ODE TO BLUE - EASY WAYS TO ADD BLUE TO YOUR DECOR

NOT JUST ANY BLUE... 

I'm talking about the 

DARK, ELOQUENT BLUES

LIKE THE BLUE OF

THE NIGHT SKY...

 OF THE DEEPEST, SOFTEST SHADOWS OF MIDNIGHT...

OF THE INFINITE SPACE 

OR THE DEEP BLUE SEA

OF COBALT, INDIGO AND NAVY 

 RICH

NAUTICAL

COMFORTABLE

PATRIOTIC

BEAUTIFUL

ANCIENT

BEACHY

In your home it

ANCHORS A ROOM

ADDS DEPTH 

FORMALITY

DRAMA...

ITS A PERFECT NEUTRAL

ITS LIVEABLE 

  AND IT FITS RIGHT IN 

WITH COMFY AND CASUAL

LIKE BLUE JEANS...

KIDS LIKE IT, TOO

If you, like me, love blue...

and want to add it to your home's color palette...

  START SMALL 

 with an accent or two...

 BRING TOUCHES IN 

WITH  FABRICS

OR A RUG

OR YOU CAN GO BIG

AND IMMERSE YOURSELF IN COLOR

NO TIPTOE-ING AROUND

 Good luck!

*******************************************************

 QUESTION FROM A READER:

Claudine,

I have just discovered your blog and I have spent the last few weekends going through your previous posts..love it!!  I need your help with selecting a paint color for my living room and dining room which are open to each other. Both are fairly open to the kitchen (can see both from kitchen with double width entries to both). With the help of another color consultant several years ago I selected BM mellowed Ivory for the kitchen walls, BM River Gorge Gray for my cabinets and BM timid white trim. 

Benjamin Moore - MELLOWED IVORY

Benjamin Moore - RIVER GORGE GRAY

She had advised that I paint the dining room area (3 walls) BM Timothy Straw and the Living Room Mellowed Ivory as well. 

Benjamin Moore TIMOTHY STRAW

The color were based upon the upholstery fabric in the living room. 

I like the cabinet color and pleased with the mellowed ivory for the most part (certain light it can be bit much) but I don't think I would care for it in the living room. I will probably purchase new furniture within the next few years so don't want to base my selection on the furniture (images attached ) but don't want it to look off either. Current floors will be replaced - will probably go with a walnut stain wood. Is there a neutral in the gray tones that would work? If not, open to any other suggestions. Note that we get quite a bit of morning/afternoon light. I appreciate any advise you can provide. Thanks, Cindy

Hi Cindy,

I think a nice neutral gray is exactly right for your color scheme.  Try a few of these colors out in your home and see what looks best.  I think you will really like the cooler tones with the upholstery you currently have.  And they are neutral - so will probably look as nice with furniture of the future as with the furniture you currently have.

Northern Cliffs (Benjamin Moore)

Seattle Mist (Benjamin Moore)

Silver Mist BM

BM Beach Glass

BM Smoke

Good Luck!

SMALL WORLD - DIY TERRARIUMS

BIG IMPACT...



I have lately been exploring the world of the terrarium - 

It would be the perfect thing to put near my kitchen window.

They bring nature and the garden right to your face - and they are beautiful!

First I wanted to know if I could keep them alive...

I'm the Great Houseplant Killer in my family...

Don't leave one in my care.  

Ever.

Refinery 29

They do seem easy to care for, requiring only sporadic, minimal water 

as they create their own little microclimate in their container

and the glass (especially if it has a lid) creates a greenhouse effect.

Pinterest

They need bright indirect light, but not direct sunlight as that, combined with the glass container, 

would fry them quickly.

Flickr

My kitchen window looks out onto a covered patio - no direct sun - the perfect spot.

Instructables

I have plenty of glass containers to try, but not all have lids, 

and a lid seems to allow more control of the terrarium environment.

weegreenspot

If the glass fogs up a little and there is too much moisture - 

Flickr

removing the lid for a minute or two can correct it.  

Centro Garden

Put it back on when the fog is gone and it prevents further evaporation 

making it possible to go for long periods without adding moisture.

Then I saw these solutions for containers without lids...

Flickr

Glass orb... great idea!

Zest it Up

wooden disk with a knob -

problem solved!

Better Homes and Gardens

Here's a link from Better Homes and Gardens on how to make them 

and a tutorial from Martha Stewart...if you'd like to join me in this experiment. 

For more beautiful inspiration, here's a link to my Pinterest board Terrariums and Topiaries.

If you have tried these small world gardens with success, I would love to hear about it!

QUESTION FROM A READER

Hi there,

I have oak kitchen cabinets in a kitchen/ dining room in one.  The dining room table and hutch are oak as well.  I need a suggestion for a paint colour to bring out the set.  The oak isn't really light, yet not too dark.  I have lots of light coming in from dining area.  Can you suggest a colour for the walls and drapery?  It is painted a sage green and I would like to make a change.  The trim is white and I want to leave the trim the same  ( counter top has different brown in it)  I look forward to hearing from you



Regards,

Carol | 



Hi Carol,



To bring out a warm color - go the polar opposite.  Try a cool gray toned color.  For example, the opposite on the color wheel to red, is green.  The opposite of orange, is blue.  The opposite of yellow, is purple.  Red, orange and yellow are warm colors, and their opposites, or the colors that bring out their best, are cool colors (green, blue and purple).  You have lived with green for a while and want a change, so I would try a gray with a blue or purple undertone to bring out the warm tones of your wood.  



You can go gray and try these with a blue or purple undertone.

BM Abalone (Purple)

BM Pebble Beach (Blue)

BM Rockport Gray (smidge of Purple)

BM Eternity (Blue)

BM Sandlot Gray (Purple)

BM Wet Concrete (Purple)

Or you can go color and try these with a gray undertone.

BM Pleasant Valley

BM Slate Blue

BM Mauve Desert

BM Victorian Mauve



GOOD LUCK!