Celebrating Color: Green!

I'm one of the few people I know who are actually looking forward to Fall and Winter.  Fall is my favorite time of year. Lately I haven't been able to go outside much because the heat and I just don't get along.  But I love walking in the park in the Fall.  I love observing nature's cycles.

Our area of the globe has been lushly green because we've had a lot of rain.  I love rain, and I love grey skies. Still deciding where I'm moving - Seattle is a contender.

 Image by Peggy

I've been under the weather for a couple of weeks, I need to cheer myself up. When it comes to cheering myself up, color psychology works best. I love contemplating (and writing about color).  For the next week or so, I'll be focusing on color and will conclude with showing how I'm using color in my apartment at the moment (you might be surprised).

It seems appropriate to do a feature about green. Funny thing about green. Though I adore it outside, and am deeply in love with trees, I don't really like it much in my decor. I have used mint green, sage, aqua and chartreuse.  I'm not a fan of true green nor forest green in my home. Of course, when it comes to color in my home, I've learned never to say never. I've used orange and yellow in my home - two colors I never thought I'd use.  Still not really a fan of red in the home, but love red clothes.

I think no one can do green better than Mother Nature. Green is obviously on trend for fall.  Green accessories are everywhere. 

You are in luck if you want a green accessory for your home. Green accessories are everywhere. I took this photo at Home Goods.

Photo by personal friend of editor, not to be used without permission

If I were going to use green in my place, it would be bright green.  And of course, it would be coupled with pink. Pink looks great with everything!  I love this picture taken at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame by my sister-in-law. Check those guitars and those bearded drums. I could design a room around this photo. Yep, bright green and pink art and white faux fur.  It would be fab.  This pic would also look cool blown up to poster size.

Designer Kristine Guico (Project Runway, Season 13) made this cute green dress for the unconventional challenge. I could design a room around this dress.  Yep, bright green and graphic vintage marquee letters.  It would be fab.

Remember the winner of Project Runway, Season 4, kid genius and designer extraordinaire, Christian Siriano?  Christian is arguably the most talented and successful of the Project Runway alumni. I've never worn green, but I'd be tempted to wear these gorgeous pieces for Fall and Winter.  Of course, they are a forest green.  I predict we will see a lot of forest green in fashion this Fall, and it will be paired with purple.

Here's a few pictures of rooms featuring green.  I love how fresh these rooms are.

This image is from an inspiration folder I started preparing when my friend Haley got a fab new place. She's an earthy kind of girl and I dig her style. Green sofa looks fabulous in this organic/industrial spot.  Love the unexpected pop of color from the pouf.  I also love me a round coffee table.  Image VT Wonen.

I love the color scheme of the pink, blue and green.  You wouldn't really call these pastel colors, nor are they exactly jewel tones.  Maybe you'd call them candy colored.  Love metallic touches as well. Fig House design by Emily Henderson.  Emily is a master at using the color green.  I adore Emily, even though our aesthetics are very different. Emily was the winner of Design Star, Season 5.  Remember her fabulous green ceiling?
 

 I miss her show on HGTV!  Oh and BTW - I just gotta show you Emily's baby son Charlie (click here).  Isn't he the cutest little guy you've ever seen!  Image via HGTV.

Emily recently designed office space for Oh Joy!  I dig that green sofa with the pink chairs.  Love the yellow and blue pillows too.  Don't really love the galley wall.  This is a big difference in mine and Emily's aesthetic.  I think it looks cluttered.  I prefer that art doesn't compete with each other and prefer one large piece.  I've written about this in previous posts, and this will also be the subject of an upcoming post.

I dearly love this bedroom.  Beautiful use of color.  Most of the room is white with pops of pink, salmon and green.  An unexpected touch is the use of the gray quilted headboard which mimics the pattern on the chair.  Love how fresh and airy this place looks.  Love the white floor!  Image source unknown.

Another beautiful earthy room.  Love the planks, love the white floor.  Love the sofa and pillows.  Hate the animal skin rug, but all in all a gorgeous room.  Nice take on lodge style.  Image Myrica Bergqvist.
 

I love this green coffee table.  You don't have to do your whole room in green, you can add just a pop.  Photo Patric Johansson for Elle Interior.

Eeeek!  My favorite sofa of all time - the Poet Sofa by Finn Juhl.  The sofa would look great in any color, but it looks particularly fab in pale green.  Love the green coffee tables, kinda look like floating lily pads. That's why I love legs on my furniture - so everything looks like it's floating.  The concrete planter is a nice touch as is the green wire sculpture.  Image via Living Etc.

