Exciting, inspiring, warm and fuzzy and- oh… who am I kidding?  I was screaming at my screen like a banshee– jacked up that the good old USA would squash our Northern Neighbors like an icy grape. But, alas.  No such luck.

But truly there is no shame in being 2nd.  In some ways, Silver is sort of hipper than Gold anyway. Last week when April, Kim and my favorite little Black Eyed Peas fan went to see the band perform live at Madison Square Gardens (thanks again April!)- the band was awash in Silver throughout the entire show.

In person- Fergie is just about the cutest thing I’ve ever seen

When you factor in the fact that the Gold medal is actually a Silver medal covered with about 6 grams of 24 karat gold- well basically if you scratched off the surface, we’d be equals anyway.

The NY Times featured an interesting article about the history of the Olympic Medal tradition back in 2008.  Seems that ancient jocks were awarded Olive Branch wreaths in the winning circle, hum…probably wouldn’t play out so well today.

But in honor of the closing ceremonies of my own personal Olympic Fever the idea of Olive Green and Silver together, seems oh-so-quite inspiring!

source

Abso-love it for a kitchen!  Good enough for Traditional Home magazine like in the one above or completely “home sweet home” as a color combo in my own kitchen, as shown below!

My own little Budda Bar

Every morning I worship my Rohl faucet, like working sculpture I always say (now if only I could actually teach it to do the dinner dishes!)

Tres chic, oui?

Peace branch out.

Olympic image from Getty, Fergie Pix by Ms. April Clark and collage images from House Beautiful and Elle

If you polled my own family that figure would probably shoot up to around 75%- cause I’m sure that not a day goes by from January to March that you won’t catch someone in my house uttering an exasperated “I haaaate winter”!

Since we know that looking at bright colors can give one an instant boost and help to uplift droopy spirits- it would only make sense to surround ourselves with these colors, right?

Think about it.

If you suddenly found yourself compelled to curl up in a ball and sulk over an impending ice storm- wouldn’t you feel less-like doing so, if you walked into your bedroom and saw this:

or if a snowstorm forces you to work from your home office, while you’d much rather be outside playing hooky, building snowmen with the kids…wouldn’t you be happy to be chained to the desk, at least for a little while- if it were this desk:

And wouldn’t a night at home in front of a fire bundled up attempting to keep your monthly heating bill below the 1k mark, be so much more of a fun adventure- if you were lounging on this:

Are you getting the picture now?

I only bring it up because Russell & Mackenna, the company behind these 3 colorful gems, recently contacted me with a delicious offer.  A special coupon for Live In Full Color readers!

From today until February 15 LIFC readers can use this special coupon code and receive an astonishing 40% off all Russell & MacKenna furniture!

Oh, how I love a good, colorful offer!

Check out their website- it’s super cute!!! Their variety of 33 paint possible color choices alone I guarantee will have you dreaming of beachy days and warmer times faster than your local Storm Doppler Radar system can predict that next big winter storm!

In your face Jack Frost!!!!

Long before Decor8, Design Sponge, Apartment Therapy and let’s face it the internet came along- I was hunting local thrift stores and flea markets in attempt to turn each and every ensemble and bachelorette pad into a thrifty version of my glossy-paged dreams.  Soon after I bought my first house, Domino magazine hit the newsstands as if were personally sent down to me from heaven- the age of High/Low style and hip DIY-ing had finally arrived.

Ahh, a vintage edition from Ebay brings me back (and yes that is Phobe Cates on the cover!)

It would not be a lie to say that in fact this blog was very much begun- in part as a way for me to live out my editorial dreams.  What else is one-who thinks that scouring the internet and making Photoshop collages is a fun way to spend an afternoon- to do?

So when a few weeks back a friend sent me a link to an article called Paint Trends: Predicting The Hottest Colors For Next Year on Shelter Pop, that her friend (and real life style editor) Allison Lind had written- I of course clicked right over.

Once I spotted the amazing array of projects on Allison’s own site that she had styled and produced for Ty Pennington At Home, it took less than a NY minute to shoot off an email and get a coffee date on the calender. After all, I couldn’t have such a talented  style editor this close within my grasp and not attempt to shake a little colorful information out of her.

