LIVING WITH WARM COLORS IN SPRING

A design dilemma of my own prompted my latest article [Rust for All Seasons] for Houzz. I'm looking for accent pillows to transition my titanic rust-hued sofa into spring. Clearly replacing the sofa is not an option, but finding colors that cool the room's atmosphere sounds like a more realistic plan. I'm looking forward to getting rid of the pillows with the fringe on them. The kids pull at it constantly and our new pup likes to get in on the fun, too. *sigh*

As you can see the room hasn't changed much since I posted about it last year. This room for me is like a leaky faucet in a plumber's home. You get around to it when you can.

Here are a few examples from my article on how to decorate using rust in the spring.

John Lum Architecture, Inc. AIA

Rust colored bedding in combination with a geometric patterned comforter and crisp white sheets makes for a modern aesthetic that lasts for al seasons.

Niche Interiors

Darker hues paired with bright white yield a look that is clean and unabashedly modern. Dining chairs and the neighboring room, complement the rust wall color and freshen the color scheme.

Erdreich Architecture, P.C.

Rust built-ins provide a warm welcome to visitors in this entryway and library. Surrounded by pristine white walls, the color combination leans more toward eclectic than modern with the introduction of rich antique furniture.

Houzz readers recommended adding turquoise and cream to the mix. I'm definitely interested in hearing your thoughts, too!

HUES YOU CAN USE: OFF-BLACK

From clothing to interiors, dark hues continue to move me this season. What else can I say except for...Bring on the drama.  A high contrast array of dark walls, honey colored floors, and white cabinetry [featured in 25 Beautiful Homes, August 2006] seem to have come full circle to next year's list of hottest decor trends.

Black makes the greatest impact when paired with white. Think a black tuxedo worn with a crisp white shirt. There's nothing sexier, don't you agree? Go a step further and add a pop of color, like chartreuse, and go from traditional to trendsetting.

[via Living, Etc. February 2009]

Are you brave enough to venture to the dark side?

SMITTEN BY: THOM FILICIA FOR CALICO CORNERS

Have you seen Thom Filicia's new fabric collection at Calico Corners? Yumm...
Using bold colors and prints, he's designed a versatile selection of ethnic patterns, stripes, solids, linens, jacquards, and tweeds suitable for any room in your home. Pick a fabric, any fabric for a color palette that will instantly jump start your decorating project.  Catch them now while they're on sale (20% off) through November 13th!

Would you consider any of these fabrics for your home? Which color palette draws you in?

HUES YOU CAN USE: INSIDE A JEWEL BOX

Feel like royalty in a room painted in a rich, purple hue like Benjamin Moore's Grape Gum. Purple, on the cusp of blue, it's totally strong and luxurious, yet unisex.

designed by Robert Brown Interior Design

 

Sumptuous and passionate...would you dare be this dramatic?

HUES YOU CAN USE: SIERRA NIGHT

Dark rooms really don't have to feel dark. In this renovation by Anne Turner, former Cottage Living editor, she uses muted tones to bring warmth and refinement to a cookie cutter cottage. Would you try this look in your home?

Cottage Living November/December Issue 2008.

Want to see "Hues You Can Use" as a weekly feature? Let me know in  the comments section!

SWEET PIECES...WITH ZERO FAT!

A big thanks goes out to all of you who completed the reader survey on yesterday. I've added a link in the sidebar for those of you who still need to take the survey. I greatly appreciate your feedback!

Finally, a very special thanks to Lee Kleinhelter of Pieces for sharing her thoughts with BluLabel Bungalow in the Tastemaker Tuesday series.  Visit Pieces online or in store for amazing eye candy as seen below in my "PIECES IN NEAPOLITAN" inspiration board. Inspired by cool summer treats, I've compose a few of my favorite finds in strawberry, chocolate, and vanilla. Where else can you get such decadent fare and with zero fat?