Notice the sculpture behind the sofa in the above pic.  Reminds me of this green sculpture I saw at The Land of Plenty. I dig it. Would look great in a large industrial loft. Would be cool in a garden too. I didn't buy it because I 'm not making any big purchases because I will be moving soon.  More to come on that in the near future.

These art glass vases by Paola Navone would add a soft green, organic touch to a room. I was struck by these, thinking they look like sea anemones and would look great in a large aquarium.  They are appropriately named fish vases and are available at Crate and Barrel.

Here's an experiment where I was using emerald (Pantone's color of the year for 2013), in my home. I even painted the vase to match. My place doesn't look like this right now.  Reveal coming up soon, if I can ever get the place cleaned up!

After spending so much time talking about pop colors for your hair, it doesn't seem right not to include an example of green as a pop hair color.  This fab creature is sporting a fab green ponytail, yet another way to add your pop color.  It's all about fun.

Image via Teen Vogue.

For more fabulous green hair ideas, see my previous post about Natasha Lillipore here. Why not be brave and have fun with your look when you go out this fall?  Don't forget your green nail polish and eyeshadow.

 Image via EyeshadowLipstick.com

What about you dear readers?  Do you love green?  Are you going to be wearing green or using green in your home decor this Fall?

Fabulous Green Haired Lady Making Spectacles

this post is lovingly dedicated to my fabulous nieces, maggie and abbey...

today the stress was inordinate.  honestly, i'm worn out from the struggle.  i decided to unplug, and walk.  i prayed, remembering to breathe.  hugged trees and remembered that i am god's conduit.  my goal in life is to love unconditionally, without judgment.  you know, dear readers, approaching the brink and having nothing can actually be a gift.  there is nothing that can be taken from me.  i am no longer afraid, indeed can no longer afford the luxury of silent complacency.  and if i can save even one person from the stinging indignity that i have suffered, i can rest easy.  feel free to send prayer requests.  if you are: an abused woman; being crushed by the weight of sallie mae or social security; or any other social injustice feel free to contact me.  my inbox is filling up quickly these days - and i am grateful for that.  it may take me some time to get back to you, but i will do my best.

okay, now to hell with all the pithy whining and moaning.  let's have some fun.  that's right, i want to change the world, but i want to do it with grace, beauty, humor and kindness.  i'd like to introduce a fabulous woman i recently discovered on one of my favorite blogs, doe deere blogazine.  doe's blog is addicting and  empowering.  my favorite:  feminine with an edge. and unapologetically so.  it's all i can do not to post every picture, i can't get enough.  doe is too too fab. if you are down, feeling misunderstood, excluded or geeky, remember at all times that you are fabulous, and check out doe's blog.  doe reminds us to honor our eccentricity at all times.  her blog is like therapy and tons of guilt-free fun!

meet the lovely, fabulous and multi-talented model, natasha lillipore.  as you can see the girl rocks green hair!

she's so fabulous, i had trouble selecting only a couple images.  not only is she gorgeous, but she's a talented business woman. she is the owner/artisan of the shop her tiny teeth.  natasha sells one-of-a-kind spectacles that she has lovingly made by hand. i need several pairs!  i'm going to contact her to see if i can get frames without lenses, so i can put prescription lenses in them. oh gosh, not sure how i would choose which ones!  i may need several.  if you like what you see, you better contact her soon, i have a feeling she's going to get so busy she's going to need to hire an assistant (if she already hasn't).  natasha, you go girl!  thanks for being an inspiration.

and dear readers remember, i am fabulous and so are you!  xo

Friday Fashion Fun - Green Eyeshadow

I went thrifting with my favorite cousin today and I wore green eye shadow!  A beautiful minty green that my girl Haley gave me.  I never thought I'd wear green eye shadow.  I paired it with purple eye shadow and pale pink lips for a funky Spring look.  I felt cute!

Cat eyes are all the rage this spring!  So why not do them in a funky shade like green?  And don't cover up those sexy freckles!

Images via eyeshadow lipstick.

Girl Crush

I adore fashion photography!  I often get inspiration for color combinations from fashion.  Here's a color I haven't really used much.  Green.  Of course, I love chartreuse, but pure green I haven't been so fond of.  But this photo could change my mind.

Doesn't she look fabulous!  Love those shoes!  This picture proves that green (like any color) looks fab with hot pink and large amounts of white.  Image via sfgirlbybay.  Please contact me if you know the photographer of this beautiful photo.

