With a resolution like ‘Learn More‘ you can be sure I didn’t pass up the opportunity to tune in each day as my fellow experts shared their resolutions and tips.  Are you curious about what I learned from ten experts in ten days when I turned the table and became the student rather than the teacher?

Here are my top ‘take aways’ — one from each expert:

Day One: Have Fun ~ Jamie Drake, Interior Designer to Michael Bloomberg and Madonna

When I saw ‘Have Fun’ and Jamie Drake in the same sentence I knew I was in for a treat.  Jamie delivered and before I even finished listening to the interview and reading his tips my mind was sparking with new ideas.  The one that I want to put into action immediately is this tip but with my own little tweak:

Make a bold and dramatic statement with your children’s artwork. Use eight pieces of artwork—all on the same size paper—and frame in all the same frames. Hang in two rows of four, spaced one-inch apart.

I have several of my son’s early drawings that I framed with identical mats and frame and I still love them.  But why let the kids have all of the fun?

In the room shown above, Jamie chose works of art rather than a child’s artwork but it got me thinking.  Why not just get out some paper and expressively paint stripes, blocks or swirls of color?  I’m bound to come up with a few paintings that I like as a set.

Why don’t you give it a try, too.  No need to paint as well as a great artist only as well as you did when you were four years old.  Most of all don’t forget Jamie’s resolution and have fun!

Day Two: Learn From the Past ~ Judith Miller, International Antiques Authority and BBC’s Antiques Roadshow Expert

Like Judith I enjoy mixing antiques and contemporary pieces and agree that things with great design go together very easily.  I loved the tip about buying singles and learned how this is a great acquisition strategy for the budget-minded.  It is also great for those of us who love mixing rather than matching styles.

Buying single chairs is an incredibly good way to get good bargains. If you like a certain style, choose that style and go and buy that single style. If you like the styles of a period, for example late Eighteenth Century, you can go and buy different chairs from that one time period.

This idea can work for buying new chairs as well old.

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I used this same strategy to buy my ‘mixed pattern’ set of sterling flatware one piece at a time. I love that every piece came from a different place and try to imagine what hands might have held each piece before it found its way into my home.

Day Three: Get Organized ~ Clay Ide, Creative Director, Pottery Barn

I was doing a lot of head nodding while reading Clay’s tips.  It seems we are of like minds because so much of what he suggested are things I already do.   I learned from Clay’s tips that I’m on the right track so I’m going to mention the tip that I think is the most valuable for you to learn:

Letting Go Decide what you must keep and let go of the rest. Reading is my rejuvenation, so I’ve selected my favorite books to keep on display at home, but I make it a point to share, donate, and trade everything else.

Coincidentally, I saw a related tip on Writer in Waiting that I think is a one of the best ways I’ve heard of to get the entire family involved in simplifying and decluttering the house as a weekly event.  I love the fun and simple 13 Thursdays approach.

13 Thursdays Each member of my household must bring me 13 objects every Wednesday, things such as their ‘toys,’ clothing etc … items which they no longer use, preferably their ‘wants’ not ‘needs’. No whining allowed. It is then separated into two piles; donations and trash, then donated or put out to trash Thursday morning.

Day Four: Improve Your Relationship ~ Kenneth Brown, Celebrity Interior Designer, HGTV and TLC Television Host

When it comes to creating an inviting bedroom Kenneth suggested engaging the senses and feeling stress-free.  I compared his tips to my own bedroom design.  Lighting, check.  Color, check.  Flowers, candles, bedding, rugs, all checked.  No TV, laptop or work stuff, uhhh…check. (Working in bed on a really cold January evening doesn’t count, does it?)

But then I read one tip I hadn’t thought about.  Family photos.

Keep your in-laws and ex’s out of your bedroom. Remove any framed pictures of your parents, in-laws, ex’s and even children.  Your romantic bedroom should only have pictures of you and your partner framed in a simple frame next to the bed.  You don’t want to stare at your mother-in-law while feeling romantic.

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I see your point Kenneth.  Those few pictures of my son on the night stand will now be enjoyed in the family room and I’m ready for a little ‘unobserved’ relationship building.