One yummy latte later- I had all my answers!

Allison in a styling convertible-perhaps off to “Market” along with some of her awesome spot-on ‘Get The Look For Less’ features (cute photo of Allison courtesy of  Hank Drew)

When you first begin working on a feature, where do you find your inspirations for the products and colors?  Do you just wake up and say I’m in the mood to create an coral inspired reading nook today?

There’s always one item that inspires me. Sometimes it’s a swatch of fabric. Sometimes it’s a woman’s outfit on the street. I take that one item and begin building from there. More than 80 percent of the time, my original vision morphs into something completely different, but that’s the fun of it – you never know what the end result will be until it’s all put together.

You have such an amazing eye when it comes to ‘getting the look for less’.  I’m shocked at how similar the high and low rooms are. Since now more than ever consumers are looking to get more ‘bang for their buck’-what are some of your favorite tips on becoming a master shopper?

First: Patience. So often we find something we LAHVE and buy it without a second thought and without concern for our budgets. (I do this often…) But with such a vast amount of furnishing sources out there, it’s likely that you’ll be able to find something similar for a lot less, so you just need to take the time to search.

When you lack patience or time? One sort of weird trick that I use is to Google an item. A friend recently fell in love with a ceramic elephant side table. But it was more than $1,000 – way out of her range. I knew there were others out there, so I typed “elephant side table” into Google and quickly scoured through Google Images, finding about 10 options within 20 minutes, including one priced at $188. Here’s a post I did with a handful of them.
Another trick: eBay and Craig’s List are great sources for unique, affordable furnishings. You don’t want your home to look like a furniture catalog, and some of the most stylin’, unique items can be found on the super-cheap at flea markets, thrift stores and sites like Craig’s List.

From your own personal experience working with so many products, where do you think people should splurge and where can they actually save?

When it’s an item you absolutely can NOT stop obsessing about – and I mean for weeks at a time – then treat yourself. If you know you’ll tire of something within a few months or a year, then it’s probably best to hold off. But most people will tell you to only splurge on the “essentials” or the “base” pieces like a nice sofa or dining table. My thought? If you’ve been obsessing about Philip Stark’s gold gnome side table for the past year, set money aside and buy it.

Furniture can be art – and, like art, if it rotates between time in your living room and time in your attic, if it’s an item you’ll always love (no matter where it is) then you should have it. Whenever it’s an item that can be “any old item” – you need a new ceramic lamp, or sisal rug, etc – you can ALWAYS save. Only splurge when you’re dying for that exact model or manufacturer.

I’m a lover of all things editorial. I’m one of those people that just wants to crawl inside a magazine layout.  What’s a typical day like when you’re creating these fabulous scenarios?

I’ll start my day really early in the flower district of Manhattan. These stores open at 4 a.m. with fresh flowers for the day (I go “late” around 8 a.m.). The whole street is bustling with florists, caterers, restaurateurs and others pulling together centerpieces for the day. It’s an amazing energy. I pick up as many floral bundles as I can carry and head to the studio. The whole space – a huge open floor plan with tons of natural light – is filled with boxes of furnishings for me to unpack. The last studio I used was on the 14th floor overlooking the Hudson River; you could even see the Statue of Liberty in the distance. I constantly find myself stopping to gaze out the windows as the view; it’s hard to focus!

Our shoots have about ten people working them: photographer, photo assistants, set builders, two editors and a stylist – I love being surrounded by so much creative energy. After boxes are unpacked and organized, I begin putting together our first scene, the same way I would decorate a room. Once a scene is put together the real work begins: I look through the camera lens and begin tweaking EVERYTHING to be perfect from the lens’s perspective.

It’s amazing how the tiniest adjustments can change the entire feel of the shot: A side table will go a half inch left, a vase will “cheat” forward a smidge, a throw pillow will be fluffed, etc. I’m obsessive with details – I’d adjust all day if I could. I even do this at home now, which I think means I’m slightly crazy.

I love your ‘ Color Story’, which features a room in three different palettes.  I see that you’ve worked with three different paint company’s palette suggestions; did you take your styling cue from the colors in creating the perfect moods?