1.| Pink Zig-Zag Pillow $95
2.| Round Carved Teak Mirror $2100
3.|Chrome Tufted Chair $1400
4.| Chocolate Whippet Statue $1250
5.| Round Lucite Stool $895
6.| Asian Style Dresser $3600

Coming to BluLabel Bungalow next week is another exciting interview and there is a giveaway involved! You don't want to miss this. Have a great weekend!

SPECIAL GUEST: CARRIE LEBER

Fresh ideas served daily best describes the website of publicist and event planner, Carrie Leber's. Her site features amazing photography, updates on emerging artists, and advice on how to live the good life. Today she shares with us color inspirations and luxurious finds...Enjoy!

There’s something about aqua matched with gold that always reminds me of sun-splashed afternoons in the Greek Islands.  It’s such a quintessentially summer combination that I find it irresistible this time of year.  And while I love playing with the look, I don’t want it to play too predominant of a theme – it doesn’t translate as well as I’d like it in the Fall and Holiday months.  So for me, it’s accessories that make the look happen.

These stunning Christian Louboutins really are powerful with their bold gold statement.  Pair the look with a strapless white dress and some drop earrings like these Bijoux Heart beauties and that fab summer look just needs a margarita! For entertaining I love this amazingly glam Chip and Dip set from Magenta – set this out and your guests won’t be able to take their eyes off of it.  Paired with a grouping of white napkins daintily encased with these Magenta Studded Napkin Rings and the glam island theme will really come across.   For serving hot plates, and making cocktails, this elegant and animated Birder dishtowel is just the thing.

Green + Gray for St. Patrick's Day...

Happy St. Patrick's Day everyone! Usually we associate a "fresher green" with all things Irish, but here's a fun little twist that spotlights green, but in a more subtle color palette.  ENTER GREEN AND GRAY...

These images are of my favorite rooms in the Coastal Living's 2009 Seawatch Idea House in Sunset Harbor, North Carolina.

Though these rooms may be a little too decorated for your taste, remember the purpose of these spaces are to assist you in generating ideas for your own home.  The introduction of pure white in this space makes the palette feel light, airy, and fresh. Adding white to the color scheme was one of the best ways for the designer to create the "coastal look" using green and gray.  I love this alternative color approach as opposed to the watery blues and tans traditionally used in coastal decor.

 A elegant settee appears to be custom fitted for this little nook accented with pillows contain the same pattern as the drapery.  In this one photo, there are three different patterns yet they all flow seamlessly-the painted stripes on the wall, the leaf motif in the pillows and drapery, and the fabric covering the klismos chair.

The sparkle of the mosaic backsplash, the metallic hardware, and the mirrored cabinets add elements of modern luxury to this soothing color palette.

In love with this sophisticated take on green and gray? Consider making it yours by choosing any color from the palette below.

 What are your thoughts on this green and gray color combo? About mixing patterns? Click here for my previous post on mixing patterns if you need a little direction. Have a great day!

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?

Spring 2010 - Coral, Black, White + Bubbles

Let me first start this week by welcoming my new readers joining me from Maria's blog.  I received so many positive comments and emails regarding last week's interview which says a lot about her following.   

I also want to send a special thank you to Lisa at Destination Seaborn for featuring BluLabel Bungalow this past Friday! After reading her post, it made me feel great to know that my vision for BluLabel Bungalow is being communicated clearly and that you love it! Please visit Lisa's blog, here.

Moving on...today, in the midst of another threat of snow, I am dreaming of Spring.  And what does Spring 2010 bring in terms of trends and colors in home decor? Based on the Pantone Fashion Color Report for Spring 2010, our wardrobes are expected to contain these colors:

As seen below, Tory Burch's Spring 2010 Collection features "fusion coral" and is inspired by resort wear with bold colors, graphic patterns, and textures.  Resort wear as it translated into home decor tends to teeter on the edge of whimscial and sophisticated as illustrated in these room designed by Lynn Morgan.  The introduction of coral against the stark contrast of bold black and white patterns breathes an element of playfulness.

 garments Tory Burch, rooms Lynn Morgan

Here is coral once again but this time paired with tan, another neutral. Warm neutral walls temper the room while still allowing coral to exist (floor to ceiling) as the dominate color. The watery blue centerpiece is reminiscent of seaglass found on the beach.  It makes me wonder if the designer found inspiration for this room while combing the beach.

rooms Jeffers Design Group 

Also check out my previous post here where I recently used coral and neutrals in my client's home office redesign.