Simplicity

Brunch at Saks

Hello dear readers, sorry for the lack of posts.  I don't need to explain.  You know how it is.   Life gets busy and unpredictable at times.  I have been thinking of you, and do have some exciting posts lined up and have asked blogger friend and designer extraordinaire, Jessie to do some guest posts for me, so there is fun stuff coming!  In the meantime, I thought I'd share this gorgeous room with you.  I haven't used mint green in decor since the 80s, but I adore it in this room.  Such a healing color and I love how the room is minimal and soft.  I could live in this room.  I'm craving simplicity.

Purple and Lilac

Dear readers, as you know I obsess about color all the time.  Today I'm thinking about purple.  I especially love pale lilac.

Did you see Maybelline's poster for Fashion Week?  Isn't it gorgeous?  Love the purple eyeshadow and pink lips on the otherwise black and white photo.  I could see a room done in this color scheme.  Gray walls, purple sofa, pink pillows...yum.

This purple comforter looks great with the pink bedding.

Love the bedding, the pillows and lamp.

 Above three images Julia Hoersch

Pretty lilac walls.  Love the pop from the yellow lamp.  

  Doe Deere

The always fabulous Doe Deere.  I love her dress and her socks.  If a color pleases you when you wear it, it will make a great color scheme for a room.

 Elle Decor

Mint green is one of my favorite colors lately.  Love the chartreuse coffee table, the lilac walls and the blue lamps.  Not a color scheme I'd have thought of - until now.  Looks totally fab.

Eva Dallo

Beautiful room.  Love these mint green chairs paired with the painting.

Green, Vol. III

Dear readers, the green obsession is still going strong. Luckily, I had my camera at lunchtime yesterday. I saw green everywhere! I predict it's going to be a big color for Fall. I saw lots of women in pretty green dresses, but I didn't work up the courage to ask them to pose. Oh well, next time. Here are more green images. Hope you enjoy!



This sofa was at a consignment shop. Only $250.00!  Here are some images from my home.
I often use pretty scarves to tie the curtains back.

Seems like a good time to show off the new pillow my mom made from a placemat from Pier 1. Love the colors and the green stripes.

New green items to play with. My mom gave me the green chenille pillow. The green bottle, jewel box and candle holder came from a thrift shop and were all made in India. It will be great fun placing these new objects in my home.

Green, Vol. II

Dear Readers, since I am currently obsessing about green and am in love with ethnic style, I was terribly excited to read about President Obama's mother's Batik collection. Apparently, President Obama is accustomed to being surrounded by women with great style. The President's mother, the late Ann Dunham, collected Batik when they lived in Indonesia in the 1960s. Her collection is currently on display at the Textile Museum. See Washington Post article, here. Image PointClickHome.

I am particularly in love with this one. I would love to see it hanging on a wall. I wish I could have seen Dr. Dunham's home in Indonesia. Ethnic and Bohemian decor are all the rage today, Dr. Dunham was clearly ahead of her time. I wish I could have met her. I have visions of her being a quiet intellectual, wearing a peace sign necklace, with her two multi-cultural children on her hip.

Green....or never say never!

Dear readers, as you already know - I obsess about color all week long. It helps with the agony of a soulless job. Lately I have been obsessing about green. There are many colors I thought I didn't like, and through my experimentation with paint have learned to love. For example, orange, yellow and gray are colors at one time I didn't like, and now I love. At one time I thought I'd never use green in my home. I have learned never to say never when it comes to color. I have recently fallen in love with green. Here's some green inspiration for you. Hope you enjoy!

I adore the yellow coffee table with the green chairs!

Love the placement of the green vase in this shot. The vase is like a leaf against the tree print, and with the flowers of the Marimekko sofa.

Above images via Sofa Blog.

Any color looks great with large amounts of white. Zara Home via Sofa Blog.

I love the Togo sofa in green. Image PointClickHome.
I love green with pink. Domino.
Nicole and her husband made that fabulous wall hanging for their porch. Image via Making it Lovely.Urban Outfitters.

PointClickHome.

Green looks great with blue. Flickr user Majlee.


Green lamps at Lamps Plus.


Look at this beautiful shot! It would look great enlarged. Flickr user pauly.



Cute vignette and stunning paintings by Kim and Jo, respectively, of Desire to Inspire. Kim and Jo can always be relied upon to provide inspiration.

Mint green dish from Etsy user MyOtherLittleShop.

Items I saw at the vintage store. According to Kim, the green vase is a Bitossi. It's tempting me greatly. Small, but expensive Fenton ashtray, would look cute with a tealight in it. And cute green stools. For previous post on green, click here.