Glam Global Village Dining

I love this room.

I love the funky golden mirrors, the whimsical-yet-moody artwork, the intensity of the chairs

and that lighting, which pulls it all together.

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It's spaces like this that remind us to be bold, yes?

til next time...

Weekend Color: Pantone's Color of the Year - Why It Is Important and Why It's Not

By now I'm sure you have heard about Pantone's color pick for 2011.

This is quite an energetic pink!

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Color is moving towards fresh, clean hues.

What exactly does that mean?

I discussed clean/dirty color here, if you'd like to read more about it.

I don't ever advise a client to fill their space with the latest and greatest color unless they truly LOVE it.

What happens next year?

If you are using this hue simply to be "on-trend" 

are you going to be satisfied when it no longer is the top color?

If you have created a fairly neutral shell, or you have used other clean colors that are roughly the same value, you can easily bring in vibrant pink accents.

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Domino

I think the we should look at the entire palette from Pantone

 to get a clearer sense of what is happening with color.

The silver cloud and silver peony are still holding the grey and blush front.

I wouldn't place Silver peony with any of these other colors 

because it simply is not saturated enough to hold it's own.

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Russet is signalling an influx of brown - we need something to balance out all this freshness.

In interiors that signals a return to brown woods, rather than all the grey tones we have been seeing.

Domino

The remaining seven hues are all similar in their intensity and clean tones.

You could place any of these in space together and they would work.

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Blue Curacao is a softer version of last years turquoise.

I love the regatta blue - it's time to bring blue back from the green side :) 

Honeysuckle, which looks so vibrant when examined alone, 

fits in to this group without stealing the show.

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Pantone's color choices give us a look toward the future,

they interpret our societies emotional climate and the colors reflect it.

It seems right now people are quite ready for a bit of light-hearted fun.

Honeysuckle - will you use it?

til next time..

Color Post: How You Can Create Flow With Color, part 1

Last week I had a client ask me a common question:

"How can I use color to make my house flow?"

It's something I discuss on every consultation I do, because each time you change a room in your home, you need to be mindful of what is happening in the rest of the space.

Of of the most important things to consider is the purity of your color.

Primary, secondary and tertiary colors are pure, that is, they have not been muted by adding color from other parts of the color wheel (other than those adjacent to them) or grey.



These are the "cleanest" hues.
They can be lightened by adding white, and therefore become tints.
Or they can be darkened by adding black, and therefore become shades.

If you use a pure hue in one space, then move on to a "dirty" tone in the next,
 your home will not have good flow.

Look at the difference in these Benjamin Moore yellows.

You do NOT have to use the exact same palette all through your home to create flow.
You do, however, have to choose between clean and dirty hues
 if you are using different hues throughout.
Generally clean hues pair best with cool neutrals and dirty with warm,
 as dirty hues almost always have some brown in them.

One of the best examples of how freeing this is to color in design
 is shown in Victoria Webster's home,
designed by Sloan Mauran
as seen in House and Home.

I think this house is genius!
Obviously color is just one part of this design, and everything is done to perfection.

There are other well-considered color elements here as well, like saturation -
but the clean hues, paired with cool grey, cool white and black are the main factor.

Spectacular, isn't that?
Makes you want to head straight out to the paint store for a gallon of that tangerine!

When I post part two I'll show you a home where dirty color reigns - lovelier than it sounds, promise :)

til next time..

Weekend Color: The Color You Need In Every Room

What if there was a magic color - 

one that wakes up and enlivens every space..

just a splash in each room would unify your home and, 

best of all, actually create a better living environment?

There is.

While the shades and tones will vary, the hue stays the same - green.

More specifically, the color of greenery.

bring on the PLANTS..

my living room

Green has a unique effect on (the majority of) us phsychologically:

it calms and restores balance.

That means while you are relaxing you are also regaining strength.

Green clears the head and gives you the energy to focus on the tasks at hand -

 making it the ideal color in an office 

(I just painted my own this color, and the change in ambiance is fantastic - pics when I'm done :)

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But you don't have to go so far as painting your walls emerald recieve the benefits this hue has to offer -

simply add a few plants to each room, and enjoy.

Lauren from Pure Style Home has made botanicals and plants a signature in her work.

I love this "garden corner" she created.

Topiaries and urns raise the bar, allowing plants to stand alone in her display.

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A lone topiary add a graceful note.



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in pairs..



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 hanging plants become an unusual chandelier..



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 simple and sculptural display





Using a really easy-to-maintain variety in abundance to great effect.



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Even a single plant can work it's magic.





Large scale plants can wake up static spaces -
this room would have been lovely without the plant, but it makes the design more dynamic.
 Your eye is directed to the rear corner of the room,
 a trick I use in staging all the time to make a space feel larger.



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I love this room for more than just the plants, but I thought this was interesting -
 these are actually cuttings.
While I wouldn't cut down a tree to use as display, you could have a similar effect with potted plants.





Fiddle Leaf Figs are my favourite large plants..
imagine these rooms without them.







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it's a bit like sitting under a tree in the garden, isn't it?

If these feel overwhelming,
start small.. a pot here and there..



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Succulents are really easily maintained, put them in a sunny corner water sparingly!

they look fabulous in groups..


 

as do bulbs..




For thumbs that are more black than green, using zero maintenance garden cuttings may work better.
anything, from herbs to "weeds"..



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or self-sustaining terrariums..





That's a project the darlings and I are going to try this winter.

If you travel frequently or just really don't like the bother of plants, even a bit of reference in your decor can give you some of the rejuvenating effect.

wallpaper.. oh, this room is incredible.


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art..

LOVE!



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and fabric.




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The best plants to me are useful ones, and I love fresh herbs in the kitchen.





Last supring Coco and I started herbs from seed, which I've never done before.
It was going great, then they all began to die.
We didn't have enough direct light to sustain the poor little things.
We popped them outside for the summer, where they thrived.
Now we're trying to find shade loving herbs to place in the kitchen..

I'd love to hear how you brings plants into your space.

til next time..