Orange and Grey

There is an episode of Seinfeld in which George Costanza states, “I would drape myself in velvet if it were socially acceptable." Well, if it were socially acceptable (and wouldn’t kill me), I would drench myself in charcoal grey paint and saunter around town. I love the color grey. It can be warm and rich or cool and dark. It pairs with everything and is a much more dramatic neutral than say, beige. Blah.

One of my favorite colors to mix with grey is orange. Any shade really. A deep pumpkin shade can create a cozy room. A soft sherbet shade can create fresh, vibrant space. I thought being that’s its now October and orange is pretty much the star of this month, today would be a good day to take a look at how well orange and grey compliment one another in these spaces.

Think Pink

I was in New England for work last week and couldn’t get over how GORGEOUS the cherry blossom trees were…bright pink bursts of Spring were everywhere. I started thinking about designing with the color pink and how far it’s come. It's not just for little girls’ bedrooms anymore!

{Spring in Connecticut}

For starters, there are so many shades of pink to play with. A soft, pale pink can add a little romance to a bedroom or dining room. A bold raspberry shade can make a statement in a kitchen. A hot pink can punch up a sunroom.

It’s easy to be intimidated by color. Many times we gravitate towards using it as a “pop” in pillows or accessories in a neutral space. I’m here to tell you that our favorite feminine hue is not just a pop color anymore. Check out these fun rooms where pink is the star!

Loving The Love Shop…

One day when I was killing time, I wandered over to Esty and typed in “french”. Of course MANY wonderful sellers popped up (they always do…Esty sellers are amazingly creative!). But The Love Shop definitely caught my eye with its brightly colored prints boasting classic and/or inspirational quotes. These babies are perfect for a bedroom wall or hanging over your desk for inspiration.

JJ, the designer and artist behind The Love Shop, describes her inspiration in the store’s profile: “I’ve experienced some very challenging times over the past few years and throughout those times when things looked dark, I grabbed a hold of love and held on for dear life. I noticed that when I focused on love, I felt better. This was when the idea for the Love Shop was born. Now it’s all I want to do. Focus on love. Express love, give love”.

Glad she did! Check out some prints for purchase from The Love Shop.

Now Why Do You Suppose SHE Needs an Office?...

…she doesn’t really work at a desk, does she?

No matter. I love it. When Khloe Kardashian moved into her new house, she turned to LA interior designer Jeff Andrews (there is some sort of Ryan Seacrest, we both have shows on E! connection there) to help her design her new digs. I was particularly drawn to her office with its sophisticated and old Hollywood glam vibe.

I am loving the glitz of the mirrored desk. And if you look closely, the back of the display shelves are actually lined will mirrors as well. I love the way that the mirrors’ reflections play off the rich colored walls. The wall paint is a deep shade of gray/lavender (Benjamin Moore – Stone) and the ceiling is actually a lighter shade of lavender (Benjamin Moore – Angelika).

According to Andrews, the guest chairs “are vintage chairs Khloe owned but didn’t love. Rather than be wasteful, I found two great fabrics, one with subtle sparkle and one solid, and reupholstered the chairs”.

I think it’s the fabulous charcoal / purple sheers that filter light and really up the "glam factor" of this room. Most people probably need more light in their offices to actually see what they are working on. But as mentioned above, I don’t believe that she has the type of job that necessitates and office, so light limiting sheers work out great!

VERY old Hollywood glam if you ask me!

{images from here}

A Love Affair: Black and White

I love black. I love white. The danger with combining black and white is that they can lean towards boring without a punch color or two. A fun belt, some red shoes, fabulously large and dangling Anthro-esque turquoise earrings with a crisp white button down and big collar…you get it my point. One instance where I absolutely adore a plain, black and white match up is a staircase.

I love the stark contrast of a bright white rise, with the heavy black run. It’s always a clean look. A b&w staircase also creates a blank canvas to really go wild with a dramatic handrail or runner without competing for attention.

Some of my favorites:

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And my all time favorite…love, love, love this runner (when used correctly, obviously)
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When my dear friend, Nat, moved into a new house in Uptown a few months back she asked me for some paint advice for her staircase. Of course I suggested my old stand by favorite b&w…and voila!
Now all she needs is some fun art!

It IS Easy Being Green.

After a lovely weekend in Chicago celebrating St Patty's Day (think one green river and many green beers), I started thinking about some of my favorite uses of the color green in interiors. A unique characteristic of the color green can take on completely different moods depending on the shade. Not many other colors have such a range of transformation.

I have always worshiped the color of Will Truman's kitchen on Will and Grace. The emerald tone makes a bold, dramatic statement. I love to mix deep jewel tones like this with an animal (cheetah) print for an unexpected kick.



A bright green lends an energizing feel to a space especially when paired with a second bright color like orange.


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I yellow-green can give a space fresh feeling (perfect for curing spring fever). It's especially sharp when contrasted with white.


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A soft green can create a calming, serene retreat in any room.

Check out Rod Stewart's Beverly Hills home:

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My laundry would always be SO clean if I had this room to do it in:

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And then just for fun...

Chicago River dyed green:


Pub crawlin' with Chicago friends...look at all that green!: