Let the Sun shine!

Since attending the workshop on branding and color imaging I have applying the theories to interiors. I love color so the philosophy of color adds another level. I have so many clients ask about what is trending in color. Color is a personal choice, just like your interiors. It’s not about what is the hottest trend it’s about how the hottest trend fits into your home or office. Just because a warm gray is the newest trend for wall color it may not be right for your home. One size does not fit all.

The color I have been thinking about today is yellow. I love yellow. It’s warm, friendly and can be uplifting.  I live in Texas so we have 352 days of sunshine. However I have yellow walls in my kitchen and it drives me crazy. They came with the house.

 

Yellow is the first color the eye sees. Yellow and gray are a favorite color combination. Gray provides the neutral to the intense yellow of this room. I love the bright golden yellow on the walls in contrast to the acid yellow lacquer on the table.

 

I love this softness of this kitchen. The soft creamy yellow of the tile and cabinets, accented with blue and white. This is a classic use of yellow, blue and white. Yellow increases concentration.

 

Yellow represents happiness and high energy. I think I would be happy if I had this bathroom. Sophisticated and playful.

 

How cool is this color combo? Soft lemony yellow accented with a vivid magenta. Yellow is exciting and magenta, which is part of the pink family brings a joyful and youthful edge to a traditional design.

Color can transform amy interior whether – traditional, modern, french country, formal or casual.

Do not use yellow if you are feeling nervous or don’t want to be noticed.

Behind the Photo Shoot!

I love this post from one of my favorite bloggers, Julia from Hooked on Houses. She is my design kindred spirit. I have to reblog her latest posting on home that was featured in Better Homes and Gardens. Magazine readers haven’t clue how long and what it takes to do a photo shoot. I shoot can take hours to set up, but before the shoot you have to shop for accessories, furniture and fresh flowers. I love photo shoots but they are time consuming, but very fun.

You can find the article at:

http://www.hookedonhouses.net/2014/08/25/styling-a-colorful-ranch-for-better-homes-gardens

I hope this link works, I am technologically challenged at times.

 

1970’s Interior Design – Part II

1970’s Kitchen

Love the Color!!!

Crate and Barrel stills sells the bentwood chairs and the enameled pot, as well as the table.

I think this is my aunt’s kitchen. The pattern paper is probably contact paper.

Here are more images. I love looking back at this stuff.

“What color is in Style?”

As an interior designer I am constantly asked by home owners “what is the color is in style?” My response, ” good design is always in style.” Shades of blue, reds, yellows, greens, white and black appear in almost every home at anytime in history. My point is a room that is well design can introduce the trending version of any color. The color can be added with throw pillows, a new carpet and accessories.

A great design keeps the major elements of a home neutral. Neutrals are not just cream, white and black. Grey, navy blue and even a red can be a neutral. Brown has been a neutral for many years and it can be updated with grey, cream and hint of pink or orange.

The photo images I have collected for today’s posting highlights red as the star. My inspiration is from my favorite designer Sarah Richardson. One of my goals is to have a friend and design buddy like Tommy Smythe, who is also an excellent designer.  They make our jobs look like fun. Some days it is some days not so much.  I found some of these images on her website which is great place for perusing interior design ideas.

This is an excellent example of a neutral back drop with accents of red. Imagine this quilt could be yellow, pink or green. The possibilities are endless, but i do love the red.

Hints of red add a vibrancy and warmth to this room without being over powering.

How fun is this?

50 Shades of Blue – Part II

It’s my favorite time, when the new  shipment of home design magazines. Every magazine this month features blue.  As my readers know I have an affinity for blue – turquoise, cerulean, indigo, navy, robin’s egg and the lists goes on.

Horchow mail order catalogue has a four page spread in Traditional Home this month featuring blue and white, mainly a crisp navy and white interiors, but the last page of the ad features a mainly white interior with art accents of a water blue with warm golden honey wood tones.  Blue and white is a mainstay for any room, any design style and any budget. I also think Asian design, especially Japanese and Chinese pottery and wood pieces work with any style. The key to a successful room design is scale, proportion and balance.

Blue is ingrained in every culture.  We see it woven into beautiful textiles of India and Middle East, the delicate porcelians of Japan and Chinese cultures, as well as the textiles and pottery of the Mediterranean cultures.  As I am writing this I think my next blog topic will be more in depth writing of usage of blue in various colors. Back to our previous subject the Blue and white interiors in this month’s home design magazine.

