Is It Really Greener on The Other Side?

In today's post, it is most definitely greener on the other side.

Eddie Ross did a post the other day on color and he asked a question of his readers.  He asked us what new color or color combinations are appealing to us.  Little did Eddie know that I already had been thinking about the color Kelly green.  Touches  of this vibrant green in a room are so appealing to me.  I think it has something to do with the fact that it is the color of nature.  Green is a very soothing color to me.  Kelly green is a bright pop in any room. I am not sure it will ever work in my house as it is now, but it is fun to look at rooms and objects with my new "crush color."

Imperial Trellis wallpaper

With this green lacquered tray, all the ordinary objects look much more appealing.

I am noticing a lot of black and white is mixed with this bright pop of green. You know how I love my black and white combinations, so this would just be fun to have in a room.

Try to visualize this room without that amazing headboard. All of the sudden it is no longer as special.

Without the touches of green this kitchen would not have the life that it now has.

Phoebe Howard for Max and Co

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I love these old green bottles. My friend Terri at La Dolfina will love this picture for sure. If you haven't seen Terri's blog be sure and stop by and tell her Kathysue sent you her way! She always has wonderful unique eye candy and her collection of bottles and shells is unbelieveable.

Here is  a cabinet filled with Terri's treasures. Notice the pop of green used here. My jaw dropped the first time I saw this.  This is only a fraction of her beautiful treasures.

I told you! You will not be disappointed.

Sarah Richardson

I really like the combination of the turqouise with the green. Erin at The House of Turqouise would probably enjoy this room

Phoebe Howard for Mrs. Howard

Absolutely Stunning! Interesting wall treatment. Notice the studding along the top and right above the wainscotting. I just find this to be so striking.

Sarah Richardson

More black and white with the pop of green. I love this and could totally live in this room.

I  probably could not do this much green on  my walls personally, but with all the white it works nicely. Did you notice the ceiling is even the green? Everything else in the room is nice and neutral.  You see if you study pictures and their use of color combinations you can learn what will work and what is appealing to you.

This foyer is a Wow! room to me. The mural wallpaper looks amazing and then the beautiful garden stool on the zig-zag black and white rug is genius. Too some this might be busy but if you really look at it from a design point of view it is done very well. Too busy for my own personal taste however I can tell there was a lot of thought put into this space and I can appreciate the talent that it took to do this room.

More turqouise with that great pop of green. This is just fun!

As much as I absolutely love the color combination here, this room is a bit contrived or predictable to me.  I think a touch of black is needed here. Something to shake it up a bit. What do you think?

I love this dining room. Notice how the touches of black and the dark wood table ground this room nicely.

Lots of pattern , green mixed with black and white.

What a fun contemporary nursery, looks like twins, two cribs!

Wedgwood China has a lovely pattern with the green and blue combination.

I really love this pop of bright kelly green and I actually have thought of a place to use it in my house, but more on that later.  I hope that you are starting to open your mind to new and different color combinations. Even if you never use them in your own home, it is a lot of fun playing with them and seeing what you can come up with. Find rooms in blogland that inspire you and save them in a file for later. You never know when it might come in handy for your next project in your home. What is your new "crush color?"

"Enjoy the Process" Of: Trying new color combinations

Kathysue

When "BIG" Is Better!!

Today I am going to ask you to do something that might be a little difficult for some.  I am about to show you some pictures of rooms that you may or may not like.  In each of these rooms there is one common thread, a large statement piece of art.  I know that design and artwork can be very subjective.  That is why I am about to ask you to look at the following pictures with this one question in your mind.  What would this room look like without this piece of art?  I think if you are honest with yourself, in most cases the art makes the room.  Are you ready to let your personal taste go out the window and to look at the room from a design point of view? I told you this might be a little difficult.  Here we go........

This is a very striking room in of itself, but without the art it would not be as spectacular.  This is not my own personal taste at all; However I can not imagine this room without this art piece now that I have seen it this way.

Take notice of the unusual light fixture.  Did you notice the two large trays holding accessories on the huge ottoman?  Lots and lots of interest in this room. How do you feel about the black doors? Okay, back to the art.

Although the art on these walls is in the form of sculpture, the large pieces are what make this room speak, "I am special."

In this picture the art is setting the mood for the entire space.

I love this setting. Notice that the small birds on the table are picking up the color that is in the artwork.  If this wall were blank it would just be a bit boring.  A wall grouping of art would have become too busy and crowded here.  The only thing that would truly work would be a large statement piece. I could see a large floor style mirror in an elaborate white gloss frame, but we are talking about statement art pieces today, so shall we move along?

A couple of things going on in this picture.  Who says you can't put art in a kitchen.  The colors are just fresh and fun.  The subject matter is full of whimsy.  I can tell by this picture that this would be a very fun house to visit.  Notice the chair back covers, they appear to be just pillow cases embellished with large over-sized buttons.  How fun is that?

Although this painting is not terribly large, it still is a statement piece.  Without it the room would almost be dull and lack-luster. This painting introduces a great pop of cobalt!

I know the dogs are really cute and they almost steal the show in this photo.  I must say this is a personal favorite of mine.  I am drawn to this painting.  The bright colors bring so much life to the room.  Even though we have the color pops of tangerine, I think the art work brings the room all together.  If you look closely at the painting there is just a touch of the same tangerine color in what appears to be the church steps.

Another piece that makes the room.  Have you noticed that in many of the rooms, colors are pulled out of the painting into the rest of the room.  Love the wall color and, look at that coffee table!  Okay back to looking at the art.

Amazing!  Most would probably say a bit over-sized, but if you take it out of the room, the room would look like it was missing something and.... it would be!

Amazing! I need say no more.

Notice the scale of all the pieces in this room.  The low furniture and lamps, the large overscaled vases, low slung chairs.  I think that is why this over-sized piece of art works so well in this room. This look is hard to pull off but someone did it very well.

A very traditional room that would look a bit too formal if it were not for the great piece of art above the sofa.  The artwork here is making this room work.

This is actually a photo of Max and Company, one of Phoebe Howard's lovely shops.  Pretty amazing!

I think you already know what I am going to say about this photo from Metropolitan Home magazine. Love, love the art work.

Another picture of  Phoebe Howard's shop, Mrs. Howard's.  The perfect statement piece is the artwork in this room.

Sorry! I could not resist!!!

Now that you have looked at all of these rooms and visualized them without their statement piece of art, would you agree the rooms would just not be as dramatic or complete without the large piece of art? I know it was hard to not look at the pictures without thinking about if you liked the piece or not.  You can tell by me pointing out the ones that I did like that I did not like all of the other artwork for my own personal taste or home.  The point is too open your eyes to new things and learn from them and you might be surprised at what you might be adding to your own home in the future.  Afterall decorating is a process and one that should be enjoyed.  I hope you enjoyed this little journey in the land of...... BIG ART!!

"Enjoy the Process" Of:  Adding a statement piece of art to your rooms.

Kathysue

FLOWERS

Ann Spiro's Friday's flowers

I know most of the nation is experiencing very cold and gloomy weather. I also know from some of my East coast friends that they are getting a bit tired of it.  Yesterday in California we had amazing Spring-like weather.  We actually had lunch out on the patio. I started thinking about how we bring Spring into our homes. One of the quickest ways is with plants and flowers. You may be thinking, "I can't arrange flowers!" You don't have to have an elaborate arrangement.  Just something simple. I love all of one kind of flower in a simple vase. I think all of one kind makes a bigger statement, or at least all of one color. They don't have to be expensive flowers from a florist either. You can pick up a couple of grocery store bouquets. My local grocer has 3 bundles for $12. They aren't large bundles, but they can make up to two arrangements. Look at your rooms and decide where you think an arrangement would look nice. Now, go and pick out a vase and set it in that location. Now visualize what color or type of flower you might like. Next go buy them! Enjoy!

In the above picture from Martha Stewart they have taken a simple Japanese lantern and covered a cylinder shaped vase ( a jar would be perfect) and filled it with brightly colored flowers. I am so going to try this.  Can't you just see this at your next party?  A long table lined up with these in different shapes and sizes. Love this simple and inexpensive idea.

How simple but what a statement!

Martha does it again. You can't get any more simple than this.  Are you starting to think you might be able to  do this?

Here we have just branches from the yard.  I love this look. Another Chinese lantern in a bright Springy pink.

My friend Eddie Ross does amazing floral designs. Some are elaborate and others are very simple. He is a hands on kind of guy and loves to teach others to have the  "I can do it" attitude. He has a great tutorial here on how to arrange flowers.  Below are pictures of two of his arrangements that he made from flowers right out of his own garden. You can read about it here and here

This is amazing and to think it has been arranged with simple zinnia's and phlox from the garden.  Keep in mind simple flowers can be elevated to a high end look with the right container.  Eddie used an antique French basket.( I am on the hunt for one of these for myself, Love it!!)

Back to simplicity in the container and the flowers.  Notice the warm glo of the pewter pitcher with the brightness of the sunflowers and then the wonderful texture of burlap. These are all affordable and easy to find items and just look what a statement it makes.

These two images are actually an arrangement that I made for Chinese New Year's.  I did it on a budget! The containers were $5 each from Big Lots. I found the votives at the Dollar store for $.99 each. The chop sticks were purchased at an Asian grocery story for $10 for a doz. They are lacquered black and the tips are a mosaic mother of pearl, really quite lovely. The flowers were $8.99 a bunch at Costco. I also was able to make two other arrangements out of these same flowers.  If I can do this, so can you!

Designer Ann Spiro has a blog called Absolutely Beautiful Things. This is one of the first blogs that went in my favorites list.  She is from Australia and the Australians seem to do an amazing job with the colors I love.  All sunshine and Spring colors.  Ann does a Friday Flower's post where she shows just a simple arrangement of the most gorgeous and colorful flowers.  When you visit her blog you come away feeling happy and with that, "I can do it" attitude I was talking about earlier.  I love it when someone can inspire me to think like that, don't you?  Here are just a few of Ann's wonderfully simple, pretty arrangements.

One simple head of a snapdragon in your favorite tea cup or even a coffee cup (no you can not use the Starbucks cups, that would look a bit tacky,sorry!)

Now that you have seen all of these images are you ready to go to the grocery store, out in your yard, or on a walk out in nature?  I am leaving you with one last picture. If this doesn't give you the "I can do it", attitude nothing will.

Even Ann Spiro's dog Ned is arranging flowers.

"Enjoy the Process" Of: Having the "I can do it" attitude and making your home feel like Spring with flowers.

Kathysue

BTW: If you need more inspiration be sure and visit Melissa at The Inspired Room