Spring 2010 - Purple Rain + Fresh Botanicals

The color purple is associated with royalty and nobility and might I add romance and femininity.  This spring's collection featuring purple ripped the catwalk in a big way.

garments l-r: Matthew Williamson, Andrew Gn, Oscar de la Renta

Purple has an ethereal quality that simply relaxes the atmosphere and puts you into a sensual mood.  How sexy would you feel wearing this dress?

garment: Matthew Williamson, room: Drake Design Associates

Rethink purple both in fashion and decor by pairing it with colors like Pantone's Aurora (mustard) and Dried Herb (olive green) as shown below.  The results are pleasantly surprisingly chic and sophisticated.

garment: Milly, room: Frank Roop

Or try purple with a twist of lime...How carefree and flirty is this tie-dye bikini. And this dressing table framed by billowy, grape hued curtains.

garment: Blumarine, room: Amanda Nisbet Design

Single ladies, take the opportunity to decorate with purple before you walk down the aisle.  A bedroom like this is only a dream for me (vetoed the hubby), the closet on the other hand may be closer to reality.

 rooms: Drake Design Associates 

Glam up your ladylike lounge and sitting room with shades of eggplant, lavender, and lilac...and with decor elements such as lucite, fur, and metallics.

 rooms: Amoroso Design , Drake Design Associates

 
You always know that spring has sprung when you see fresh flowers in the home and floral prints in spring collections.

garment: Tory Burch, room: Drake Design Associates

Botanical prints resurface in the form of wall decor and pillows as seen below.  Horchow has a beautiful series of glass decoupage trays by John Derian that would complement any space including the adjacent bedroom. The occupant could switch the wall decor with these (from Horchow) for a more "coastal" look.

 decor: Horchow, interior: Amanda Nisbet Design 

The pillow below, designed by Thomas Paul, would be great accent pillows for the above bedroom or just simply tossed on a sofa.

 Lastly, think on the perimeter of the box and consider wallcoverings in purple.  A little goes a long way!  These floral prints by Graham and Brown add a pop of color, interest, and dimension to a space.

images: Graham and Brown

Is purple in your decorating plan for next season? Are you looking forward to lush florals and fresh greens to grace your tabletops this Spring?

Spring 2010 - Freshly Squeezed Spaces with a Twist of Lime

Right about now I could use a little sunshine in my life.  But for now these sun-drenched runway styles and interior spaces put me into the mind of picking citrus in a beautiful Florida grove. Before you dismiss this little notion of a freshly squeezed space, consider the many shades of yellow...mustard, maize, marigold, and ochre.  Now consider orange...tangerine, amber, peach, and rust and combine them with neutrals such as gray, cream, black, and khaki.

 garments l-r: Rosa Chá (swim), Eli Tahari, BCBG

Sunkissed interiors combined with black, white, and gray lends more to the creation of a space that is more contemporary versus country. Also note the use of the clean, simple greek key pattern used on the accent pillows and the zebra print rug. The wallpaper also contains a simple, monochromatic diamond pattern that compliments, not competes with other design elements in the room.

 rooms David Jimenez  

 room via Southern Living, garment Chado Ralph Rucci

Orange, as seen below, is totally livable AND wearable when paired with neutrals.  Espresso, black, cream, and khaki allows orange to gracefully take center stage.  Check out her this model's printed pumps...I'm utterly smitten and convinced that EVERYONE could use a little animal print in their lives!

 

room Kelly Hoppen, garment Dries Van Noten

The presence of orange in a neutral space can also bring warmth to an otherwise cold room.

rooms Shon Parker Design, Design Galleria Kitchen and Bath Studio

room Amoroso Design

 

I love to see when traditional furnishings are given an attitude adjustment. Orange gives these pieces an exciting new life and reveals a little about the personality of its owner.

room Horchow, photography Jean Randazzo

 

And I almost forgot to mention green in the midst of my citrus obsession.  Lime, dried herb, mint, kelly, olive, chartruese, I could go on forever. Below is one of my favorite color combinations using green.  This space is one of my top pics because it's gender neutral. Get a load of that lime green console...leaves me clutching my pearls!  My hubby would love this model's ensemble, exposed shoulders, mini-dress, fishnets, and wrapped with a bow...yowza!

room Taylor Howes, garment Andrew Gn

  So what are your thought on citrusy color palettes? Do they exist more in your home or in your wardrobe?

Spring 2010 - Oceanic Interpretations + Understated Elegance

Christian Siriano's Spring 2010 collection was my all time favorite from New York Fashion Week back in September.  The inspiration for this line came from the notion of Mediterranean travel and rich coastal sunsets as seen from a yacht.  This living room, featured in House Beautiful and designed by Tobi Fairley, has an understated elegance characterized by its sophisticated layers of pale blue tones and use of lush textiles.

 garment Christian Siriano, room Tobi Fairley

Sumptuous spaces are created through the use of metallic finishes in furnishings and fabrics.  These finishes shimmer and sparkle and give the appearance of luxury and opulence.  Both ensembles have reflective qualities that really turn up the glam factor.  In this bedroom also designed by Tobi Fairley, the sunburst wall decor as well as the mirrored furniture pay homage to old Hollywood glamour while this Siriano design features a shiny silk blouse paired with a metallic short and topped with a distressed sun hat...so elegant and yet so unpretentious.

garment Christian Siriano, room Tobi Fairley

Turquoise, Pantone's color of the year, it making a statement in both residential and commercial spaces, but what I'm loving right now is this turquoise empire chandelier.

room Tobi Fairley , room Bonesteel Trout Hall

There is even a less expensive version at Pottery Barn Teen.  It's definitely cute enough to make a style statement in a teen's room, but not in a dining space.

1. Turquoise Empire Chandelier, Marjorie Skouras Design  2. Glass Bead Chandelier, Pottery Barn Teen 

3. Catalonia Small Chandelier, Shine by S.H.O

Lastly, here's a refreshing color palette using Sea Glass and two of the Pantone forecast colors, Tomato Puree and Dried Herb. Using Sea Glass in lieu of Turquoise escapes the retro look and arrives to one that is more meditative and calming.  Tomato Puree replaces classic red and Dried Herb is said to be "the ultimate green neutral pairing well with all other colors."

garment Christian Siriano, room Tobi Fairley

Do you find inspiration from the ocean and sea? How has the ocean found its way into your decor? What is your idea of Understated Elegance? Are you enjoying these posts as much as I am?

Turquoise: Pantone's 2010 Color of the Year

"Turquoise transports us to an exciting, tropical paradise while offering a sense of protection and healing in stressful times." - Pantone, Inc.

In case you've never heard of Pantone, Inc. they are the global authority on color and provider of professional color standards for the design industries. Pantone believes turquoise is a color that most people respond to positively and is one that is universally flattering. To learn more, click here to check out their press release regarding the 2010 color of the year, turquoise.