Favorite Paint Colors for Staging

When preparing a home for sale, I usually have certain paint colors I gravitate towards.  A few recent homes staged have taken on a whole new look using some of  Sherwin Williams  colors.  The purpose of repainting the home's walls is to neutralize the space allowing potential buyers to envision their own furnishings in the home.

Here are a few of my own favorites:

SW7688 Sundew

 Living room before staged and painted with SW7688 Sundew

 

SW7738 Cargo Pants

 

Bathroom before staged and painted with SW7738 Cargo Pants

 

 SW7063 Nebulous White

 

Living Room before staged and painted in SW7063 Nebulous White

SW 7651 Front Porch

Office before staged and painted in SW7651 Front Porch

 

SW7567 Natural Tan

 Bathroom before wallpaper removed and staged painted in SW7567 Natural Tan

SW7666 Fleur De Sel

Kitchen before staged and painted in  SW7666 Fleur De Sel

One thing to remember all paint colors will look different in every home in different lighting.  Also, paint colors look different on a computer screen compared to in person.  Choose your paint colors in the space it will be applied.  Florescent lighting of a department or paint store won't show the true color until it is sampled on the actual room wall.

Emerald Green The Color for 2013

Pantone has announced the 2013 color of the year.  Yes, it's emerald!
 Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute notes that since ancient times, emeralds have been associated with such concepts and clarity, harmony and unity.

I remember the cocktail dress I had purchased in the mid 90's made of emerald colored satin and the emerald satin pumps I had purchased to go along with it for a New Year's Eve party.  Above the knee in length with black tulle netting peeking out an inch or so from the hem I was styling  Gorgeous it was and I hated to part with it after many years.

As soon as I heard the announcement of the emerald return, I ran to my closet of dresses one should never part with and of course to my dismay, I couldn't find the dress or the shoes.  Why did I get rid of it?  I could have worn that dress again for the start of 2013.  Another lesson learned of what goes around definitely comes around  in fashion and in the decorating world for style and for color.

Here are a few ideas to consider when decorating for 2013 and utilizing the color of emerald:

 Accent throw pillows can be used on a white sofa to bring in emerald

 Milk glass with emerald color trim accent these lovely candy dishes

Patterns of styles and shades are mixed together for a perfect presentation of emerald

Let's not forget about the kitchen accessories and appliances.  Seen more will be large appliances in emerald

Emerald contemporary lamp

A roll of mesh netting can be used on light filtering windows

Warm up a sofa with an emerald mohair blanket for those cold evenings.

 Fabric from Osborne & Little

Table accents of various spotted emerald glasses

Emerald wall color completes the clean look of this room with white fixtures and floor

Holiday Table Settings

I know I know I've been going crazy lately with the decorating of the table ideas.  I can't help myself.  For some reason this year I feel more festive than the past three.  So Yes, I'm going to share with you some  table place settings that I love and not so typical.

I'm always draw to style and elegance at this time of year.  Warm and cozy gatherings, sharing of wine with close friends and neighbors and the best is the spontaneous gathering.  I love my loft neighbor and friend Ann's approach....the text message...."do you have 15 minutes"....interpretation, are you ready for a glass of wine?

Enjoy some of my favorite table settings.  I hope they provide some inspiration for your own tablescape creations for the holidays.

 Green glass dishes  sit on top of a gold rimmed charger and topped off with a brown napkin tied with a gold ribbon.  Warm, classy and unique.

 Traditional red toile place setting and crystal glasses are highlighted by a centerpiece of boxed greens, pine cones, and candles.  A very traditional and welcoming table setting.

 Loving this simple napkin setting idea.  Silver utensils embellished with a wooden handle insert states simply elegant.  a sprig cutting from your tree and finished with a gingerbread snowflake cookie.  How creative is this setting?

The natural is staged to be simple.  Set on a wood table but enhanced by creative linen table runners.  Gray plates contrasted with white dishes atop, a white napkin and sprig cutting makes this setting simply perfect.  The addition of tiny white potted paper whites and candles completes this look.

