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I'm Feeling BLUE

I'm feeling BLUE these days - but in a really good way.  I have always loved the color blue, and I am not alone.   It is by far the "favorite" color of both men and women, and across all age groups.  I actually love almost every shade and variation of blue...

   ice blue, baby blue, slate blue, azure, teal blue, cornflower blue, lapis lazuli, periwinkle, ultra-marine, lavender blue, twilight blue, sapphire blue, cobalt, navy blue, indigo, robin-egg blue, French blue, Capri blue, Atlantic blue, Gustavian blue, Air Force blue just to name a few...

Blue is calming, cooling, trustworthy, and aids intuition (couldn't we all use a little of that).  And besides, it is the color of my favorite flower - the Hydrangea, which reminds me of my original home, the South.

With that said, I have to admit that I have been unable to introduce blue into the interiors I have been doing with my clients in the Southwest as often as I like, until now.  Seems that mostly we have been using the desert or earth tones most often, and blue is commonly dismissed as too hard to work into the scheme.  Lately, however, my clients and I have been embracing a bit of blue into some interiors and I love it.

Living in the southwest brings an acceptance of the heat.  When mixed with the brown and gold tones, a soft blue-green or a grayed-blue can be part of a very sophisticated and soft palette that is easy to live with, and I believe, brings a cooling effect in this sunny desert.  Here's how a client and I softened and cooled off the effects of lots of gold in the main living area.

And how about this very elegant and inviting dining room of various blues mixed with crisp tans.  I would love to have dinner here.  (Photo courtesy of Veranda magazine).

Or how about a soothing place to lay your head at night with this same palette.

And, here's a little sneak peak at Gray-Blue-Taupe palette that a client and I are currently working on.  We believe it will bring just the right look of relaxed elegance to her living and dining room.  I hope to share the final results with you soon.

But, blue isn't just about cool and subtle, it can be about big, bright and bold.

No one can argue with a little red, white and blue, and it doesn't have to be about a "country" look, or the American Flag, or even "cottage".  Here's an contemporary table setting, and a very updated and dramatic living room that bow their heads to the red, white and blue.

And just maybe you really want to be bold, nothing says bold better than blue and orange.  Now stop - we're not talking about the Denver Broncos here.   Think hip and savvy and check out this room by famous designer Bunny Williams, for the Kips Bay Showhouse.

or something as timeless and southwestern as Mexican Talavera.

On the other hand, maybe  you fancy something neither cool and muted, nor especially vibrant with color.   Maybe "your" blue is like a nice crisp, clean, Navy Blue and White scheme.  Ralph Lauren has made it his signature, it's the classic color of chinese pottery, it screams summertime, and I really wish Carolyn Roehm had invited me to this luncheon (photo courtesy of House Beautiful).

Notice those hydrangeas again!!

I could go on and on, but at some point this post has to end, but think about a little blue in your color scheme.  I am betting it'll end up being a timeless favorite.

And, just in case it takes me another month to do my next post, have a wonderful Holiday Season!!

I think it may be a blue Christmas at my house!!

Color Trends

As a designer, I am often asked by clients about the current trends.  What's in, what's hot, what's not.  I honestly believe that what you love is what is in and am not a huge fan of following trends.  With that said, I am always looking to see what is the current emerging color forecast or trend in design and what's the new twist on the colors that we love.  I recently attended the Sherwin Williams ColorMix 2010, which is their forecast for coming color trends, at the Las Vegas Market and came away with verification of something that I have been seeing.

Here is one of the Sherwin-Williams ColorMix 2010 color cards they call "Rooted".  You will see in these colors in many of the design elements we are seeing now.  They are natural, rich and earthy.

Forecasters take their clues from many places.  They use the influences of their travel, architectural details and very often the world of fashion.  Now that my young daughter is addicted to "Project Runway" I am more aware of the trends in fashion than ever.  Forecasters are well aware that the

trends in the interior design world follow the fashion world.  The tribal influence of fashion was evident on the runways last year - and the design world is following.

Colors are subdued and there is a natural, organic approach to the textures and patterns.

 I am seeing the same  approach to fabrics.  Duralee Fabrics has collaborated with designer Clodagh to create a Global Passage Line, which incorporates this tribal theme as well as using sustainable and earth-friendly fabrics for the home. 

Here are a few of the fabrics that they are introducing next month.

The influence of green design and sustainability in the products that we choose is one of the most predominate trends that I see occuring in the world of interior design.  This trend influences the more subdued colors as we strive to use more earth-friendly dyes and fabrics. 

Home furnishing as well are influenced by this organic, earthy friendly trend in design.

Here are some beautiful rugs, also by Clodagh.

This influence is also seen in the architectural use of reclaimed woods in many design projects.  Not only does the use of reclaimed wood effect our environment more favorable, but the result is often a softer more subdued look in the design scheme.

There is a beautiful, soft hue to the reclaimed woods, and an organic and natural influence in these colors.  I think that makes them very easy to live with on a day to day basis.  Today we are all more interested in quality of life, and this color palette brings forth that "Home as Haven" vibe. 

My advise is not to get too hung up on the latest trend.  But here's one that's bound to be around for a while. 

Autumn State of Mind

I am blessed to live in the beautiful Southwest Desert, but people often ask if I miss the seasons.  I try not to miss them at all.  After Labor Day is over I want to feel like it's headed into Autumn, whether the temperatures are still hovering around 100 degrees or not.   It's a wonderful season with a great profusion of colors and a crispness in the air that feels like a renewal in a way.   I try to escape on weekends to the mountains as much as possible and actually feel the crispness in the air, but there are still ways to get into the spirit of things here in the Valley of the Sun. 

I like to put away all the bright colored placements and set my table with the colors of the season.  I found some great offerings at Pier One, if you need some inspiration:

A nice feathery spray.









A adorable little pinecone napkin ring

Some Pretty Glass plates in different sizes

Then onto changing out a few floral arrangement or putting up a special wreath on the door.

Here are some beautiful arrangements from Frontgate that you can order or simply use as inspiration. 

Don't forget you can always call upon your designer to have a custom piece made for you!!

Or you can simply pick up some mums at the local grocery or garden shop.

You can't change the outside climate, but you can certainly create your own season indoors.  If you really want to complete the whole aura of fall - put an apple pie in the oven (whether it's one you've made or you just grabbed it out of the frozen food section).   I hope you too can get into an Autumn State of Mind and enjoy this wonderful season. 

A Little Design Monsoon

I have a very practical approach to interior design. I believe that making a house your own is about putting your personality into your space. My idea in writing this blog is to help you achieve an environment that shows off your personality and is consistent with the way you live. Hopefully I will be able to give you ideas to inspire, validate, inform and question. Maybe I’ll just be able to give you some ideas and images to enjoy. I believe, in the end, that interior design is really about enjoying our surroundings, and therefore, our lives.

Today I was inspired by the monsoons that have visited us this week. Although they are late and sparse this year, they are always dramatic, beautiful, and fill us with wonder in their scale.
They remind me of the part of design that brings the dramatic influence in a room - the fine silk in the otherwise rustic room – the cowhide on the French-styled chair – contemporary artwork in a traditional setting - the bold splash of color in an otherwise subtle space. It should be the one thing – or possibly "the right -wrong thing" – that makes a bold statement and makes a space your own.

I usually like muted, elegant, simple spaces – but every once in a while you need a little "monsoon" to awaken your senses.