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!