Heather Garrett 

It wasn’t mine until lately. I confess…I have been seduced. I find that tangerine (or red orange) really elevates my spirits. It makes me smile. It is Pantone’s Color of the Year.

And what that means is that this color is in demand. We, the Design Junkie Community, want it and need it. Now! Tangerine is the color of optimism and individuality. Something about that rings true…do you agree?

 Too bright?….not always.

Yes, it CAN look sophisticated

It can even be subdued

Ann Rue Interiors

And understated…

Tie it into the next room

A soft version of tangerine (below) covers two upholstered chairs, two sofa pillows and is repeated again in the adjacent dining room wall color. Here is a gorgeous example of continuity and “flow” from room to room.

Tangerine-orange makes a memorable accent wall

…especially when repeated in an accessory like this bolster pillow

It makes a snappy focal point

Orange with gray – A very hip combo

…very handsome

Style At Home

Orange with blue makes a welcoming guest room

Combine it with rose and lots of white for a feminine statement

Style At Home

Put a contemporary spin on a room with antiques

Better Homes & Gardens

Go bright with orange accessories for extra punch

Betsy Burnham

It holds its own against magenta and lime

Tangerine/orange is easy to find in stores and websites

You don’t have to hunt very far

Bindu Rug – www.potterybarn.com

Garden Stool – insideavenue.com

Albert Pinto design – devinecorp.net

Climbing Vines Curtain – anthropologie.com

The mouthwatering tangerine…inside and out

May your imagination take you to delicious places…

Walk in beauty…it will change your life.

#1 Cheapest and Easiest – Paint the Walls

Not just any color though…make it fun, current, energetic. Yellow-green is currently a very popular color. Whether you are trend sensitive or not (guess what? everyone is to some extent…but that’s a whole other article) you will want to use colors that appeal to you right now.

With a freshly painted wall, the color scheme above becomes green, black and white. I love the way the black is repeated in four different ways: lamp, stool, floor tiles and picture frame.

Here’s another bathroom in a delicious mocha brown. Note the interesting collection of ornate white framed mirrors in an otherwise un-fussy room.

#2 Change Out Colored Accessories.

This could even be less expensive than painting the walls. New fluffy towels, artwork that echoes the towel color, and a wastebasket that carries it through. It’s a simple but delightful change that will lift your spirits.

#3 Paint the Walls Decoratively

This takes a bit more effort than rolling just one color on the walls. The bathroom below is very eye catching indeed. Our homeowner simply marked off stripes with painter’s tape and created a very cool look for the same price as a solid color.

#4 Use a Towel Display as a Design Element

Keeping the color palette limited to yellow, black, white and gray adds pattern without getting too messy looking. In other words, let’s keep our red towels stored in the linen closet…know what I mean? They wouldn’t fit into the color scheme and would simply create a distraction.

Nicole Lanteri

#5 Add Wallpaper that is Eye Candy

Bathrooms are small. Powder rooms are even smaller. They are a great opportunity to use wallpaper that is wilder than you might ordinarily use. There will not be much of it…especially if you only cover one or two walls. Here are a few great examples to tickle your imagination.

Elegantly Asian

Talk about a conversation piece

Handsome Arts & Crafts style

#6 A New Vanity Can Do Wonders

You can pick up something contemporary like this for very little money

This special chest was repurposed into a vanity by drilling a hole for the faucet and another for the sink.              Not a complicated job.

Let your imagination go wild! I love the way the bicycle is used to hold spare towels.

#7 A New Medicine Cabinet

The one below is shabby chic and brings lots of character into the room.

#8 A Unique or Oversized Mirror

Utopian Lifestyle

Here’s a mirror with plenty of personality. What do you think?

 It’s not for everyone, huh? But…you get my point.

Note how this enormous framed mirror extends behind the vanity all the way down to the baseboards.                Very dramatic. Wow!

#9 Replace Your Old Sink With a Snazzy New One

Vessel sinks are so popular nowadays. If you get a glass one, make sure you select something that you can clean easily. Nothing worse than blobs of toothpaste on your exquisite hand blown glass.

