Lovely Lavender

I was shopping for stone slabs a few weeks ago and came across a lavender and blue marble that I have never seen before. I took a photo of it but it's terrible! My clients really liked this stone and were considering it for their master bathroom. We ultimately decided that it was too much of a good thing and we would definitely use it for a smaller bathroom in their house.

This got me thinking about lavender...I haven't really used this color much. Most of the purple tones I have used run towards the plum and eggplant colors. I think because lavender is somewhat feminine I haven't had any clients that really wanted to go that direction.

Here are some lavender rooms that look fantastic. Could you live with lavender?

Tangerine Dreams

I would never say that orange is a favorite color of mine. Orange has always conjured up images of Tide laundry soap and syrupy soda. However, one look at my website, blog, and logo and clearly, I do like orange! Orange is a color that is life affirming, exciting and warm. It is an energetic color and looks great when paired with neutrals. Tan, cream, and white are wonderful background colors to let orange pop. The following rooms show how gorgeous orange be...no laundry soap or soda in sight!

Dandy Candy

Yesterday I was shopping and got thoroughly distracted by all the candy out for Christmas. Even though I design with neutral colors and add touches of the bright stuff...I am soooo drawn to candy colored rooms. It's so fun and innocent and I think it just makes me feel like I got the golden ticket and I'm in Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory (the original NOT the new one!!) Could you live in a candy colored room?

Classic Palette

Blue and white is such a fresh and crisp color palette. It can be done in a formal manner or a casual one. Whether you are designing a relaxing beach house or a grand plantation style house, blue and white is a classic go to combo! Here are some examples of blue and white done formally and a few casual examples. I also love how Chinese pottery works so well in these rooms.

Bold Area Rugs

Area rugs can be a great staring point to design a room around. Color, pattern, texture can lead the way for the overall design aesthetic. Sometimes the rug can be the focal point when the pattern and color combination are bold enough. Here are a few examples of rooms where the bold are rug gives the room a punch of excitement.

Eric Cohler

Gerald Pomeroy

Martha O'Hara

Chris Lewis

Source Unknown

Pop of Color

These bright and colorful rooms feel happy and light-hearted. There is a casual and relaxed ambiance in rooms designed with bright cheerful colors. I just love this green dining room!

Source Unknown

Yellow leather chairs energize this rustic space! 

Source Unknown

 The red in this room turns this subtle blue and beige upholstery into a lively space.

Tobi Fairley

 In these otherwise neutral rooms the orange seat cushions and the yellow touches below inject a blast of fun.

Eileen Kathryn Boyd

Eileen Kathryn Boyd

Throw me a Pillow

Decorative throw pillows can tie a whole room together. Color and pattern add interest, texture and beauty. When designing a room from scratch I sometimes start with a fabric for throw pillows. This gives me a direction for the style and color palette. Sometimes you can find pillows that are already made but I usually have custom pillows made for my clients. However, these beauties are already done and ready to go!

Florence Garden-Linen with Hand Embroidered Design

Grimaldi-Linen with Hand Embroidered Design

Kashmir-Linen with Hand Embroidered Design

Poiret-Linen with Hand Embroidered Design

Saz Garden-Linen with Hand Embroidered Design

Agadir-Linen with Hand Embroidered Design

Cassandra-Linen with Hand Embroidered Design

Rooms without Color

There is a color palette out there for everyone. Some people are drawn to vibrant saturated colors whiles others are drawn to subdued earth tones. However, black and white can be a great way to express yourself without committing to any color.

Black and white rooms come across to as modern, glamorous and sexy. Case in point, these rooms...

Ralph Lauren

Ralph Lauren

Ralph Lauren

Other times black and white can look sophisticated and elegant as seen in these photos...

Thomas Pheasant

Thomas Pheasant

Finally, black and white can look casual and young as is shown in this photo...