The chairs in this photo are beautiful. I love the warm brass nailhead detail. Nailhead is great way to dress up an solid upholstery piece. The room is doesn’t look staid because the dishes and the linens have lots of pattern and movement. the warm orangish wood floor grounds the room.

This image and the one above are from the Horchow Collection named Coast Modern. The ad features my favorite colors blue and white, but as you see vivid green tropical plants add a bunch of color. It is okay to mix woods. This room has a warm light wood coffee table and the chairs have a dark wood frame. It works because of the contrast. Notice the contrast of primitive pattern indigo and white throw pillows in formal setting.

I love the simplicity of this room. Blue and white being the mainstay with honey toned accent in the wicker and flooring. The design element pattern, makes this room interesting. It uses stripes, greek keys, scrolls, circles and squares.

I love this room! Blue and white doesn’t have to be bold like the previous photos. It is simply used in the beautiful watercolors artwork accented with the watm tones of the gold mirror and soft orange of the shell.

Pantone color of 2014

This is one of my favorite times of the year. Of course we have the holidays and the ability to spend time with family and friend, but my secret passion is the announcement of Pantone’s color of the year. This year it is Radiant Orchid.

This color will show up in fashion, electronics and of course interior design. This freaks people out because they are thinking I don’t have any purple, lavender or radiant orchid in my house. Like all trends you nay introduce into your life as scarf or handbag to update your wardrobe or your may get an iphone color.  The color for 2013 was emerald green. I now own a shell top I wear all the time and earring and necklaces with emerald green touches.

I have complied photos from Better Homes and Garden, HGTV and One Kings Lane websites so my readers can be inspired by the color for 2014.  Check out HGTV’s website and search Pantone Color of the Year.The images range from an entirely purple room to subtle uses for the Radiant Orchid and Emerald Green.

Here it is – Radiant Orchid
Such a happy color.

What a great addition to spring and summer wardrobe.

I found this photo on the HGTV website.

This is a great chair from Wisteria. This would look great with navy, creams and whites.

Check out HGTV’s website, Pantone Color of the year.
It shows some fabulous and not scary ways to use the fresh radiant color.

Refresh + Restyle Part II

Dining Room – Before.
This room doesn’t showcase beautiful china and crystal.

Dining Room – After
The room has ambient lighting. Several layers of lighting is important. Overhead which must be dimmable and lighting at the eye level, such as lamps. The table cloth was removed and set with china a fresh flowers.

Living Room – Before
The furniture had a odd layout, it didn’t maximize the space.

Living Room – After
We relocated the piano which opened up the room. Showcased Patty’s history with Steinway piano and her love of music.

The living room had too much furniture and the unusual angles created visual and phyiscal blocks. Our homeowner loves to entertain. With this arrangement seating is limited.

We shifted the furniture and removed one chair and a china cabinet. If you own lots of china and crystal it does not have to be displayed all at once. By eliminating the china cabinet we were able to hang the homeowners valuable artwork that was sitting in a closet. We added throw pillows to bring in a modern touch and more color. We moved the tea cart from the dining room to the living room . The tea cart displayed a beautiful silver tea service and antique china cups and saucers. The art work is hung in groups of like subjects, the frames can be different. We had a blast and learned more about a friend and her families life.

Refresh + Restyle

Two weeks ago a a neighbor and I restyled one of our  other neighbor’s homes. We volunteered to this for our monthly neighborhood women’s club meeting. Our neighbor, Patty had a house full  of furniture and collectables. Patty bought the home 12 years ago when she was single, three years ago she married and her new husband added his life of furniture and collectables. About a year ago Patty’s mother in law suddenly passed away leaving her home contents to Patty and her husband. Needless to say Patty was overwhelmed by furniture lamps and collectables.

80 hours later and a fresh coat of paint my other neighbor Deb and I reshuffled and moved furniture, reorganized collections of art, china ,books and family heirlooms.  The end result showcased and blended Patty and her husband’s lives and family history. Collectables that had been hidden away are now displayed and enjoyed.

A home is to showcase your history and tell your story.

The couples Hawaiian lithographs are highlighted. The lamp and a few trinkets have a pineapple motif. Pine apples are from Hawaii and are a colonial symbol of hospitality.

Patty and Blake love Hawaii. We gathered ocean, blue & white items to tell the story. The vignette showcases their wedding photos and an antique seaside painting by a relative.

Entry Hall -Before
Items were sporadic and not telling a story. Once again a monotone palette.

 

This the before photo of Patty’s Entry Hall. The palette monotone and sparse.