McLean Quinlan

#10 Replace Your Old Faucet with Something That You Love

Michael Penny

An oversized spout

Hego Faucet 

Dual purpose vase ad faucet. I couldn’t resist including this

#11 Light Fixtures – Get Rid of the Ugly!

The badf news is that there are very few attractive bathroom light fixtures on the market. The good news is that they are relatively inexpensive for the important job that they do.

Sconces on either side of the mirror throw better light on your face than light bars mounted above. The ones pictured above are quite handsome. My hunch is that they are on a dimmer which allows the homeowner to create some “atmosphere” when brighter lights are not required for a task such as putting on makeup.

#12 Beautiful Tile Adds Class (and cost)

Tile does not have to be designed in a complex way (like this one below). If you don’t want to stretch your budget this much, consider plain white subway tiles.

#13 Art Work Speaks Volumes About You

Utopian Lifestyle

Here’s a Combination of Many Ideas

Scott Yetman

I think this is an inviting room that feels good.  What do you think?  What would you do differently?

I invite you to leave a comment below. We would love to hear what you love and what you hate….seriously!

Until next time…

Walk in Beauty. It will change your life.

In my opinion, it takes guts to paint a wall a color like this. (Benjamin Moore’s California Breeze) and to have the room still be livable. The reason we can live with it is because it is balanced out by lots of neutrals and darks. There is plenty of white in this room. This cuts the turquoise like tonic cuts gin. The golden area rug, deeper golden leather ottoman, and rich brown velvet sofa are neutrals that pale out that big turquoise statement. The room has symmetry, and we all love that. Two large paintings on the wall, pairs of objects on the mantel, and more. But the designer has surprised us by interrupting the circle of chairs with a single red contemporary chair (the famous Egg Chair). Unexpected? Totally! Are we thrown off balance? No! One reason we are not thrown off balance by this is that the red color is repeated elsewhere. The back panels of the chairs are upholstered in a red ikat pattern and a vase of red flowers sits on the table behind the chair. This keeps the color in balance.

The pair of artichoke paintings are by Sarah Graham. I don’t know the exact size but I am guessing 42′ wide by 54″ high. Bold of scale. This designer is not afraid to go there, and it certainly creates drama. I encourage people to use larger scaled accessories than they think will work. Take what’s “appropriate” and double the size. Do this once or twice in each room and see how it makes you feel.

A front view of the brown velvet sofa with its nail heads and narrow arms, shows a display of loved appliqued fabrics. The wall color is repeated here, which enhances both the wall and the fabric. The other major bright color in the room is this lovely mango/orange. Notice the very high oversized urn behind the sofa, and the large contemporary metal sculpture on the wall to the left. The brown picks up the sofa’s color. This kind of color repetition makes us happy (I’m not joking) and is one of the reasons this room is so great.

This is a view of the other end of the room. The golden/mango fabric on the dining chairs beautifully echoes the sisal rug and throw pillows and even the honey colored floor. Of the size of the bookcase, Williams said “You’ve got to get your proportions right… I had the fireplace and the big strong botanicals, so I wanted the other end {of the room} to have the big strong bookcase.” The room itself has great bones including an extremely high ceiling which the designer wanted to show off to its greatest potential. Hence, the large scale and tall furnishings and the pale gray paint above. This next view shows us another angle of the dining table with its extraordinarily tall planters.

Pulling off an interior like this really takes confidence and vision. Extreme color. Extreme scale. And a fascinating combination of furnishings, antique and new.

Photos from House Beautiful August 2009

Lighting is the most subtle and powerful way to create a mood. It helps that this Chicago condominium designed by Dale Carol Anderson is made up of sumptuous furnishings and fabrics. It helps that the artwork is dramatic. It helps that the walls are covered with burgundy cashmere. However….without the skillful use of layered lighting, this interior would not have the romantic intrigue that makes me drool. You too? In order to achieve proper lighting we have to layer it like dressing for winter in the northwest.

Task lighting can be table or floor lamps, as well as ceiling fixtures. This allows us to read, prepare food or do a project. Every room needs task lighting and every task light should be turned off when the task is done, relying on the ambient lights to do their work.