I love working on color-themed stories! Color is such a hard thing for some people – how do you merge purple, green and caramel without it looking like a box of crayons threw up? This is why paint companies are so great – they create paint palettes that give people a starting point. So, yes, when my friend/co-worker Moe and I created those scenes we definitely took a cues from their colors, but it’s our own take on their palettes, how we’d prefer them to be brought to life. It’s all subjective; one palette can go so many ways. What I’d love to do is three rooms with one color palette and show how one palette can be deconstructed in three totally different ways.

I know you have just launched your own blog called Swatchbook. I’m already addicted to your ‘Daily Inspiration’ feature. What is Swatchbook all about?

Swatchbook was really just a side project that Moe and I started for fun. We kept stumbling across so many amazing products that never saw the light of editorial day, so we wanted to share them with people through out Daily Obsessions. I also kept getting so many emails from friends and family with decorating questions, and many of them were questions that I’d heard countless times before. So I thought, why not have a venue where people can share their questions and we can, hopefully, help solve some common design problems.

I also just love color, so for my own “play time” I created the Swatchbook of the Week where we design a basic room scene around a color palette (sometimes it’s a paint company’s palette, and sometimes it’s just what catches our eye that week). These run every Friday. It’s mainly just our outlet to highlight the products and styles we love…but we seem to be growing a solid readership that appreciates our eye. So I guess we’re not total crocks.

Thanks so much Allison!!!! xo

You can follow even more of Allison’s stylish advice on Shelter Pop and Swatchbook.

How very fitting, right ladies- it’s always what they say and how they move-not how they look that ultimately keeps us hooked!

Well regardless of why the peacock has such a spectacular showing of feathers, one thing is for sure their beauty has inspired countless artists and designers through the centuries.

Peacocks are spoken of in Ancient Mythology, The Bible and the Hindu religion. They are often used symbolically in literature and in folk art, often being depicted as looking back at their tails ( signifying renewal, since they drop and replace their feathers yearly).

Personally peacocks feathers always make me think of a time when Art Nouveau was actually ‘nouveau’ and of  lovely heroines caught up in some wonderfully heart wrenching Edith Warton plot.

can’t you just imagine using this Preening Pen ($20 from Anthropolgie) to scratch off a calling card to your family matriarch or passionately write prose dedicated to a secret lover!

This year peacock plumes are inspiring everything from evening gowns to eclectic bedding. A peacock inspired palette is one of the most vibrant themes happening in wedding trends as well.

Peacock plate by John Derian, Giambattista Valli gown from Fall 09, Matthew Williamson’s spring collection for H&M was influenced by peacock hues, a vintage peacock inspired umbrella, peacock top from Forever 21, art nouveau peacock slip on sneakers, peacock bedding from Target

Martha’s saying Peacock wedding hues is a ‘good thing’ this year

For home the colors inspired by the blues, greens and golden tones of peacock plumes have always been considered dramatic.

Whistler and the birth of the ‘Decorating Diva’ syndrome

My favorite is the very famous Peacock Dining Room, designed by the artist James McNeill Whistler for the art collector Frederick Leyland’s London home.  The story goes that Leyland intended to hang Whistler’s painting “The Princess From The Land Of Porcelain” in the room and asked the artist for a suggestion on what other colors to paint the rest of the room.

Leyland, away during the renovation was completely unaware that Whistler- unhappy with the way the room’s colors were clashing with his artwork – had taken it upon himself to paint every square inch of the space in gold and peacock blue ( it even has peacock feathers patterns on the ceiling).  When Leyland returned he was shocked to find his room had become a rhapsody in blue and gold.

He refused to pay Whistler the entire amount billed for the artist’s time spent as’ interior decorator’- Whistler later painted an image of two squabbling peacocks on one of the room’s walls depicting the conflict that ensued.  The room now resides in Washington D.C.’s Freer Gallery Of Art.

A brilliant blue peacock palette can also go a bit modern when combined with bright colors and white.  Kiki has a really great post about the trend of blues going green over on our blog Color For Your Home.

Her example of this bedroom by Kendall Wilkinson Design is my dream!