Regarding home decor trends, the sunbrust mirror continues to maintain its momentum as well as the presence of animal print (timeless, if you ask me).  What I'm excited about is the sculptural-like quality of "Bubble-Inspired" Lighting.  Very contemporary, it still has a place in traditional home decor.  Eye-catching and lighthearted, it creates the illusion of bubbles floating through the air as well as enhancing the feeling of having an open space...proves that bubbly doesn't always come in a bottle.

 

1. floating bubble ceiling fixture, Possini 2. annika chandelier, Oly Studio 

3. bubble globe pendant chandelier, Robert Sonneman 4. bubble cascade table lamp, Possini

What other colors and trends do you see popping up in home decor for the Spring?

Tastemaker Tuesday: Maria Killam, Colour Expert

 

I've been hooked on Maria's blog from the day I was introduced.  A wellspring of information, Maria has an artist's spirit and the heart of a teacher.  Her hugely popular blog discusses the ins and outs of color and does an amazing job of explaining color theory to her readers. Her informative and lighthearted posts have received well deserved mentions from the Washington Post Blog Watch five times with titles such as "The Right Way to Create Flow Using Colour" and "5 Questions to Consider When Selecting a New Colour for Your Kitchen." Each time I read one of her blog posts, I always leave with valuable design nuggets or a fresh prespective of the given subject matter. Maria's work and advice has also be featured in Alberta Home Magazine and BC Home Magazine.  So for everyone who is tackling design projects in the new year, I thought it would be the perfect time to introduce you to Maria Killam, a Canadian-born international colour designer, writer, editor, and colour theory instructor.  Thank you Maria for taking the time to give us this interview and for all of your assistance! Enjoy!- Erika

{Vancouver Color Queen, Maria Killam, on the cover of BC Home Magazine}

Erika Ward: Which colors inspire you the most?

Maria Killam: I love happy colours in any combination!

What 2010 design trend has you "rolling your eyes?"

Oversized flat screen televisions. They belong in Media Rooms, period.

With turquoise as the Pantone Color of the Year, can you give us three color palettes that contain the color turquoise?

I love the sophisticated look of turquoise with black and white!  Here it is with the addition of yellow:

Turquoise, Orange, and White

 

Turquoise, Green, and White

The combinations I've chosen all have white in them. I think white belongs with turquoise because white just looks best with fresh happy colours!

Not only do you give great color advice, but also great advice about being a blogger. What makes you so passionate about helping fellow bloggers?

I'm generally obsessed with finding the "right" answer or the "right" way of doing something for any area of my life.  When I was in Corporate (before my designer days) I always felt like I was just "making it up as I went along" without any real direction from anyone.  For this reason I am quick to offer my knowledge to anyone looking for the same thing!


When reading other blogs, what is one of your pet peeves you see repeated time and time again?

Music.  Your favourite song is probably not mine, enough said.


Please name 5 of your favorite things (list WHATEVER comes to mind).


1. Flowers. Tulips for how sexy they are and the scent of Casablanca Lilies
2. I love my morning coffee.  I am a morning person.
3. Intelligent conversation
4. I love a good book and picnic at the beach
5. Having a great bag that looks good with everything

{designed and styled by Maria Killam}

What do you think about fashion and it's influence on interior design?

I think colours in particular match up with interior design. For example, when burgundy was a trend in the 80's we wore burgundy. I have also noticed that people tend to dress to match their decor.

{image courtesy of Annette Tatum, The Well-Dressed Home}

It is 2015, what direction have you taken regarding your business?

I have a book, a retail location, and  I am an internationally known colour designer.

{Designed by Maria Killam}