Caliente-Benjamin Moore 2018 Color Of The Year

October 12, 2017

This is the time of year when we start seeing color and design predictions for the coming year. Following a year of in-depth research and culling through thousands of colors, Benjamin Moore has picked a bold, dynamic red called Caliente.

Ellen O’Neill, Director of Strategic Design Intelligence for BM describes Caliente like this…

” Strong, radiant and full of energy, Caliente AF-290 is total confidence. It is pleasing, passionate and makes people feel special, like “red carpet treatment’!

And used these words that evoke the emotion of Caliente…

Back in the 90’s red was the go-to hue for dining rooms and occasionally used in a bedroom. Today, power colors are trending which makes Caliente perfect for any room in the house.

I love red on an exterior door. What a way to make a first impression!

Here are a few tips to keep in mind if you’re considering decorating with Caliente or other bold hues:

Determine whether you can commit to using an intense color in your home and just how much you want the tone represented. If you determine that an entire room painted in a bold statement would be too much, use it in a smaller space like a powder room, office or hallway. For dramatic impact with even less commitment, try painting an accent wall in your favorite bold hue.
Consider the lighting in the room. Rooms with lots of natural light can handle a bold color more effectively than dark spaces. Natural light can amplify the room without feeling overpowering. Darker space with bold colors can feel more dramatic and moody.
Contrast a bold color with a crisp white trim. Bright white will intensify bold colors and make them pop which providing a string contrast.
Once you select your bold color statement, make sure to incorporate accent pieces in the room that create a cohesive color statement. Artwork, rug and pillows that incorporate your color choice will tie the rooms’ design together.

I couldn’t be more thrilled about Benjamin Moore’s selection since red happens to be my favorite color. Even though I didn’t have red as part of the decor plan for our new house, I’m now rethinking that. To learn more insight on how Benjamin Moore selected Caliente, check out this video they created.

Benjamin Moore 2018 Color Of The Year–Caliente

Design Chat: Accessorizing Bookshelves and adding the finishing touches

February 14, 2017

I received an email from one of my blog reader, Megan who was looking for help with the wall decor and accessorizing the built-in bookshelves in her family room. The bookshelves and the walls have been empty for 3 years and Megan doesn’t know where to start with a decorating plan. She is also struggling with the sofa, which she’s not a fan of but others in the family are.

Here’s a look at Megan’s family room…

And here’s my design vision for Megan’s room…

THE COLOR PALETTE

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The tan sofa, beige walls and white built-in shelves create a neutral color foundation for the room. The area rug has different tones of red, browns and green in it so that should be the jumping off point for accessorizing the rest of the room.

The expanse of white shelving surrounding the TV needs a major pop of personality. Beyond getting the right mix of accessories, I recommend that Megan either paint the backs of the bookshelves in an accent color or cover the backs with a grass cloth wallpaper. Wallpaper would achieve two things–1) color and 2) visual texture which would really enhance the space.

When painting the backs of bookshelves, I usually recommend that you go a shade or two light or darker than your wall color.

ACCESSORIZING

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When it comes to decorating bookshelves, the items you decorate with are just as important as how you arrange them. Here are a few tips on accessorizing bookshelves and a graphic with accessory groupings that always work.

Create depth ‘top to bottom’ and ‘front to back’. Arrange items so the pieces are not at the same level or position of the shelf. Your accessories should feel layered and not uniform.
Vary the size, scale and shape of your accessories. Decorate with a variety of items to create visually interesting arrangements. And also keep in mind that if your shelves are adjustable you can create wider openings which will allow for larger decorative pieces.
Create balance from shelf to shelf and side to side. As you arrange items, step back to make sure the overall look of each shelf and each side of the fireplace feels balanced.

For more bookcase decorating tips, read my post 5 Ways To Style Your Bookcase.

WALL DECOR & SOFA STYLING

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Wall decor is one of the most important elements of accessorizing a room. In many cases your wall decor will serve as the focal point for the room. In Megan’s room, the wall decor will provide a dominate impact statement within the room so it needs to be dynamic.

I recommend a large piece of artwork flanked by starburst mirrors for the most visible wall in the family room. A piece of art will add color and draw you in to the room. Mirrors will add a graphic detail and enhance the light coming in from the opposite window.

To enhance the sofa, Megan should add accent pillows and a small-scale bent arm floor lamp at the end of the sectional providing much-needed task lighting.

FUNCTIONAL DECOR

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The other decorative items I’d recommend is a console table behind the sofa, an accent chair near the built-ins and curtain panels for the windows.

A console table will visually extend the partial wall behind the sofa and create an additional surface for a lamp and accessories.