Overall though my favorite way to be inspired by a peacock’s colors for home is to simply look directly at the bird for color clues.  Multiple shades of brilliant blues and greens mixed with a little iridescent shimmer accented by shades of drab golds, browns and inky blacks.

If you have a room that basically browns and blues ( we all loved the choc-aqua trend), then an addition of another blue and some greens with golden accessories might be a great way to opulant- up the room’s overall look!

Or if you want to go very adventurous ( I know I do) then peacock blue walls with a metallic wash ceiling could result in a jewel box of a space! Doesn’t that sound so good- guest room redo, here I come!

swatch source House Beautiful

Benjamin Moore’s Baltic Blue, Mills Spring Blue, Hague Blue and Farrow and Ball’s Pelt all make an interesting foil to Benjamin Moore’s Paddington Blue ( a real peacock blue designer Robin Bell tells House Beautiful).

A quick palette just to get you inspired…now shake a tail feather and get styling!

source

Since then, the return in popularity of exotic prints has made my quest much easier- vintage is still wonderful, but with so many products out there it only takes a quick surf of the web or jaunt to the mall to get your style roaring today. And as trends merge and converge (i.e. brighter more saturated colors),  it’s only fitting that my favorite motifs would find themselves getting a colorful makeover…I’m thinking Holly and Ginger would approve!

Eva in a red leopard gown at this year’s Venice Film Festival, colorful exotics from Marie Claire, Ashlee Simpson-Wentz’s red zebra mini marks the return of Melrose Place ( it’s back?-now I am beginning to feel like a teenager again!)

Hue- infused, animal prints and faux furs ( yes they are getting a wash of color also this season) can add instant excitement to your wardrobe and home.  Think of them as neutrals with a trippy pop.

And even if your not ready for a full on ensemble like our starlets or adding a pink and chartreuse leopard print rug is totally out of the question for your current lair, doesn’t mean you can’t partake.  Tame the trend by using it in small doses ( scarf, flats, wallet, desktop notes, outdoor pillows…you get the idea). Every time you spot them you’ll feel purrr-fectly sexy. So go on- give your style a walk on the wild side!

rug by James Ducan from Decorati, animal print silk scarf and leopard wallet from Forever 21, Lanvin ballet flats, Dresses from Vivienne westwood and Diane Von Furstenberg from Net-a-porter, Trina Turk’s outdoor fabric for F. Schumacher available through Decorati, sunglasses by Fantas-Eyes, laptop cover from Freddy&Ma,, shorts by J.crew and sherling coat by Bottega Veneta available through Net-a-porter

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.

before and after- muted grays and mauve spiced up with lemon yellow bring the pad to life

Like the window on Top Design, her use of bright yellow accents upon a backdrop of grays and purples with accents of black was a real success and gave a nice cohesive feel to a small space..

I love finding color schemes that work for both home and fashion.  So if your looking for a new way to liven up your neutral grays in your fall/winter wardrobes- think about throwing in  a pop of both yellow and purple in the mix.  And if your looking for a sophisticated palette to update a plain jane room in your home- this may just be the color combo to do the trick.

Wall colors:

Window Display- Flat Stone #6005 Sherwin Williams

Living Room- Pigeon Gray # 2133-50 Benjamin Moore

Bed Room- Iced Mauve # 2115-50 Benjamin Moore

Yellow fabric ( on curtains and stool ) Silk Trading Company, Lemon Yellow about $25 a yard

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 5^th grade).

You’re feet can get into the action in these delightful shoes. St. Christian Louboutin (patron saint of gorgeous shoes) delights with blushing python pumps. Or try tapping your spring toes in Ferragamo’s bright and shiny coral Varina flat.

Sport your Sunday best in Marc Jacobs’ 2 toned Mary Janes or Prada’s Vernice flats. Both look like you’ve dipped your toes in a puddle of paint. YSL’s patent t-strap wedges look like your favorite graffiti artist’s latest work. Clothing, by far, has the most shaded options; all perfect for jump starting our spring wardrobes.

Flirty dresses are still on everyone’s catwalk.

DKNY offers a city favorite, grey and tan neutrals, updated for a night out. Narciso Rodriguez and Philosophy di Alberta Ferretti offer black tie paint splattered dresses; perfect to cover up those art studio trysts. Thakoon’s geometric cocktail dress has beautiful shades of ‘ready to dance at a wedding’.

