Feeling Blue

A few of my favorite colors are: periwinkle, cobalt blue, berry pink and hot pink. Paolo Lenti is skilled at using these colors. I dropped my jaw when I saw these divine spaces.

Omigod. I love the idea of a monochromatic space, with a dark cave-like feel. These blues feel so rich, and are a great alternative to gray (which I still love, but is getting a little played out).

Reminds me a of Prada's use of jewel tones.  (See my previous post featuring one of my favorite rooms of all time featuring Prada fabrics, here.)  Dig that fabulous crochet rug by one of my favorite designers, Patricia Urquiola (another of my designed by Ms. Urquiola can be seen here). Makes me want to take up crochet again...almost. The last thing I need is another obsession. I mean, have you been down the yarn isle at Pat Catan's? It's heaven, but I know that damn yarn would sit in the closet and taunt me about how much money I've spent, lol.  Also dig that living wall, but..I have a brown thumb.

Swoon. One of my favorite color schemes.  Berry pink and light blue (see previous post here).  Their use of color is divine. If you love color, you will love their instagram page, here. Of course if I went this scheme, I would need these fabulous dishes from Urban Outfitters. Man, humans sure make beautiful things don't they?  No wonder we Americans are always broke.

Though I am totally smitten, this color scheme is not to be. It would involve too much starting over which is not possible on my teeny tiny budget. I don't need a million dollars, I need a virtual reality machine! Then I could change my decor based on my mood.  xo

Loft Love

I am so in love with this loft! It's staying in my inspiration folder, and just might be the inspiration for my new apartment (wherever that may be).  I love everything about it!  I love the white floors.  Love the low scale sectional and coffee table.  I always love a round shaped coffee table, but they are often hard to find in my budget.  I love that this table is large and obviates the need for end tables, adding to the uncluttered look.  I also think it is genius to use the large standing lamp in place of hanging lamps.  A small amount of pretty accessories gain prominence by also being kept to low scale.  I love the vases displayed on the floor. Art is so impactful when there are fewer, larger pieces.  Also love a bit of vintage romance added in with the candelabra.  Ahhh, this room is perfect!  I can't stop looking at it.

There's only one thing I'd add.  That's right, you guessed it.  A hot pink pillow, because I believe every room should have at least one pop of hot pink.

Image source unknown, please contact me if you know the designer of this fabulous loft.

Celebrating Color: Blue and Orange

Happy Friday dear readers!  I have some exciting announcements coming up and am swamped with work. I know, I know... it's kind of passe these days to say how busy you are. We're all ridiculously busy.  Hey, take a break. I've got some goof off material for you. Grab your favorite coffee or tea, and let's have a color therapy session. It's good, clean fun.

I apologize that this post is hastily done. My blog is about to change directions drastically, and I have a backlog of draft posts. I want to get a couple of those done, and then make my announcements. I also apologize for the lack of links. I hope this doesn't offend anyone, I will update at a later date. In the meantime, if you are the designer (or know the designer of one of the rooms below, please leave me a comment).  However, ya'll know how to Google image search, right?  If I can do it, I know you can do it, lol.

Here's some blue and orange inspiration for your Friday. Below for your pleasure are many uses of blue and orange. There are many different hues as well.  Some rooms use a pale hue, others are saturated. Some use large amounts and others use the colors as a pop.  Some rooms use blue and orange together. The possibilities are endless. Throw in lots of white, a pop of purple or a pop of pink.  As you know, pink goes with everything.  Hope you enjoy!

 

 

Have a great weekend!  If you have insomnia, my blog will be the place to be. Lots of exciting posts coming up.  I have a couple more color posts, a new fabulous artist to introduce and very exciting news.  Stay tuned!

Simple Impact: Large Art

Decorating simply is not as easy as it looks.  Simplicity takes restraint.  Restraint is a beautiful thing, and makes your place look elegant.  The best way to accomplish this is go large with your art.  Fewer, larger pieces make great impact and keep your place looking uncluttered.  Jill Stuart's apartment is a perfect example.

This is one of my favorite apartments of all time!  The large art is impactful and yet the overall effect of the room is ethereal due to the soft colors and glass coffee table.  See the rest of this beautiful apartment at Elle Decor.

More Pink!

Hello dear readers, I apologize for another long hiatus.  I've been writing a lot and I've been rethinking this blog, as I am sure most bloggers do from time to time.  I will, of course, keep you informed.  But for today I just need to be cheered up.  And nothing does that like pink!  Hope you enjoy!

Love the bookcases painted pink with the pops of white pottery!  Above two images via House to Home.

I love a neutral room that gets pops of colors from its accessories!  Light pink, hot pink, purple and lilac accessories look great together.  Wish we had a better view of how the bookcase is accessorized.  Image source unknown.

Love that glass collection!  Pops of color in a mostly white room provided by the rug, pillows, drapes and vases.  House to Home.

This room has been all over the web, but I've never blogged it.  Not sure why because I adore it!  I adore the Togo sofa in pink and the ball chair in pink.  Also love the the ghost chair and the vinyl toys.  Even though the room is whimsical, it's still simple and totally fab. 

You already know I am a big fan of color blocking, and here is a fresh take.  Love the pale pink and gray.    I think I need that sculpture on the coffee table.  Although I think the sculptures need to switch places.  I would prefer to see the small black sculptures on the coffee table, and the large swan on the end table.  I think you should keep the scale low on a coffee table, but that's just my preference.  Still a gorgeous room.   Above two images via Livingetc. 

Color Scheme: Pink, Gray, White and Black

Here is a color scheme I just can't get enough of.  I'm obsessed.  Pink (both hot pink and pale pink), gray, black, and tons of white.  The white makes it airy, while the black makes it romantic, sophisticated and the hot pink makes it a little edgy.  A perfect color scheme.  It looks great with pops of turquoise, red or yellow.  Or for even more romance, lilac and silver.

Hot pink and gray are fab together as these two pieces of art show.  Pink is not just a girly color and can be used in a modern and edgy way.  I love both of these pieces of art so much, I'd love to have them reproduced on very large canvases.  Images:  left flickr user orphotographer, right the style files. Here are some gorgeous rooms in this color scheme.  I am also loving the addition of organic pieces.

Bolig Magasinet

Light Locations

Ish and Chi

Notice those legs on the coffee table.  I love how the paint treatment makes them look like they've been dipped.  It's the best of both worlds.  Add some color and show the wood.  I'm seeing these everywhere and I love them.  Stay tuned for a post devoted to this subject.

My Scandanavian Home

 Harriet Anstruther via New York Times

BluBleu

How awesome is this bathroom?  I thoroughly love the modern shape of the hot pink tub.  I'd love to see an over sized crystal chandelier hanging here.

Want just a little of this color scheme?  Pillows are the perfect way to add a pop of color.  These gorgeous pillows are from Bholu.

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!