Lighten Up!

For those of you who have chosen dark earthy tones for your walls because you love how they make you feel warm and cozy in the dead of winter but are now wishing for a change for the warm months ahead, you should go for it!  It is so easy to transform your room with a quick and fresh new paint job, and you will be surprised how your furniture and accessories can still work with the right color choice!  Take a look at your current decor, and choose a complimentary color in a less saturated shade.  Hues found in nature (earth, plants, water, etc.) are always a sure bet.  Don't forget the ceiling- choosing a lighter color for above will make the room feel more open and airy. If you have color anxiety, many paint manufacturers have apps on their websites that allow you to upload a photo of your space and apply colors to your walls and ceiling so you can feel confident in your color choices before you do the work.  Look at the dramatic transformation below; from dark chocolate to summer sky!

Eva in the Kitchen

Kudos to actress Eva Longoria for the success of her new cookbook, Eva's Kitchen available since April 5th, published by Clarkson Potter.  I imagine her kitchen at home is as girly and glamorous as she is, filled with beautiful objects and decor that inspires her delicious treats.  Below is a fun roundup of fresh kitchen items for spring inspired by this photo of Miss Eva.

    (clockwise from top left) food processor from Amazon.com, apron from Anthropologie,
knob from Anthropologie, cushion from Pier 1, salt and pepper set from Pier 1, fluted ramekins from Kate's Paperie,
china from Michael C. Fina, glass apothecary jars from Pottery Barn

Kips Bay show house goodies on gilt.com

I was psyched to see that the Kips Bay Show House was listed as a new sale in my daily gilt.com email.  This is the second time this sample sale site has sold furniture and accessories from the annual decorator showcase, and it seems like a great way to raise additional funds for the Kips Bay Boys and Girls Club.  Since I have not made my way up to see the house yet, I was happy to have a sneak peek at a few of the decadent rooms, and as usual they do not disappoint!

I love how this traditional paneled bedroom with an understated palette is offset by a shocking Marilyn Minter photo and vibrant pops of magenta:

Bedroom by Amanda Nisbet from gilt.om

Here is a close-up of the sumptuous bedding and headboard upholstered in Scalamandre silk with a brass nail head trim, custom designed by Amanda Nisbet and on sale on gilt.com for $2,908.  Ahhh... a girl can dream!

gilt.com

Richard Mishaan's sitting room is dramatically different with clean lines and bold primary hued modern art.

by Richard Mishaan on gilt.com

I am always a sucker for an impeccably styled console table.  Look at that amazing mushroom sculpture!  This Bolier lacquered table can be scooped up for $3,690 on gilt.com now.

gilt.com

Looks like I am going to have to pay the house a visit before it closes on May 26th!

Modern Graphic Bedding

I have been shopping for a new duvet cover to compliment our now gray walls in the bedroom.  Although I still love it, I think it's about time to replace my aging cover, which is white with black grosgrain trim by Kate Spade. I love white bed linens, but I have a hard time keeping them bright and fresh.  (I would love some tips!)

To add some interest into our room, I really want a graphic print that is neither too feminine or too masculine.  Since our furniture is mostly mid-century, I want the bedding to have a young and modern appeal, so our bedroom doesn't begin to look like what my boyfriend refers to as a "grandma's room."

Since the duvet cover could be a pricey investment, I plan on choosing neutral hues that could still work if we move, buy new accessories, or feel like repainting.  The duvet can act as the canvas, and I will bring in punches of color and lots of texture by mixing in different shams, throw pillows, and possibly a folded quilt.  Here are some duvets I think fit the bill:

three sheets 2 the wind Rosette Duvet Cover and Shams

Unison Tatami in Taupe Duvet Cover and Shams

Dwell Studio Sketch Duvet Set

West Elm Organic Seedling Duvet and Shams

Gray Crazed

We decided to finally paint the bedroom after living in our apartment for over a year.  This wasn't the first attempt...I had originally settled on a warm tan that I thought was going to create a cozy retreat, but when I sampled it on the wall it appeared way too fleshy in our dark room. Think: Barbie doll colored. Yuck!

            

Benjamin Moore Smoke Embers 1466

 As much as I was reluctant to do it, I choose my third shade of gray to complete our apartment's palette, Ben Moore's Smoke Embers, and it looks great. (will post pictures soon!)  I am just so addicted!  There are so many directions you can go with gray; cool and silvery, warm and ashy, bluish, or taupe. It is truly endless. It was introduced as the new neutral in fashion a couple of years ago, but I think it is the most universal, and here to stay. It works with every style for any room and in combination with every hue. Check out this list of designer's favorite gray paint colors from House Beautiful that I keep in my permanent file. Here are some tasty pictures of vibrating colors paired with trusty gray walls for your color inspiration:

via decorpad

via lovehome

via Escapde

by Ron Marvin via decorpad

A stand-alone sconce

I have been searching high and low for a great sconce for my client's dining room wall.  Wall lighting can add another layer of ambient light to your space and also double as an interesting accessory, adding visual interest.  Typically installed in pairs flanking a mirror, doorway, or painting, one single sconce can look great in the right place.

Here are some amazing sconces I have been drooling over:

I love this industrial two-armed sconce by designer Thomas O'Brien

A single long panel sconce would look amazing on a narrow wall

I would install this to add a feminine and whimsical touch to a bedroom or foyer 

This carved wood sconce would add just a bit of diffused light and a lot of texture to a room

Well-Traveled Client

I want to share an update on the Hoboken apartment I am working on.  We recently installed the silver leafed chest I featured on a previous post about metallic furniture, and it looks even better than I hoped!  The clients have a worldly and eclectic aesthetic fueled by their travels, such as their African Safari honeymoon.  I tried to incorporate their passion when presenting them with furniture and accessory options.  While looking for a mirror for above the chest, I stumbled upon this beautiful piece from Made Goods.  The wood was originally a mold for cast marble window screens in India, and was backed with mirror and repurposed as a breathtaking work of art!

Baladi Mirror

The combination of materials and the scale of the mirror worked well over the chest.  I added a few inexpensive accessories from HomeGoods with a pop of turquoise for color.  I am so excited to complete the rest of the space!