Pottery Jones, Vol. I

Sorry for the lack of posts, dear readers.  I'm going to try to make up for that.  Stay tuned, I have lots of exciting stuff lined up.  For now, I am thinking of one of my greatest obsessions.  Pottery.  So I decided to make this week all about pottery.  Let's explore pottery together, shall we? 

I'd like to start by thinking about black pottery.  Black is a color I've never really used in my decor, but have fallen in love with recently.  I've always collected white pottery.  But I've noticed that a few pops of black in a room really amps up the sophistication, mystery and romance.  I love the simple shapes of this beautiful collection of vessels.  Available in Etsy shop Ceramicpix.

 

I am in love with the satin finish of these divine vessels by Kim Westad.  I've featured Kim on this blog before.  (See previous post here.)

Love this collection of vessels in stark shapes and colors.  The large black vase holds a place of prominence elevating the collection to a place of strength.  Divine.  Available at Etsy shop ARTELYA.

I'm a sucker for vases in organic shapes and smooth finishes, and anything resembling Ikebana (see previous post here).  This gorgeous vessel available at Etsy Shop LandM Studio.

I've been obsessing about the Bigarra vase from Ikea for a long time.  I've said it a million times - I wish Ikea had an online business!  I may have to drive to Pittsburgh.  If I bought this vase, it might start a whole new scheme in my apartment.  I've been craving more organic touches.

Dark Walls

Dear readers, I'm not one for trends.  I'm usually late to trends, and often fall in love with trends when they are over.  But I don't worry about that.  I just trust my instincts when it comes to color.  The black accent wall is a trend that's been around for a while, but doesn't seem to be losing popularity any time soon.  I'm dreaming of a new apartment, something small and simple and I am decorating it in my mind.  I'm definitely doing a dark accent wall.  Either gray and black.  With pops of hot pink, and maybe turquoise and yellow.  I love the allure of a dark room.  The room should be cozy, but a little edgy, feminine and and mysterious.  Here's some inspiration.  Hope you enjoy!

As you know it was Abigail Ahern who first got me thinking about dark walls.  I love her living room.  I adore that hot pink coffee table, and those gray floors.  Abigail's approach to design is very different from my own and challenges my perception, and I love that.  (See previous posts about Abigail Ahern, here.)

I know I've featured the bedroom of the perfect Jenna Lyons before, but it's so - well - perfect. 

Here's another view of Ms. Lyon's bedroom in a different light.  I love to watch how color changes during the day.  Love the pop of the white fireplace and crisp, simple bedding.  The room is romantic, simple and restful looking.  Images Habitually Chic.

I've featured this lovely bedroom before as well, but it is a perfect example of a room with a black accent wall.  The room is simple, calm, restful and very sophisticated.  Image The Boo and the Boy.

I'm sure you are all avid readers of Desire to Inspire. If so, you've been watching with avid interest, Jo's transformation of her new (old) house.  I've watched Jo collecting for a couple of years prior to to buying her home.  It's absolutely astonishing how it's coming together.  She skillfully pulls together such disparate pieces as the deco screen, vintage chairs, ethnic prints and luscious dark walls to achieve an incredibly chic room.

Love the pop of the white fireplace and the hot pink pillow against this accent wall.  Image Door Sixteen.

I'm not a big fan of herringbone floors, but I do love the purple sofas in this dark room.  Image via Richard Powers.

This room is a little ornate for me, I don't care for the paneling.  But I do love the soft pink chair and foot stool.  This room proves that pale pink and gray look great together.  Gubi via sfgirlbybay.

 This chartreuse door really pops against the black wall.  Image House to Home.

This room is a tad disjointed, and I'm not a fan of chevron, however, it is still largely successful due to its bold use of color and pattern.  I think I am bothered by the sofa, and would prefer to see a pink, lavender or maybe gray sofa.  I am also bothered by the wood dresser, and maybe the white desk doesn't go there?  I'd like to see a little tweaking here, but just a little.  I love the direction the designer is taking.  I adore the color of the walls, the turquoise lamp, the yellow chair and the silver poufs.  I think this is a case of a homeowner creatively using what they have with a small budget.  It does prove that dark walls with pops of color make a room look very rich.  Image via Apartment Therapy.

Beautiful black accent wall and sofa.  Love the pops of pink from the pillow and rug.  Image House to Home.

A simple dining room takes on stunning sophistication with a black accent wall.  I love how minimal this room is, the wall is the art.  Image Apartment Therapy.

Dark blue makes a beautiful accent wall in this lovely, minimal dining room.  Image Apartment Therapy.  I think the following three rooms are my favorite of this batch.  One of these may be my inspiration for my new apartment.

This room is stunning (except that the TV is mounted too high, but who cares?).  I love the pops of hot pink, yellow, violet and red.  In the past, I've always used pops of color against white.  For a more smouldering look, why not substitute gray for white?

Another stunning room.  I'm not usually a lover of pattern, but I am digging this sofa.  Love the pops of color provided by the pillows.

