Monday, February 22, 2010

Blue and White Rooms


When my husband and I bought our very first home in 1990 the first thing I did was to remove all signs of the previous owner's decor. The the color palette of earth tones so popular in the 1970's was just not doing it for me. Instead I choose to redecorate in navy blue and white. I've always loved this combination. It's timeless, fresh and seems to appeal to both men and women.

If I were to decorate with blue and white today I might be tempted to exchange the navy for a different shade of blue. Turquoise blue, midnight blue, periwinkle blue and cornflower blue are all gorgeous when paired with white.































Blue acts almost like a neutral as it pairs so well with a number of colors. Pink, yellow, red and green are perfect accents in a blue and white room.











Would you decorate in shade of blue and white?



Images from House to Home, Interior-decorate.blogspot.com, The Stylish House, Girl-world-decor.blogspot.com

Monday, February 8, 2010

Fun in the Sun

This is all that I'll be doing this week!


I'm taking off this week for a short trip to the Bahamas. I'll be back next week with pictures! Hope everyone has a great week.

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Seeing Red

Image from Gerry Keane


With Valentine's Day just around the corner, what better time to talk about one of my favorite colors to see in the design on a home, red. Unlike certain colors that tend to go in and out of style, red is timeless and it works equally well in formal spaces as it does in casual settings.

An entire room painted red might not be for everyone. It can be a little overwhelming depending upon the space. Red walls seem to work in certain rooms better than others. For instance, I love to see red in dining spaces and libraries.


Image via The Peak of Chic



There are so many ways that you can add touches of red to your decor if you aren't inclined to paint the entire room in the shade. Look how the punch of red in the headboard and bed skirt makes a huge statement in this mostly neutral space.


Image from House Beautiful


Red could easily be incorporated into a room's design with wall covering or fabric. It looks like the designer of this home office covered a canvas in a fabric that brings just a touch of red into the room. Along with a few red accessories, the room is cheerful, not overwhelmed by the color choice.

Image from Moving Desingnz


I used a bit of red in my yet-to-be-completed guest room/home office. The bright colors make me happy. I've thought about painting an entire wall in red, but am still a little nervous to take the plunge. For now, the touches of red used in the arrangement above the desk are working for me. I find that all-white rooms really benefit for a dose of a bright color and red is my color of choice.

The desk area of my home office/guest room.

To keep the room from drowning in a sea of white, I reupholstered an old dining room chair in red denim and added a colorful pillow to complete my work space.


If the idea of committing to red in your home is a little frightening, consider bringing in an accessory or two instead of making a larger statement. A throw blanket, vase or lamp base in red can do wonders for your room.

Are you a fan of red?

Monday, February 1, 2010

Pillow Talk

Want to update a room in a hurry without spending a lot of money? I know of no better way to do this than with the addition of a few new throw pillows. There are so many gorgeous pillows available at all price levels that all of us should be able to budget for a few new ones. Do you have a tax refund coming? You'll need to set aside just $50 (or less!) to snap up any of the following lovelies:






Fabricadabra, $40 (My favorite of the whole batch!)



Z Gallerie, $49.95



Target, $24.99



Pier I, $29.95


Align CenterTarget.com, $50




Pier I, currently on sale for $19.88.


Do you get giddy at the thought of new pillows? I do!