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?

Feeling Blue

If you've been reading my blog for a while, you already know that I constantly obsess about color.  A color will grab hold and not let go.  The past few days I have been thinking of blue.  I thought my apartment was going to be yellow for spring.  Now I'm not so sure, blue is haunting me.  Here is some inspiration.  Hope you enjoy!

I love this room so much.  I adore the sofa and ottoman.  And that rug is gorgeous.  I have been craving a new rug lately, but have you noticed how expensive they are?  I am loving the use of various hues of blue in this room and that pop of silver from the lamp.

There are many shades of blue, periwinkle is one of my favorites.  Here it looks gorgeous with pops of yellow.  Perhaps this is a way I can have yellow and blue.  Above two images House to Home.

But of course I must have pink too.  Doesn't Emily Henderson look adorable cute in her new bedroom?  I adore the hot pink pendants with the navy blue headboard.  For more of this fabulous color scheme, click here.

This royal blue pendant looks great with the turquoise walls and the pops of pink.  Image via Pink Friday.

I Love....Ombre!

I'm itching to paint my little bookcase (again).  I've been considering using an ombre technique.  I know you've already seen this everywhere - but ombre is a technique where tones of colors are graduated from light to dark.  Sometimes the different shades are well defined color blocks, sometimes they bleed into each other.  I'd love to experiment with this technique using spray paint on a canvas.  Here are some lovely examples.

Beautiful ombre sofa!  Beautiful room.  Image from Designers Guild.  They are masters at creating soft, airy rooms with gorgeous color.

Look at this fabulous ombre wallpaper!  Looks so great with those curtains.  Designers Guild via Apartment Therapy.  Designers Guild are also masters at using textiles and textures.

Gorgeous sofa with horizontal ombre treatment.  Love it.  Image via Boston Bethany.

Love these closet doors!  I just might do a wall like this in my apartment.  The Inglenook Decor.

I love this dresser!  Does anyone know where this image is from?  Please let me know.

I am completely obsessed with the Kora Vase by Studio Pepe.  I need this!

The fabulous Gwen Stefani wore one of the most beautiful wedding dresses I've ever seen!  In a pink ombre.

Feeling Blue!

As promised, we are going to do an exploration of the color blue over the next few days.  Blue is a soft and calming color, often associated with healing in color psychology.  It looks great with pink, yellow and orange.  It looks great with purple and with the gray.  There are so many beautiful shades of blue.  Today we are going to look at every girl's favorite - Tiffany box blue.  I've been seeing it everywhere in decor and especially love it on accent walls.  We will also look at baby blue, pastel blue and turquoise.

No She Didn't opaque lipstick by Lime Crime.  Could you dare?  This lip stick would be totally fab with a pink streak in your hair.

I need this nail polish!  Tiffany imposter by Sally Beauty Supply.

Love the yellow and blue color blocking here.  Notice the bed is painted the same color as the bottom part of the wall.  Image Helenio Barbetta.

Not a great kitchen, but I am in love with the blue tiles, cabinets and cabinets.  Houston's Beer Can House.

An old rather dull table gets a face lift with the help of a beautiful shade of blue paint.  Etsy user minthome.

I know a ton of people who have this same boring wood table.  It looks so much fresher painted!  Here the owners have opted for painting the table yellow and adding blue chairs.  The look is fab!  Victoria's Perfect Blend via Apartment Therapy.

A pale blue chair looks lovely with pale lilac in the same hue.  Mimmi Staaf via My Attic.

 

I need this lovely round ottoman in my living room!  It would be great for storing blankets.  I love a piece that is beautiful and functional.  Room Service.

I adore this turquoise sofa.  My next sofa cover is going to be turquoise.  From Croatia via Desire to Inspire.

This stunning apartment features a blue wallpaper accent wall and blue accessories.  As you know, I'm not a big fan of wallpaper, but I think using it on an accent wall is a great idea.  The place looks very fresh.  Dragana's Apartment via Desire to Inspire.

