Traditional Color Boards

Today, I am in the design studio creating  a traditional style room with lots of reds and rich colors today.  My color boards  have embroidered fabrics, stripe fabrics,  washed, old painted wood, glass knobs, and brown painted Talavera dishes to make the room feel warm.

I love tile and I chose a hand painted design for a back splash, a  glazed layered tile for a wall and honed marble for the slabs. I mixed in a medium fruit wood for my cabinets and voila!  A wonderful space in the making.

I am liking this room....

Teal Color Boards

It's such a beautiful day!

I looked out the window when I woke up and saw the teal colors in the ocean. So naturally... today I  was inspired to work in natural ocean colors.  The light foam colors as the waves crash and the color of the water as it approaches the sand are my favorites. They are blends of blues and greens that create a serene peaceful feel.

I am designing a home in Baker's Bay Bahamas and I think these bright teal colors will look great in one of my guest bedrooms. Adding a bit of glass, wicker and antique hardware to the mix so it all looks found and unique. Just yummy.

What do you think of color boards?

Color Insecurity Day

I am preparing color boards for a new project today and I just can't seem to pull it together as securely as I usually do. I can't quite make up my mind and I keep moving fabric samples around. Nothing feels "ah ha! perfect".  Is it too pale?  Is it too feminine?  Is it special enough?  

Yes - it happens to all of us (even me).  Color block!  We all have moments of color selection insecurity, and I am having one today.  Haven't you ever had a day you can't quite figure what to wear?  It's the same feeling.   The green shirt? Or the blue shirts?

What do you think of my selections so far?  Keep it? Or ditch it?

Blue Colorboard

I'm having fun in the design studio today.  Working on some blue color boards and throwing some fabrics and tile together. Lot's of texture, lots of bright fun splashes. Mixing in some custom colored diamond shaped Moroccan inspired tile and looking for the right wood tone to go with it all.

It feels eclectic.  It feels bright.  It feels like it will be a good space.

I love design!

Yellow Color Board

Today...I'm making presentation mood boards.

I love playing in the design library and selecting fabrics, tile and finishes for my projects.  I could spend hours there and forget life when I am designing and selecting colors for a room. And in this case, I am designing a traditional kitchen with great yellow, cream and brown fabrics.

What do you think?  Should I add or delete anything?

Navy Blue & White

I'm feeling navy blue & white today.

A very traditional color palette that has been used in many cultures from China, to Mexico, to Holland.  In the 18th century blue & white toiles became all the rage in France. Today it is used in traditional designs and nautical or beach themes.  It feels fresh and crisp.

Blue & white has been around for a long time and isn't going anywhere. It's global and we all love it.

Enjoy these blue & white inspiration photos.

Black and White Rooms

Black and White rooms are classic and have been done since the beginning of time.

Two non "color" colors that are at opposite ends of the light spectrum.  Each bold and symbolic. But put together they are yin and yang and simply sophisticated. Black is the anchor and white is the lightness. Together they create harmony and perfection.

Color fads come and go.  But black and white palettes transend into both traditional and contemporary design.   So don't be scared.  No matter what your style, you simply can't go wrong with a black and white color palette.

2013 Color of the Year

I'm back!  

Holidays are over, vacation time is done.  We are all back at the office and whats the first design topic on my mind? The Pantone 2013 Color of the Year.

Each year the famous color experts at Pantone select a color that is indicative of the upcoming year and this year the winner is Emerald Green.  Green is the most abundant color in nature and its one of the most commonly liked colors in the palette.  But most of all emerald green is a jewel toned color represents luxury and elegance. 

So will you be doing any emeral green decorating this year?

http://www.pantone.com/pages/index.aspx?pg=21055

PURPLE ROOMS?

Purple rooms?  Purple fabrics and paint?

Most people associate purple with Prince, Liz Taylor and a cocktail dress.  But little by little it has been coming into its own as a home interior color.  Since last season I have been seeing more and more lilac palettes in textiles and rugs.  And as a matter of fact we are currently working on an all purple home which will be completed next  year.  And I am very excited to see it all finished because it will be a very elegant beach home.

