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!

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

The kitchen and dining area are a continuation of the living room above so the same turquoise has been used as well as other elements such as the lantern. Tall wall cabinets accentuate the tall windows.

Photography by Scott Frances. For more on this project go to original article by Penelope Rowlands published in Architectural Digest.