As we all become more eco-conscious our view of what it means to be earth-friendly broadens. It is no longer simply about ‘recycle-reuse-renew’ but is expanding to a broader understanding of the interconnectedness of our planet.

A shift in our collective view is what can bring about a change in our desire for certain colors and this is where trends begin. While we still have a desire for green and find comfort in brown our more global perspective is being expressed with the color blue.

My friend and CMG colleague, Leatrice Eiseman correctly read this trend when she recommend that Pantone named blue the color of 2008. By choosing this single color they aren’t saying that this specific color is the ‘must have’ hue but rather that this color represents the overall mood or focus around the globe.

This has proven to be very true and right now blue is resonating with so many people that when someone ask me what colors are hot I reply, “Any hue as long as its blue”.

If you have any doubt just look around. Every hue of blue from sky to navy can be seen for home and fashion everywhere right now.

House Beautiful picked up on the importance of blue in 2008. I especially loved this home that beautifully blends many blues. The living room above is predominately done in the softer spa blues with deeper blue accents. While the dining area mixes bolder blue with bright turquoise.

Pottery barn has plenty of blue in their collections, too. In the current Pottery Barn paint colors there are a half dozen blues.

I think this light blue pillow is perfect with the light neutrals and dark brown wood. It has a fresh, modern look while the darker blue and white rugs draw from ancient indigo dyed textiles.

If you are in the market for a Kitchenaid mixer you have two blues to choose from at Williams-Sonoma. The deep cobalt and the light, fresh blue.

Martha Stewart went with a blue that is more aqua for her cookware line but selected a clear blue for her bedding sets available at Macy’s.

Blue in combination with brown or tan that has been a popular choice for the last few years and is still going strong.

But now blue is also being paired with green. In the same way that these colors create a balance in nature they can come together in perfect harmony in your home. These two froms from 2modern.com are good examples of this color scheme.

If you’re home isn’t yet ’singing the blues’ now is the time to find the perfect hue for you.

Do you still need more inspiration for adding a bit of blue to your home? Here’s a few of my favorite homes filled with blue from past issues of House Beautiful. Each uses blue in a bit different way.

• The color blue is the lovely, persistent thread woven throughout your elegant Jackson, Mississippi, house. See more about this home on housebeautiful.com
• A teacher at Parsons School of Design used to say,’Put a little blue in everything you do.’ Some people think blue is cold, but my client loves blue so much she wanted a completely blue house. See more about this home on housebeautiful.com
• Designer Robin Bell fills this Florida house with more blues than you can count. See more about this home on housebeautiful.com

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.

House Beautiful has an incredible line up and I’m thrilled to be part of this event. I hope to see you there! More information is availble at Capital Design.

So cozy up with me by taking a quick, colorful peek into a few of my favorites issues….

“Soft hues of Gray and Beige are making a comeback this season”…notice how Harper’s Bazaar used these “new neutrals” for their cover shoot of Uma.

Lucky has a really great spread about mixing “rich, bright colors into your winter wardrobe”…”a peek of baby pink sweetens the vibrant tomato red of this jacket; gray pants an a cream turtleneck make everything that much more refined.” I absolutely love tomato red… I never would have thought about combining it with a soft pink… I will definitely be trying this!

Wouldn’t Elsa Schraparelli be proud “They Went Magenta-Way”. According to InStyle all you lilting-lilac girls, antique-rose sweeties, blush babies and cotton candy cuties get-outta-da-way because here comes a powerhouse pink that takes on all comers when it’s a match and takes no prisoners when it’s not. You’re either meant for magenta or your not.

House Beautiful asked top designers: Which paint color do you always come back to?…Keith Irvine listed Benjamin Moore’s Dark Royal Blue 2065-20 “I’m mad about this dark inky blue, as it gives great vibrancy and depth to a wall- especially if you put a topcoat of good varnish over it. That’s what we did in Rex Harrison’s Manhattan apartment in this fabulous little dining alcove.” Read more….

In a really fun issue O at Home showcases talented readers/decorators… “Winter White…It may be cold outside, but the design climate right now is warmer than ever-welcoming a slew of styles, from modern to rustic to downright baroque. So how to tie last year’s woodland craze into this season’s rococo revivial? A unifying dose of the ultimate neutral.”

Hmm, Elle Decor was on a similar wave-length… “Winter White…As crisp as a fresh snowfall, the color of the moment strikes an elegant pose, from an alabaster lamp to plush fabrics to a wintry ensemble.”

The “Color you need to now” according to Southern Accents… “peacock blue... One of those old-school colors that makes you think of grand hotels and beautifully appointed dining cars, peacock blue covers the wall of libraries, butler’s pantries and other spaces where intimacy and a little intensity seem appropriate.”

Metropolitan Home looks to brighter side with a “colorways” report on “Unmellow Yellow…. The color forecast this winter calls for a bright sunshine with a twist of lemon” I love those little stoneware hot/cold drinking cups!… they would brighten up my daily teatime, for sure.

Home’s latest is chock full of great color knowledge and ideas… This was a spread on a East Hampton house by designer Jamie Drake. I love Jamie Drake so much that whatever color advice he’s giving… I’m listening! “Drakes recipe: first choose a main color you love, then add a complementary shade, and finish with two dollops of an accent color. Voila!

New kid on the block, Vogue Living’s winter issue, featured these cool colorful rugs by Miami designer Gene Meyer. “I’ve been able to lose myself in color,” enthuses Meyer, : I’ve always loved it. I am a child of the sixties. Color then wasn’t the exotic thing it has become today.”

The cover of Martha Stewart Living features cool, sunshine yellow kitchen accents, but it was this article about houseplants that caught my eye… “The upright, linear effect of the snake plant, is emphasized by tall windows, while planters echo their verdigris colors.” I love what a color statement a common house plants can make in the right planter.

Coastal Living’s “Island Hopping… to chase away the winter chill, head somewhere tropical. Dress the part with accessories in warm tones of faux tortoiseshell and shades of golden sunshine.”… good idea, let’s pack our bags right now!!!

Read any fun color advice or discovered a new color trend you love this month?…. Let me know!

Based on research and filled with hundreds of illustrations, color expert Leatrice Eiseman presents insights on color and emotion, shares how best to integrate these qualities into your work, insuring your intended message is communicated.

Unlike some of their competitors that have created their own paint lines, Pottery Barn has selected colors from the Benjamin Moore line that coordinate with their line of furniture and home accessories.

I think this is simply brilliant for both of these brands and for customers looking to create Pottery Barn style in their own beautiful home.

From the Pottery Barn website:

“Color has the power to calm, comfort, energize and inspire. That’s why we’ve collaborated with Benjamin Moore to create complete room color palettes, each with four shades that coordinate beautifully.”

The New England Light palette is pictured above and you can see more combinations at Pottery Barn’s website.