KOHLER Colour Sinks Featuring Jonathan Adler

Have you seen the new colourful sinks designed by Jonathan Adler for Kohler? They're proof that a little colour can go a long way. Once I saw these beauties, I was instantly in love. Like the images above, I love the look of an all white kitchen with one of these sinks on prime display. With four fabulous colours to chose from, I found it difficult to pick my favourite. But true to my love of green, the "Greenwich Green" tone won me over {although I am a big fan of blue, especially the "Annapolis Navy" hue}. The sinks come in three different sink styles: Iron/Tones, Whitehaven {my personal favourite} and Riverby. What do you think of these sinks and which colour is your favourite? Happy Tuesday!

Image source ~ Kohler; Video source ~ Lonny Magazine

{Colour Inspiration} Blue So Good ... It's "Royal"

 Images {from Top to Bottom} ~ Style at Home: living room // Greg Scheidemann: lacquer dresser // Jupiter images: table // Emily Henderson: living room

I love blue. In fact, blue is one of my favourite colours (especially to wear; it's one of the best colours against my pale complexion and dark-blonde locks). I've always wondered: what makes this shade of blue good enough to be royal? Maybe the dark, more "royal" shades represent fame, wealth and fortune? Whatever the case may be, incorporating a royal blue colour palette into your space is quite simple. Even if you don't want it to look as if a royal blue bomb has exploded in your home or apartment, you can add royal blue subtly (and it still makes a big impact). A royal blue feature wall would be divine, as depicted in the image by Greg Scheidemann which features a beautiful lacquer dresser. I love the combination of royal blue, green, white and mirror. Or how about painting the bottom of the kitchen table a royal blue tone? Top it off with royal blue accents and accessories on the table. It's definitely a conversation piece and will turn that ordinary table into something extraordinary. What are your thoughts on royal blue? Happy Wednesday, gang!

Living in Colour

 Images from Vogue Living Australia

Those who devour Vogue Magazine monthly should check out their design-focused counterpart, Vogue Living {Australia}. The chic, sophisticated and high-gloss look of the Vogue brand effortlessly bleeds over to the pages of the home decor sister publication. Today I was inspired by colour. What I liked about these images is their cohesive theme: white backgrounds with pops of colour in the foreground; just enough to heighten the senses and invigorate the spirit without being too powerful. Lately, I've been noticing the trend of draping clothes over artwork or furnishings. In this case, a 60s mod-inspired dress is draped over a lighting fixture that's placed directly underneath the stairwell. It's unique thinking like this that makes me smile, maybe because it tells a story of the person who lives there. Don't forget about the fresh flowers to add a little bit of the beautiful outdoors indoors. One of my favourite things in these images is the yellow rotary style phone. What's yours? Happy Monday, gang!

Take Your Pick ~ Style at Home Colour Collections With Beauti Tone {Townhouse & Loft}

Townhouse or Loft: which one is your favourite? {This is going to be my last installment featuring Style at Home's colour collection with Beauti-Tone paints.} Are you in favor of the soft neutrals mixed with cheeky accents like the townhouse look? I'm a big fan of how the wooden furniture blends in naturally with the colour scheme. Watermelon would be the perfect accent colour to add a little pop to the space. Or are you a loft lover? Perhaps you're a modernist or traditionalist who always likes to stay on trend. The mix of deep greys, pale blues and pure whites are the perfect match for a city slicker like you.

Did you catch the other collections?

Cottage vs. Farmhouse

Romance vs. Manor

Exotic vs. Fresh

I hope you enjoyed these collections as much as I did. I would love to hear your comments. Have a Happy Thursday!

