COLOR & DESIGN HELP:
-
-
IDEAS FOR MOLDING & TRIM:
IDEAS FOR YOUR BEDROOM:
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}
 |
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.
 |
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.
 |
Bohemian Style
If you love color, pattern, vintage and thrift store finds, and you’re perfectly OK with imperfection, then you’ll love the bohemian style.
Like many fans of the boho style, I love that it’s relaxed and looks lived in. It’s a style that’s all about comfort and personal expression, which is why bohemian decor is always so colorful. And forget about matchy-matchy! The goal here is to use items that don’t necessarily go together — as if you’ve picked up pieces along your travels.
{elledecor}
{google images}
You can create a beautiful bohemian table for the holidays or any celebration just by mixing and matching chairs and/or dinner plates. And create a colorful chandelier by adding colored crystals to your existing fixture. Photo below from bandanamom.com.
The bohemian style is also defined by rich pattern, texture and multi-cultural fabrics.
{kathryn ireland}
{lovely boheme}
{bandanamom}
The best thing about bohemian is that there are no rules. Just have fun and let your creative side shine through.
 |
Add Velvet Furniture to your Color Scheme
I’m really loving velvet furniture right now.
Velvet’s rich texture looks great in any setting — glam, traditional or modern. And when it comes to color, velvet just seems to bring out the best in any hue. Colored velvet looks so delicious, and I love that is has an iridescent quality to it.
If you’re not sure about using this fabric, rest assured. Today’s velvet is not your grandparent’s velvet. Wait! In some cases, it is! Retro velvet pieces are in demand because they create such a chic eclectic feel when paired with current pieces (and remember…everything old is new again). Still skeptical? Check out these velvety photos. You may be surprised:
{decorpad}
{decorpad}
{vogue}
{cornerstone interiors via houzz}
{firstsense}
 |
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!
 |
Purple Spaces To Swoon Over
I can never let too much time go by before I write a post about purple!
As many of you know, my favorite colors are lavender, plum and every tint and shade in between. I’m always looking for a reason to love on purple.
So, to celebrate the design of my new blog header I’m sharing a fun collection of purple spaces. Purple people, enjoy!
{I’m obsessed with this tile! Photo by decorativehomeinterior.}
{decorativehomeinterior}
{creamylife}
 |
What’s Hot Now: Ceramic Garden Stools
Ceramic garden stools are one of my favorite design accessories right now, and they’re sizzling hot, too!
You see these stools everywhere — in magazines, catalogs and on design websites. Designers love them, and if you’ve had your eye on one, read on for some good news at the end of this post!
I love these stools not only because they come in tons of delicious colors and patterns, but they also have multiple uses: an end table, coffee table, ottoman, nightstand, plant stand, and of course, a sitting stool for indoors or out.
I’ve wanted one for my dining room but just never got around to buying it. So imagine my surprise when I was asked to do a product review for ATG Stores! After browsing through ATG’s several on-line shops, I found the perfect reddish-orange stool {below} at OutdoorLivingShowroom.com.
Just the color I was looking for! It looks terrific in my dining room…
…but it also adds the perfect pop of color outside in my garden.
So, my delimma is deciding where to put it. That’s the bad news {if that’s really considered bad}. The good news is, I’m partnering with ATG Stores to offer you a fantastic giveaway, which I will announce in my next post! So, if you’ve been looking at a ceramic garden stool…or a lamp, or area rug, or bedding, or something else that’s really hot…stay tuned!
 |
Get With Houndstooth
My oldest son just turned 16, and he is now learning how to drive {pray for us}. So, when the opportunity presented itself a few weeks ago, we were fortunate enough to buy a new car…
…a Kia Soul. You’ve probably seen those crazy commercials with the hamsters, which totally reflect a slice of pop culture — “You can get with this, or you can get with that…” We didn’t own a small car {I drive a Suburban}, so this is just what we needed.
I have to admit that aside from the safety features, great MPG and overall style, what sold me on the Soul was the houndstooth accent pattern on the seats. I know. That seems so trivial, but for my designer-eye that was something I could really get with.
{decorpad}
Houndstooth is a classic motif that originated in Scotland. It’s one of my favorite patterns. You see it quite often in fashion, but it’s very stylish in interiors, too. I especially think it looks best when used in a colorful setting, or when the pattern itself is in color — as opposed to its traditional black and white form.
{decorpad}
{Miley Cyrus’ dressing room – InStyle.com}
Just a little bit of houndstooth can make a big impact.
{bp.blogspot}
{decorpad}
{the star}
{style hive}
Houndstooth was a choice motif for the very chic re-design of the 1 Place Vendome Restaurant at Hotel De Vendome in Paris:
Getting back to the car, I recently interviewed Trend and Color Expert Kate Smith. She made an interesting point when she said that certain trends begin in the automobile industry. I’ll be curious to see if houndstooth’s appearance in a ‘happening’ car will boost it’s popularity elsewhere. Time will tell.
 |
Ideas For Painting Stunning Stripes
Colorful wall patterns always have a way of bringing tons of personality into a space. Although it takes a little patience, stripes are one of the easiest patterns to paint, and the results can be simply stunning.
Vertical stripes will make a room’s ceiling appear higher while horizontal stripes will visually widen a room. Horizontal lines will also give your space a more contemporary feel.
{In this photo, the wall is covered with fabric. From archiexpo}
If ‘high-energy’ is what you want, it’s OK to use several colors. The result could be electrifying, so you may want to reserve this treatment for one focal wall.
Of course, painting the walls is not the only way to bring colorful stripes into your space. You can also look for a great area rug, furniture pieces or lighting fixtures.
{Love this lampshade! From littlephant}
{What a great way to spruce up a boring, white ceiling fan! From inmyownstyle}
A few more:
There are so many different ways to express yourself with stripes, and the good news is, this pattern is classic and timeless. It will never feel dated.
CLICK HERE for instructions on how to paint stripes.
 |
-
MY WEBSITE:
AROUND THE WEB:
