{ Posts Tagged ‘colour’ }

one of a kind christmas show & sale – part two

I’m sharing my top 20 favourite artisans from the Toronto One Of A Kind Christmas Show & Sale in a four-part series.

Catch part one of this series right here! Are you ready for part two?

 

1. Lovell Designs

lovell 3 one of a kind christmas show & sale part two

Who can resist bold colours and pretty patterns? Lovell applies each of their original prints to uniquely crafted fabric home wares. From hampers to tea towels and everything in between, there’s something for every room! I especially love the whale pattern. It’s a fun print for kids. Stop by booth F-08 to check them out for yourself!

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sneak peek: cb2 coming to toronto

It has been a long time coming now, but it’s worth the wait!

cb2 cookies sneak peek: cb2 coming to toronto

Though CB2 was supposed to arrive this summer, it hasn’t officially landed in Toronto yet… BUT they did share a sneak peek with us last night! True to CB2 form they brought their signature modern designs, showcasing pieces that add function and comfort to your home, with that perfect pop of colour.

So, friends, want the inside scoop??

Here’s a preview of what’s to come and, of course, the all-important when and where!
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jonathan adler patterned cards

Fab find
Jonathan Adler Patterned Cards, $10 per pack of 10; Horchow.
fabfind cards1 jonathan adler patterned cards
From here on out, I’m going to be positive and believe spring is here to stay. As soon as the weather starts to warm up I’m instantly drawn to bright, happy colours so it’s no wonder I’ve fallen in love with these correspondence cards from Jonathan Adler. With four different designs, boasting a multitude of colours, you can use these cards for party invites or to catch up with an old friend. From the cards to the matching envelopes, I guarantee this stationery will brighten anyone’s day – and mailbox!
Do you still send letters and cards? What are your favourite stationery stores?

paint palette inspiration

While flipping through the pages of our April 2011 colour issue, I got so excited about introducing some bold hues into my own space. I was particularly drawn to the paint palette that drew inspiration from an exotic china plate. The story, produced by section editor Catherine Therrien, features paint colours that perfectly match the hues on the plate. I love this idea, because I’m constantly inspired by things I see around me everyday, whether a shape or a colour, and look to mimic it in my home.

paint palette plate paint palette inspiration

The inspiration (Wedgwood Pashmina salad plate, $44; williamashley.com)

paint palette swatches paint palette inspiration

Try this palette in your own home!


Have you ever taken palette inspiration from a shopping find?

framing your front door

Any Friends fans out there? Admittedly, I was quite the fan (a.k.a. fanatic) of the hit TV sitcom and grew up gushing over Monica Geller’s chic Manhattan apartment. I adored the girlish mix of eclectic furnishings, pretty purple walls, yellow floral curtains and quirky accessories. Looking around my apartment at the melange of styles and colourful accents, I can’t help but think I subconsciously drew design inspiration from the infamous TV set.

My absolute fav detail in Monica’s apartment is the iconic “yellow frame” around her door peephole. I love the simple, yet stylish accent so much that I decided to make one myself. Now I am usually a self-proclaimed DIY-avoider, but this was a project even I felt confident tackling.

here’s the before:

Sun Frame before pic framing your front door

and here’s the after:

Sun Frame After pic02 framing your front door


Sun Frame After pic051 framing your front door

all you need is:

1 – frame (new or old – mine was an inexpensive thrift store find)

1 – tube of acrylic or craft paint (any shade)

1 – foam brush

1 – pack of picture hanging strips (I used Command 3M: Medium Picture Hanging Strips)

just two simple steps:

1. Using a clean foam brush, simply give your frame a few quick coats of paint (leaving the frame to dry for about a half hour between each coat).

2. Secure frame to door using removable picture hanging strips.

And that’s really all there is to it. Easy, “I know”! Oops sorry, you might say I “pulled a Monica”. So tell us, what’s your fav TV or movie set design?

amy*

Amy Walters is a Winnipeg-based design enthusiast and blogger. For more design inspiration from Amy, check out her blog aDESIGNdock.

paisley print napkins

Fab find
Paisley print napkins, $12 for 4; westelm.com.
fab find napkins paisley print napkins
In honour of our fabulous new colour issue, we’ve chosen this fresh green set of paisley print napkins from West Elm as our latest fab find. They’re on sale right now for $12 for a set of four — what an affordable and easy way to bring some colour into your home for spring!
How do you bring colour back into your home for the spring season?

paint trend: colour zoning

According to the colour experts over at Sico, colour-zoning is going to be a big trend in 2011. Done in moderation or in a tasteful palette of muted tones, I’m a fan. Plus, it can help solve your dilemma when you just can’t choose between two or three shades for a particular room. Why choose? Use ‘em all! But super-dramatic is not for me. For instance, the colours in the living room below work well together.

colour block2 paint trend: colour zoningFeatured colours: Sico Call of the Loon (6183-41) grey and Egyptian Rose (6080-31) pink.

