Day 7: It's no bull

Cover of Ferdinand

So you all may already know this but it is true, bulls are not attracted to red! Bulls are actually just attracted to and annoyed by the movement of a red cape that is being waved in front of them. That being said, the matador could be waving a beautiful gold toile, pink polka dots or a leopard print in front of them and they would still be mad, well wouldn't you? Or maybe they are just so mad because the matadors don't have any design style and can only think to use plain old red!

That is my fun color fact of the day, if you have any fun and interesting facts I would love to hear them!

Day 6: Little Black Dress



Martha Stewart

Ok, I said I was doing 31 days of color but in keeping with the season and Halloween I couldn't resist doing a post on black. There is just something about black, just like that little black dress that we all love so much and how empowering it can be.  Black is very daring and makes a big statement in design. This wreath on the orange door is such a huge contrast, it is so dramatic.

Here are some other very dramatic ways black is used in design, and when used properly it is just like that little black dress in the room, enjoy the drama...you may find yourself oohing and aahing.


Traditional Home



House Beautiful

House Beautiful



Traditional Home



Martha Stewart

BHG

House Beautiful

House Beautiful

House Beautiful

Hope that was enough drama for you-

  

Day5: FIVE GOLDEN RINGS

On day five I thought I would try to give you something with five golden rings in some clever way, but all I could do was give you five inspiring ways to decorate with gold...enjoy

Country Living

I love this door! The gold accents against the black door, wait I just noticed the cat!!

Country Living

How fun are these pumpkins, with just a little gold paint they are transformed into something almost glamorous.


BHG

Golden colored gourds, they look so pretty in the window with the glass beads.

Martha Stewart

With it's gold walls and sofa, this room seems almost regal and very elegant.

Martha Stewart

These eggs were transformed with gold paint and and velvet into holiday decorations

There are my 5 golden "rings"of inspiring gold colors

Day 4: The Color of Orange

Of course, most of the time when we think of the color orange, we think of pumpkins and autumn.  There is just something about pumpkins that screams color! I don't decorate with orange much in my own home. Although I do have a bit of coral and salmon tones, they don't compare to the intensity of orange. For me, being able to bring out the pumpkins and gourds and colors of fall is always so much fun and such a change.
Mixing orange into your everyday decorating doesn't have to be that scary. Even though it's a bold bright color, it is also very warm and inviting. Pairing orange shades with its complimentary friend blue is such a great contrast of cool vs. bold. Orange also takes on a warm earthy tone when mixed in with browns and tans. 
I posted this picture the other day after I added a little bit of orange to my mantel. Mixing some orange in with the turquoise bottles added just enough color. The colors play well together, especially with my bright painting above the mantle.

Here are some other inspiring ways to bring orange into your home that will last all year long. Some are subtle but others are very bold, taking small steps to bring that pop of color in works fine too, and can add that unexpected bit of fun.

BHG
Love the soft blue with the white and softer touches of orange in the room 

Home and Garden

The combo of blue and orange work well again here but adding more of a brighter burst of orange on the sofa

BHG

I love the mix of the browns in this room with the beautiful blue walls and accents of orange

BHG

Even with the bold orange sofa the room still seems well balanced and earthy with it's neutral brown tones.

Canadian House and Home

This definitely makes a statement for an entry way

BHG

These chairs are very bold and vibrant. I love how they stand out against the white walls and draws you into the painting.

BHG

The fabric on the chairs are so bold but still look very traditional at the same time

Traditional Home

Love the simplicity of the kitchen with the pop of orange on the window treatments

Traditional Home

This room transitions so nicely from the kitchen above with the touches of orange they choose to bring in.

BHG

Love the soft orange tone on the wall.

BHG

Here orange brightens up a fun space in this girls room, it's so colorful.

Orange is a very versatile color as you can see from all of the photos. See - it doesn't seem so scary now, does it?

Day 3: Touches of Color for Abbie'sRoom

My daughter, Abbie, wanted a slightly more grown up look for her room. After much debating, I decided to go for a clean and bright look, so I  painted the walls just a real soft creamy white but it needed to have some punches of color because she is still just 7, so it needed to be fun as well.  I decided to paint the one wall behind her bed a brighter coral color and add the same cream color in big circles with her name painted chocolate brown inside them. 

It's fun to add color with paintings and wall hangings - they add personality to the room. Over time, a bird theme kind of evolved from all of this and violla - these twin bird paintings came to mind. So I used the room's colors as my pallette, painted them, and hung them on either side of her mirror. They add so much color against the cream walls.

Here are some other things that I have painted over the years for her that still work in her room as we transitioned into a more grown up room.



