Color Cravings ~ Think Pink

So, I have a confession to make....I have been craving Pink. For weeks now.

I know with Breast Cancer Awareness Month this October my heart and mind have been on my extraordinary friends, and their mothers, daughters, sisters, aunts and nieces who redefine bravery for all of us on a daily basis. 

What is this color that stands as the visual image of their battle, their triumph, and their strength? And is it possible for us to need a color in our lives to represent our being? Our own personal battles and triumphs? Just a little something to put in our pocket as a reminder that, "We can".


 Photo credit Apartment Therapy

As it turns our Pink is the perfect companion.

A combination of the take action primary of Red and the potential for achieving success and focus of White, it's no surprise that pink allows us to see our path and helps us to set on it's journey  as well.

Pink is tender and affectionate, romantic and playful. The hotter the color the hotter the passion. 



Benjamin Moore's Smashing Pink

And pink is the color of hope. Warm and comforting, it gives us the sense that there is in fact a tomorrow. Pink is used in rooms to help calm aggression and bring a sense of peace and tranquility to a space.

Oddly enough it is heavily associated with the feminine, unlike blue. Yet, it is the easiest tone on the skin and marries well with almost every complexion. And while it's perfectly at home standing on it's own, Pink is comfortable with almost any other color from grays, to browns, black, greens and it's standby favorite~orange.

So, if this color is so universally helpful and filled with feel good attributes, why then is it one of the least used colors in design? Some of it is the strong feminine connotations (which might be all the more reason to inject it into all situations), to the mystery of how to make it work.

Here's a guide to slipping this guaranteed smile making color into your daily life. 

Warning: Small doses of this intoxicating pigment could lead to long term or permanent inclusion into one's closet, home and office. Use at your own risk...

~How about getting stoned.
Rose Quartz is the stone of the heart, acceptance and unconditional love. Pop one in your pocket or set out a glass jar filled with these beauties to remind yourself that you are loved and give that gift freely.




photo credit from Better Homes and Gardens

~Accessories with attitude.
 Whether a hint of pink or all out fuschia this color will catch the eye and warm the soul. When the eye sees something that pleases it the dilation sends all sorts of feel good chemicals to the brain. 
Pink clothing makes everyone look good, regardless of the skin tone. 



~ Take a seat. 
There is something just imagination provoking about a pink chair or chaise. A spot for a romantic read or magical storybook at bedtime.  Most any fabric will do. And pink is very forgiving about DIY projects, so feel free to reuse an old Louis chair or metal barstool and practice your spray painting skills. Add a fabulous fabric and you are well on your way to abandon bliss.


Photo from Notonthehighstreet.com

Photo Credit from Apartment Therapy




















~Advanced therapy. 
My second confession is that I have always yearned for an orange and pink dining room. I am hopeful, but practical. Dining rooms, powder rooms, and bedrooms are all willing subjects for a bold palette. Start with one wall and see where your imagination takes you. 



photo credit from Interior Design Pro



 

 

Photo credit from Domainehome.com

And if you are game for the above mentioned dining room, call me.....I'm waiting.

I always tell my kids if it's not immoral, illegal, or socially irresponsible, try to say, "Yes". 

                              So goes it with Pink, I think.

Happy Decorating!

Best,

Renee

For more design inspiration, check out my pinterest board this week...

Doing Good With Wood

I was lucky (and I don't believe in luck).  A canyon filled with dirt, eucalyptus, and assorted reptiles. An unobstructed view of the city of angels and a home filled with wood...wood floors, wood walls, and wood ceilings. Growing up here I was fairly sure that if God had a vacation home, it would be mine. 
Still am.

Like most people, I had no idea why it made me feel so comfortable, it was just home. I didn't know it could lower my blood pressure (what blood pressure?), reduce my resting heart rate (that sounds boring!), or relax my prefrontal cortex (can't relax something that isn't even developed yet, right?).
 But thanks to some nifty neuroscientific discoveries, what we knew all along was probably good for us, actually is.

Photo courtesy of theberry.com

Photo courtesy of bloodandchampagne.com

Ester Sternberg in her inspiring book, Healing Spaces, The Science of Health and Well-being, speaks about the importance of bringing this essential element into public spaces such as hospitals and other places of care to help speed healing and promote cognitive health. 
In their book, Your Brain on Nature, Selhub and Logan engage in the dialogue about the importance that nature and, in specific, forests have on the psyche. Shinrin-yoku, known as Forest Bathing, has taken on international importance in places like Japan where down time is at a premium, but stress is at an all time high.

