Color Inspiration or Design Conundrum?

As we look around there are so many inspiring colors. The human eye can see up to 16.7 MILLON different colors. With quantities like that you wonder...how will you ever decide which colors to incorporate in your color scheme. I personally prefer different colors depending on my mood which can be costly because it leads to indecisiveness and the constant craving for change. 

London Fabric

Color inspiring collage

My Fix To This Design Conundrum:

Instead of incorporating color in large costly pieces such as: rugs, sofas, curtains or worse architectural features that are difficult to change such as: back splashes, ornate title floors, wall paper, and painted cabinets. I use color in a slightly more temporary accents when designing my space. The plus: it costs much less to change, you are still able to enjoy all the fun bold colors that may only appeal to your senses for a short period of time, and your design does not have to be stagnate. 

Some Fun Mix-It-Up Ideas:

Add bright flowers to an accent table.

Pillows and cushions are always great because the possibilities are endless!!

Patchwork pillows help you narrow your color scheme...If your like me (indecisive) it is very helpful!

Photographs By: Jane Hall

DIY: Antique Closet Doors

Jazz up you dull white closet doors with a few simple steps! First: begin by taping off the area around the focal point you want to add the antiquing to. Second: Start with your base coat. I used black because my bed is wrought iron. If it is black and you might need to add a second coat, i did. Then, after the paint has dried take a sponge brush and lightly dip it in gold paint. (Make sure to brush off the excess paint.) Take your brush and glide it along the wood grain. Finally: once dry remove the tape to view your glamourous new closet doors! Very chic!

I took the look a little further by adding fun antique pull knobs. I got these knobs at Hobby Lobby 50% off. Hobby Lobby always has weekly specials you can view them by going to their website hobbylobby.com

Good luck on your DIY project!

Quick Tip: Adding Storage Space To Your Kitchen

In an apartment kitchen space is a rare commodity. You are lucky if you have a pantry (surprisingly I do). This quick tip allows you to keep bigger items from cramping your already overflowing storage space. The plus: it acts as a decorative accent for your kitchen while providing utility. I added the mirror because my kitchen is fairly small, in which case if you are living in an apartment that is always a sacrifice. The mirror makes the kitchen appear larger and it allows you to subtly check yourself out while preparing a meal for a date ;)

French Inspired Tablescape

I find french themed anything so decadent...I don't know whether it's the warm inviting color palate or the thought of French cuisine in the conerstone of my mind that makes me always enjoy European inspired accents. I transformed this table from a light oak staind to a more dramatic espresso bottom and burnt red top. I chose black chairs to keep it grounded and pick up on the scroll pattern on the salad plates. By combining black and brown it creates a neutral palate for the bolder table top.

The centerpiece is a composition of a topiary and two black wrought iron candle sticks (very French). When deciding what you'd like your centerpiece to be it is important to have a variety of heights. This centerpiece works because the topiary is significantly taller than the candlesticks. If they were the same height it would look too flat lined. 

The table runner is black satin. I bunched it up a bit in the center to add elegance and to further enchance the shine of the fabric. The table runner also acts as placemats for the dominant ends of the table, because the table is round it is difficult to portray dominant seating.  In addition, you create "ends" without being distant from your dinner guests. 

For the place settings I started with a rattan charger and then used a stark white dinner plate (the french love white dinner wear because food pops off of white so no matter the dish it is always a perfect canvas) on top of the dinner plate I added a focal point with a scroll patterned salad plate. To complete the look I took hand crafted wood bowls and added preserved moss to each place setting. This way the place setting picks up on the green in the centerpiece and adds a touch of nature (without the maintenance).

Find Your Muse

I indulge in viewing art on a regular basis. I find that it allows you to temporarily escape into the mind of the artist and it also provides an intriguing color theme inspiration. I designed my bedroom around the subtle hues of the painting End of Day by artist John Allinson (right). This painting incorporates warm and cool colors in a capturing way. I translated this spectacular piece of art into a sultry chic bedroom design that is alluring and calming all in one small space.

I started with a wrought iron bed frame with an antique brushed gold finish and for the bed linens I chose soft pink bed sheets and a damask patterned comforter accented by two european blue euro shams complemented by a layer of two standard damask pillows and two square antique purple and soft pink geometric patterned pillows. The combination of pillows introduces the color palate that I pulled out the painting and allows the bed to be the shinning star of the room. When designing a bedroom it is very important to have a strong focal point and then work outward from there.  Truthfully I would have never thought to use this color combination but every idea has a starting place. 

Good luck on your inspiring color adventure!

The Best Piece of Furniture I've Ever Purchased

This piece is from Ikea. It is the Expedit bookcase/sideboard. It is the most functional showcase organizational tool I've ever come across. For only $79.99 this piece is definitely worth the price! I currently use mine as a desk...but the sky is the limit with this diverse piece of furniture. Some ideas: a room divider (because it is open it won't block light from flowing through the room), a TV console or a gallery if you collect ceramics.

In a small space storage is ALWAYS an issue. These magazine boxes were 2 for $10 at Ikea. They conceal your unattractive piles of cds, dvds, papers, and books.  The low cost of these storage bins allows you to change them out with different colors or patterns if you get tired of the same look. These bins easily collapse so they can be stored inside another bin.

Organization does not have to be boring. You can enhance the look of bulky storage bins by complementing them with fun expressive accents you've come to collect. I have a bunch of books so it's nice to be able to showcase my favorites and it adds a pop of color :)

I hope you enjoy this piece as much as I have!

Living Large in a Small Space

To add visual interest to a small space I emphasize my walls by creating diverse galleries and using different painting techniques. As for the furniture I create flow by using light hued fabrics for my large pieces such as my sofa and then add contrast with dark theme inspired accent pieces to keep the room grounded.

If you are using your sofa for a room divider it is very imperative that the fabric is light and airy, remember it is in the center of the space. A dark sofa would make the room feel cut off and dreary.

I added feminine flares to my space with a scroll pattern rug, embroidered feather down pillows, crystal accents (the lamp and pastry tier in the back corner) and a leopard accent chair. To entice my guests and make them feel more at home I like to have several arrangements (living or perceivably living things make a space feel less cold), candles for aroma, and a sign of dining (the sesame rolls plated in the serving basket). 

The large diagonal stripe draws your eyes upward making the room appear larger. Most people stray from using black in small spaces but if you add black as a focal point while keeping the other accents light and flowing it can do wonders for expanding your small space.