I am totally in love with DesignStudio, a visual inspiration site where Robert Allens’s fabric design team and the color experts at Sherwin-Williams joined forces to create this delicious site that will make any color junkie happy in a minute! What they’ve done is shown us how to take inspiration from a favourite photograph, ’pulling’ out colors and textures found in the image and put together a selection of fabrics and color from their collections to create a beautiful ready-to-use scheme. Heaven! Here are some of my favorites (and I had to control myself otherwise I would probably have ended up putting up all their images here!!!) But you must take a look for yourselves….

So now you know how to put together your own color schemes from favourite photographs. But this can be applied to favorite items too. When working on your color scheme take a box and fill it with things you love – a favorite scarf, a necklace, shoes, trinkets, souvenirs – anything, and use that as your ‘image’ to create your own color schemes. Have fun!

I saw this photo on Freshome’s FB wall today and just had to share it with you. I think it is a fine example of how different elements of the interior are tied together with the skillful and thoughtful use of color, rugs and fabrics and designs, both surface and overall.

The brown of the sofa is repeated in the cushions and rug and the unit facing it – it’s also repeated in the armchair’s legs. The blue on the armchair is repeated in the blue statue and the ashtray on the coffee table and vase on the end table. The yellow awning features strongly in the design which the designer has handled by adding a couple of yellow items inside like the cushion and the ashtray. The only surface designs playing in this scheme are the rug and the cushions which were probably made to order here since they match perfectly both in color and design. Notice how the ivory cording on the sofa picks up the ivory of the rug and cushions. It just wouldn’t be the same if there was no cording. Also, the angular geometric lines of the sofa are repeated in the straight geometric design of the rug and cushions. However, the circular design on the opposite unit softens the effect as does the curved back of the armchair and the round coffee table.

A beautiful, clean scheme. Love it.

This staircase stood out for me today when browsing a seaside home on House Beautiful. Their boldness of color creates such an interest to these stairs they can’t go unnoticed.

The contrast of black and white accentuates details and makes them pop with crispness.

The black chandelier on the landing repeats the black of the bannisters and grounds the whole scheme providing balance.

what can you learn from this?….don’t be afraid of using bold color in contrasts!

(photos via House Beautiful)

be inspired

Lena

Living in Greece I didn’t have any immediate need to visit the NYDC website. However, while doing some research yesterday I came across their site and was blown away by the mouth-watering choice of beautiful, top quality items I found. I couldn’t resist adding some of my first choices which include items from Cote France, Henredon, Brueton, Century Furniture, Kravet, Hickory Chair, Profiles, Barton Sharpe, Michael Tavano & McGuire…..I think you’ll agree that the items here are bursting with colour – something I love in interior schemes, even if the overall scheme is whites or a neutral palette I can’t resist adding a hot (or cool) accent to add some punch……oh please let me go shopping!

(I first published this on June 9, 2009, however it recently came to my attention that the photo links were missing – oops – so I’ve ‘repaired’ the article and updated it.)

One of the first things a designer will look for when designing a room is a natural point of focus. A natural focal point could be an existing fireplace or a breathtaking view from the windows. Should a natural focal point be missing then the designer will seek to create one. This could be by installing a fireplace or other architectural element, or by selecting a dominant piece of furniture or decorative item.

One of the tricks many interior designers use to create a focal point is to start by using an imposing, often oversized work of art that will dominate the area and from which the colour scheme can be taken. Some examples of which follow:

From one of my fav books “Decorating With Personal Style“ a Better Homes & Gardens publication

Bold, high impact art is what gives the above room its unmistakable personality. A single powerful painting, flanked by a pair of Noguchi paper lanterns creates a dramatic point. The deep green walls offer a neutral background that puts the work of art into total focus further enhanced by the white sofas, lanterns and ceiling.

Try imagining what these rooms would look like without their works of art…..don’t you agree they would just not be the same?