Take Your Pick ~ Style at Home Colour Collections With Beauti Tone {Manor & Romance}

Happy Easter Monday! I hope that you all had a relaxing and enjoyable weekend and are having an equally exciting Monday. Did you check out my Easter inspiration yet? (including Pantone Easter eggs and decorations made from paint chips!) For a relaxing Monday, I leave you with another installment of "Take Your Pick: Style at Home Colour Collections with Beauti-Tone". Now for more daring collections. Do you prefer the rich, sophisticated, and ultra-European tones of Manor? What I like about the colour combinations is that they can be as equally effective in an expensive manor or in a decked-out frat pad. I love the combination of navy blue and yellow. Plus the addition of brown hues - from Moccasin and Cableknit - break up the bold colours nicely. Or are you a romance junkie (perhaps you're obsessed with purple)?  If so, you'll adore the moody mauve colours that blend with antique grey tones. Purple is the colour to pick if you want a sensual and moody colour that's not too abrasive. With names like amethyst, light cashmere and plum, how can you go wrong!?

Two bold colour palettes, one choice. Take your pick. Which one "grabs your fancy"? Also, be sure to check out the other Style at Home colour palettes I've featured, including: farmhouse, cottage, fresh and exotic.

Take Your Pick ~ Colour Palettes: Fresh or Exotic

Take your pick of Style at Home & Beauti-Tone Paints colour collection. Fresh or exotic. Which one is more you? The Fresh look includes bright and cheerful colours, perfect for Spring (and also perfect for Easter which is right around the corner!) I'm loving the mix of blue tones - pool and pale sky - with the blend of green and pale yellow tones - granny smith and wasabi. Jet is perfect for a bold colour pop that 'chops up the cheerful' in the space while still being complementary to the theme. Let's say that it adds some "fresh drama". My favourite colour in the Exotic theme is the burnt orange nomad. I'm also partial to the pale grey elephant tone and adore how it's paired up with the almost porcelain shade of tusk. How cheeky! Using a deep blue like Mediterranean paired with the playful orange of nomad creates a sophisticated, wordy look that is daring and unexpected. Which palette is your favourite?

Also, be sure to check out farmhouse vs. cottage! 

Take Your Pick of H&M Home Spring 2012 Collection ~ Bedding & Duvets

H&M Home makes me wish that I was a Brit. (Oh well, there's always online shopping!) Not only does the brand excel internationally at affordable and trendy fashion, but they continue that reputation in the design world as well. I'm in serious need of new bedding for the changing season. Right now I have about six blankets on my bed. (Welcome to Canada, eh.) What else in your room makes a statement quite like your bedding. Is it soft and luxurious? Romantic and sexy? Bright and colourful? Funky patterned? One solid colour? Getting your room ready for Spring is as easy as changing your bedding. It doesn't have to be expensive; H&M Home makes it affordable and fun. Check out these 6 different bedding styles from H&M Home's Spring 2012 collection. Which one is your favourite? I can't decide between the bottom two. I love the romantic and earthy quality of the greyish bedding but enjoy the playful and androgynous blue-and-white bedding (plus I'm a sucker for blue!)

Take Your Pick ~ Style at Home Colour Collections With Beauti-Tone

Beauti-Tone paints has teamed up with Style at Home magazine & Home Hardware to create a colour collection that will make your mouth water. I'm extremely impressed by the colour selections and even more impressed by the style guides they give you. If you're an interior design novice, Beauti-Tone gives you paint suggestions to match up the look that you're trying to achieve so there's little room for error. And when starting a big paint project, that's music to anyone's ears. Although I love every collection, two stand-outs for me are the cottage and farmhouse series. I'm drooling over the paint colour lighthouse and agree that it would make for the perfect look-at-me door colour. And you all know I adore green, so I cannot help but gravitate toward viburnum (and I'm loving how it looks combined with the black and grey tones). So take your pick: which series is your favourite? Are you gaga over the relaxed yet cheerful cottage colour palette? Or does the soft whites, spring green, and contemporary country farmhouse style scream you?