Photo courtesy of midcenturymodernfreak.tumblr.com

Now, no one is saying we should replace the health benefits that are derived from being outdoors. The healing properties of cypress, the benefits of negative ions at the beach, the vitamin D of sunshine, but what can we do to supplement this in our own home? 
Well, it's easier than you think!

~Warm to the touch. When thinking about additions to your home, opt for natural wood table tops for dining and desks. The energy from the wood helps with focus and peace of mind. Tabletops (like people) only get better and softer to the touch with age (provided that they get loved regularly). Consider replacing your breakfast bar with a piece of live edge reclaimed wood. No better way to start your morning!

Photo courtesy of www.remodelwest.com

~Look around and take stock of what already exists in your home. Chances are the answer might be right underfoot.
Don't discount the warmth, comfort, and convenience of wood floors. 

Photo courtesy of renohardwoodfloors.com

Aim for a wood with the most natural elements and the least amount of chemical applications. Think water based poly for your top coat. Recycled and reclaimed woods are a wonderful option to keep wood out of the landfill and extend the history. 
We are currently remodeling our mudroom and using old barn wood for our shelving. When we bought our siding the vendor warned us that it might be troublesome wood because it had been removed from a barn that was thought to be haunted. We are pleased to report that our wood has been nothing but cooperative, and we do enjoy the idea of it having a life beyond the current.

~Surround yourself. Gone are the days of faux wood paneling, but very in is the idea of using wood on your walls. I have a client right now that is using horizontal plank barnwood loosely place so to allow Ben Moore's Van Deusen Blue to peek through beneath. The effect is stunning.
Here is the staggered look used on one of our favorite local cafe's, Good Karma

Photo courtesy of Good Karma Cafe, Exeter, NH

Ben Moore Historical HC 156

~And don't forget to look up. There is nothing as comforting as wood on the ceiling. I was at a house that a realtor was showing recently and she remarked what a joy it was to show this house. She had no idea what it was, but she would go out of her way to show it. She just couldn't help but want to be within it's walls. The moment I walked in, I knew what it was. The ceilings and beams were blanketed with the most beautiful, natural pine. You could smell the sweetness. It was like a big hug, the kind where you can rest your head into someone's chest and get a little rub on the back kind of hug.

For my barn reno, we knew the importance of maintaining the integrity and history of the space. It also just made sense that this family room would have that safe and protected feeling by keeping the surrounding wood.

photo courtesy of www.mandevillecanyondesigns.com

 

And who wouldn't believe that this bedroom is absolutely dreamy with the natural wood canopy and truly inspired LED lighting nestled within.

Photo courtesy of decorist.com

 Get outside, bath yourself in a forest or two and then bring the woods indoors. It'll seem natural.

For more inspiration, click here to link up to my Pinterest board and take dip in some truly soothing designs.

In good design health,

Renee

 

 

Color combos that are safe but not boring

I can honestly say, the most common interior design question I get from clients, friends, family (even strangers in the paint store!) is how to choose paint colors. No surprise here, but I am a visual person, so I thought I'd share some of the color schemes I have used recently. Hopefully it provides you with a bit of inspiration!  

Sherwin Williams Scandia, Indigo, Cosmos & Icelandic

I used these colors in a recent cottage by the beach that I designed. Since the cottage is rather small (less than 700 sq. ft.), I decided to use a monochromatic theme and then give each room a hit of color from the "other side". What do I mean by "the other side"? Well, I'm talking about the other side of the color wheel! Colors that are opposite each other on the color wheel are considered complementary colors. I love to use this treatment in a room when I really want something to stand out. The high contrast of colors creates a vibrant look, which I think fills a room with great energy! For this cottage, I chose orange to be my complementary color and I could not have been more pleased. Take a look at how wonderfully the blues & oranges play together!

I used the same technique in another home I designed. This time I used very neutral browns with a hit of red. This suited my client well because they were able to take a few chances with the brightly colored accessories, but could also change them up quite easily and guilt free!