From one of my fav books “Decorating With Personal Style“ a Better Homes & Gardens publication

The above mural is entitled “House”, executed by artist Squeak Carnwath. It celebrates the owners’ wedding day and special elements that hold a special meaning for the family. The chairs echo the beige/orange table in the mural while all other elements are a neutral foil for this dominant piece of artwork.

From one of my fav books “Decorating With Personal Style“ a Better Homes & Gardens publication

The living room above features not one, but two show-stoppers. A life-size horse sculpture, designed by Montana artist Deborah Butterfield, made of steel and pipe, and a lively, almost child-like painting right of the fireplace. I love the informal seating arrangement of armchairs rather than one or two large sofas. The striped upholstery material is a surprise, really, and although in an odd way it does go well I may have chosen a deep red leather or velvet (even warmer), that would create more warmth, cosiness and vibrancy to this ‘cool’ room. Having said that, if the client wants a cool room then who am I to argue. As cool rooms go, this is great!

Interior design by Patricia Gray

Despite the existing fireplace that acts as a natural focus, Patricia has also installed a wall mounted tv as well as the vibrant piece of art that gives the room its colour scheme. Note that all other tones of green are muted allowing the lemon greens in the art piece to shout out. The black picture frames, tv and fireplace trim make the colours pop and reflect the zebra skin on the floor. Kind of gives the room a jungle feel – note the side table with animal feet! The transparency of the acrylic dining set help to not detract from the overall scheme.

Jen Wong Photography

The ethereal, cool atmosphere of the sitting room above is further accentuated by this dominant painting.

Juan Montoya Design

What a perfect ‘splash’ of blue to add personality to this living room! Blue is the dominant colour here, repeated in the table and decorative items that adorn it. Everything else is either white, black or beige, all neutrals.

Interior Design by Tobi Fairley

Notice how the colours of the painting continue through to the sofa+cushions and rug. The transparency of the acrylic coffee table helps by not detracting from the colour scheme.

Sally Trout Interiors

Where art is decoration…or decoration is art….stunning.

From one of my fav books “Decorating With Personal Style” a Better Homes & Gardens publication

From one of my fav books “Decorating With Personal Style“ a Better Homes & Gardens publication

From March issue of House & Garden (Greece)

The above is a neo-classical Manhattan apartment and the spin-art painting is by Damien Hirst. Interior Designer is Alex Papachristidis. This imposing piece of art supplies the white background of the room with all the colour it needs.

Interior design by Patricia Gray

Another beautiful interior from Patricia Gray. Airy blues, blacks, greys and browns are carried up into the painting and reflected back at us. A few more photos below show paintings that are the focal point in their space and accentuate and/or are enhanced by other elements in the rooms.

From left to right: KWID, Jen Wong Photography, Gaita Interiors

when looking for a theme and colour scheme for a room what better source of inspiration can you get than from art……and in this case, street art….an explosion of colour with murals from muralsdirect.co.uk….I would love to design a room around these!

I couldn’t resist a post on one of my favourite colours that is proving both Pantone and Global Color Research people’s predictions for winter 2010 as being spot on. Call it what you will: turquoise, verdigris, opal, teal. They all belong to the delicious colour synonymous, to me, with summer, clear, inviting waters, coolness, relaxation, tranquility, a deep calmness. Turquoise is a colour that can be combined with so many other colours to create anything from a soothing, quiet environment to one that jumps at you with a punch. Consider these combinations:

each give quite a different effect, don’t you think? what about these:

and then of course, pattern creates another mood:

But back to interiors. The following are some images of interiors featuring this beautiful colour…..by the way, this colour featured extensively in art deco interiors…..

The above two photos are of the foyer at Trinity College Dublin decorated in Art Deco style

The above pictures seen at Colorzizzle,  House of Turquoise and, below, a personal favourite of mine by designer Thomas Britt.

GREEN

Green is in the centre of the spectrum and is the colour of balance. It is one of the most restful hues, but, in various versions of it, can also be bright and fresh. Green carries certain connotations with it which include environment, growth and renewal in spring, fertility, freshness, nature, youth, health, peace and calm, things that are cool and refreshing. When we are surrounded by a lot of green our primal sub-conscious translates this as being an indication of the presence of water and little danger of famine; we are thus reassured by this. On the negative side green can symbolize poison, envy, nausea and jealousy.