The accent chair will provide additional seating and create a more balance space, filling the now empty corner.

Curtain panels will add softness and another pattern element within the room.

THE LOOK

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Unique accessories and colorful wall decor is all that is needed to bring Megan’s room to life.

Designer Looks You Can DIY On A Budget

October 12, 2016

Over the years, decorating on a budget has been the vogue thing to do. In fact, with the DIY movement that’s been made popular by bloggers, budget decorating is more achievable and affordable than ever.

Whenever I surf Pinterest, I marvel at some of the DIY hacks that people have done, many of which as been inspired by high-end designs. For those of you that want to save money when decorating and have some DIY skills, here are four high-end design hacks you should try. And I’ve rounded-up all the supplies you’ll need to recreate these looks.

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Paint Inspiration: The Power of Paint

November 7, 2015

The design advice I give most often to clients whether it’s a big project or a small one is all the power of paint. Paint is the cheapest and easiest way to transform the look, feel and style of a piece of furniture, a room or even and door.

If you want to make a change within your decor but don’t want to spend a lot of money achieving a new look, consider paint.

Painting a piece of furniture can turn a country vibe into a beautiful french inspired look.

Replacing the mirrored back with bead board also adds style as does updated drawers and door pulls.

A basic unfinished and inexpensive piece of furniture can become a stylish piece with just a quick coat of paint.

Apartment Therapy

fynes designs

If you want to add a bit more drama to your decor, paint can help you do that too! Black is becoming a classic in furniture and gives a piece of furniture a sophisticated feel.

tidbits and twine

This is one of my favorite before and afters ever. A cheap wood cabinet looks like something you’d find in a custom home after paint, trim and pulls.

tip: use wood picture frames as trim instead of custom cutting your own

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And even the country’s top designers will tell you that painting kitchen cabinets can give your entire kitchen an updated and new feel.

White cabinets are back in vogue and set against a dramatic wall color AND painted backsplash (yes, paint that too), this kitchen looks fabulous.

house mix

Easy decorative updates as just a few strokes away so don’t be afraid to give paint a try when you are ready for a new look at home.

Color Crush: Orange and GRAY (or is it Grey)

August 17, 2015

Color Crush: ORANGE + GRAY

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I popped into a few home decor stores over the weekend and after about the third store a color trend started to reveal itself. It’s no surprise that with the coming of fall you’re beginning to see shades of orange in decorative accessories, linens and wall decor but what’s making orange feel fresh is a mix of gray. This quiet neutral has shaken off its bad rap. Gray has not only replaced beige as being the “It” neutral, but grays are now synonymous with style, sophistication and glamour.

Here are my three reasons for loving Orange + Gray…

1) the combination is sophisticated but has a relaxed feel

2) the color combo is gender neutral and can work in just about every room of a home

3) both orange and gray mix well with black, white and neutrals which makes these colors really versatile

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In the bedroom, orange and gray feels luxurious and rich. A charcoal gray with slightly blue undertones lends a feeling of masculinity and the orange keeps the overall feeling energized and modern.

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Don’t be afraid to mix shades of neutral and gray, Greige which can create a really dynamic colors palette for decorating. In this living room, a mix of grey, neutral and orange help to create depth and dimension.

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I think orange and gray is a great color combo for a piece of hand painted furniture–business on the outside and party on the inside

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Natural wood combined with orange and deep gray tones create a warm, rustic feel and the addition of black helps to ground the space and add a layer of dimension.

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I never would have imagined orange and gray in a floral arrangement but the colors are so beautiful together. I’ll definitely be using this color combination for fall decorating.

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Do you have a fall party of the calendar? If so, consider orange and gray as the color palette and if it’s a Halloween party, just add black for a sophisticated twist on spooky decorating.

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Accents of crisp white give orange and medium shades of gray a modern, urban feel

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and when lighter shades of gray are used as accents against a mostly white palette, the feeling is sophisticated and elegant.

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Like white, selecting a gray paint color can be challenging. Here are a few things to consider:

♥ Shades of light gray have become a really popular paint color and is the perfect solution when a bit of color is desired but you still want to maintain a light, airy feel. Many lighter shades of gray actually have a silver undertone which gives the color a bit of sheen under bright lights and adds a subtle glow to a room. Lighter shades of gray will work in every room of the home and are one of my favorite colors for a bedroom, bathroom, home office or ceiling color.

♥ Medium shades of gray will add warmth and richness to a space without making it appear dark and dreary. Medium tones mix well with neutrals, black and wood tones are great to use in larger rooms to crate a cozy feel.