Sherwin Williams Craft Paper, Believable Buff, & Cardboard

Sherwin Williams Paint

Of course, you can't go wrong with these colors either. It's a great color combination for staging your home. A touch of color without going too crazy! The colors I chose were all +Sherwin Williams paint; Copen Blue, Agreeable Grey, Toque White, Calico and Warm Stone. The paint color names alone sound soothing and peaceful!

And finally, here's a sneak peak at the colors I am using in a home by the beach. Once again, I stay somewhat "safe" with the paint color choice and then had fun with some wallpaper and fabric. The colors here are +California Paints in Steamy Spring, +Benjamin Moore Paints  in Rattan and Soft Glow. Then a used Shore Thing wallpaper and  Thibaut Luzon fabric in Aqua and Coral. Beachy, but not boring!

If you aren't sure where colors fall on the color wheel and which ones may complement each other, I recommend you hop on over to TigerColor.com and see what they have to say. There's a terrific post about color schemes, complete with pictures to help explain it all!



What hue are you?

Remember when you were a kid and you got one of those big boxes of crayons, like the box of 64, and there were so many shades of the same color? For a girl like me, that was true bliss! Give them a little scribble on your paper and voila! you've got a new shade of purple!

And don't even get me started on the names of the colors!!  Blue is no longer just blue...you've got everything from Cornflower, to Aquamarine and Blizzard Blue...what about Indigo and Cerulean? Well isn't that true about paint color these days? It feels like there are about a million shades of the same color.

Its seems like so many of my clients are looking to incorporate some sort of blue into their design. Maybe it's because we are near the coast, or maybe it's because there are so many shades that can appeal to both men and women without feeling too feminine or too masculine. I'm not sure, but whatever the reason, I am loving the latest color combinations!

So how do you keep it fresh and current? I don't tend to try to stay on trend, but I do keep one eye on it! Understanding your clients preferences and how the colors make them feel sometimes outweighs the need to be "trendy"  I also like to get a feel for what's behind the colors my clients choose. Are they looking for a coast feel or a more of a morning in the redwoods? Knowing this helps to create a lasting mood.

I do think it's fun to pair your colors with a little bit of "unexpectedness"! Right now I am seeing, a lot of turquoise in the fabrics, wall coverings and accessories I am finding. It's been paired with everything from red  to black and even orange! Add a neutral like grey and you've got a stunning new look.


I recently used +Sherwin Williams Indigo (SW 6531) for a seaside cottage in Maine. It was love at first sight! 

I paired it with +Sherwin Williams   Scanda (6529), Passive (7064) and Ellie Gray (7650) to create a stunning backdrop for my orange and teal accent pieces! 


To mix things up a bit in another seaside cottage, I used +Sherwin Williams Kind Green (6457). This time I paired it with +Benjamin Moore Paints Soft Glow on an accent wall in one of the bedrooms.



To round out the color palette in this cottage I used +Benjamin Moore Paints Hush. It's still a coastal color palette, but a little different than sticking with just the blues and tans you often see.

I love to think outside the box and dare my clients to paint their ceiling something other than white. It's sort of like the fifth wall in your room, but often it's not even considered when selecting paint. Take a look at this dining room in an 1850's Farmhouse in New Hampshire.

Here it really highlight some of the details in this room that otherwise would have been overlooked. So don't just look at the 4 walls that surround you, look up too!

As always, I highly recommend purchasing samples and trying them out on your walls in your home. What looks great in the store may look totally different in the light of your home.

 

 

Until next week!

 

Renee

Show your true colors!

So, last week I played hooky from our blog, but for good reason. My son had the opportunity to play in the D3 Baseball World Series Championships in Appleton, Wisconsin, for the second time in a row.

Now, being the mom of a pitcher, you hear all sorts of things being yelled from the stands. One that has stuck out over the years though as been, "Paint the corners, kid". This means move your ball around the strike zone and keep 'em guessing. Very easy to yell as a spectator.
 

Appleton, Wisconsin is about the best place to hold this tournament as they are just one big mid-west basket of kindness. You can't walk down the street without engaging in full conversations with complete strangers. The architecture also displays this generosity of spirit as they are not shy in displaying their love for detail and color.
 

'Paint the corners, kid' got me thinking. As I was soaking in the diversity of style and palette, it might be a good idea to post a little something on exterior colors. Whatever your material, there will come a time when it has to be addressed and a little thought and prep work can go a long way both esthetically and practically.