So how do you pull it off?  Purple can feel relaxed, whimsical or psychedelic.  It depends how you use it. Don't try and do everything in purple.  Mix in different shades of lilac and eggplant in the shades you choose. Start with big splashes of it and have a neutral color such as cream or brown in the room to help tame it down.  

Would you decorate with purple?

Peacock Blue Bedrooms

I am completely into peacock blue bedrooms at the moment.  Feels so "right now".

Male peacocks open up their pretty blue feathered tails when courting. What better color for your bedroom?  It is a color that is sophisticated, vibrant, soothing and both masculine and feminine. It is a complex color yet it is still natural.

If you are not ready to commit, start with the walls. You can easily re paint if you dont like it.  Then you can progress into pillows and bedding. If your look is glam - glossy peacock blue walls combined with ornage or coral will look great. If your look is traditional - peacock blue with gold and brown will look beautiful. For a fresh feel - peacock blue and white will be a winner.

What do you think?  Is it for you?

WATERMELON PINK

Watermelon pink? It brings out the fun side in all of us. It's vibrant, playful and feels fresh like summer.

How can you successfully use this color without coming off as a pre teen? Use it carefully.  It's dramatic enough and you only need splashes and touches of it to be noticed. A pillow here, a shir there. Then add  in some white.  Make it an accent and it will shine.  

But if you are bold enough watermelon pink can trully make a statement in your room by making it the color of the walls.  The beauty of paint is it can be painted over, and toned down anytime you tire of it.

Are you brave enough for watermelon pink?

The All White Room

Is it possible to have an all white room look great?  Is it possible to have an all white room without it looking like a Shaby Chic showroom? Yes and yes.

So many people are afraid of using white because they feel it is impractical and gets dirty too fast. But with the incredible new indoor/outdoor fabrics available on the market there is no need to be scared of white.  You can clean these fabrics and your kids and pets can jumps all over them.  

White is the perfect color for beach homes and is one of the best colors for contemporary interiors. And just like the perfect T-shirt is white, so is the perfect kitchehn counter marble slab.

Yes, you can have it all; style and practicality. So stop worrying and create a clean white space.

Turquoise Doors

I was inspired this morning by the soft turquoise color of the ocean as I looked out my window.

Turquoise is such a beautiful color. Coastal homes have always enjoyed and used it for entry doors. Any Caribbean island you go to will have homes with beautiful turquoise painted shutters and doors. But it is not limited to island architecture. The French and Irish have also used bright turquoise to distinguish their entry homes for centuries.  In Morocco and India it has been a popular color too.  So don't be color shy.  Try using some turquoise in your world.

If you love turquoise as much as I do and you want more of it, you might enjoy the blog "House of Turquoise" dedicated entirely to the color.

http://www.houseofturquoise.com

Pastel Colored Patios

Soft and romantic pastel colors are perfect for the summer.

You don't have to design your whole house in overly feminine colors to achieve a lovely romantic feel.  You can simply select a temporary space in your terrace and create an oasis of fresh softness. Cabana curtains, throw pillows, flower pots, throw blankets, and candles all help create that ultra fem feel of Sunday summer afternoons.  

So before all of the great weather is gone, think pink lemonade and cup cakes. Get your romance on and decorate your terrace in pastel colors.

 

Fifty Shades of Red

Seems every woman I know is reading the best seller phenomenon "Fifty Shades of Gray" this summer.  The poorly written,female fantasy, erotic trilogy has just become the topic of girl conversation.  

So the question lies....should I redecorate my bedroom? They say no color can match the passion and seduction of red. Hence, red lips.   But before you pick up a paint brush and start painting your bedroom  to entice your "Mr. Gray", keep in mind that there are more than Fifty Shades of red. And the wrong tone can change the mood.

Fire truck red - loud and alarming. A young color that screams before you open your mouth.

Scarlet red - blood red that is pure chroma on the color chart.

Classic Red - speaks confidence and says you don't give a damn about what people think.

Chanel Red - more alluring  and the perfect red to leave on a champagne flute.

Berry Red - a more mature color perfect for an older date or a serious board room meeting.

Sangria red - a darker shade of red, the color of wine

But before you start painting your bedroom in "Fifty Shades" of red....

 

 

WHITE KITCHENS

I am completely into white kitchen this year.