Love the pale blue accent wall.  And dig those cute little tables.  They look kinda like mushrooms and they look great with that pop of pink from the rug.

Same place, other wall in a darker blue.  I love how they've used different blues, patterns and wood.  The place still looks fresh, organic and monotone.  Guilherme Torres via Desire to Inspire.

The blue pillows, rug and chandelier look great combined with the gray walls and sofa.  Also love the dash of silver provided by the phone.  Source for this gorgeous room unknown. Please contact me if you know the designer of this room.  Stay tuned for more blue tomorrow.

Brief Hiatus and Exciting Announcement

Sorry for the brief interruption of posts.  I don't need to explain to you, dear readers, how life is.  Busy.  Seems time rushes by and we lead such harried lives.  I'm excited to announce that I will be moving (yes, again).  After several years of transition, unemployment and illness, good fortune has smiled on me.  I have been given an opportunity to feel more settled.  I will fill you in on all the details at a later date.

As I look back on the last couple of difficult and tumultuous years, I can clearly see that I am always taken care of by God, Higher Power or the Cosmos, whatever you prefer to call it.  I can also clearly see that everything happens for a reason.  Even the difficult things.  I am a better, stronger and more peaceful person.

I am leaving my beloved Cleveland again.  I wouldn't be surprised if I return one day.  I definitely will be visiting.  There are exciting things happening in Cleveland.  In the meantime, I have been purging like crazy.  I have been ruthless in my editing, and yet it seems there is still so much stuff.  As you know, I've never really been a pack rat or a hoarder.  I like a clean, simple aesthetic. I'm trying harder than I ever have to live simpler.  The funny thing is that the simpler I make my life, the happier I am.  I still love beautiful things and, of course, am obsessing about decorating my new lovely, small, humble apartment.  And, of course, I will be sharing all my musings on simplicity and decor with you.

One of the things I purged was my boxes of journals.  I had been keeping journals for the last 20 years.  As I looked back on them, I saw destructive and repetitive patterns that, I am proud to say are no longer a part of my life.  I am no longer a victim, and am living an authentic life with integrity.  It felt great letting them go.  Closing one chapter of my life and welcoming the next.

I will be offline for a short time.  But stay tuned, I will be asking Jessie to guest blog again (although she is busy too!).  I have lots of interesting things to report when I return, such as thoughts on organic decor, uber simplicity and new art projects.  In the meantime just for fun, I'll leave you with some fab chicks on fab red sofas.

fllickr user hello

The always fabulous Kate Winslet.  Is it just me, or does she keep getting better and better?  Okay, let's balance this with a cute guy.

The chair is not red, but it is fab.  And designer extraordinaire, Antonio Ballatore, looks fab in it.

P.S. Have you ever watched Clean House?  I've been watching it marathon style on Netflix while packing and organizing.  I love the team's campy sense of humor.  Designer Mark Brunetz and I share the love of clutter-free simplicity.  He is such a hottie and I just learned that he is a Cleveland native!  I'd love to meet him!

Take care, dear readers!  See you soon.  xxoo

Mini Mood Board

Still dreaming of a new apartment.  Current plan for decorating same is a gray accent wall and a vintage turquoise sofa.  This sofa is impossibly out of my budget but it is perfect, isn't it?  Is it possible to be in love with a sofa.  Yes, it's perfectly possible.  Here's the proof:

 V and M

This sofa is casual, yet sophisticated and clean lined.  My favorite style of decor is Mid-Century Modern.   I love the simple lines.  MCM furniture makes a great base for any beautiful room.  Because of its clean lines, any style can easily be layered on it.  Japanese, Moroccan and ethnic pieces go great in a room decorated in Mid-Century Modern.

West Elm

I prefer low scale, round coffee tables.  I like to move them around and use them for different purposes, which is why I love ottomans so much.  I've never really used wood in my decor, although this piece made in India has caught my attention.  I love it's low scale, Moroccan influence.  I think it would look great with this sofa.

 And the accent wall I am planning in the perfect dove gray.