Both Nina Ricci’s tie dye scarf blouse and Vince’s dip dyed shirred top would look great with a sleek pair of wide legged jeans.

IF pastel are your pleasure, then try on Behnaz Sarafpour’s silk tank dress in green verdant hues. Diane von Furstenburg’s Kawai dip dye shift is pure 80’s fun. Vince’s shirred shift dress in will have you seeing the world through rose colored glasses.Dressing is a day at the beach in Go Jane’s Breno tank (reminds me of the Venice beachfront).

Accessories are abundant in ombre, as well. Scarves are always an option for quick change and updates. Modernize your peepers with these sunglasses from Urban Outfitters. Or pop a new piece of jewelry on; La Mer has an ocean inspired watch and perennial favorite Alexis Bittar has a Lucite rose quartz ring that would look great around a Pina Colada.

The ombre trend offers you a solution to choosing a specific color. If you can’t decide, no problem, use all hues at once!

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.

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).

West Elm has a collection of low storage units and exotic rugs to update your family room. If you’re not in the market for new furniture – just add a new pillow, like Thomas Paul’s silk pillow.

Adding grey in the kitchen is easy and relatively inexpensive. You can update the cabinet hardware or buy a new dish towel. You might be amazed at how happy even something small in a new color can make you feel.

Stainless appliances are very much the favorite of many but I like the subtle sheen of the new grays. I admit that I covet the Kitchenaid mixer, even though I have no practical use for it.

Tableware is a practical and lovely area to showcase the newest trends.

Vera Wang and Ralph Lauren have divine patterns that are predominantly pearly grays. Dentelle has a classic espresso cup that would compliment any color tabletop decor; perhaps you’d enjoy a warm cup of Earl Grey tea. (I know…a very corny and predictable reference.)

Benjamin Moore has many shades of gray paint, but my favorite is Beacon Gray #2128-60. This color was recently featured on an episode of “Desperate Housewives” when Lynette Scavo (a.k.a. Felicity Huffman) was redoing a room. Another gorgeous gray is Valspar Wisteria Snow #4003-3A.

If you have commitment issues then you might be interested in wall decals. These handy decorations are inexpensive enough to be changed seasonally.

A gray palette is a modern update on the green / yellow nursery. I don’t particularly find sherbert green inspiring but think that a baby’s imagination would soar in this crib by Oeuf.

For those who are waiting for the stork to arrive to find out the gender of their bundle of joy– prepare the nursery in neutral grays. Then when you ‘re sweet surprise arrives, you can fill the room with accessories that fit the his/ her personality. And wall decals can be changed with every mark on the growth chart.

A perfect gift is aprilmayjune’s vintage animal purses like the elephant and cat ones shown here. These gems are hand embroidered and have genuine pearl and 14K gold eyes. I can’t think of anything cuter than hanging these from a dresser mirror.

Grays create a very Zen feeling in the bedroom. Urban outfitters has a regal gray velvet headboard that reminds me of old Hollywood glamour. It could be complemented by West Elm’s graphic floral duvet cover or Thomas O’Brien’s sheet sets, sold at Target.

Decadent finishing touches are an easy gray addition. West Elm’s Capiz lamps can provide light in your reading corner. Speigel’s block print rug will look good at the foot of your bed.

Drape your windows in Restoration Hardware’s damask cotton- linen curtains in silver sage if you prefer Versailles over modern.

My final suggestion in adding a bit of gray into your life is : adopt a sweet cat or dog from your local animal shelter.

Andre is a sweet cat grey tabby and Teddy is an Australian border Collie mix ; both available for adoption on Larchmont, NY Pet rescue site.

With all these colorful choices, I’m looking forward to gray days!

Resources:

• Furniture and accessories from www.westelm.com, www.restorationhardware.com, www.target.com, www.speigel.com
• Crib and decals available at www.kidsmodern.com
• Keepsake purses can be ordered from www.youaremysunshine.biz
• Find paint at www.benjaminmoore.com
• Find paint at www.valspar.com
• Find a pet at www.petfinder.com
  

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!