Posts Tagged ‘home’
Okay, I’m a week behind watching Top Design ( thanks be to DVR ) so I just caught the window display collaboration episode with the former Project Runway contestants. Oh how I love when Bravo mixes and matches their reality stars- genius!
What caught my eye this week was the display created by Andrea and Preston for PR’s Daniel. Though the design did not take home the prize ( it came in second ), their choice of colors to surround Daniels awesomely bright yellow gown received kudos from the judges and had me jumping for joy in my pajamas.
It reminded me just how much I love the combination of a muted purple, gray, black and yellow. It immediately brought to mind an apartment that was featured in the May issue of Domino magazine- interestingly enough designed by actress Julianne Moore for her wardrobe stylist- that at the time had really caught my eye.
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Recently I’ve seen a lot of “ombre” or gradient shading in clothing and accessories. This is a kind of tie dye trend, but upscale (ombre , en francais, means shaded). The mix of colors reminds me of a rainbow, hence the Kermit the Frog “Rainbow Connection” reference.
The first sight of this trend, for me, was by Prada. I love the patent shades of their Vernice Sfumata clutch. L.A.M.B. offers a rich green Manchester ombre tote. The wallet friendly Caprice tote is a fraternal twin of Gwen’s Manchester tote. Another side of the spectrum is Fendi’s pastel doctor bag….what a sherbet- like treat. And YSL‘s Raspail red and canvas tote reminds me of my favorite painter pants (from 5th grade).
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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.
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I recently wrote about the current trend of gray accessories but this color trend isn’t confined to the world of fashion and can be a sophistocated addition to your home.
In the living room, gray is a beautiful neutral that can be combined with many colors, for a fresh spring look. And by using gray in the palette, even the guy in my life is comfortable contributing to the design of his favorite rooms. (As long as I can still have a girlie room somewhere in the house).
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Anyone that knows me well, knows that I am a magazine junkie — my husband, my mailman and even my friends who are more than happy to bypass their recycling bins to hand their read subscriptions over to me.
When I open my mailbox to find a brand new sparkling issue, I swear my serotonin level doubles- it’s kind of a sickness.
But some good can come from this obsession of mine…. I’ve decided each month to do a wrap up on what my favorite magazines are saying about color- a quick flip through the trends and ideas that keep us inspired each and every month.
“Red is not a color for sissies, but you can’t go wrong with this orangey red that reminds me of carved cinnabar boxes from China. It’s warm and cheerful with chintz. Or add a coat of gloss for a lacquered effect and the room will feel like a glamorous jewel box. go out and buy two buckets of red and change your world in a weekend.” designer Todd Romano talking about Farrow and Ball’s “Blazer 212″- “Color For Coziness”… House Beautiful
“The allure of jet-setter style is irresistible: graphic black and white against a polished interior best exemplifies the globe-trotting gourmet high life.” Elements of a Room/ Chalet Style… House & Garden
“At it’s best, plum evokes royalty and is as rich and elegant as it is interesting, adding an unexpected dimension to upholstery or even tableware. Plum is every-where these days, and it’s utterly classic when done right.” The color you need now… Southern Accents
“Shades of gray…a pair of deep, gentle hues, combined with bright-blue accents, create a dreamy, restful retreat.” Paint palettes… referring to Benjamin Moore’s Rushing River and Nightfall… Domino
” I’ve realized going to the extreme with one color is fun when you play off different textures.” fabric designer Kitty White talking about decorating her own home… Cottage Living
“I choose my menu based on color a lot of times. I love a colorful plate of food, but not necessarily a colorful plate. If I’m serving on fiestaware, I might not put as much thought into the menu as I would if I were serving dinner on Russel Wright white plates, for example.” actress and author Amy Sedaris talking about the affect color has on appetite… Metropolitan Home
“Metallic- Get ready, get set, and go for the gold- not to mention the silver, bronze, copper and more. From fabrics that shimmer to wall coverings that shine, there is a mine’s worth of precious metals out there guaranteed to put a gleam in your eye” from Trend alert…Elle Decor
“All is bright- for her annual Christmas Eve dinner, Gael Towey ( chief creative director of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia ) dresses her New York City brownstone in an unexpected holiday color- pink… the table, dressed in rosy pink linens and bejeweled with pink roses and shining lusterware plates”… Living
“Usually strict evergreen loyalists, we fell in love with this cotton-candy-ish conifer. It’s unabashedly festive, and you don’t have to strap it to your car to bring it home. Traditional trimmings wouldn’t cut it, so we wove jumbo lights in and out of its branches, then dangled glass globes and plastic balls, which have the sheen of soap bubbles “ from Glow and Behold- holiday decorating… Blueprint
“Gifts Galore… shades of coral, winter whites, peacock palette, candy colors” holiday gift ideas… Town and Country
“I like to give my friends the royal treatment with gifts of sparkly metallic finishes and crown motifs.” Mary Emmeriling on what she will be gifting this holiday…Country Home
“Hot colored appliances- it used to be that purchasing an orange or yellow mixer constituted a commitment to colorful decor in the culinary zone. But now, with manufacturers introducing major appliances in vivid shades such as cobalt blue and deep burgundy, you can make a statement from the kitchen to the laundry room”. from Fresh Faces: New this season… Home
“Juicy News, Ripe tangerine and turquoise are bountifully in season” Elle Fashion Trends… Elle
“I think the color is a translation of all the energy that’s in London,” says David Saunders, a fine-art-print designer who put together his bright, geometric first collection under his David David label this season. State of the Union, Sarah Mower spotlights the most optimistic, color crazed collections to come out of London in years…Vogue
“Pearly Whites, pristine and cool, a frosting of pearls gleams on a quilted bag, silk shoes and an angelic necklace.” Scene Stealers accessories… In Style
“Equal parts playful and ladylike, jewel-toned pieces add the perfect jolt of color to my winter wardrobe.” Hope Greenburg, fashion director from- what I want now, editor’s picks… Lucky
“It was a year of rainbow brights. Style setters worked the room and the photographers in bold blues, steamy reds, and fiery yellows.” from Best Dressed 2007- Primary Colors… Harper’s Bazaar
As a quick note, before I close my first post on the subject, I must mention my personal sadness upon learning that House & Garden’s December issue would be their last to print. I absolutely loved that magazine! I read Dominique Browning’s editorials each and every month and devoured every beautiful issue. Their website, blogs and art direction were a huge inspiration to us as we were developing this site. Our best wishes for a successful creative future to all those involved!