Day Five: Exercise More ~ Ramona Braganza, Fitness Expert to the Stars

No convincing needed here.  It took years for me to find a routine that would motivate me enough to take the time to exercise regularly.  Now that I have, exercising has gone from a nagging item on my ‘to-do’ list to a treat.

Ramona gave lots of great suggestions but what I especially appreciated wasn’t one of her tips per se but her over-arching philosophy about the workout environment.

Overall, think of a workout like any other experience.  It’s enhanced when you engage all your senses. Sight, Sound, Smell, Touch, and Taste can motivate you to Exercise More!

That was an ah-ha moment.  I don’t have a workout room at home but color maven Kiki does and as you can see she has incorporated all of the elements Ramona mentioned.  I thought it was just her desire to have the workout room look as stylish as the rest of her home.  Now I know there might have been more to it.  No wonder she and her hubby are always so motivated to workout.

Day Six: Be More Green, Save Green ~ Kelly Van Patter, Awarding-Winning Production Designer for Survivor and The Apprentice

The first thing I learned is that while Kelly proactively has focused on going green I arrived at many of the same ideas when I challenged myself to live with less ’stuff’ and to spend my money more wisely.  It was a bonus to learn that my approach gets the thumbs up for being environmentally friendly.

One thing that Kelly mentioned that I had never thought about in terms of being green was the value of editing.  This tip made me pause and think.

Take All Of The Furniture Out Of The Room And Start Over. Learn the art of editing EVERYTHING in your home. We all have a tendency to collect things over time, so it’s imperative that we assess our collections each year and get rid of unnecessary pieces. It’s easy to overlook things that serve no purpose, have been taking up space and collecting dust for years. One easy way to completely change a room is to just streamline all the items in it. Remove all the furniture from a room and piece by piece, bring only the necessary items back into the room. Take the other items to the Goodwill, Salvation Army, shelters or some other place that will give it to people that desperately need the items. That way they can be reused and aren’t being sent to a landfill. Then you are left with a less cluttered, new room for virtually NO money. Plus it is so liberating to get rid of all the clutter and have a clean canvas to work with.

Day Eight: Make Time for Family & Friends ~ Jenn Sbranti, Entertaining Guru, Hostesswiththemostess.com

Jenn’s tips were all about entertaining as a way to engage in conversation, activities and simply being together.  She inspired me to take an ‘entertaining’ approach to spending more time with my friends and family.

Serve a Signature Drink This is such an easy idea that’s always so well received at parties. Create a fun cocktail or mocktail, come up with a clever name for the drink that coordinates with your theme, and add a fun edible garnish and/or creative cocktail pick.

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I’ve come up with signature cocktails for events but never at home.  I’m not sure why I never thought to do this from my own little gathering.  You can be sure next time I’m having folks over I will be concocting something colorful to drink.

Day Nine: Expand Your Horizons ~ Michael Green, Wine & Spirits Consultant and Educator

What I learned from Michael is that there is no need to feel guilty about buying wine by design.

Choose bottles by their label design to add surprise. When you’re lost in the aisles of your favorite wine and spirits shop, try something new by design. Look for the most interesting bottle or the most outrageous label and enjoy the surprise that may await you inside the bottle, too.

Sure I’ve bought wine just because the label caught my eye but my secret desire to be more of a wine aficionado would scold me for being sucked in by good design.  Not any more, thanks to Michael.  Now when I’m smitten with a bottle of wine strictly based on its great label I’m going to buy it without hesitation and enjoy discovering if the wine inside is as satisfying as the design on the outside.

Day Ten: Each of Us Can Make an Impact Through the Power of Giving ~ You!

The final design day was all about giving back and it was a good reminder to me that–

Giving back is a personal thing; we all have good reasons to support the charitable organizations that we do.

Readers shared their stories, showed their support and had a chance to influence which organization was going to receive a contribution thanks to a generous donation from Benjamin Moore.

I learned about several charities that were new to me and also discovered a brilliant way to wrap up a successful online event.

Day Seven: Learn More ~Kate Smith, Color Expert and Forecaster

Yep, that’s me and here’s what else I learned from participating in Ten Design Days.