Ambient lighting is for mood. Wash a wall with reflected light, up-light the foliage of a potted palm, or bring a glow to a dark corner. Use indirect light from a wall sconce or standing torchiere lamp, for example. Uplights can be aimed at cabinets, reflecting halos on the ceiling, creating a serene mood. Architect Michael Morris prefers to use as little direct light as possible. “In traditional Japanese architecture,” he says “the moon’s reflection was often viewed in a still pond from a palace balcony or platform.”

One rule of thumb is to never use surface mount ceiling lights. By this I mean the kind that builders insist on putting in the center of the bedroom ceiling. These are ugly, unflattering and should only be used if you are desperately searching for your contact lense. On the other hand, chandeliers and pendants are lovely because they bring the source of light down to just above eye level, as do table and floor lamps. ?Always put chandeliers and pendants on dimmers. Notice the beautiful indirect lighting installed under the shelves in the bookcase above. This creates a glow within the shelving that casts light out into the room.

There is nothing quite so wonderful as under cabinet lighting in a kitchen. It is useful as you wield your butcher knife at the food prep station. But when the salade nicoise is on the table (and the counter is cleared), it creates a soft light from the kitchen while you enjoy your tasty meal. Most kitchens nowadays are designed with recessed ceiling lights (cans) at strategic points. These are great for tasks but must be on dimmers and are better turned off when not in use.

This bathroom is softly lit and attractive. My best advice for task (shaving and makeup) lighting in a bathroom is to install sconces on either side of the mirror on the mirror wall. This lights your entire face without casting any shadows. The bathroom pictured here has 3-light sconces on the side walls and one above the mirror. While it looks absolutely beautiful, I’m not sure I could really see my face well enough to put on mascara. ?Another idea is to install a lighted retractable makeup mirror on the wall or in a cabinet.

Soft lighting in the bedroom is so important. Isn’t this a sumptuous little snippet though? I love the burgundy crocodile leather headboard. Extremely sexy and masculine. (Have you guessed that this is a bachelor pad?)

There are three kinds of lights to use, and a mixture is fine. Incandescent light is warm and most flattering to skin tones. Halogen is the purest white light there is. It is not recommended for artwork, but is useful for task lighting. Compact fluorescent lights save energy and last much longer than incandescent, so they are perfect for hard to reach fixtures, as long as you like the quality of the light.

So while you collect paint chips, and run around to antique stores, don’t forget your lighting. It’s not only the frosting on the cake…. it may even be the eggs in the batter too!

Photos courtesy of Shelter Magazine July/August 2006

Here is another view of the same room. The designer, Nate Berkus, ?has created a beautifully balanced composition using neutral colored furniture. Note how the jet black of the firebox echoes the black of the rug. Squared off geometric shapes are also repeated in the mirror frame, end table and even the squared off shape of the chair.

In the entrance hall a chunky 19th century Belgian chest of drawers creates a square dark mass against the white walls. It is interesting to observe this designer’s combinations. Next to a heavy piece he unpredictably places an elegant curved leg stool. “I’ve always cared about what things look like and how they work together,” says Berkus. “I’m more interested in creating relationships between things than I am in sticking with an overall concept.” ?The striped rug from Morocco carries the geometric theme through and brings a punch to this space.

What? More stripes? Yes, but in a different pattern. A variation on a theme. The hanging artwork (on the silver leafed wall) is actually a vintage game board. Imagine this room without the rug and the artwork…..it’s not the same, is it? Not nearly as wonderful!

This appears to be a sitting room with still another high contrast geometric rug. This one is a window pane pattern and was designed by Berkus. The pair of black leather chairs and much of the furniture in this Chicago apartment are vintage finds. The designer loves to scour flea markets and antique stores. “To me,” he says “it’s all about the hunt.”

The master bedroom features a geometric rug by Markham Roberts and a throw pillow which echoes the pattern. Also note the striped bed pillow which, although not large, is bold enough to make a subliminal reference to the stripes throughout the house.

