Hot Colors for Summer Decor

Blush

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Blush continues to be one of the hottest colors in both fashion as well as home decor! It has even been coined the new neutral in women’s fashion. This color is great to use in small accents here and there. Overusing this color can result in an overly feminine space (which may be exactly what you are going for) but if you are wanting to stay a little more neutral, pops of this pretty hue can go a long way! 

luluandgeorgia.com

Warm White

theharperhouse.com

Warm white is another color that is going strong in the home decor world. White will always be a classic neutral that makes for a great base in any space. Warm white simply means a white with a warmer undertone like yellow as opposed to a cool white with a blue undertone for example. Going with this warmer shade keeps the space from feeling too stark or cold. 

bluedoorlivingblog.com

Denim Blue 

pufikhomes.com

Blues can range from the lightest powder blue all the way to the darkest navy. Denim blue is one we are seeing a lot of recently and will continue to be a hot color going into Summer. Its cool and soft shades can add a sense of peace and calm to any space. Another great thing about this color is it pairs beautifully with a huge range of colors which makes it easy to work into any space!

jessicagordonryan.com

Fashion Week Follow-up - Fashion Trends that Tie-in with Décor Trends.

With fashion week just wrapping up, we were inspired to talk about how fashion trends tie in with decor trends. Since home decor trends tend to stick around a bit longer than fashion trends, we are going to look back at Fall 2016 Fashion Week and show how some trends have crossed over into decor!

Velvet

elle.com

One of the trends we saw on the Fall 2016 Fashion Week runways was velvet. This is a fabric that comes and goes from fashion and decor trends constantly. It is back and better than ever in decor, especially in bright a bold hues like this Jonathan Adler chair shown here. 

apt.shopstyle.com

Sparkle and Shine

elle.com

Sparkly and shiny pieces were also seen all over the runway. This is a fun trend that has crossed over into the home decor world and is certainly best in small or subtle doses. Below is a photo of how shiny metallic tiles were used as an accent wall in this bathroom to create an iridescent statement!

digsdigs.com

Metal Details

elle.com

Metal accents and small details were another trend we saw throughout the 2016 Fashion Week. Metal details are used in decor all of the time to add a different texture in with all of the expected soft fabrics. Metal pieces like trays, candle holders, vases, and other accessories are all great ways to work in this gorgeous trend.

thecreativityexchange.com

Faux Fur

elle.com

Lastly, faux fur was seen, especially in the form of cross body pieces in 2016. Faux fur is such a fun and luxurious trend that can be easily worked into your decor. Pillows, throws, and rugs are some of the most obvious pieces where you can get this soft and cozy trend in. One of the most popular ways to add faux fur to a space right now is by placing a small white faux fur rug onto an accent chair for an added layer of style as well as comfort!

instyle-decor.com

Winter Reno - Timeless Paint Colors for Kitchens, Bedrooms and Living rooms

Kitchen

sherwinwilliams.com

If you are looking for a timeless paint color for you kitchen a soft green is great way to go. Green  is perfect for a kitchen because of its natural and earthy connotations. Who doesn't want to walk into their kitchen and think “fresh” or “clean”? The reason we specify a “soft green” in this case is so that the color does not overwhelm the space. This is also what keeps the color timeless because fads of bold and bright my come and go but a soft and muted hue will stand the test of time. One of our favorites is Filmy Green from Sherwin Williams

Polka Dots & Rosebuds Interiors

Bedroom

sherwinwilliams.com

When it comes to paint colors for the bedroom, think soft and warm. You don't want your bedroom to have a cold feeling at all because it should feel like your oasis and most comfortable place in the house. Choosing a nice beige for your bedroom is a classic choice as long as you stay away from anything too bland or dry, otherwise known as “builder beiges”. One great color we like to use for this is Balanced Beige by Sherwin Williams. You don't have to worry about this going out of style or being a fading trend because it is truly a classic look.

forcreativejuice.com

Living Room

sherwinwilliams.com

Although gray paint colors are HUGE right now, a safer choice in terms of staying power would be a greige paint color (gray and beige combined). This combines the popularity and on trend gray with the classic and timeless beige. What a perfect combo! This color can really work well in any room of the house, especially if you have an open concept floor plan where many rooms are open to one another. A great go-to greige is Amazing Gray from Sherwin Williams.

