COLOR & DESIGN HELP:
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IDEAS FOR MOLDING & TRIM:
IDEAS FOR YOUR BEDROOM:
Colors For Your Home Office
If you’re fortunate enough to have your own workspace at home, you may be looking for color ideas to get those creative juices flowing.
{via busydoor.com}
The trick is to select and combine the colors that you love, even if the palette seems unusual to others. This is your personal space and you will work best in an environment that reflects what you like. That is especially true when it comes to colors. Color has the power to put us in a happy, creative mood — and that can lead to more productivity.
{via digsdigs.com}
{via digsdigs}
Even if you leave the walls white {which I hope you don’t}, be sure and stock up on colorful accessories and choose an office chair in your favorite hue.
If you’ve been thinking about creating an office at home but don’t think you have the space, the good news is — you don’t need a lot of space! Create a ‘room’ of your own by using a spare closet:
{apartment therapy}
OK…maybe vivid colors aren’t your thing. You can still create an inspiring, glam space with neutrals such as gray like my fellow-blogger Kelly from jaxdoesdesign did with her fab home office:
{I love the splash of purple that Kelly used — it’s her favorite color.}
And don’t be afraid to use deeper colors. This black office is very elegant, rich and powerful looking:
{atlanta home mag}
Not feeling courageous enough for black walls? Try using black as an accent color to create contrast and drama:
{via digsdigs}
If you’re willing to give bold color a try, then the sky’s the limit. This is your personal space, so don’t be shy!
Some people may tell you not to use so much color in your office {or anywhere in your house} because you may “get tired of it.” That may be the case for some, but not for true color lovers. I used some of my favorite colors in my office a couple of years ago. I still love it and can’t ever imagine the colors growing old on me:
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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!
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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!
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Go Dark With Wallpaper or Paint
I’ve gone over to the dark side this week by sharing tips around the web on how to use dark colors in your home.
{wintercreative via houzz}
Over at Houzz, you can find my Ideabook on using wallpaper to create dark and dreamy bedrooms.
{habachy designs via houzz}
Then, at Sherwin-Williams STIR I’m dishing out ways that designers can help clients feel comfortable using darker paint colors {but I think this info is useful for anyone — not just designers}.
Dark colors and wall coverings bring elegance and sophistication to your home like nothing else can. Be daring in 2012 and give ‘em a try!
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Why You Should Have A Gray Room
I’ll admit it. It took me a long time to warm up to gray.
At first I couldn’t get passed associating gray with dreary days and overall gloominess. I’d seen gray spaces that I really liked, and I’ve even written about gorgeous gray rooms — but I convinced myself that gray would not work in my home because it wouldn’t vibe with my warm-autumn palette. But as I write this post, I’ve just bought a gallon of gray paint {Pussywillow by Sherwin-Williams} to paint my dining room.
{Niki Papadopoulos via houzz}
Gray has shaken off its bad rep for being drab, and it now represents glamour and sophistication. Gray is truly the “It” neutral of the moment and it will definitely remain a hot hue in the near future.
Gray’s wild popularity has most likely been fueled by our technology-driven society {think sleek laptops}. In its other forms, gray appears as chrome, stainless steel and white gold — materials that represent a chic modern lifestyle.
Gray is definitely on trend, but that’s not why I embraced it. The more I saw gray rooms, the more I liked what I saw, and I began to notice a warmth in some of the tones. I started to really analyze this color and was struck by its many unique variations.
Not every gray works for every space. With it’s myriad of undertones, gray can look blue, green, purple, pinkish or brown. So, choosing the right gray can be tricky. The key is to compare a few different tones and then select the one that will best work with your furnishings and colors without it being too dominant. That’s because gray represents a strong emotion {i.e ‘feeling gray’ and ‘gray skies ahead’} so it’s important that your choice of gray doesn’t overwhelm the space.
For example, in my home warmer grays will work best because their toasty undertones will complement the rich, wood furniture that I have.
The other great thing about using gray for a neutral backdrop is that it looks good with every other color on earth. The same is not always true with beige. For example, certain shades of yellow and beige combined can look like something gross. On the other hand, put any type of yellow with gray and the result is stunning:
{I also love gray with red. Photo from decorpad}
There is definitely a gray for everyone and every style. I’ve heard from some of you who live in rainy/cloudy climates {like Seattle} who say you would never consider a gray room, but this color can work for you, too. Just look for the lighter tints and embellish the room with vibrant accent colors. You’ll be surprised.
These days when it comes to color, using gray is the best way to update your home and give it a current look right now and for years to come. That’s why you {and I} should have a gray room.
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Choosing A Color: Burnt Orange
This is the best time of year for orange lovers!
Although I love vibrant oranges, I also adore earthy, rusty ones too. Clay colors such as terra cotta, burnt sienna, russett and persimmon are some of my faves. These are the colors that make you feel warm and toasty all over. Don’t you agree?
{jeffrey bilhuber}
{jeffrey bilhuber}
To see more great photos of clay colored spaces, check out my recent ideabook over at houzz.com.
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Third Place Colors?
Did you know that some of the most popular, beautiful colors are considered third rate?
Well…not exactly. However, as it relates to the color wheel, tertiary colors — those hues that result from mixing a primary and secondary color — are technically in third place.
{TURQUOISE by HB via houseofturquoise.com}
Colors such as coral, turquoise, chartreuse and periwinkle are all tertiary colors, and I think these hues make the most beautiful statement when used in a room.
{PERIWINKLE from housebeautiful.com}
You can read more about these colors in my latest story over at Sherwin-Williams STIR, which also includes some great insight by Erin Olson from House of Turquoise.
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Mood Indigo: Dark Blue Rooms
Indigo is the sixth color of the rainbow. Our eyes see it as a deep shade of blue, but this color is actually in between blue and violet.
{style estate}
{google images}
Indigo will make a bold statement in your home and serve as a terrific backdrop for brighter, vivid accent colors as well as gold and silver. Definitely a way to set the mood!
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Tiger Eye
Recently, I wrote a story about the color Tiger Eye over at Houzz.com, and I wanted to share photos with you here, as well.
{houzz}
I know that homeowners are always on the lookout for a ‘new neutral’ color to try. Gray is very popular right now, and many people still turn to the mainstays of beige and tan. However, if you’d like to try something new, Tiger Eye may be just for you.
{coastal living}
{country living}
Not only does its name represent the actual golden-brown color of a tiger’s eyes, but this hue also appears in a precious gemstone of the very same name. Tiger Eye ranges from golden yellows and amber to honey browns. It creates a great neutral background for a wide range of other colors.
{the lennoxx}
{small by nature}
{houzz}
{calico corners}
{martha stewart}
Tiger Eye is definitely a color to try!
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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}
{google images}
{decorpad}
{decorpad}
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