year.
Bright, vibrant colors have been trending in 2012 and I think that will continue into the holiday season. So, this color scheme — Tannenbaum Twist — reflects these eye-catching hues with…you got it…a twist. What’s the twist? I’m so glad you asked! The twist makes an expected color unexpected. It’s a color’s undertone that gives it an edgy, curious look — which I love because I’m all about doing something different and fun. Here’s the breakdown:
Wasn’t that fun? I hope this sneak peek gave you something to keep in the back of your mind for the next few months (and of course, I’ll post more Christmas colors later this fall). Now, back to reality and your regular scheduled programming…
Featured photo from goodhomes.net.
Up Next: The third and last post in my Dorm Decorating Series.
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Choosing A Color: Red
In my last post I wrote about the benefits of using red in the workplace. This time, it’s all about feeling the love at home.
After all, red is the color of love…and it also represents passion, power and warmth. If you like to entertain, red always sets off a great dinner party in the dining room. And if red is your favorite color, it will feel cozy in the bedroom.
Red brings a positive vibe into your home, but don’t limit yourself when choosing this color. Red comes in a variety of tones — like the coral red shown above {design by tobifairley.com} – so look carefully when deciding on the best red for you. Here are some other hot ideas:
{the little house that grew}
{landaishu}
{elledecor}
{christianlouboutin – I couldn’t resist}
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Seeing Red {At Work}
I just had a discussion with someone the other day about using red in the workplace. The guy I was speaking with said that although he likes red, he was hesitant about using it at his business because “red sends the message to stop.” Really?
Well, don’t tell that to the wonderfactory, a successful web strategy business {pictured above}…and by all means do not mention that to internet powerhouse Google because they may think you’re kinda crazy.
{google offices via interiormagz}
There’s a reason why businesses use red. No color captures your attention better or leaves more of an impression. Red adds excitement and energy to a space. Using red helps to get your business noticed and your brand remembered. Red also keeps your employees motivated and engaged.
You may have also noticed that the food industry loves to use red. That’s because red stimulates the appetite. So, when you’re around food and ready to eat, the color red can make you hungrier. Restaurants and grocery stores often use this color in their branding and decor as a way of enticing us to consume more.
Red can trigger a big appetite, but it’s also just a fun, chic color to use in public spaces. I used plenty of red for an ice cream shop re-design {above} to the delight of the customers, especially the younger ones. And in this modern eatery shown below, red tables and chairs steal the show.
So, in my opinion red means go. It works at work…but what about at home, you ask? Find out in my next post!
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