Orange

I am trying to bring an accent colour into a bedroom I am decorating (for a guy) and I was stumped for a while. I always like to bring in bright accent colours but they were all looking too feminine. Orange to the rescue! Especially if paired with navy blue... What do you think?

I love orange and tan! Via Elements of Style and House and Home.

I think I am going to bring in the orange accent with pillows... Via House and Home photography by Michael Graydon.

I love these orange chairs! So fun!

I really like the giraffe in the back, a great contrast with the white walls (same as what I am working with!) Both via All things lovely.

I like the repetition of orange here, and the blue. I think I would add more blue though.... House Beautiful, ken fulk design, via On interiors.

Tuesday Bluesday

A little blue for this blah Tuesday.

I love this picture... it almost always makes me happy. Hopefully I can look at it long enough today to lighten my spirits.

Via Domino

I feel like these branches today, totally off kilter. I don't know whether to try and straighten up or allow myself to completely fall over. I don't think I will know for a while. I can only hope I look half as good as these branches as I teeter....

Kate French

Layer on Pink

I'm posting about pink again! Well it seems like I have developed a little hankering for it! I do love this rich plum version of the bubblegum favourite! (I'm sure that colour experts are reeling at my comparison!)

I feel that it is alright for me to like this pink - it is so rich but not overbearingly bright and it doesn't scream barbie doll corvette! I love how this colour adds some flair to the rooms without overpowering the space. I am drawn to the depth and warmth evoked in these rooms. I think this strong rich colour as the backdrop helps the layers of textures and shapes (see mantle below and shelves above) appear to be more cohesive and look less cluttered. I could spend hours looking at all the details in these two images. Okay - I'll list a few that have caught my eye!

Kitchen: garlands, the old signs and tins, the wall mounted spices - round containers, put together in a square shape - love that geometry

Living Room: Wood set of 4 drawers, the ottoman, the l-o-v-e letters on the top shelf, the candle holder/angel in front of the fire place.

This room is inspiring - see I'm a closet pack rat, I am so worried that one day I am going to be buried by all my 'stuff' but India shows that you can have a lot of stuff, display it (which is what I like to do) and still have a house that looks beautiful! How I wish I could make all of my 'stuff' look this good!
We all know that I love black, but it can be very bold, stark and formal. This lovely pink pattern sooths the otherwise stark wall and ties in well with the pink on the bed. Just imagine how formal this room would feel if the pink stencils weren't applied to the wall! I also love the way the bed just pops out of the room, as it contrasts with the furniture and wall.

What a poetic way to wrap a pot! Random - just like I feel this post is!

All images of India Knight's Victorian home from Living Etc.

In the Neutrals

Lately light, airy neutrals have been popping up, and after all the colour predictions from the beginning of this year, I am embracing these calming neutral tones.

Paul Whicheloe Via Desire to Inspire

Michael S Smith

Photography Mikkel Vang Stylist Christine Rudolph via desire to inspire

Terri from Wind Lost

Martha Stewart

H & M via Apartment #34

Petrina Tinslay via Emma's Design Blogg

Domino via Sfgirlbybay

David Tsay via Sfgirlbybay

Via Garance Dore

Has anyone else noticed an increase in muted tones and neutral colour palettes?

Oh those wonderful Swedes!

So my heritage is 25% Swedish. I can't speak the language and I have never been there, but I some days I feel very Swedish, especially when it comes to this room makeover from Colorama!!

Before:

After:

Below is the desk you can just barely see in the bottom left hand corner of the room. I love the creativity that went into making this desk. It is two pieces of glass with wallpaper glued between them! So smart!

Via Apartment Therapy

A Table Centers From Leftover Decorations

Lately I have written about table settings here and here. And when I was home my mom had me make a center piece for a dinner party. What I had to work with were decorations from years past and random household items....

I didn't have too much instruction, other than it should be simple, allow enough room for serving trays and it shouldn't be too tall. So late Monday night I tackled it and here is what I came up with.

Now if I could only take half decent pictures to better show the centerpiece!

Holiday Helpings

I'm back at work, so my holiday party season has come to and end, but that doesn't mean I can't dream... dream that in the next two weeks I will be attending some fun and festive parties, and maybe even putting on one of my own!

If I was throwing a holiday party this year I would pull some decorating inspiration from Chris Everard.....

I love the use of gold here...

And this girl is so precious!

Party Season!

I'm back in town and I am ready to go out and party with my friends! Good thing, since the Christmas party season has started! I got a head start last night, with a impromptu girlfriend gathering at the Flying Tiger only an hour after getting off the plane! How great it is to be back in the world of wonderful drinks and food and familiar faces, it was almost sensory overload! I'm still dizzy on how fast the Internet is and how bright and flavourful the colours are and how warm it is! The next few weeks will be filled with...

Festive dinner parties (Jeffrey W. Miller)

Work Christmas parties (Jocelyne Beaudoin) (I love that sputnik light!)

And tons of catching up with friends! (Jeffrey W. Miller)

Birthday Wishes

Just a little shout out to my friend Alya - who's birthday it is today.... She is a true fashionista with and an impeccable ability of putting outfits together, no matter where in the world she is... Europe, South America, Africa or just at home on a Sunday! Al, I hope you have a stylin' day! (And show those Aussies some Van-style, and brains!)

Who says you don't look good in hats?
You look amazing in front of this wall, so natural - plus the wall itself is stunning! Where is this?

All the best! xo

Sweater Season Re-Purposed

I just couldn't help but post about these cute items by plytextiles on Etsy. These were just posted on Apartment Therapy today, and it just seemed fitting since I am back at work in the cold arctic! If only I could have a pair of those Favourite Mittens sent up here!

And look what colour combination I found! I love how two different shades of yellow were used, they really make those cubes 3D!

Rasberry Purple and Blueberry Blue!

While this post will probably be useless for those wanting to use it as a guide on what to buy for fall (most of you I am sure have already bought your fall clothes - and the Pantone colour trend has been out for ages) I thought I would share it so that we might be able to make everyday life a little more trendy, say as a presentation background colour, or as an addition to our inspiration boards, or just what we choose to draw with while colouring with children.

So if you are wondering what those colours are called that you keep on seeing pop up on the streets check out Pantone's Fall 2008 Colour Trend. Below is a little collage of what they have...

Made from the images on Pantone's Fall 2008 Colour Trend Report

On a side note - I am excited to see that Mustard Yellow and Dark Grey are in the mix!! Probably why I found so many examples for my previous blog! I am totally using Mustard Yellow the next time I sit down and colour!

Made from the images on Pantone's Fall 2008 Colour Trend Report

Fall colours - grey and yellow

I was in love with the yellow and grey I have been seeing for the past little while, especially in the summer, the light grey and yellows just emminate with eazy breezy summer days. Not too bold, but still quite a nice contrast.

Fabricsandpapers.com

Nestled In post on June 30th.

Now that the temperatures are starting to drop and the leaves are starting to turn colour, that light grey and yellow colour scheme doesn't seem to evoke the emotion of the times... But alas, the yellow, grey has ripened up as well. These dark deeper colours are just so rich and cozy... I love that I can keep with my yellow and greys...

All of the three above are from HGTV

But if there was colour...

Even though I am totally leaning towards Black and White (see yesterday) , I thought I would post some images of what I would like to do for a colour room... in case I make a last minute change to the land of colour.

Design Sponge (Shauna's room - finalist)

Living Etc. Via Desire to Inspire

Elle Decor

Girl meets Glamour

Okay there is still black and white in this one - but I don't like it for that - I love the colours of the prints. (Via desire to inspire)