 

 This white and silver creation promotes a very formal feed.  The addition of silvery gray linens placed over white is beautiful.  Gray, silver white with an embellishment of fresh greens completes this table setting.

This country style table setting is given some added warmth.  Texture is noticed here through the white napkins tied off with a burlap banding napkin holder in natural colors contrasted with red.  The addition of potted topiary trees adds more natural elements to this table.  Rustic and warm creating a casual feel.

 Touches of red and green of course the colors of the season no doubt.  White and gold add elegance to these traditional colors

A red rose napkin sits within a white cup, a very creative idea.




Holy embellished utensil holders complete the look of this napkin setting of red, silver and green. (love the mini pine cones).



Creating table settings for the holidays have endless possibilities.  Rummaging through your kitchen cabinets, china closets and buffets sparks the imagination for creating one of a kind table settings for the holidays. 

Be creative, embellish as much as possible and enjoy the short holiday season.

Decorating RAW

What does decorating RAW mean.  Well to me it means everything and anything including the kitchen sink. My favorite type of decorating style for myself is using raw items.  Which now seems to be the decorating rage.  Reproductions found in Restoration Hardware are nice. However the real deal of searching for that perfect raw item can't compare.

Anything and everything for me means, old lighting, mirrors that are naturally aged, weathered columns mill-work and old farm scales. The re-purposing of onetime functional items such as an old mill table for example. Raw form is just that, not the reproduction kind of decor items. The Brimfield Antique Fair has is a fabulous place to hunt for any raw item.

 Old doorknobs of porcelain and brass can add character and charm to any door in your home.

 Repurposing any of these doors in a home adds interest to a room. Found at Brimfield Fair.

 This window could be used to create a transom on an otherwise plain wall in a room.

 ABC Carpet and Home is the perfect place for raw inspiration as seen in this column.

 The detail on this column has been enhanced with a custom iridescent finish.

This old iron bed inspired a whole shabby chic design style in a bedroom. Found while antiquing in Cape Cod.

 Re-purposing galvanized containers for a tablescape candle display has been used here.

 The walls and mirror here at ABC Carpet and Home are a nice backdrop to this crystal chandelier.

 The texture of this concrete floor was creative. Any artist would know the proper technique used here.

We can't forget the reuse of old marble sinks. Bring us back to a timeless decorating period of  class and beauty.


Old exterior shutters, torn, tattered and distressed naturally that can be repurposed for a divider wall in a loft space.  An old floor to ceiling fireplace mantelpiece with a centered beveled mirror finished with fluted columns and crown molding adds character to a newer space.  A french door with old glass panes and solid glass door knob can also add character to a room.

Reproductions are nice, but the hunt of the find adds a sense of accomplishment to decorating your space.  The raw items found will have more meaning and usually come with a story of times gone by, a history.

What raw items have you found in your antique decorating excursions.  Hunting for the raw is fun!

A Passion for Poufs

POUFS, POUFS, AND MORE POUFS!

Poufs seem to be the latest craze in interior design.  Let's think about it....we're always looking for extra seating in a room.  Guests pop in, families gathering in one space, even in a child's room.  What better way to add accent and color in a space than by adding a pouf.

A substitute for the old hassock that my parents had in the living room  of white vinyl with a red piping trim and red button tufted in the middle.  Although now that I think of it I was probably 2 or 3 years old in the family photo and that hassock looks pretty retro for a today's retro designed room.

Today's poufs are fun and eclectic.

The flame stitch is fun and the pattern is hip.

The crochet will add texture to a room with smooth patterns.

The jute pouf will add texture to a natural space.  This will fit well in a 
 room that is Restoration Hardwared.










The geometric paired with a vertical stripe will fit well into a more modern decorated space.

 The ikat pouf is a popular choice in current decorating fabric styles. This particular pouf is more square in style.

Another popular pattern is the Chevron.  This pattern is more fun
and will fit well in a children's room adding adding seating at the children's play table for friends to socialize.

 Gray is very  much still the color of the day.  Embellished  with neutral jute crochet detail, this pouf is classic and simple in style.

 Poufs are a versatile option for additional seating. Why not take the pouf plunge!