{Colour Inspiration} Crazy About Copper

My dream home would consist of many copper elements. There's something regal, elegant and magical about copper. Not only does it have healing properties - for example, if you bathed in a copper tub - but, to me, it's also very "era-decent", so to speak. It takes me back to another time and another place; for example, a castle in Great Britain during the medieval ages or a stately home in the twentieth century. I loved the forest green and copper combination in the one kitchen photographed by Elle Decor. Also, I'm very fond of copper pots, pans and other kitchen accessories on display for everyone to see. They're definitely something that doesn't need to be hidden away. What copper accessories do you love? And which image by Elle Decor is your favourite? Cheers to a beautiful weekend!

Image source ~ Elle Decor

{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!

Colour Palette Wars ~ Grey & Pink vs. Grey & Yellow {Take Your Pick!}

I love grey. It may not be the most cheerful of colours but there's something sexy and trend-forward about it. Plus I feel that grey brings forth the true essence of any colour it's paired with. Essentially, grey tones makes other hues pop and stand-out more. But what would you label grey as? Cold and unfeeling? Or how about misunderstood and versatile? I love grey paired up with just about any colour but I decided to highlight two colour choices teamed up with grey: pink and yellow. Which one is your favourite? Do you like the playful, darling pink tones that blend with grey like a delicious strawberry milkshake? Or do you prefer the yellow and grey combo where the cheerful yellow vibes compliment the darker grey?

Flower Power ~ Natural Colour Inspiration From Toronto's Allan Gardens

Photos by Robert Joseph

To celebrate the beginning of Spring, I took a leisurely stroll through Allan Gardens, Toronto's conservatory located in the downtown core. Talk about flower power! Allan Gardens, first established in 1858, has a beautiful display of flowering and tropical plants - including a few palm trees. It's a public botanical garden and features six greenhouses with permanent plant collections (sub-tropical garden, Palm House and cacti) and seasonal plants. My goal was to capture the different colour palettes that can be derived from nature. What made these photos almost magical was how the sun, peaking through the light grey clouds, cascaded through the greenhouse windows and danced on the plants and flowers. These photos are unedited to show the natural beauty of the space. I hope looking at these images makes you feel inspired. Happy Friday!

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?

Light Up Your Life ~ Iacoli & McAllister Lighting

Links: 1     2     3     4

Have you heard of Iacoli & McAllister? The name stands for Jamie Iacoli & Brian McAllister, a Seattle-based design duo who grabbed my attention with their recently released 'Spica' pendant light. The light was designed and named after the brightest start in the constellation Virgo. (As a Virgo myself, I had to represent!) Spica is crafted from a steel rod and available in 3 colours: black, white or mirror gold. The piece really demonstrates the typographic quality of proportions with the design pair try to emphasize in all of their work.

I also enjoy their frame lights, shown above in a variety of colours (blue/yellow/black). What's cool about these pieces is that you can hang them alone OR you can cluster them together to make a fabulous chandelier. However, what they didn't show -- and would look totally awesome -- is grouping not only different sizes BUT ALSO different colours together, to get a multi-coloured effect. These pieces are modern with sleek lines and look-at-me curves. Which piece is your favourite (and do you wish they had a light that matched your Zodiac sign, too?)

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!

Delightful Dinnerware Options for Wining & Dining in Style

 "At a dinner party one should eat wisely but not too well, and talk well but not too wisely."

~ W. Somerset Maugham

Check out two sets of dishware that I adore! Make a fashion statement in your home with the Ben Collection fashion plates. Each eight-inch plate features a black-and-white sketch by Ben Morris (professor of fashion, SCAD). The pieces are sold as a set of four in a decorative gift box and the plates are dishwasher, microwave and oven safe. A perfect table accessory for the fashion conscious folk. My recommendation: if you're going for the black-and-white table setting, add in a pop of colour through a beautiful vase of flowers. For an even more personal touch, use the flower of the month (for March it would be daffodils!)

 The second set of dishware, featuring the work of illustrator Allan Drummond (professor of illustration, SCAD), these delightful eight-inch stoneware plates depict the signs and sounds of Lacoste, France. Again, this collection is sold as a set of four plates in a decorative gift box and is dishwasher safe BUT the collection also includes a 12-inch platter (sold separately). Although I love each decoration, I can't resist the one with the orange cat illustration or the tower clock that climbs up the right hand side of one of the dishes.

Which collection is your favourite? Bon appetit!

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.

Magnificent Malachite: March Colour of the Month

I adore malachite. Honestly, I can't stop raving about it. It's one of my favourite colours of crystals and gemstones. In February, amethyst was the colour of the month, bringing a romantic and passionate quality to the month of lovers. Now we've entered March and it's all about malachite. Of course, who can resist that rich and opulent green colour during March? I know there's a bit of a stereotypical element to March being associated with green (Hello! St. Patty's day!) that even I can't seen to get over. Malachite is always green, usually in banded tones varying from very dark green to a mellow green. Most malachite comes from Zaire, Chile and Australia. It's known to be a stone of balance in relationships, the protection of children, and protects against accidents. Malachite inspiration comes in all forms of home decor -- from chairs, lamps, tables to pillows, wallpaper, curtains and artwork. I'm in love with the malachite coloured lacquer coffee table, the malachite wallpaper and those matching malachite-stemmed lamps. As you can see, it's all about malachite! What's your favourite malachite piece? How would you incorporate this majestic and magnificent coloured gemstone into your space?

Colour Inspiration: A Breath of Fresh Mint

 

Happy Leap Day, everyone! Today was a really interesting day. Where I live, I kept imagining February trying to "come out like a lion" since it's been pretty lamb-like this winter. It was snowing and blowing, raining and drizzling. I was laughing (to myself) all day because I pictured February giving out a big growl as if to say, "I'm still here!" although the lack of snow on the ground would suggest otherwise. This reminds me that we're almost into March which means we are that much closer to Spring. Don't you think these mint inspired colour combinations are the perfect hue for the transition from winter to spring? Mint goes perfect with both seasons. In fact, it shows off the best qualities of each: light, airy, cool, serene and playful. There's something about mint that makes you feel calm and content. It's youthful and daring, feminine and masculine. Plus it's versatile enough to be used as an entire wall, accent, feature, or in solids, stripes or patterns. And I noticed that there's "mint-speration" all around us, from walls to ceilings, buildings to ceramics -- even hair, weather, and nature give off that minty glow. What's your favourite thing about the colour mint and where do you like to use it?