All of my fellow experts were excellent and gave great suggestions.  What I noticed as I was picking out the ideas that most resonated with me was that each one touched upon some aspect of life that is important to me right now.  What I learned:

What we learn is influenced by our current world view.

This reminded me of the quote Julie include in Colorful Insights And Inspirations — “When the student is ready, the master appears.”  Could it be that the I was simply ready to learn these particular things?

In my tips I said, “There will always be areas to explore, ideas to captivate, and connections to discover, there will always be something new and exciting to learn.” Now let me add “and this is true even if you think you’ve heard it all before.”

We change.  Things around us change.   And with each change comes the opportunity for a fresh perspective and for our minds to be opened to seeing and hearing thing differently than we have in the past.  Isn’t that really what learning is all about?

So what have you learned lately?

Entering the house, I notice the writing on the walls…literally. Show credits and designer information  are written in pencil on the walls.

The first room I see is “The Tudors ” living room designed by the multi talented (and nicest woman ever) Laura Kirar. This living room not only looks like a chic castle room but is as sexy as Jonathan Rhys Meyers , aka, Henry the 8th. The designer is pictured in front of the salvaged confessional, which is behind a two way mirror. Forgive me father, I covet all this beauty.

Below are amazing design elements of Laura Kirar : a painting of a queen over a large table, the elaborate mantle , a rich brocade couch (notice the pillow trim detail), and the beautiful overhead lighting .

The Tudor room joins to the Dexter dining room by famed designer Amy Lau. I assume that Amy , and the designers whose work she features, are fans of the show – every detail is brilliant ! This room is my dream room- a dining room paying homage to my favorite “serial killer with a heart of gold”.

Designer Amy Lau has created a vivid portrait of the show’s plot lines and stories. Here is the lovely designer looking like an exquisite piece of her own collection.

An artist has brought life back to the Ice Truck Killer by creating an entry way of white washed Barbie body parts. Red yarn re-creates blood splatter projection on the walls. The fireplace screen is a projection of one of the Ice Truck victims perfectly displayed in a hockey goal.

The most impressive centerpiece is a long dining table set to a bloody feast. Beakers and plates with red splatter patterns sit along side utensils , which could easily be used for dismembering a steak or a murderer. the dining room chairs have been embroidered with large drops of blood. An artist created a curtain by crocheting red and white threads , which look like veins to me. The macabre is simply divine.

Walking up the red carpeted stairs , I arrive at The L Word bedroom suite. This decadent and sensual ladies boudoir  is designed by Vincente Wolf.

The entire right side of the sprawling room is the beautiful bathroom. Sheets of gold leaf are pressed between layers of glass for the glittering tile. An open shower is on one wall facing a large bathtub on the opposite wall.

The bedroom is sprawling and leads to a roomy closet full of shoes. The soft fabrics and glittering details make for a beautiful spa like atmosphere.

Up another flight of stairs is the Weeds Lounge by design team White Webb. Notice the wonderful pencil writings and graffiti on the wall leading up the stairs. Jim Ziric has done all the work for this and it certainly adds another unique touch.

I think Weeds is about a single mother selling pot. If that’s the case – one could certainly sit & chill for hours in this organic and serene room. This is a 21st century city version of a conservatory, in my mind. I think that hanging the small spider plants in the sides of the window is genius !

This gold leaf Biomorphic console table , by Tony Duquette, has been getting a lot of press…but this is the only setting where a pot plant under glass seems appropriate.

Another flight of stairs brings us into the world of designer Tori Golub , inspired by the new show “United States of Tara” (starring the great Toni Colette).

I wish I had taken a picture of the bed for all to see. The headboard was covered in the same silky material that was the bed covering. On the headboard were many silky small butterflies taking flight from the headboard to the wall. IF you need a reason to visit this house (now open to the public) …let this be the reason.

Obviously one of Tara’s personalities is a glamour puss…check out this chandelier and closet. This room makes me really want to see this series…my curiosity has been spiked. And the decor makes me want to research more of Ms. Golub’s designs – she’s definitely a favorite talent.

Peering up my next flight of stairs (certainly not my last)  , I see an original stained glass medallion to the townhouse. This residence must have really been a shining star in The Age of Innocence time when it was built.