 Design Public

Here's the perfect entertainment center for my new flat screen.  I love its simple shape, and I love the combination of wood and white.  The wood of this piece and the coffee table relate to each other.  The white on this piece would, of course, relate to the painted wood floors.  Hmm, this room needs some funky end tables, over sized Danish lamps and pillows.  And oh yeah, vases.  None of it is to be, as it's out of my budget, but it's okay.  A girl can dream right?   These pieces are now all in my virtual collection.  You know what I always say about virtual collections.  They cost nothing, they take up no space, they don't need dusting, and the best part - they don't have to be moved!

Good thing I didn't take part in the I'm a Giant Challenge (see post below).  I'd be tempted to replicate these pieces, but the last thing I need is another obsession or project.

Turquoise Obsession

Dear readers, you know how I am about color.  I think about color all the time.  Sometimes thoughts of a specific color occupy my mind and it won't let go.  As you know, I've been thinking about gray a lot lately.  Today the obsession suddenly shifted to turquoise.  Turquoise is probably my second favorite color (pink being the first, of course).  As you also know, I've been fantasizing about a new apartment and how I'd decorate it.  I know I want a gray accent wall, and now I'm thinking I want to add turquoise. Here's how it started.

I was watching Secrets from a Stylist Holiday.  I adore Emily Henderson.  Her style differs greatly from mine, her rooms are a little over the top for me, I'd like to edit about half of the items when she's done.  And I'm still not sold on wallpaper, which she uses a lot.  But, she's adorable and quirky and delightful to watch and I do learn things from her, and she often inspires me.  I like when my perspective is challenged.  Sorry, I digress.  The point I'm trying to get to is this vase.  For some reason, whenever I watch TV or movies, I constantly hone in on the vases in the room.  This particular one caught my attention and I can't get it out of my mind.  Beautiful shape and beautiful color.  If anyone knows where I can order this vase, please let me know.  Anyway, this vase is what started by current obsession with turquoise.

More vases!  I haven't bought any new vases in a while, so I think I have them on my mind.  I love these updated versions of depression glass.  I'm not usually a fan of hobnails, but I love these.  Probably because they are still simply shaped.  Available at DwellStudio.

I'm not usually a fan of groupings, but this one works because the art is all black and white.  The art and the cabinet pop off the turquoise walls beautifully.  Love the pop provided by the red chair.  And, of course, I really dig those white floors.  Image Karl Anderson.

 

Turquoise looks great with wood and with mid-century modern decor.  Love this dining set.  The red pillows on the seats look great with the turquoise.  Clint & Lisa's Bold Crayola-Inspired Abode via Apartment Therapy.

More proof that red looks great with turquoise.  I love this lacquered table!  Also love the pops of turquoise.  The room is simple, clean and romantic.  Such a stunner, hard to believe it was done on a small budget.  Sorry about the poor image, but I think you get the idea.  This room was designed by Kahi Lee for Design on Dime.  I need the Design on a Dime team to come to my home!

Drool.  Simple, clean mid-century modern comfort.  Love the turquoise chairs and love the pops of the orange pillows.

OMG that lamp!  I need that lamp!  I am currently on the hunt for a large, geometric, Danish-inspired white vintage lamp.  I am scouring the vintage stores.  It's not easy since I have no budget, but I know one will appear.  Images Chris Barrett Design.

Look at this beautiful sofa!  It must have been custom made for the space.  I love round ottoman, and I believe that's a Moroccan wedding blanket used as a rug.  I've been seeing them used as rugs quite a bit lately, and I love them.  Adds great texture to the simple, yet elegant and comfy space.  Samer's 1930 Streamline Moderne Apartment via Apartment Therapy.

This picture proves that turquoise looks great with gray.  I adore this chair and ottoman with the gray walls and the white floors.  And isn't that Warhol print fab!  Can you believe this cute picture is actually from a doll house!  It's from Jessie of My Mod Style's entry in the I'm a Giant Challenge.  Sometimes doll house furniture is so inspirational!