Lamps That "Rock" ~ Incorporating Crystals Into Your Design Scheme

 1 ~ 2 ~ 3 ~ 4

I guess I'm what you call a modern-day hippie. So imagine my excitement when I came across these natural and beautiful rock crystal table lamps. Usually I wear crystals around my neck (on a chain) for protection but I've discussed using rocks - such as amethyst and malachite - for design purposes. I truly believe in the addition of these magical gems into your design scheme. Not only are they absolutely beautiful to the eye but they are also healing for the spirit. For example, calcite increases and amplifies energy. Amethyst is used for relieving stress, balancing mood swings and dispelling anger, fear or anxiety. Quartz - known as the "universal stone" - is the most recognized type of stone and comes in many forms. One of my favourites is rose quartz, which is the love stone. It's easy to create a modern flare to your rock crystal lamp by adding in a funky lampshade or an eye-catching base. My favourite is the clear Lucite base on the honeycomb coloured calcite lamp. Which lamp is your favourite?

Sunday {Colour} Inspiration + My Week in Review

Moody colour palettes have their own unique beauty. And did you know that black & white are two of the most emotive visuals in nature? There's something about how these two polar opposites come together. White, often a symbol of purity, brightness and natural innocence combats the dark and authoritative black. I just love how expressive the colours can be without being too audacious. The image on the left is from Elle Decor's March 2012 issue whereas the image on the right was shot by Mikkel Vang for Vogue Living Australia. Which one is your favourite?

This is what I was up to this week:

The perfect Spring DIY that will cost under $50 and take you only 5 minutes! 

I'm currently head-over-heals for Lana Del Ray.

I was under rug swept by Christian Lacroix's tempest rug.

The fine linens from La cerise sur le gateau were just too cute for words (but I managed to say something anyway).

I visited Toronto's Allan Gardens and got some flower power inspiration.

I was inspired by the colour and detail of Tom Antil's Vancouver impressions collection.

~ Happy Sunday!

Things That I Love ~ Christian Lacroix Tempest Rug

Why I love this piece: Fashion designer Christian Lacroix brings the energy of his unmatched colour style to home furnishings with this beautiful tempest rug. Even though the pattern and idea is really simple, this rug is a stand-out item for me because of it's other-worldly quality. When I look at it, I can see landscapes and nature; the soft curves of a hilltop and the bright, glowing hues of a sunset. It's almost like a piece of art under your feet. And who would want to be "under rug swept" in beauty?
 

A City Chic Colour Palette

How do you know if you're "city chic"? For one thing, the city lives in your -- wherever you go. Regardless of whether your live downtown or in the suburbs, the city is never far from your heart. Your style of decor favors crisp lines and sleek accessories. You're crazy about fashion magazines, design blogs, and maybe you've slept with the latest issue of Vogue once or twice. You're not afraid of colour but prefer tones like black, white and grey (which are always in style and never lose their appeal). You're not afraid of animal prints or eccentric art. Tip: Throw in a bold colour, like Benjamin Moore's Margarita, in with your staple hues. Other bright and bold colour suggestions include magenta, teal, Pantone's Tangerine Tango -- anything with an extra twist. What do you think of this colour palette?

Pantone Colour Blast from Griottes

Source: Griottes 

Have you seen these? They were too cute, adorable and creative not to highlight! These Pantone colour tarts were crafted by Griottes, the wildly imaginative company that are masters at culinary art. Maybe it has something to do with their French roots -- because you know how the French love their cuisine (and like to eat!) How cute is it that they matched the colours with the food -- and even incorporated watercolor paint samples as an added touch! I can't decide whether to pick my favourite based on the colour choice or on the yummiest food. Also, a shout-out to the quirky cutlery. Which Pantone colour do you want to gobble up right now? I'm going for 2915-C (the blue) although the cotton candy pink looks heavenly!

Mellow Yellow Inspiration

Mmm. I love yellow. What colour is as bright, cheerful and friendly as yellow is? Plus the overall inspiration for yellow is the Sun, our life source. Which makes me think of sunny skies, warm beaches and all that summery-good-stuff. Yellow is a powerful colour because it has such a magnetic presence. It stands out and grabs your attention (but not in a bold or ostentatious way like red or black could). This "mellow yellow" inspiration all has a modern-meets-vintage twist to it. Some of my favourite pieces include the painted yellow fireplace. How cute is it that the owners actually crafted the inside to look like an actual active fireplace and even placed little logs in front! That yellow sofa is to die for -- think of the assortment and variety of throw pillows you could pair with it. Finally, the kitchen caught my eye because of its use of bold and eclectic accessories. Check out the back-splash! And the vintage toaster and opulent chandelier are totally cool. Which yellow piece is your favourite?