Polka Dots & Rosebuds Interiors

School is Almost Out! How to Organize Children’s Rooms for Summer Fun

Labeled Storage

Storage is key when it comes to keeping children’s rooms organized and functional while still staying fun and accessible. One of the best ways to best utilize storage is with labeled bins. For the little ones who can’t read yet, pictures of what should go inside the bins will do the trick! Try and make clear categories like blocks, books, cars, dolls, games etc. 

kirklands.com

thesunnysideupblog.com

Create Defined Areas

Creating defined spaces is another great way to organize your child’s room for fun. Books are a huge part of many children’s rooms. Create a reading corner by putting a comfy chair or floor pillows near a bookshelf so it is clear what area you are defining. You can repeat this process with the other areas like toys, art, and games. 

bloglovin.com

sophieandmillie.com

Display their Art

One of the most fun ways to get your child involved with the decor that goes up in their room is by creating a display area for their artwork. It is important to make this area easily accessible for your kiddo to reach. It is also important to make this an interchangeable display. This can be accomplished by using things clipboards or clothespins to hold the art up with!

cravingsomecreativitiy.com

thediymommy.com

For more ideas on how to organize children's rooms, check out this week's video here

>> http://bit.ly/1qmamvu

How to Decorate with Horse-themed Items

With Derby being right around the corner, we were inspired to give some tips on decorating with horse-themed items in your home. If you are local, then you know how important horse culture is to the beautiful state of Kentucky. It is always good to choose art and decor that means something to you or speaks to where you come from. You want to make sure not to overdo the amount of horse-themed pieces in your home because it can easily go from being tasteful to being kitschy. Below we have shown some fantastic examples of how to incorporate equine art throughout your space without feeling to “theme” like.

Polka Dots & Rosebuds Interiors

Polka Dots & Rosebuds Interiors

blog.thenest.com

settingforfour.com

For more ideas on decorating with horse themed pieces check out this week's video here >> http://bit.ly/1Y3Ig2X

Is it Spring Yet? Our Favorite Decor Trends for Spring

Black + White 

blog.inmod.com

Black and white is a major trend happening in interiors right now. It is such a classic color combination and it allows you to have endless possibilities for accent colors. Whether you want to feminize it with pops of pink, or go bold with pops or orange, there is no end to how you can alter this trend to fit your personal style. A good ting to keep in mind is to try and use more white than black in your design so you don't darken your space too much. 

brit.com

Large Scale Prints

Polka Dots and Rosebuds Interiors

Large scale patterns and prints are another big trend going on in home decor this Spring. Gone are the days of teeny tiny patterns that you have to squint to be able make out what they are. Bold is beautiful for interiors and that is apparent in this trend. Area rugs, curtains, wallpaper, and throw pillows are all good examples of where you can incorporate these large scale patterns.

southshoredecoratingblog.com

Pastels 

apartmenttherapy.com

Finally, pastels are another fun trend happening in interiors this Spring. Pastels are great because they can be very versatile in what you can pair them with. Whether you choose pastels for your front door paint color, or in your artwork like these examples show, it is hard to mess it up. Pastels can be beautiful when paired with crisp whites or even deep, rich hues as well. 

apartmenttherapy.com

Click the link below to hear a tip on welcoming Spring into your home!

http://bit.ly/1U398kb

Fashion Week Follow-up - Fashion Trends that Incorporate with Decor

With Mercedes Benz Fashion Week just wrapping up, it got us thinking about how some fashion trends cross over into home decor. While they just presented Fall 2016 last week, lets take a look back at Spring 2016 since that is what we are currently seeing on the shelves. Here are three trends we saw on the Spring 2016 runways that are happening in home decor as well!