Some people feel white is bland, or cold or not appropriate for carpentry.  But I love white cabinets in a kitchen.  I think it's clean color that reflects light and makes any food stand out and look better.  For centuries white marble has been used in European kitchens.  And today it looks just as good.  A classic touch and a great alternative to boring builder "granite".  White cabinets look incredible in cottages, traditional homes and beach homes in combination with wood floors.  You can continue the white theme by also having your doors and baseboards painted white and add color in the surrounding rooms.

No matter is your style is modern or traditional. white is an amazing pop of brightness that will make your kitchen timeless.

 

CHOCOLATE BROWN

I am not trying to ruin anyone's diet with these photos .... but this week I was inspired by decadent, luxurious, chococlates!

The warm, smooth browns  and the creamy, delicious flavors of chocoalate are enough to drive any chocoholic mad.  And just a few photos of yummy chocolate ice cream and brownies we enough to inspire me to select a palette of browns to design a room.

Are you as addicted as me?

GREEN IN THE HOME

In honor of the approaching Irish holiday,  I have collected some cool images of green rooms. 

The color of money is not the most popular color this season, but it has never really gone out of style either.  Its a classic color that seems to have always been around.  It's a very Palm Beach or Beverly Hills Hotel kind of color.  

Enjoy!

BLACK AND WHITE

I am feeling very black & white today.  Yin and Yang.  Yes and no. Good and bad.

But think about it; neither color is technically a color at all.  They are either the absence of all colors or the sum of all colors. Yet visually and culturally, each stands alone and has their own individuality.  In design, black and white are timeless in wardrobe as well as interiors. They have been used together since the Greek times. They were the most used colors of Coco Chanel.  

Have a great black & white day!

Tangerine

Anyone in the design world, whether it be fashion, interior design or graphics, knows that Pantone is the leading authority on color.  And every year Pantone selects "The Color of the Year".  

Hello to the 2012 winner: Tangerine Tango. According to Pantone, "Tangerine Tango marries the vivaciousness and adrenaline rush of red with the friendliness and warmth of yellow, to form a high-visibility, magnetic hue that emanates heat and energy.  It's a bit exotic, but in a very friendly, non-threatening way".

How did Pantone come up with tangerine as the 2012 color? What  inspired the Pantone team to select ornage? Could it be the massive amounts of spray-tanned reality TV stars on our screens? 

What do you think of Tangerine?  Here is an article that Lamps Plus just released on Tangerine:

http://www.lampsplus.com/info-center/b/blog/archive/2012/01/06/interior-designers-weigh-in-on-tangerine-tango.aspx

 

I'M FEELING ORANGE

Fall is here and of course with all the pumpkins and falling leaves, I'm having an orange crush!

Orange is vibrant and bright and is such a happy color.  It happens somewhere between yellow and red and is a beautiful combination of these two primary colors.  Apart from being the national color of the Netherlands, saffron orange is also the most widely used color in Hindi monk robes.

But here in America, orange is the changing of the leaves and the feeling of fall.  Its the fall football season and orange is the (old) Tampa Bay Bucs and Syracuse uniforms.

Soon winter will be here!

BLACK IS CHIC

Maybe it's because we are approaching Halloween, but I'm feeling black.

Black can be a very chic color for interiors...if done well.  You run the risk of having a dark 80's night club feel that will scare people off if you do it wrong. But if you consider contrast and texture and think about all of the details and points of interest, you can end up with a very cool space.

I never thought I would like black as a wall color in a bedroom, but the first time I slept in a black room at Blakes Hotel in London, I feel in love.  I adored my room which had black walls and tones of grays and whites.  

If you are considering painting a room black use glossy paint on walls.  You will see more depth and tonality than a regular satin finish. 

Feeling Lilac Today...

Why am I feeling lilac today?

Even though it's early October I start shooting the HGTV Christmas Special "Celebrity Holiday Homes" in a few days.  I'm in pre- production preparing and planning for my set.   My design concept this year is to do a Hollywood lilac and purple glam Christmas.

I will keep you posted and I will let you know when it airs in December.  And until then ... a few lilac inspiration photos.

I'M FEELING EMERALD GREEN

I woke up feeling emerald green. 

Green is a calming natural color.  It is not a primary color, its a secondary color made up of blue and yellow.  It is a color associated with regeneration and fertility. In old English "green" is related to growing and nature.  Its a color that inspires peace.

