Posts Tagged ‘neutrals’

January 10th, 2014 No Comments

quick tips for freshening up your home

Feel like making a fresh start in the new year? Here are some quick changes you can do to freshen up your home. Above, Invest in crisp white sheets for your bed, then layer in soft neutrals like grays or creams with your blankets and throw pillows. I have some beautiful Belgium linen duvet covers, pillow cases and blankets on my shop. If your bedroom feels too dark, try a fresh coat of Benjamin Moore’s China White for the walls- it’s a great neutral white with a bit of gray in it. Below, something as simple as treating yourself … Read more

January 6th, 2014 No Comments

this week’s color palette: neutral whites

Continuing with neutrals this week I have selected some of my favorite whites that all have a bit of gray in them- even though the computer doesn’t show the colors as they really look. The exception would be Picket Fence which is a darker neutral. These shades of white change throughout the day when they are in your home. Decorators White is my go-to white when I need a clean white for cabinets, moldings etc.. All paint swatches are from Benjamin Moore Paints. Above are some beautiful neutral knitted scarves from Purl Soho, a wonderful shop in New York City … Read more

December 30th, 2013 No Comments

Color Palette: Blues and Neutrals in 2014

As we look ahead to 2014 this week, as far as color predictions, Pantone’s color of the year is “Radiant Orchid” while Benjamin Moore shows us the “New Neutrals” in soft shades of blues, violets, grays, tans and even pale peach- a bit similar to this inspiration photo above. My favorite color is blue but taking a cue from this photograph, folding in neutrals like gray and a creamy tan really seem to elevate it to a more sophisticated and very usable color palette when designing a home. The darkest color is wonderful for lower kitchen cabinets, bathroom … Read more

October 10th, 2013 No Comments

create a neutral color palette with gray & green

When people think of neutrals most automatically think of tans and creams, but gray and green can be a nice alternative. Whether it’s light or dark gray, both shades are still very neutral. Green solids or patterned fabrics add dimension and texture like this upholstered headboard in Elizabeth Mayhew’s bedroom above or these solid green drapes in a dining room pictured below. Blending in cream or white balance the overall palette. This is an easy palette to work with in kitchens too since many appliances, finishes and flooring are all in the gray family.  And don’t forget your front door. … Read more

August 29th, 2013 No Comments

how to create a soft look to your home

Ever look at a picture like this and wonder why you can’t quite create this soft soothing look to your own home? First it starts with the floors. A dark wood floor would not give you this overall look. By staining your floors a soft gray or even a white you can begin laying in this soft palette. (Minwax has several grays to choose from.) If you don’t want to stain your existing floors another color then choose a large area rug in a soft gray, light pale blue or cream and have it cover most all of your … Read more

August 21st, 2013 No Comments

weddings: marrying your style to your location- here are our tips for a happy union

Sometimes trying to decide on the decor of a location for a celebration can be very tricky. The obvious is have the decor mirror the design aesthetic of the building but the location might not represent your style 100%. Here is an great example of a modern location but with natural branches as centerpieces- the opposite of what you might expect.  By keeping the centerpieces all the same and all the table decor in a neutral color palette the execution is more modern in feel but the organic silhouette of the branches softens the modernity of the space. Simple hurricanes … Read more

August 14th, 2013 No Comments

weddings: find out what advice photographer melissa Mlejnek has for the bride

Melissa Mlejnek of La De Da Photography shared with us some of her expert advice and even what color palette she personally loves to see at weddings. Sometimes you don’t think of things that could have made the day go more smoothly until after the fact. Melissa has photographed countless weddings and shares a few tips to make your day picture perfect.  Here’s what she had to say: “I suggest for the bridesmaids to always be in their attire before the bride places her dress on. This is a very important, because sometimes there is a flurry of activity when … Read more

August 6th, 2013 No Comments

check out my shop’s collection of mud australia plates and our unique accessories- all the tableware you see here can be found at the little blue dish shop

I really love these plates and bowls that I have at my shop. They are from a collection called Mud Austalia (made in Austalia) and it has to be one of my favorite lines of tableware. The inside is glazed and the outside is matte. We carry them in cream and a slate color. Paired with our Belgium linens from Libeco and our stainless steel accessories from Alessi, you can see how a table setting can come together with them. Felt accessories like our bunny egg cozies are sure to bring a smile to … Read more

June 10th, 2013 No Comments

kitchens & baths: a neutral color palette and brass accents create a timeless style

Your kitchen and your bathrooms usually get the most return when renovating your home. It’s hard to know where to start when renovating your kitchen. But if you are planning to sell your home anytime in the near future you might want to consider a classic neutral color palette for your cabinets and countertops. Above, the kitchen has dark counters, while below the bath shows a neutral cream counter, showing you how both can be classic in style.  I mentioned before in our post “6 emerging kitchen trends” that brass was becoming more popular again for kitchen hardware. Now … Read more

February 25th, 2013 No Comments

this week’s color palette: neutrals & blues/ personalizing with monograms, today a monogrammed mortgage button

This week we’ll explore the ways to personalize your home & celebrations with monograms. Today I thought I’d share with you something I did in my own home when we renovated. We needed to add a new staircase (since years ago the interior staircase had been removed to make two separate apartments) and while on a frequent trip to Nantucket I came upon these “mortgage buttons” made of ivory in the Nina Hellman antiques store. I had just read about these and was ecstatic to have found them! The legend is when a mortgage was paid off there was … Read more