Tuesday, November 29, 2011

More thoughts on pink

Hello dear readers!  Hope you had a wonderful holiday.  Today was a very stressful day, so I am cheering myself up with thoughts of pink. 


This room is a little too granny chic for me, I'd do something really edgy to tone down the sweetness.  Like replace the lamp with a funky chrome lamp, and definitely get rid of that patterned chair.  But, I do love the brown of the sofa with the pink walls.  I also adore the over sized flower art and the pillows.

This is an interesting room that Vern Yip designed for his show Deserving Design.  It pleases me because he took into account the desire of a young girl to have pink in the room.  Hot pink makes a great accent color.  And dig that silver pillow.


This gorgeous room is more in line with my aesthetic.  I love all the pink with the large amount of white.  Love the love seat, painting, cabinet and lamp.
I think the color scheme in my new apartment is going to be pink and gray.  I'm definitely going to do a gray or black accent wall.  These beautiful pillows would fit in well.  Images Chiasso and Designers Guild.

Sunday, November 13, 2011

Color Obsession: Pink and Orange

Dear readers, I may be moving yet again.  The Buddha was correct when he said the only constant is change.  Sometimes I wish I could get a point where I can feel settled and say, "I'm here!"  

Ah well, with thoughts of a new apartment come thoughts of my two favorite things.  You guessed it!  Decorating and color obsession!  I haven't even chosen my new apartment, and already I'm decorating it in my head.  I've been thinking of a color scheme I've used many times.  Pink and orange.   (If interested, you can see my previous dining room done in this color scheme, here).  I love pink and orange with yellow, with red, with violet and generous amounts of white.  Funny thing, as soon as I think about a color scheme, I start seeing it everywhere! 


Did you see the September issue of Marie Claire?  How perfect is that pink and orange dress?  Sarah Jessica Parker is perfection in this marvelous frock.  It proves pink and orange look great together.  As you know, I'm a fan of color blocking.
 Image by Peggy
Spent a Saturday recently at football championship games, and look what I saw!  These are the coolest football uniforms ever!  Just proves that inspiration is everywhere.  Wonder where I can get some of those fab hot pink socks.  Here are some pink and orange rooms from my inspiration folder.  Hope you enjoy!


Beautiful bedding and check that lamp.  Fab!


This room is a little over the top for me.  I'm still not really sold on wallpaper, even though it is quite trendy right now.  But I do love that sofa.


I'm not a big fan of pattern either, as you know I prefer big blocks of color.  However, this rug does work for me.  Maybe I prefer pattern on the floor rather than on the walls.  Or maybe it's because the pattern is still simple and there is a large amount of white helping the pattern not get too sweet.


Above two images Linnea Heide Art

I love large paintings on white walls.  There's an old decorating rule that your art shouldn't match your decor.  I'm not one for following the rules.  Sure, it doesn't have to match, but I tend to choose art based on colors or texture.  Oftentimes, the painting is the jumping off point, I often design a room around a painting.  I love these works by Linnea Heide, I could see them in the apartment I am decorating in my head.

Flor tiles via spruce decor

I am in love with Flor's ingenious carpet tiles.  I've been itching to use them in a room.  These pink and orange ones really pop in the black and white room.


I definitely want to experiment with accent walls in my next place.  I adore this coral wall.  Also really love that modular bookcase.
 

I am lusting after this totally fab pink coffee table!  Anyone know who designed it so I can give them credit?  Also really digging the color blocking treatment.

Thursday, November 10, 2011

Things that Matter

Dear readers, how are you?  It's so nice to see you, you look marvelous.  I've missed you, even when I'm away I think of you often.  Thank you so much to those readers who sent emails asking how I was. I apologize for being a very bad blogger.  I took an unscheduled hiatus due to illness.  After spending a week with my family, I am feeling recharged.  Nothing like love to make you feel better.

During my month of laying low, I spent a lot of time in meditation and deep introspection.  I'd like to send a shout out to the brave people taking part in the various Occupy movements.  It's of great concern to me that the country is in so much trouble, and yet I don't know how to help.  I began to question my little blog - does it seem frivolous to blog about pretty things when people are in so much trouble?  How much politics and personal business should be posted on a blog?  I prefer blogs where I feel as if I get to know the blogger.  I maintain, that art is political and politics is art.  Art is extremely important as it elevates the consciousness of a people.  We are all connected.  Those of us who are struggling right now are not engaged in class war.  We would simply like to remind the wealthy that  poverty should be eradicated.  Simply because it's the right thing to do.  The poverty of even one individual encroaches on the comfort of us all.  There is enough to go around, let's spread it around a little more fairly.  That's all.  It's that simple.

I've been accused of being naive at times.  But things don't need to be overly complex.  I have been out of work for almost two years, and there have been many gifts and lessons during this time period.  Many things that used to matter to me do not matter any more.  I am not attached to things, and I no longer worry what people think of me.  I also move at a slower pace.  I'm not sure what all the hurrying is about.  

The greatest thing in my life  is that I notice simple pleasures and experience them deeply.  I had the pleasure of staying with my family last week.  This experience has brought me even closer to my family and I am grateful.  These are people who love me without condition.  I'd like to share an experience I had the other night.
Self portrait by my nephew

My nephew wasn't feeling well Monday night.  We sat in the love chair together, he put his head on my shoulder and fell asleep.
 Oliver, world's cutest kitten

This baby was snuggled under my chin asleep, purring loudly.  The love in my heart swelled up, caught in my throat and brought a tear to my eye.  As I held my two babies, I thought, "This is one of the best moments of my life."  Recognizing this as such, I emptied my mind to everything except that moment.  I was completely present and so grateful.  I savored that moment.  I know it sounds trite, but there is nothing more important than love.

How often do we actually pause and say to ourselves, this is a really good moment?  We should do that more often.  Why don't we take a pledge to love each other more fully and to be more present?  To slow down and to contemplate the things that matter and stop chasing the things that don't.  I have found that the more I embrace simplicity, the happier I am.  It might work for you too.  I'd love to hear your thoughts, dear readers.

Stay tuned for more color obsession and more discussions of simplicity.  Thanks for reading, it means the world to me.  xxoo



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