Archive for the ‘colors’ Category

Design Crush: Jeanette Whitson and Hague Blue!

Tuesday, May 28th, 2013

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I kind of flipped when I saw the cover of the new House Beautiful.  And the editors clearly felt the way I do about this room since they made it a fold out cover to show the entire space! The designer is self-taught Jeannette Whitson of Garden Variety Design. It’s a beautiful home with lots of traditional details that somehow feel fresh and new.

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This kitchen is amazing- and making me think I should have painted the frame of my window the same color as my lower cabinets!

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Where to start here? The light? The banister? The windows? The ceiling?

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Best. Butlers Pantry. EVERRRRRR. Do you even SEE that sink?  And while taxidermy is not everyone’s jam, I love that it’s the mascot for her shop Garden Variety Design (you can shop yourself on 1st Dibs!)

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I have a soapstone sink JUST LIKE THIS in my basement waiting to be used in this way…..

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Shall we venture outdoors? Yes, lets.

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OK, back to the blue room of my dreams….ridonculous. And the second I saw it I knew it was Farrow & Ball’s Hague Blue because it’s my favorite paint color ever. It looks lighter in this photo than it really is, but it’s the most perfect navy with a dash of peacock blue ever created.  It’s so amazing it serves almost as a neutral backdrop to tones like orange, violet, tan leather, yellow….. you name it.

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On top of the amazing paint job she used two of my all time favorite fabrics-Peter Dunham’s Ikat Stripe and  Michael Smith/ Jasper’s Indian Flower.  I seriously bow down to this room.

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Initially I thought it was so out there to do a sofa in the same navy as the walls but then I quickly found a few other images where designers had done the same thing!

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And a few more images of Hague Blue (mostly high gloss) in use proving that it’s the most magical of colors!

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Navy blue walls

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I used it in an small Beacon Hill home office paired with Osborne & Little’s Coronata Star on the ceiling….

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I painted Andrew’s office similar shade and we love it- it’s a tiny space (as is the space above) and the dark color makes the walls recess instead of close in on you- so consider a dark shade like this in any of your small spaces!

 

Fashion Friday: Everything Emerald

Friday, April 26th, 2013

I know I’ve said it before, but I am still obsessed with all things emerald green. Bot only for interiors (still pondering the color for my dining room chairs) but also for clothes and accessories. I was looking through fashion items I’d bookmarked to blog about and when over half of them were this shade I decided another green post was in order.  It’s such a happy but modern color and looks equally stunning on all complexions.  And who can forget this dress on Keira Knightley in Atonement? Has to be one of my top 10 movie fashion moments.  The color just made her stand out and said a lot of her character…

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Some more examples of this great color:

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This color has been popular FOREVER though….

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Even Monet was captivated by a girl in a green dress. :)

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I mixed in a couple lighter versions of emerald for you here, in case some are still wary of going GREEN green. :)  But so many awesome things to ponder in this shade…

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1. WHY do I not have anywhere to wear this dress? OBSESSED. 2. A great cami for under a black blazer 3. Leopard AND green? Were these sandals made for me? 4. Preppy stripes with a blingy neckline- no jewels needed! 5. A sweet little bracelet 6. A small piece, like this clutch, spices up an all black outfit 7. The silhouette of this dress is so fun and different 8. Little shorts for casual days 9. A sweet lace dress 10. Dramatic drop earrings 11. DYING to try Tata Harper skincare line (green in that all natural way too) 12. A dramatically awesome necklace 13. A pop art looking top  14. Adore this Coach tote for summer beach days or work! 15. Amazing, modern cuff with green glossy accent 16. This scarf is BANANAS. I wish! 17. A fun, jungle print bikini.

Grown Up Blush

Wednesday, April 24th, 2013

I have a hearty dose of pink going on in my new house.  Somehow I managed to sneak these pink decisions by Andrew.  Or else he his appeasing me while saving up for one big ridiculous request I won’t be able to deny- like putting a ping pong table in the living room). But I have kept the pink very subtle- not sweet or saccharine.  The guest bedroom walls are a light, lovely pink (Benjamin Moore Blanched Coral) accented with dark emerald green and the master, as you saw) is underway with a pink accent pillow.  The secret is to temper the pink with lots of neutrals or make a BIGGER statement than pink with something else (like black, navy, a crazy print…)  Some great examples of using pink in an adult way below:

This is a lot of pink, but the shades have a heavy dose of warm neutral to them so they don’t read “baby girl on the way!!” but more earthy and sophisticated. The modern chrome bed adds an edge too…

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Super subtle pink walls almost disappear….

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ADORE these coral pink drapes on light pink walls- somehow though, it doesn’t feel super girly.  My guess is the bold print chairs, rug and lamp…

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A light pink dining bench looks almost neutral in this setting…

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SUPER pale pink is so calming in bedrooms…

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Just a hint of pink in the drapes, balanced with a smidge of bolder pink on pillows. LOVING that brass hardware too (gold and pink are heaven together)

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QUITE the headboard…

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Adding just a small piece in pink, like this modern chair, sets of subtler hints of pink in artwork….

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Pink and natural linen and raffia are a great pairing…

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Some ways to add pink- subtle or bold but always mature:

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1. ABC Home light 2. Zoe Pawlak painting 3. BM Blanched Coral (tip: when picking a light pink paint always pick a chip WAY lighter than you think you want- it will come out MUCH darker on the wall!) 4. West Elm pillow 5. West Elm pillows 6. Dune & Duchess candelabra 7. ABC Home pillows 8. Canvas mug and dish 9. Horchow chandelier 10. Overdye pink rug (NEED this for my bedroom SO BAD).