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Red and green - move over. This year, it’s all about picking a holiday color scheme that compliments your home and your personality.
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Changing the color of your room is now as easy as changing a light bulb. Mood-lites offers seven colored light bulbs that are touted as being able to create particular moods, such as tranquility, serenity, passion, or happiness.
While color therapy is gaining acceptance in the scientific community, there is still a great deal of study that needs to be done to fully understand how color affects us both physically and emotionally. This means you will have to decide for yourself if these lights produce the suggested effects.
If you are simply looking for a fun way to change the ambiance of a room, colored lights are an economical and unexpected way to do something different.
At only $4.95 each, who says you can’t buy happiness?
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When you’re working with color, it is important to understand the temperature of the lighting source - not in terms of degrees, but in terms of whether the light given off has a yellowish, warm light or a bluish, cool light.
As a general rule, most standard, incandescent lights send out warm light while fluorescent lighting generally ranges between a very cool bluish-white to a warmer, pinkish hue.
When these bulbs are lit, the neodymium (the reason the bulbs are blue) provides a pure, clean light by filtering out most of the yellow. Removing much of the dulling yellow cast from common incandescent light bulbs means the colors in your room are truer and the surface textures are more defined.
Philips has a product they call Natural Light that provides a quality of light that is similar to natural daylight. This type of light is close to spectrum lighting, which is a very natural white light.
If you want to create a mood in a room - even if it’s just for a party or event - you might consider color-altering LED lights, which can often be controlled with the flip of a switch. Philips has just such a product that will let you be the “light of the party.”
Both the GE and Philips sites have good information that can help you to understand how to use lighting to create a mood or enhance the colors in your home.
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Pink, like red, is moving in two directions. It can be warmer with tones of coral, watermelon, and delicate shell pink. On the cooler side, pink hints of dusty lilac and heather.
Recent comments about the trend of pink:
One of our favorite style trends this season is a dusty pink dubbed “blush” by interior designer Barbra Barry. “Blush evokes lightness and air,” says the designer. “I’ve fallen in love with it as the new neutral- with a twist.” -Home magazine (Sept. 2006)
“We’re still showing pinks, but they are getting dustier, almost going to old-fashioned.” -Britt Bivens of Promostyl
“Fashionable and fun, the pinks of this year range from hues of deep fuchsia, to frosted berry, to sweet, candy pink.” -Behr Premium Plus Color Trend Report
“The color you need to know now…shell pink…Rather than feeling saccharine and childish, shell pink is a sophisticated version that both men and women can appreciate. It’s more subtle than pure pink, with coral undertones and a luminescent feel…” -Southern Accents magazine (Sept/Oct 2006)
“Pink is no longer an ‘it’ color but rather a new staple. Last year rose gold began to rise in popularity and this season, rose gold watches are coming into their own. And pink is not just for the ladies.” -JewelryInformationCenter.org
Photo from InStyle of Dior by John Galliano Resort 2007.
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A soft yellow can quietly replace white or off-white walls in most decorating schemes and the addition of this sunny hue immediately creates warmth and ambiance in a room that may previously have lacked personality.
In cozy shades of straw, butter, and light gold, yellow blends easily with this season’s smoky grays, sensual browns, and blue ocean hues.
Yellow gets glowing reviews:
“This is about using colour in a young, contemporary, urban way - it’s easily achievable, not relying on accessorizing with expensive pieces, instead it’s simply about making the most of space and light.” -Oria Kiely, textile and fashion designer commenting on the Light Fantastic
“Straws Golden Moment…plucked from nature, this mellow yellow is a versatile neutral with a sunny disposition.” -Metropolitan Home magazine
“Be on the watch… in 2006, Yellow will be stealing the spotlight from the brown palette. Yellows with a buttery flavor are finding broad acceptance in traditional and American Country trends.” -Mannington
“In the last three years, yellow definitely has come back into play. That’s going to be a continuing phenomenon because it came about because of Retro. A lot of people associate yellow with mama’s or grandma’s kitchen. Also, from the psychological standpoint, yellow is always associated with sunlight, good cheer and a friendly atmosphere.” -Leatrice Eiseman, internationally renowned color and design expert
“Today’s colour gurus are plumping for a more gentle, youthful, mellow yellow. Now, creamy yellows shimmer. Ochre yellows exude style. Green yellows strike a light, crisp note.” -as seen in the Yellow Go-Go palette from Sico
Photo from Sico website.
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