 It was also fun picking out all of the fabric in her room.  I tried to pull out more of the blue instead of  pink since the accent wall is a little punchy. I think the fabrics blended well together with the room- I can't say that so much for Hudson.

                                  
 his color scheme may not match well but he's just happy to be on the bed! 

Day 2 starting with a blank canvas

Over the next few weeks I hope you will enjoy reading my posts on the many different facets of color.  I love color and seeing how it effects so much of how we see and feel.  Having a background in Fine Arts I spent a lot of time with color, mixing it, blending it, seeing what colors work better together and I have developed a passion for color. I would love to hear comments along the way and have you become a follower. Enjoy and hopefully you will get inspired as well.

my new colorful pillows on my white slip covered sofa

Colors evoke certain feelings, whether they are cool shades of greens and blues or exciting and vibrant reds and oranges.  Selecting the right colors in design can create a desired atmosphere. Sometimes to get that certain punch of colors it's a nice option to start with a white or neutral background, almost serving as a blank canvas. Then being able to transform your space with accents, pillows, artwork and fabrics, to fill in your neutral spaces by using splashes of color. Here are some examples of how white and neutral spaces are transformed by the accents and punches of color scattered through the rooms. 

Even though the room in the picture below has a very romantic feeling, the shock of the pink frames adds a surprise to a very soft, mostly neutral space.


BHG



House Beautiful

The red accents in this kitchen above make the whole room. If they had been tan or even a wood tone it wouldn't have nearly the effect as the bright red chairs and mirror.  Now the room is exciting and with alot of appeal.

BHG

In this room the accents almost pop out like colored candy!  I love the vibrant colors and how they wake up this white space but in a very colorful sophisticated way. I especially love the chandelier.

BHG

Ok, this lamp speaks for itself and I want it! The blue and and white contrast is so fun and whimsical.

House Beautiful

The use of yellow glass tile in this bathroom brings on the drama into the surrounding white walls and sink.  It's nice to think outside the box sometimes and add that unexpected surprise of color.

House Beautiful

Just like my picture at the top, the use of brightly colored pillows against white sofas give such contrast  that the pillows become the centerpiece of the room. I love the look of white sofas. I know a lot of people are scared off by them but they make such a statement when paired with colors that seem to transform them like a painting.

The use of color is endless and I could go on with these pictures because they are so fun and inspiring, but I'll hold back because I have another 29 days to go!

Here I go, let the countdown begin

(see below for links to new postings of 31 day series)



Day 1: Color.. beyond just black and white

My first day, 30 more to go. I've decided to focus my 31 days on color and how it transforms our surroundings. I gave myself a broad topic so I could have plenty to write about and educate myself on over the next month. Color plays such an important role in everyday life. Besides the obvious when it comes to design, paint etc., which I plan to write about, let's be honest ladies, what we wear (I look terrible in ivory - makes me look half-dead), the right color for our hair, and the color of our toenails matters immensely.  There have been studies, we've all heard of them, on the right colors to have in classrooms so kids can concentrate better, what color of plates to use so our food looks more appetizing.
So hope you enjoy following me over the next few weeks to learn more about the impact of how color is used to transform the way we see and think.

Day 2: "Starting with a Blank Canvas"
Day 3: "Touches of Color For Abbie's Room"
Day 4: "The Color of Orange"
Day 5: "Five Golden Rings"
Day 6: "Little Black Dress"
Day 7: "It's no Bull"
Day 8: "Painting Tips Inside and Out"
Day 9: "Blue Skies"
Day 10: "Fall's natural colors"
Day 11: "Five ways to add color to your home ,without spending a fortune"
Day 12: "Adding Color in Unexpected Places"
Day 13: "New Collection from Ballard Designs"
Day 14: "Fun Colorful Decorating Ideas for Halloween"
Day 15: "Fun colorful ways to decorate with glass vases"
Day 16:  "Do the Color of your Plates Really Matter"
Day 17: "Beyond Painted Walls"
Day 18: "Holiday Color with a Twist"
Day 19: "Gray but not so Gloomy"
Day 20: "Color Attraction"
Day 21: "Seeing Color Through a Child's Eye"
Day 22: "Color Inspiration"
Day 23: "Colorful Pumpkin Carving"
Day 24: "Colorful Holiday Centerpieces"
Day 25: "Vintage Tea Party"
Day 26: "Paper Whites and Pointsettias"
Day 27: "Mad about Plaid"
Day 28: "Annie Sloan Chalk Paint"
Day 29: "Colorful Holiday Drinks"
Day 30: "Colorful Creative Advent Calendars"
Day 31: "Final Day"