HUES YOU CAN USE: GRIZZLE GRAY

While browsing the web on Saturday night I came across this Living Room in the 2011 HGTV Green Home. Oh. My. Gawd. I've been battling the gray trend, but recently gave in when I painted my guest room, and now this...

It's been a while since I've written a Hues You Can Use post [sorry about that] and figured I'd better get it together.

Sherwin Williams Grizzle Gray works so well in this room because of the abundance of natural light, the balance of stark white linen drapery panels, and the introduction of wood into the mix. Hello Yellow! Isn't it totally livable when paired with neutrals? Black, white and gray allow yellow to take center stage, yet blend harmoniously.

The designer, Linda Woodrum adds a bit of the unexpected with this orange side table to the room's citrus-y color palette. Its presence inserts charm and playfulness to the scheme, too.

When you are obsessed with fabrics like I am you immediately recognize patterns and often know where to find cost effective alternatives. Just the other day I told someone how I was over chevron patterns. The above selection made me eat my words.

a] Ty Pennington Impressions in Wave Gray (a comparable) $7.63/yd on sale now.
b] Premier Prints ZigZag Slub Texture Yellow/White $5.93/yd on sale now.
c] Thom Filicia's Prospect in Shadow $44.99/yd.

As you see below, the entire room isn't painted the same color. In fact, the dark paint and room-sized area rug cleverly distinguish the living room as a separate space in this open floor plan.

The same color combo was on trend last spring and doesn't seem to be fading anytime soon. Will gray find a place in your home this season?

Fall 2009 BLB Color & Trend Forecast #4 - Stylish Sustainablilty

Reconstruction, regeneration, sustainability, and (eco) responsibility are buzzwords that inspired BluLabel's Color and Trend Forecast #4 - Stylish Sustainability. Though BLB has named Stylish Sustainability as trend, the hope is that practices are not temporal, but become incorporated into your decorating process. The rising popularity of consumer eco-sensitivity has given rise to a wider and more beautiful range of home decor products from low VOC paints to fabrics made from organic cotton.

The chosen palette for Stylish Sustainabilty is organic in nature and celebrates resourcefulness and inventive integrity. Bark, speaks of the earth and fertile soil, while Strawberry Ice and Wasabi symbolizes a fruitful and flavorful harvest. Combining this palette with exisiting neutrals found in your space attests that style and sustainablity can and do coexist.
Inhabit, an eco-fabulous decor brand, develops products that are inspired by nature and a genuine love for our planet. Their 3-D wall flats {#1} & {#5} were named the Eco-Friendly Product of the Year by Interior Design Magazine. This three dimentional wall covering is made of 100% bamboo pulp, 100% biodegradable, and can be painted to suit your decor. {#3} Rhythm in Sky pillow with its sky blue and chocolate modern, graphic pattern is also by Inhabit. The pillow is hand-printed in the USA using environmentally-friendly inks and the fabric is made from recycled materials! {#2} Artichoke Lamp is handmade of papier mache by artisans in Haiti and can be found at Stray Dog Designs. It comes with a hefty price tag, but can be color-customized with low VOC paint as shown above in Douglas Fir. {#4} Builtby Lamp in Mack Daddy/Green and Walnut by Inhabit does not disappoint with it's sleek modern design that is also customizable. In fact, their website estimates 1,607,045 possible color combos can be achieved. Because this many choices can overwhelm even the savviest comsumer, they offer fantastic in-house design options as well. In regard to fabrics, there is no shortage of fashionable, earth-friendly options as seen here in {#6} Glacier Fret by Schumacher. Made from 100% organic cotton, this crisp, contemporary fabric would look fantastic on an upholstered bench or made into accent pillows. Glacier Fret carries Schumacher's Environmentally Sustainable mention.

In addition to new available products, don't forget to browse thrift stores, yard sales, and antique malls for fabulous finds that could otherwise end up in landfills. Look out for upcoming posts on how to REFURBISH, REPAINT, and REUPHOLSTER! Be back tomorrow, ciao!