Mother Nature hit us with a long winter, whose effects on your house have surely come to light as you have come out of hibernation, and started spending more time outdoors.

It's likely that you already know that repainting your entire house is going to cost you a good chunk of change. And since it's not necessary to do it all that often (thankfully!), it's a decision that shouldn't be taken lightly. You're going to have to look at it and love it for years to come!

I saw these two houses in Appleton, WI and had to stop and pause for a moment (...something designers do a lot when we see something that inspires us!) What


I fell in love with while gazing at these two lovelies, was that they had that iconic Victorian sort of Painted Lady look but on a classic craftsman style house! And it works so beautifully!

There are plenty of historical palettes to choose from and they don't need to be used for just that period. I think it's fun to mix up the period colors with different architectural style. I particularly love this brick house for bringing in some color detail without distracting from the brick. The matching chairs out front are a nice touch too!

In order to narrow your decision down, there are some a few things to consider; such as the color of your roof, chimney, walkways, front steps and even your driveway. While you won't be painting these elements they still certainly play a role in what color you choose.

Take this house for example, I particularly like the use of the stone and mustard color. Here they found a color that they liked within the stone and chose to call that out in the overall color scheme. It would have been equally dramatic to go with a gray, it's just a matter of personal taste.

Study your surroundings and take some queues from nature. Trees and lots of leafy green foundation plantings may suggest an earthy palette of greens and browns. If you have lots of spring blooms in vibrant colors, choose a paint color that will compliment them. A beach setting might suggest vivid blues, turquoises, and coral colors.

You may also want take into consideration your neighbors house(s). You don't have to imitate their palette, and certainly you have the freedom to put your own spin on your color scheme, but it might be nice to compliment each other!

Many paint companies like +Benjamin Moore Paints and +Valspar Paint will provide you with color palettes that work together. I like how creative they've become with the color wheel. Some palettes use opposite colors, such as red and yellow, while others stay on the same side of the wheel, analogous, and play off the architecture with more subtlety.

We learn so many important lessons from the past, therefore it's important to honor your homes history. If you are looking to preserve the past, you will probably want to use a color scheme that is historically true. Refer to a historic color chart too select something to reflect on the past. Or, if you are looking to update the look of your house, while highlighting some of the architectural details, go for it! It can often result in a very dramatic façade! Just be sure that your house still honors it's surroundings.

I'd be lying if I told you that choosing your exterior paint color was going to be easy, but hopefully I've given you some insight and tips to help narrow down the choices!

Good luck and remember, "Paint the corners, kid!"

Renee

Orange is the new black....

And I'm not talking about the latest book or TV show! I'm talking about getting a bit more daring with your design. Sure black is a mainstay and a great anchor to your décor, but orange can really pack a punch and take your design up a notch! 

Each month +Pantone  selects a new color of the month. April happens to be Celosia Orange, Pantone # 17-1360. What was once considered a fall color is making an appearance this spring! It's fun. It's fresh. And maybe a bit unexpected...This cheery tone is the perfect pop of color for springtime, wouldn't you say?

Some of my favorite paint colors happen to be orange! For this fun summer cottage I used +Sherwin Williams  Serape SW 6656.

 Not sure what to pair with your favorite shade of orange without feeling like it's Halloween? There are more possibilities than you may think! Orange pairs beautifully with blues, greys, reds, hot pinks, turquoise and more! Here I used +Benjamin Moore Paints AF 230 Buttered Yam for the upper portion of this dining room.

Need some more inspiration? Check out +This Old House this month! I think you'll find yourself falling in love with this sassy color. Here are a few of my favorite featured photos.

This is one of my favorite ways to treat a fireplace and really make it a focal point in your room. Many people don't think to paint the brick surround, but it can really make a difference, as you can see here.

Recently I found these fun appliances from Big Chill! Oh how I dream of incorporating these into a kitchen design for one of my clients! They are retro, and hip all wrapped up in this spicy shade of orange.


However, if you can't quite commit to a fresh coat of paint or a new set of appliances, try something a little more subtle. I was in search of some really fresh and fun fabrics for one of my current clients and came across these from +Duralee.

This guy is my favorite. Love, love, love the octopus! I must, and I mean MUST use this fabric for one very lucky client. Who's in??



 Why not try incorporating some orange into your home? Let me know how it goes and I promise I won't say "Orange you glad you tried it?"

Until next week,

Renee