And while I like the idea represented here, personally I’d opt for softer colours.

colour block1 paint trend: colour zoningFeatured colours: Sico Impatiens (6033-63) pink, Ming Red (6052-65) and Dynastic Orange (6065-64).

If you love the idea, here are some colour blocking tips to help you get the look.

So, what do you think? To colour zone or not to colour zone? Leave a comment and tell us what you think!

pantone colour of the year: honeysuckle

pantone pantone colour of the year: honeysuckle
It’s official! Pantone has declared ‘honeysuckle’ the colour of the year for 2011.

According to Pantone’s recently issued press release, PANTONE® 18-2120 Honeysuckle “emboldens us to face everyday troubles with verve and vigor. A dynamic reddish pink, Honeysuckle is encouraging and uplifting. It elevates our psyche beyond escape, instilling the confidence, courage and spirit to meet the exhaustive challenges that have become part of everyday life.”

It’s another bright, bold colour, similar to Pantone’s declaration of turquoise as the colour of 2010. This year’s colour is lovely and lively and can be used to beautiful effect to punch up neutral spaces and add a splash of happy to your home.

What do you think? Love it? Hate it? Leave a comment and share your thoughts!

travel inspiration: italy {part 6}

cinque terre cliff travel inspiration: italy {part 6}

Prior to my trip, whenever I mentioned to people the places I was going to be visiting, they stopped and gasped when I said ‘Cinque Terre’. “Oh my goodness, you will love it — it is so beautiful,” was the standard reaction. Turns out, they were right! After a breathtaking bus ride to one of the five villages atop a peak, Trafalgar Tours hooked us up with a fabulous guide who took us on walks through the villages and showed us the most beautiful views of this UNESCO World Heritage Site.
cinque terre village travel inspiration: italy {part 6}
As a self-professed lover of all-white interiors, I was surprised to find how inspired I was by the colourful buildings at Cinque Terre. The pinks, yellows, greens and oranges were bold, but also muted amongst the aged rooftops and cracked foundations. I would love to include these colours in my own home, whether in artwork or ceramics.

Like most of Italy, Cinque Terre also had a bunch of specialty food stores with local treats. I stocked up on fresh olive oil, pesto and — of course — wine. I’m really excited to do some Italian cooking, especially with the extra virgin olive oil. It seriously tastes nothing like the stuff you buy in North America because it is so fresh — straight from the grove to the bottle.
cinque terre food travel inspiration: italy {part 6}cinque terre church travel inspiration: italy {part 6}cinque terre homes travel inspiration: italy {part 6}cinque terre lovers lane travel inspiration: italy {part 6}
xo,

Lauren

P.S. The last image is the walkway along the coast, that takes you from village to village. Nicknamed ‘Lovers Lane’, visitors leave padlocks and make a wish for the one they love. These padlocks are everywhere, from gates to railings to safety grates. Beautiful!

finding the right paint colour for kitchens and bathrooms

kitchen finding the right paint colour for kitchens and bathrooms
In a recent interview with Toronto-based designer Laura M. Stein, I asked her what suggestions she had to help people choose the right paint colours for kitchens and bathrooms? And where does she suggest finding inspiration?

Here’s what she had to say:

Anything you love can be inspiration for colour … a piece of artwork, a flower, a picture. If you want to feel a certain way in a room, think of other things that make you feel that way, and then think about what they look like in your mind. A luxury hotel? A spa? A hip restaurant? The beach?

Next, look around the room. Is there a colour you can pull from your backsplash tile or counter top? Are there accessories in the room that you love? I have a shower curtain that I hunted for all over New York City and has traveled with me through four different homes from Boston to Toronto. In each home, I used the shower curtain as inspiration and pulled a different colour for the walls each time.

Finally, look to the adjacent rooms. The colours in each room should flow together and work nicely side-by-side.

If you’re still stuck, flip through magazines or look at pictures online. There are lots of amazing photos of kitchens and bathrooms out there to inspire you.

Tip: Do not choose your paint colour in the store. Because the lighting in the store is different than the lighting in your home colours will look different in each location. Bring the swatches home and hold them up vertically against the wall to get the truest sense of what the colour will look like. Better yet, buy a small sample and paint some test swatches.

Check out our Kitchen and Bath section for more inspired ideas!

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