Sunday {Chair} Inspiration + My Week in Review

Last night I had to "Spring forward" and set my clock ahead one hour. That may be one of the only downsides to Spring. This morning I woke up to a sunny, bright, cheerful, and absolutely gorgeous day (which I'm still gushing over!) I've always been fascinated by the weather and it's days like today which make me understand why. So it's not surprising that I felt inspired by this bold, colourful CB2 Parlour Chair when I first saw it. Look at the magnificent blend of colours: swoon, orange, chartreuse, storm and white radiate off-center in an eye-catching way. I'm partial to the idea of building your design around a strikingly patterned statement piece like this one. In fact, this Parlour Bold Chair can single-highhandedly set off a contemporary tone and colour scheme, ignite your imagination and cause some serious flowing of the inspiration gears. This piece looks striking at all angles...and I love how the barrel arms gently curve and the back of the chair is tapered nicely. Isn't this the perfect design accessory for spring and summer? 

Monday ~ Diane von Furstenburg's rooftop apartment was this week's inspirational space

Tuesday ~ Delightful dinnerware options

Wednesday ~ Discovered Colorstrology ... did you find out what your colour was yet?

Thursday ~ Yearnin' for Navajo prints

Friday ~ I was inspired by Iacoli & McAllister's modern lighting (especially the Spica light!)

Saturday ~ 6 things I currently love from Restoration Hardware

Happy Sunday, gang!

2012 Trend ~ Navajo Prints

One of my (many) favourite design trends for 2012 are Navajo prints. This Southwestern style is "bucking its head" again, showing up this year in rugs, throw pillows and other accessories. But don't fret! Those who lived through the Navajo trend the first time around shouldn't worry because this year it's all about mixing these prints with other patterns. For example, a Navajo pattern would look awesome paired with an Ikat pattern, especially if both are in bold and bright colours. As a Canadian, I love anything that adds a rich North American flavour to a space. These prints are rich with history and culture. They remind me of a rustic cabin or a glorious teepee. And what's great about this season is that I've seen them around in unexpected look-at-me colours. So you want a Navajo print in fuchsia, you say? It could happen (and would probably look spectacular to boot!) 

Who can resists these Navajo patterned chairs by Anthropologie. (That's a statement, by the way, not a question.) I tried to pick my favourite ones and failed -- although I must admit that I'm a bit partial to the bottom two. Ralph Lauren's Indian Cove Lodge Collection blends Navajo prints with interesting gold furniture, checkered patterns, and believe it or not -- leopard print! But it all works brilliantly together. I'm not a big fan of wood-paneled walls (retro '70s but not in a good way) but this collection is making me re-think that! I'm definitely coveting a Navajo throw! 

What's your favourite thing about Navajo prints and which piece is your favourite?

Colorstrology ~ What's Your Color?

"Color is a reflection of the suns light in all it's glory and you are a shimmering facet in that light.

Just as being born on a certain day under a particular sun sign offers insights into your personality,

there is also a personal colour that corresponds to the real you. Imagine a colour that could complement your innermost nature and activate the vibrations of light to enhance your world."

  

I may be late getting on this bandwagon, but have you heard of Pantone's "Colorstrology"? The idea behind it is that there's a particular hue that corresponds to the real you. So now, along with asking, "What sign are you?" the next question to ask will be, "What colour are you?" As an astrology fan, I think this idea is creative, clever and boisterous -- not to mention a good marketing tactic on Pantone's part (although they're pretty good at making colour personalized i.e. the Colour of the Year campaign). And even if you don't believe in astrology or "colorstrology", it's still a fun and cheeky thing to do with friends. Aren't you the least bit curious? I was, and so I tested it out for myself! The hue that corresponds with my birth month, September, is baja blue. My personal colour, however, is jadesheen (both colours are shown below). So I read the description associated with jadesheen and it was eerily accurate. Plus green is one of my favourite tones and jadesheen happens to be in the green colour family. The three colour words used to describe me are: unusual, creative and leader. No complaints here!