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Photographs from Elle Decor / September 2008

What do you do when when a client asks you to do up a house in bubblegum pink? Well…you try to talk her into coral, or watermelon…or….or….some other variation on the theme. San Francisco designer Stephen Shubel is well known for his bold ways with color and his palette for this Sausalito, California home is bright and light and airy. The above dining room is a deep salmon which is a yellow based red and easier to live with than blue based bubblegum or shocking pink. Copious amounts of white throughout the house cool down the high energy color and keep the mood joyful.

The coral salmon is lusciously repeated in the living room’s velvet sofa with a paler pink stripes (Pierre Frey fabric) on the chairs. Why is this room so inviting? Because it is not too complicated. The rug (it looks like sisal although it may be a wool) is neutral, as is the Burmese inspired coffee table crowded with oversized accessories, draperies and other elements. Pink is the star of this show and all other elements play supporting roles.

The petal pink walls pick up the color of the living room chairs and continue the theme in a gentle way, cooled down by white accessories and a punch of deep coral on the chair. What we see next is a dramatic change in color. We go from one monochromatic color scheme to another…

Wow!?Granny Smith Green! Do we like such an abrupt change? Does it work? You bet it does, and here’s why. Again, just one color is used….light, cheerful shades of green. This keeps the room uncomplicated. But the main reason it works so very well is that white becomes the common thread that winds through this entire house. It’s a dramatic continuous theme that makes us feel calm like it all makes sense. We humans love the beneficial tonic of a repeated theme.

And here it is once again in a bedroom…..White! and one other light and happy color. ?The crisp bed linens are from Leron with a flokati rug from Stark.

What a joyful home this would be to live in!

Photos courtesy of Veranda Magazine

Charm is an understatement…but here it is! These spaces belong to French antiques dealer Stephane Olivier whose shop is called La Petite Maison Antiquites found in the Cignancourt flea market in northern Paris. In interior design, each room is a composition. What makes the composition above absolutely wonderful is the variation of scale among the components. The cast iron deer head from the 1700s is remarkably large. Huge, in fact. Imagine how much less interesting this room would have been if the deer head were only 10″ high as many sculptures are. There is a world of difference. The leather and antler armchairs are 19th century, and the two lamps were designed by Olivier from aged wood and new contemporary linen shades…a nice touch of eclecticism.

A charming bathroom by Stephane featuring a cast iron statue and an antique carved wooden mirror. Note the peely paint window sash. While most of us would not use this amount of antiques in one room, the addition of one or two clearly old pieces sets a tone that says “this place has been around for awhile….and it feels as solid as tradition.”

On the continuing theme of creating beauty with a limited palette, here is another gorgeous example of what can be done with textures and not a huge amount of color. Created by Los Angeles designers Jennifer Kates and Jude Scarboro to create Drexel Heritage’s Postobello Couture Collection above is a living room seating area in a medley of textures. The deep dark high gloss of the wood tables and chest is echoed in the frames of the bergere style upholstery and art work on the walls. Whites and creams are used with abandon. Luxurious fur (is that fox?) pillows incorporate the tans and honeys that soften the other contrasts. Notice the different finishes as well…from soft matte linens to reflective metal lamps and candle hurricaines.

The dining room continues a theme of rich, dark glossy woods with a high contrast graphic black and white rug. Warm tones on the chairs create a transition from dark to light.

The master bedroom is very different….but under the same design umbrella. The continuity of color is the genius of this house.

Here are two views of one of the most inviting farmhouse style kitchens I have ever seen. Designed by Erin Martin, designer/owner of the loft store called Martin in St. Helena, California, this magnanimous family room barely looks like a kitchen. What makes it so fabulous? The very limited palette goes only from white/cream to pale golden yellow/wheat and grounded with black. So few colors frees the eye to take in a magical variety of textures: limestone floors, sisal rugs, linen furniture, a variety of wood surfaces, luscious fur pillow and throw, glossy subway tiles and bronze metal light fixtures. Notice the capaciously large chairs and accessories chosen for their large scale as well. “In an open space everything has to work together,” says Martin. “You want your eye to continue to roll without getting stuck.”