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!!