Guess where I’m going….correct, upstairs ! But all this exercise is worth it…I’ve entered Jamie Drake’s writer’s study for Californication.

This is the most masculine room , I think, in the house. Browns and blues dominate the palette. I love the animal spine chair for its sheer brutal beauty.

Besides the bowls filled with condoms, my favorite detail of this room is the column of books. Here, home owner Michael Hirtenstein (yes the handsome , technology mogul/ real estate investor) lounges in front of the tower on a comfy chaise. It took every bit of restraint in my body, to not treat this column as a giant game of Jenga.

Perhaps the room that is the most like my own personal style is Kirsten Brant’s lounge….decorated in a glorious Hollywood pink. You can see in the reflection, the length of all that seating and the beautiful hypnotic patterns of both the wallpaper and blinds.

I will end with the 1st stop I made, the bar in the bamboo garden, in the back yard . Michael has outfitted this retreat with an outdoor TV (perfect for viewing all the Showtime original series ) a row of banquettes , and a water garden. Color maven Julie is showing off her specialty “Blood Lust ‘ cocktail by the bamboo water pond.

I suggest you make time to tour this house Saturdays and Sundays from 11-4 until October 26th. The $25 ticket price is well worth it , and sales go to charity.

Stay tuned for more  on Laura Kirar (The Tudors) and Amy Lau (Dexter) .

Laura Kirar designed the VIP lounge for Mercedes Benz Fashion Week and I was lucky enough to interview her. You’ll have a chance to see Laura and Amy Lau for yourself, as they will each be featured in a podcast. We have much to learn from these talents.

She used vibrant, “splashy” colors in never-before-seen combinations and one of her favorite combinations was “dull” white and “shiny” black.

The colors she used were considered quite outlandish by many and while the colors she used are bold they aren’t that unusual by today’s standards so you think?

See more about the colors and other elements that created her signature style…

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.

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
  

Shanghai wallpaper from Jaima Brown Home

Red creates the perfect accent for any space when paired with timeless neutrals like brown or cream.

In the 18th century red garlands and scarves were part of cultural wedding ceremonies. Chinese brides wore a traditional Kwa; a heavily embroidered formal wedding gown in red and Greek brides wore red veils, which is still customary today.

In ancient history, wearing a red painted amulet, ruby or garnet supposedly made one invincible. Red signifies love, fertility, strength, good fortune, and happiness. We often see red front doors on the outside of homes across America, instilling the influence of Feng Shui.

Persia wallpaper from Jaima Brown Home

RED demands attention, revitalize your home with the dramatic allure of color and pattern through the magic of wallpaper using a design like our lively Shanghai and Persia designs.

Find inspiRED wallpaper and home accessories at Jaima Brown Home online

1. I live outside of Washington, DC and as he points out just a few miles from “the farm”, which is the CIA center you may recall seeing in the movie “The Recruit” with my favorite Matt Damon (sigh).

If I were a secret agent I’d want to be either Agent 99 or Emma Peel

2. He doesn’t really understand what I do or why anyone would pay me to do it. However he humors me by saying “Well you always seem to have money so it must be coming from somewhere.” He then adds with a sly wink, ” If you tell me it’s this color business I’ll go along with that.” (Well I guess in that case I’m glad he thinks CIA and not…well never mind).

3. I always seem to get to meet incredible people or have opportunities that others might only dream about (except of course those folks in the CIA that according to my brother have instant access to all people and places).

Okay so I have met or rubbed elbows with high-powered Washingtonians including Presidents, congressman and societies finest so I can see why he might wonder.

Appearing on CBS Sunday Morning, interviewing Tim Gunn and having breakfast with a reporter from the New York Times only added fuel to his fire but this week was the clincher. He’s now completely convince this color stuff is just a cover.

What happened? Well let me tell you because it was almost as unbelieveable to me as it was to him.

Yesterday, on the 44th floor of the Hearst Building in NYC I had the pleasure of being interviewed by Stephen Druker, Editor-In-Chief of House Beautiful Magazine in front of an audience of the who’s who of the NYC design community.

Q & A with the brilliant Stephen Drucker

I have been a fan of Stephen Drucker for years. I have watched while with his guidance House Beautiful has risen to the top of the “must read” list of professionals and do-it-yourself decorators alike. He is an inspiration to me.

