Color Inspiration …Destination St. Martin

I just spent 5 days at La Samanna in St. Martin , leaving on the day of a brutal snow storm. I had prayed that the snow wouldn’t hinder our plans, as it was my friend’s birthday and we didn’t want to spend it at JFK. Thanks to prayers and the pilot’s determination to “hit the beach” we made it to Julianna airport 6 minutes late. By 4 pm, we were toasting our friend’s birthday with chilled champagne just feet from the Caribbean.

Even the bright colors of the fruit and flowers seems brighter in the tropics.

This post is not to regale you about my trip, but to inspire all of us to bring the colors we love , home. The beach is my therapy…color therapy. There’s a reason that people all over the world go to the beach for relaxation. Obviously the warm sun and cool waves are magical and soul restoring, but the various palettes offer each and everyone of us an opportunity to CHILL.

I am always drawn to the bright colors first. I got a pair of bright pink Havianas for Christmas that perfectly match the flowers of pink and orange, as seen from the pool.

This is my blue view from the pool. I am amazed by the contrast in the blue of the sunny sky and the deep turquoise of the sea.

This was my breakfast view from La Samanna. Even the blue mats from the lounge chairs stand out from the sky and sea blues. The neutral sand highlights the darker thatch umbrellas on the beach.

Even the shadows are calming. This is a great example of back lighting a plant and how it could transform a corner in your living room or patio. I love how the blues, greens, and white really compliment each other.

Here’s a snapshot of my bathroom tile. A little accent like this could practically bring the tropics indoors, inexpensively.

I was so obsessed with the color blue and coconuts that I named our villa visiting temporary cat …what else but Coconut. She looks like a toasted coconut sundae and protected us from all things not wonderful.

No surprise that the color green is plentiful on an island but what a crisp clean happy looking palette.

The ferns and young coconuts are such a bright and sunny shade of green.

This picture keeps me from jumping out of my snow covered window. It’s my happy place.

These muted colors are tropical and easy to live with in any locale. I love the soft cool colors that seem to dictate relaxation on every level.

The golden hue and grayish light of this sunset would be a smart look for any room.

I really love the heavenly light of this blue and very gray picture …with a sailboat no less. This almost looks like an old masters oil painting.

Funny to see how beach and tropical include so many palettes. I hope these colors bring a little sunshine into your life and inspire you to bring bright new colors into your home. What vacation spots inspire you ?