Being composed of yellow and blue, which appear in its different shades, it carries with it the influence of these two primaries. Green is the colour of nature and is thus associated with it. It is in fact the equivalent of nature’s neutral, which provides a perfect foil for the bright flowers and fruits that plants produce. For this reason it is also adaptable in the interior, combining successfully with other colours. An old maxim ‘blue and green should never be seen…’ is proven false because blue is one of the colours that green has the most affinity with. When used together, blue and green create a cool, restful interior, whereas yellow and green adds warmth and brightness. Green is officially a cool colour and should be used in south-facing rooms, but dark green can be either cool or warm.

Green & yellow create a bright energetic combination.

Green absorbs more light than most other colours and so changes little whatever the lighting condition. However, deep green textiles have a tendency to look black in artificial light and it is advisable to avoid using yellowish light greens in dimly-lit areas as they can take on an acid shade.

Lime green used in this room has taken on an acid tone in dark corners. The effect here is of a tropical setting.

Green is used in operating theatres to reduce the afterimage affect of red. However, today it is used less in other areas of hospitals in favour of more neutral hues. It is exceptionally popular for bedrooms to create a restful atmosphere, as well as for living rooms.

Gentle tones of green with salmon pink combine beautifully in a bedroom.

Citrus at Social Hollywood

Baby room designed by Ryan Skinner, Graphic designer

A country kitchen in forest green brings the outdoors in....and a touch of yellow adds some sunlight....from the "New Kitchen Idea Book"

Twin guest room designed by Ghislaine Vinhas

Office designed by Ghislaine Vinhas

Pretty in pink and green with a dash of orange

YELLOW

Yellow is the brightest hue of the primaries and has the highest degree of luminosity after white. It is the first colour we see before others, especially when placed against black – a combination which is often used as a warning sign both in nature e.g. bees, and in industry to signal hazardous situations.

Yellow is consciously and sub-consciously associated with the sun and is a ‘warm’ colour. In interior decoration it adds warmth and is especially valuable for this reason when used in cold, north or east facing rooms. Just as one’s spirits are lifted on a sunny, bright day the same happens when one walks into a bright, yellow room. Yellow makes one feel optimistic, confident, emotionally strong, friendly and creative. However, too much yellow can reduce one’s self-esteem and allow feelings of fear and anxiety to surface.

Yellow can be a difficult colour to co-ordinate making it important to examine the yellows to be used in both natural and artificial light in the room where they will be used to avoid clashes with other yellows and hues. Yellow can vary from a pale primrose lemon, Chinese Yellow and mustard (by adding green and grey) to gold. The paler shades increase the amount of light and the darker ones, towards gold create a more restful atmosphere. Bright yellow should probably be avoided in bedrooms as it is too stimulating and energizing. Darker shades of this hue moving towards gold would be more advisable as well as moderation in its coverage. However, it can be used successfully in areas such as the kitchen, children’s rooms and schools.

An otherwise gloomy corridor is brightened up with ample use of yellow.

A bright sunny bathroom has been created here with the use of marigold yellow on the walls and the yellow stripe of the bath tiles. Accentuated with yellow accessories and the white ceiling and furniture make it even brighter and crisper. The green trimming in the curtains and the wall painting give more definition to the whites and add to the overall affect and impression of spring.

A sunny, country-styled kitchen offset with white trimmings and furniture, accented with orange.

A bright yellow kitchen in a modern, sleek setting is contrasted sharply with black for a high tech look.

The yellow wall in the background provides a n uplifting accent. Notice the red and yellow in the armchair in the foreground that is repeated in the background accent pieces.

Bright yellow is more easily used in children’s bedrooms which welcome more stimulation and liveliness.

Pale yellow is used in the bedroom accented with equally pale shades of green to create a peaceful and restful atmosphere.

This yellow dining room is warmed up even more with red floral print dining chars and golden curtains to create an intimate and inviting space.