Stephen is not only an “editor extraordinaire” but one of my idols. What a thrill to be his guest!

Month after month House Beautiful has provided us with the keys to unlock the “beautiful home in each of us” and for 2008 they are putting a major focus on color. It was for this reason that my ‘name twin’, the lovely Kate Kelly Smith, Executive Publisher for House Beautiful recommended me as the guest for this year’s event.

From left: Hearst Magazines president Cathie Black, designer Christopher Peacock, and House Beautiful publisher Kate Kelly Smith.

Stephen questioned me all about color, color trends and the direction of color in the home for 2008 and beyond. He also opened up the floor and allowed the designers to ask their questions.

Stephen and the designers asked many excellent and thought provoking questions which I am going share with my readers over the next couple of weeks by posting many of those questions and my response on the Color Pro blog so please stay tuned.

Right now I’m going to go pinch myself one more time just to make sure this was real and that I wasn’t simply having a fabulous dream.

With my idol Stephen Drucker, Editor-In-Chief, House Beautiful

P.S. As far as the CIA thing goes just a few words for my brother– “Not a chance!” No one in the CIA would ever get to have this much fun!

Credits: All pictures from MinOnline

Copper, a stunning color and natural product is often found throughout our homes. Copper is used in appliances, plumbing fixtures and roofing and is the preferred choice of cookware by chefs all over the world.

During ancient times in Western Asia copper was extracted to develop instruments and ornaments, which led to the Bronze Age. The Pharaohs of Egypt revealed it had healing powers.

In America, The Statue of Liberty is encased with copper, aging gracefully at over a 100 years old, reflects America’s beauty, stability, and sustainability while being environmentally conscious.

Decoratively speaking, copper is the perfect metallic touch. Its lustrous shine blends easily with other natural earth elements such as granite, marble, wood and stone.

Our European crafted Imperial Tile design creates an aged dimensional look to any ceiling or wall, conveying the illusion of antique copper tiles.

I couldn’t stop looking at the color from all different angles, and it is too bad that the photo doesn’t do this gorgeous color justice.

While the overall look of this room didn’t immediately grab my attention the way the Chanel-inspired room did, the turquoise niche certainly drew me in. It also made me want to go back and take a second look at how the fashion designers who had influenced his thinking used turquoise in their Fall collections.

In talking about his design, Dominique Alexander said, “Each of the fashion designers I drew from for the inspiration for this room is wildly different from one another.”

“Narcisco Rodriguez offered subtle intensity with fresh pretty clothes. His collection can best be characterized as simple and modern.”

“Alexander McQueen was perhaps the most inspirational to me. His runway collection was futuristic. McQueen was heavy on the drama and fantasy of fashion. His silhouettes were very tailored and expressive.”

“Moving onto the legendary house of Versace, the fall collection was sophisticated and glamorous, while still being fun and fresh. One of the things I love most about Donatella Versace is that her collections have never been literal.”

“I chose to be less literal in my interpretation of ‘Turn Up the Turquoise.’ I utilized turquoise to highlight volume and to draw the eye to a particular shape. Overall, the palettes were neutral and very geometric.”

“In the room I designed, you should notice that the colors chosen are very fresh. I wanted to draw your eyes to the fantastic curves of the seating arrangement. I used color to enhance the character and depth of the room.”

I really appreciate that Dominique took a more subtle approach in his interpretation of the theme. I think his strategic use of color is very effective and adds interest and a bit of glamor to this modern room. What do you think?

There are many different perceptions and shades of white. Some can be mixed, while others are best left alone.

These rooms all use white with neutrals, but white is also the perfect canvas for more vibrant colors to shine upon.

In their book At Home With White, Atlanta Bartlett and Karena Callen show how white gives you the opportunity to add color and texture and provides a crisp background for any other colors you or your designer may choose.

Read an excerpt from At Home With White…

White is the most-used color in interior design and can open up a space, add dimension, and invoke a sense of romance, elegance, peace, and possibility. Another beautiful book that offers inspiration and options for every room in your house is White Rooms.

Have you created a room you love with white?