Emeralds, lizards, grass, pine trees, frogs, limes, mint and ... mmm ... mojitos.

 

 

HARD TO PULL OFF

Bright red is one of the hardest colors for me to pull off.  It can border on the cheap and it can be a bit obnoxious for my taste.  I know lots of people will disagree with me on bright, primal red.  But it's one of my least favorite colors.  I don't even own a bright red dress!

I think red in photography, flowers, night clubs, restaurants and lips and nails it looks lovely. It comes across as sexy and dramatic in photos and film.  No one can deny the immediate impact red makes.  But in real life, to live in? A bit much for me. Too strong and too loud.   I could not imagine coming home after a bad day and having to be in a red bedroom. As an accent color or mixed with other colors - yes.  But dominant, I find it to take on a monumental life of its own.

I have done several red rooms during my career.  But none of them have been my favorites or my most cherished because they are not rooms I personally enjoy or would like to live in.  

What do you think of bright red?

WHY DO MEN HATE CHARTREUSE?

Why do all men seem to hate the color chartreuse green?

They say men have slight color blindness and aversions to yellow tones.  The truth is I really have no idea and I'm basing this statement on my experience only, but it seems that only stylish women and gay men like chartruse.  We talk about the mystical color and point it out to each other as if it were seeing something rare. "Oh! That is fabulous!" we all say when we see chartreuse handbags , shoes and fabrics.

I will never forget the day my team and I presented a design to a Houston couple that included a chartreuse master bedroom.  The man looked at me and asked "what exactly is chartreuse?".  I showed him the fabric swatch and he looked at me with eyes wide open and responded "Old lady puke green?".  

So note to all of you single girls out there,  if you want a guy to like your house, stay away from chartreuse green!

Bright Orange

Bright orange is such a fun color!

An Hermes box, a sunset, a simple delicious fruit.  Not as dramatic as red, not as girlie as pink, orange falls into the fun category.  I have used it in many interiors and it creates such a contrast with natural blues and greens and pops out and excites the eye.

To get orange you mix red and yellow.   And it's complimentary color is blue.  It's been said that orange makes you hungry which is why so many fast food companies use orange in their decor, interiors and logos.

What do you think of bright orange?

Classic Blue & White

Is there anything more classic than a blue & white color palette?

Medium to dark blues and white create the airy feel of the sea and work great in a nautical setting. The streets of Portugal are filled with blue and white tile.  The pretties talavera dishes in Mexico are blue & white.  China blue & white ceramics are timeless.

It's Greek, it's Mexican, it's Chinese, it's  Americana.  It's an all around beautiful combination. Simple, natural and elegant.   Can you go wrong with this color palette?

 

ROBIN'S EGG BLUE

Robin's Egg Blue is such a great color; it reminds me of Tiffany boxes and French macaroons.  It's my current nail color. I have used it on many jobs and it is the color of the walls in my powder bath. It's fresh and fun  and just makes me feel good.

Have a Robin's Egg Blue Day!

I'M FEELING BLUE

I'm feeling blue today!  

No words ... no explanation.  Just a few inspiration photos of my mood today.

 

 

 

I'm feeling Pink ...

I'm feeling pink today!

It's a happy, pretty, feminine color that is light-hearted and fun. You can call pink girlie, but I'm a fan.

Here are a few pink inspiration photos that tell my mood. Have a great pink day!

 

 

 

 

Feeling Seafoam

Could it be the approaching pastel colors of Easter weekend?  I'm feeling "seafoam" today.  

It's a soft, fresh, light feeling of spring.. It's a clean, relaxing, open minded, tranquil emotion.

A few inspiration photos of my mood.

Ocean Blue Color Inspiration Board

Im into blue's today! I woke up, saw the ocean and decided to decorate something in ocean blues. The first thing I did was prepare a color inspiration board and lay down items that inspired this color palette. I found some blue colored pencils, I selected blue Sherwin Williams paint chips, a blue linen fabric from Robert Allen, a blue & white English china saucer, a light blue Nancy Gonzales leather clutch and a super bling blue Swarovsky picture frame in which I inserted a photo of the Cabo ocean.

Now - Im off to design something.   I love being an interior designer!