And oh man, will you look at this beauty.  Beautiful pink sofa, Moroccan-influenced end table, low scale coffee table, ethnic screen.  Drool.  Above three images via House to Home.  What about you dear readers?  Would you ever do a black or gray accent wall in your place?  If you have done a dark wall in your place, send me a picture and maybe I will feature you on this blog.  I'd love to hear from you!

Good things are happening in Cleveland, Part II - a beautiful entryway

So my sister-in-law got a chance to see the exciting developments in the Gordon Square Arts District when she ran the marathon on Sunday.  And something happened to her that's happened to me many times - vases in the window of duoHOME caught her eye.  She and I share the obsession of vases.  Yesterday we went to check them out.  We call this the vase game, and it's one of my favorites.  We hemmed and hawed about a third, shorter, squatter vase, but finally decided on these two beautiful tall black vases.  Part two of the vase game is arranging them in their lovely home.  They are now part of their elegant entry way.  I think they look totally fab with the gray accent wall.  I love how the vases sport open rectangles which gives a peak to the beautiful gray color.  I also love the asymmetry of this arrangement, and how the bowl repeats the open rectangle motif.

Image by Peggy

Adding pops of black to your decor

Black is a color I never would have used in my decor several years ago.  Now I love it!  Black can be added to any color scheme.  It adds instant sophistication and edge to a room that otherwise may appear too girly or sweet.  It looks great with lots of white and a pop of bright color. 

Black looks great with large amounts of white and pops of yellow, as this fabulous room shows.

Black also looks great with pink, silver and gray.  This room might be too girly with the cameo pillowcases without being balanced by black and the silver lamps.  Black gives it the perfect amount of edge.  Above two images Bianca's Bright White Cottage via Apartment Therapy's Small Cool 2001.

 

The black lamp helps to ground this room so that it's not too witty, while the yellow shade adds just the right amount of pop.  I adore that silver chair!  Image via Elle Decor.

Black accessories add the perfect amount of punch to this gorgeous room.  Love the pink pillows trimmed with black ribbon, the Moroccan table and the large artwork over the sofa.  The room is feminine, but definitely edgy.  Image via Rue Magazine.

Speaking of edge, how fab are these black chairs?  They resemble tires and are the perfect foil to the white.  The round shape is repeated in the ottoman.  Notice the skillful use of art and pattern in this room.  The room is witty but still remains sophisticated because it is not overdone.  Darek Swalwell via Desire to Inspire.

This lovely room combines pops of turquoise, yellow and red.  It remains fresh looking because of the large amount of white.  A pop of silver is provided by the table.  Notice how skillfully the accessories are chosen.  Yellow pillows and gorgeous collection of glass.  The yellow, red and black colors of the glass collection tie the room together.  The whole thing is grounded by a black and white rug.  This is, indeed, a skillfully designed room.  Image via HGTV.

I need this colorful dresser.  Image via Design Boom.

Here's my favorite corner of my apartment.  I love to change it around.  I've added a black pillow.  If you'd like to add some pops of black to your place, it's as easy as adding a vase, a pillow or a piece of art.  (For more details see Peggy's Rules for Decorating.)  Afraid of black?  Try a little slate gray.

Here are some lovely pieces that can be added to your room if you'd like to add a pop of black.  Coil Side Table available at Urban Outfitters.  I love this piece, and it's reasonably priced.  Beautiful black vase by Kim Westad.  Cute metal flower wall hangings from My Olive Flower (only $10 for three!).  Beautiful pillow from Chic Decor Pillows.

Note:  If you buy something from Etsy as a result of seeing it on this blog, please let me know.  I'm trying to track Etsy sales.  Thanks so much!

My apartment - the process and a new painting

As I mentioned below, I've been rearranging my apartment today.  I have design ADD.  I have no money to spend, so I'm just moving things around.  As I was rearranging, I again marveled at how much stuff I have.  Where does it all come from?  I like a sparse environment, so I rotate my collection.  As I pull some things out of the closet and put other things into the closet, I get very inspired.  Sometimes color schemes emerge on their own, and that makes me want to paint.  Here is a little preview of my current process.

I adore dishes and teapots.  I rearranged some of my collection in the kitchen.  And look at that - a strange and unexpected color combination emerged.  Pink, black and white.  I kinda dig it.

Remember my little gray bookcase (that used to be white and then hot pink).  Well now it's a bubble gum pink.  I just can't get enough pink.  I hate the mirrors in the alcove in my apartment, so I'm experimenting with hanging fabric.  I love it.  I want to cover the entire living room in fabric!

 

 Untitled, 2011, 24"x30", acrylic on canvas.

Since I was so inspired by this color scheme, I decided to do a new painting!  I love how it turned out.  This is a style I want to cultivate - simple, minimal, geometric paintings.  I don't usually like the way they turn out because I am such a perfectionist.  This kind of painting is not as easy as it looks.  Simple, but not easy.  I have a beautiful new turquoise pillow which is a gift from my sister-in-law.  Can I make my turquoise accents fit with all this pink and black?  Of course!  Here's a little known secret.  No colors ever really clash.  Just take a look at nature, or at the way Jonathan Adler decorates.