70’s Inspired  

elle.com

70’s inspired looks were seen all over the Spring 2016 runways. Rebecca Minkoff and Alberta Ferratti were two designers who were influenced by this decade for their Spring lines. This trend is without a doubt going on in home decor as well. Retro inspired pieces can be seen all over sites like West Elm and Crate and Barrel among many others.

newdarlings.com

Fringe

elle.com

Fringe is one of those embellishments that will always be in style in different forms. There is something so classic about fringe in home decor as well as in fashion. Derek Lam and Diane Von Furstenberg both had looks that featured fringe in their Spring 2016 shows along with many other featured designers.

ralphlauren.com

Bold Orange Hues

elle.com

Countless designers featured bold orange hues in their Spring lines. Altuzarra and Veronica Beard both showed pieces in this in-your-face color. Bold orange hues are huge in home decor right now as well. Although it can be a very delicate balance, when done right, orange can be stunning in home decor. It looks especially beautiful when used as an accent color and paired with its compliment, blue. 

decoist.com

Click the link below for tips on incorporating trendy pieces into your home decor!

http://bit.ly/1Tl863v

Earth Day Continued

If one day a year doesn't fulfill your desire to be Earth-friendly, consider these products when decorating your home (or office, for that matter).

Driftwood Mirror, from Crate and Barrel

Natura from Benjamin Moore, environmentally responsible paint

Biodegradable paint tray (because let's be honest, who actually washes out and keeps their trays!)

Welcome mat made of reclaimed wood, from Crate and Barrel

Be smart about recycling.  If you are about to throw away a glass jar consider using it for a pencil holder or as a vase for the kitchen table.  In a marketplace in Mexico a few years back, I haggled with a vendor over a glass pitcher.  We finally came to an agreement and I brought the pitcher home with me. After one use the bottom broke out of it.  Since it was a clean break I glued it back on.  Feeling a little uncertain about the pitchers ability to hold water, I decided to re-purpose it as a flower pot.  Re-purposing is exciting and makes me feel inventive.  As a bonus, things don't pile up in the dumpster.

Family Home

I had the pleasure of working on a project for my friend, Allison, last year.  The challenge presented was to turn a house that once belonged to her grandparents into a home for her and her budding family.  They were moving from a good sized home in the city to a large plot of land in the country with a house that once was cutting edge but by today’s standards could be considered simple.  As you can imagine, there was a lot of sentimental attachment to all elements of the house requiring much consideration for any decisions.  Each change had to fast forward the look of the home by 50 years and be a nod to the architectural style, all while keep the family memories made there intact.  This was like Christmas to me.  So many possibilities were available.  Do we go retro to suit the age of the home? Would elegant country be more fitting due to location?  How do we blend the needs of a young family with the space available in the house? My mind was reeling with ideas.  After weeks of various discussions, a plan was formed.  With the skill of many talented carpenters the space took on a new life.  Some of my favorite features include: 

                                                          (bottom photo is before update)
The tall cabinets in the kitchen.  No need to replace something that has good bones and can be updated with just a little paint, some nice hardware and beautiful countertops. (left photo is before, right is after)

                                                                               (bottom photo is before update)
The oversized family room that affords plenty of space for seating guests to watch TV and converse while the play area behind the sofa offers an easy solution to keeping an eye on their son.

 

Each furniture piece in the house has a story.  What I realized during the project was that this house and it’s contents were influential in shaping Allison’s personal style through the years.  She and her family couldn’t fit more perfectly in their new home.    

 

While I had a very small hand in the process, I felt so honored to be consulted and to help guide them toward what they have now.  When Allison shared photos of the home through her blog, she wrote, “Although I wanted to update things, my heart was a little heavy. What I kept remembering, though, was that both of them would have wanted us to give the house new life. Each time I was there, I could feel my Papa smiling down on us, loving the fact that we were making our mark on a place he loved. I only hope that while we are here, we can honor the memory of Mama and Papa and live a life of which they would be proud.”

Colors and fabrics excite me but words like that are what drives me.