♥ You’ve probably heard the term Greige before and may not have realized what it meant. Greige is a blend of gray and beige creating a warm neutral that is ideal to use in rooms with gold, bronze or brass accents. Greige walls are also a nice alternative to traditional neutrals are ideal for a living room, family room or kitchen.

♥ Deep charcoal grays have a luxurious and elegant feel to them and are stunning when paired with white trim, jewel tones or primary colors. Shades of charcoal are best in rooms that get lots of natural sunlight which will prevent the room from feeling like a cave.

There are lots of opinions on the best gray paint colors but this round-up highlights my favorites:

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And, if you’ve ever wondered whether it’s GReY or GRaY here’s the scoop…

Gray (with an “A”) is the preferred choice in American English.

Grey (with an “E”) is the preferred choice in British English. If you find yourself writing to a British audience in an English newspaper or magazine, grey is the word choice you will want to use.

So when it comes the Orange and Gray, does this color combo get a thumbs up or thumbs down?

The Great Frame Debate

July 22, 2015

After showing the gold foil quote art I found at #HomeGoods on Monday, I went looking for some fresh gallery wall inspiration. While looking through images a really perplexing questions came to mind…what frame color is best for a gallery wall display–white, black, gold or a mix?

While that might sound like an easy question to answer, there are decorating pros and cons with each frame color making the decision a tough one.

So to answer the question and to give me an opportunity to share a few design tips with you, I thought we’d tackle The Great Frame Debate once and for all!

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12 Ways to ReStyle Your Home

June 29, 2015

Happy Monday my friends! I hope you all had a great weekend.

I’ve been busy the last few days getting ready for a visit from my mom. Since my mom’s back surgery in 2006 she hasn’t traveled much and it’s been about 7 years since her last visit to Atlanta. My uncle and his family are making a trip to Florida and my mom decided to tag along for the ride. They’ll drop her off here in Atlanta on their way and she’ll be spending a week with me and my brother. I’m so excited to see her and now that my brother is here, it’s going to be week of family fun.

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Anyway, after spending the last few days cleaning, organizing and doing some restyling around the house, I thought I’d share some ideas if you’re wanting to refresh and restyle your home.

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Guest Bath Update with Cutting Edge Stencils

March 3, 2015

Hi there!

I’ve got a sneak peek of a project I’ve been working on to share with you today. I’ve been wanting to make some decorative changes to our guest bath, but didn’t want to spend a lot of money doing it. I gave myself a small budget to purchase new artwork and a few accessories and I also put my DIY skills to work making a new shower curtain using a stencil from Cutting Edge Stencils.

If you’ve never given stenciling a try, I highly recommend it. It’s an inexpensive way to decorate walls, fabrics, floors and even ceilings and makes updating your home decor quick and easy.

After looking through all of the Cutting Edge Stencil designs (so many great stencil designs), I choose the Drifting Arrows pattern.

What I like about the Drifting Arrows pattern is the classic yet modern feel that it has–the style I wanted for the bathroom.

To create the shower curtain, I used a plain white shower curtain ($14.00) and paint I had in the garage. The paint is Clark and Kensington and the color is Ace of Spades, in a semi-gloss finish.

Before I began stenciling I read all of the how to stencil info on the Cutting Edge website and also watched some of the stencil how-to videos. In my book, stenciling on a large piece of fabric is a bit more challenging than stenciling on a wall so here are a few tips I used that made the job easier:

1) Iron your fabric before stenciling to ensure a smooth, wrinkle-free surface.

2) Lay the fabric out on a hard, smooth surface. I placed a drop cloth down and then placed a large piece of cardboard between the shower curtain and drop cloth. The cardboard gave me a smooth surface and allowed the roller to move smoothly over the fabric.

3) Securely tape your stencil down using painters tape. Because my stencil was fairly large, I made sure to tape the edges as well as the corners.

4) Use a gentle hand when rolling on the paint. This will reduce paint seepage under the stencil design.

It took me about 4 hours to paint the entire shower curtain and I love the way it turned out. Now that the shower curtain is finished, the rest of the details for the bathroom are coming together.

Here’s a little sneak peek…

If the idea of a stencil project appeals to you, check out the Cutting Edge Stencil blog for more design ideas.

I’ll be back tomorrow to reveal the completed bathroom update so stay tuned. And, I’ll have a giveaway too!

The great folks at Cutting Edge Stencils are giving you a chance to win a stencil of your choice, with a value up to $50! So check out the incredible array of stencils at www.cuttingedgestencils.com and come back tomorrow to enter to win! (contest open to US residents only)