What colour are you? How do you think this corresponds with your innermost self? I'd love to hear your responses!

Inspirational Homes: Diane Von Furstenberg

I've often been fascinated by designer Diane Von Furstenberg. Maybe it's due to her exotic flare or the fact that she talks with a rich and luscious accent. Words seem to roll off her tongue. Not only does she a successful designer - noted for her wrap dress among other designs - she's also the president of the Council of Fashion Designers of America. Drenched in fashion and design inspiration, creativity (...OK, the works!) don't you often wonder how these people live? What their homes look like or what inspires them? Here's a peak into Diane's living space in NYC's Meat Packing District.

(Below) Diane's office and living area is versatile with the table doing overtime working as a desk and a dining table. I adore these Franz West chairs that add a pop of colour and show off a funky pattern. Also, a big thumbs up to the Émile-Jacques Ruhlmann table which is fit for a Queen.

(Below) Ah, such is the life. Sitting at your cozy breakfast table, looking outside a the spectacular NYC view and admiring the original Andy Warhol painting -- of your own face!

 (Above) How gorgeous is this bed? I love the East-meets-West flare to this space. There's an open quality to this space that is almost set like but still maintains a cozy and personalized element to it.

 Images via Architectural Digest. March 2012 issue.

Designer Spolight: Amie Corley

Where I live, February went "out like a lion" - or so the expression goes - and March decided to follow suit. Today, the other famous saying, "March winds, April showers bring forth May flowers" was also ringing in my head because it was so windy (it even merited a wind warning where I live). So this grey, windy Saturday, I was thinking of a bright and happy place. It took me all the day down south to a turn-of-the-century home in St. Louis where these designs by Amie Corley really fit the bill. I love how Ann's designs are modern but true to the historic integrity of the home. What Amie's designs inspire me to do is use more colour and not be afraid to use patterns -- and lots of them! OK. Noted. These bright, bold and multi purpose spaces are great inspiration for the cloudy weekend. Some design ideas that really got my juices flowing were the symmetry in the bathroom, the wallpaper and paint colours that are very functional (and can be used in almost any room of the house) and the antique mixed with modern furnishings in bright and playful colours. What are your favourite things about these spaces?

Colour + Object: Power Doors

Make a strong curbside statement with any of these colour + object pairings for the perfect door:

1. A classic look can be easily achieved with Gidden's Rich Navy (GLB25) paired with Restoration Hardware's Large Plate Door Knocker ($35-$50).

2. Pairing Valspar's Bright Parrot (6011-7) with Michael Healy's Pinecoon Door Knocker in Oiled Bronze ($120) makes for charming and eye-catching door with a little nature flare. 

3. For a door that screams look-at-me, Pratt & Lambert Paints' Patent Yellow (12-10) would look funky paired with Heath Ceramics' Eames House Numbers ($38 each).

Other Inspirational Doors:

(Below) This purple door makes a pop against the rather mellow (but beautiful) brickwork. The purple colour is a nice choice because it contrasts the door's rather antique style details and windowpanes. 

(Below) This pink door is fresh, fun and flirty. I chose this particular image because I liked the yellow pop from the windowpane directly above the door. The yellow and pink tones blend harmoniously together, almost as if the door is giving you a cheerful smile.

(Below) Wow! This door isn't just colourful -- it's a work of art! Plus the door looks as beautiful on the inside as it does on the outside. Check out the cubes of colour cascading down the entryway.

 (Above & Below). These doors painted two different hues of aqua really bring personality to an otherwise bland exterior. The blue is warm and inviting without distracting too much from the other elements around it. (Below) Check out that two-toned door. It's magnificent! I love how the colours blend together in a work of art (the aqua looking like the side and the green looking like fields and grass).

(Above) There's something about this blue weathered door that looks effortlessly chic. Even though the paint seems to be chipping away, it give it that extra j-ne-sais-quoi to the space.