February, the month of love, is a great time to add some color to your life. A burst of a new color to your wardrobe or a fresh coat of paint is a great way to brighten up a gray winter day. Even daydreaming about a new spring gardening scheme can shoo away the winter blues.
So let’s take a peek into my mailbox for a little color inspiration that will have even old man winter craving spring.
This months “Makeover” section features this awesome, colorful home by interior designer Ashley Whittaker. “That turquoise and white linen on the dining room walls is dreamy… I know, I love it. One dreary winter day my client and I had driven out to the house to meet. We had chosen the turquoise linen for the sun room, but when I walked through the dining room and held the sample up to the wall, we both said, ‘that’s it!’ the turquoise brightened even the grayest February days. It has great impact and sets a tone for the colors throughout.”
“Rhapsody in Gray” Elle Decor takes a look at the Bel Air home of fashion designer Monique Lhuillier. “Not only does the designer know how to handle white, she has a firm grip on the inherent beauties of gray too. “It’s very tonal, but I am really into textures, Lhuiller says of her house, a rambling French-manor style structure whose muted interior finishes run the gamut from fog to stingray. Like many couturiers who spend their working hours dealing with brilliant brocades and dazzling silks, the designer explains, ” We wanted an escape from color when we come home from the office.”
This month’s “paint palette” in Domino takes a look at 25 different version of deep purple. “This regal hue can easily overwhelm a room, but when it works, it’s both rich and livable.”
Cottage Living takes a look inside this colorful Atlanta Cottage and explains the colorful choice for it’s bright yellow and blue living room. ” She took her color cues from his (her husband), company’s signature color- bright yellow, and paired it with royal blue for a bold combination…. ‘I even got the exact Pantone color from his graphic department to match the leather on the antique ottoman.”
Southern Accents showcases this Palm Beach home that marries Indian motifs with a tranquil palette. “In the back a garden of orange trees, jasmine, and a sampling of other subtropical plants surrounds a 60-by-11 foot lap pool.”
Home’s look at color this month features this colorful kitchen. “A soft blue ceiling adds a coolness to the room and is a fun surprise.”
Living magazine has a beautiful pictorial on potter Frances Palmer’s vibrant cutting garden. “Imposing seven-foot-tall dinner plate dahlias and top heavy sunflowers tower over maroon, pink, red and orange zinnias. The dense riot of color, form, and texture creates a winsome, romantic patchwork.”
A take at Country Home’s show house…“The big idea..bring nature indoors with colors that harmonize with the landscape. ‘Part country style is looking outside for inspiration,’ says Senior Home Editor Beth Eslinger. ‘For this house, we picked up on the colors of the mountains and sky, as well as the woodsy environment.
Vogue’s February issue has a full layout showcasing one of the hottest accessories of the season….“grand scales: Outsize day bags and shoes in technicolor exotics make a big, bright statement.”
Marie Claire also looks on the brighter side of accessories…“The new color- Neon”
“Color… Take on a tangy tone for a decidedly modern look. ‘The shape is Grace Kelly, but the color is rock and roll.”
Allure’s “Fashion Cravings”…. True romance: pink dresses and red shoes that are sweeter than a box of chocolates.
