Decisions, Decisions

09 Tuesday Apr 2013

Posted by melissaoconnor in Art & Design, Everyday Design, Featured Artists, The Home

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Andrew Wyeth, art, beige, Christina's World, cream, Easterly, Evening on a Marsh, field, fine art, gray, horse, interior design, light house, moon, nature, nautical, neutral, painting, Peter Sculthorpe, sky, Springhouse, white, woman

My husband and I are planning to renovate our kitchen in a few weeks and we are very close to collecting all our new pieces and materials for the space. I am so excited to finally design my dream kitchen! It will be all neutral tones, cream and white, and all the vintage pieces we have found will be painted the same color with an antique finish. The added elements will be soft plaids, grays, and rustic textures. It’s going to look gorgeous.

One of the things I am trying to decide is choosing a fine art piece for the wall across from the sink. It’t basically the only wall with nothing on it or in front of it so I thought it would be nice to feature a large piece of work in the space. Something that will really bring the room together. I know I want a nature inspired piece, preferably an open field or landscape, and one that truly resonates with what Dan and I love. I want to be able to glance at the work and not want to look away. It must be showstopper.

I’ve found a few I really like and wanted to share with my readers. I will look some more but these are very big contenders. If I don’t find anything I like more than these, they are the top choices. I want this piece to be perfect. It has to set the tone for the space and help the room feel peaceful and calm. Just the right work of art to fit with a rustic country kitchen. Decisions, decisions – what is your top pick?

Easterly by Andrew Wyeth
I have always loved Wyeth’s work. I admire the white and gray tones in this piece. Both Dan and I love nautical scenes so this is a true contender. It’s calming and ethereal which totally wins me over.

Christina’s World by Andrew Wyeth
I have this exact piece printed on a postcard on my fridge so it would make sense to own a large print of it. There was something about this piece I have always been drawn to. Maybe it was the distant feeling and vast landscape or detailed strokes in the field. I love how the woman seems determined, yet hesitant to move. Her light pink dress blowing in the wind and her hair, slightly undone and natural. A true winner in my eyes.
Christina's World by Andrew Wyeth

Springhouse by Peter Sculthorpe
The rustic feel of this piece really draws me in. The texture of the grass and the details of the tree, so beautiful. I love the stone structure as well as its placement in the scene. The horse is such a fascinating creature and in this painting, it truly shines in such a natural way. Imagine looking out your back door and seeing this. Amazing.
Springhouse by Peter Sculthorpe

Evening on a Marsh by Peter Sculthorpe
The serenity of this piece is what really attracted me to it. Such silence and so much life. The blues are so beautiful against the green and brown and the gold elements really bring an element of beauty as well. I love art that just goes on forever, like this one.
Evening on a Marsh by Peter Sculthorpe

Loving Neutrals

08 Friday Mar 2013

Posted by melissaoconnor in Color Inspiration, Everyday Design, The Home

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art, beige, blue, brown, colors, cream, decor, design, earth tones, interior design, neutral palette, the home, white

I have always loved a neutral palette in my home. I think color is a great but I happen to enjoy living in an environment that is relaxing and comfortable. There are so many ways to use neutral colors in your decor and it doesn’t mean just having beige and white the main characters. There are lots of tones to play with. The key is using texture, shape and light correctly so you have a cohesive and all around finished look, without any one thing contrasting too much.

Here are some great examples of how to design an interior space successfully with a neutral palette. I hope they inspire you to use more neutral colors in your home.

Photo Credit: Country Living

Photo Credit: Coastal Living

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The Cool Winter Blues

09 Wednesday Jan 2013

Posted by melissaoconnor in Color Inspiration, Everyday Design, The Home

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bathroom, bedroom, better homes and gardens, blue, cool colors, Country Living, cream, eclectic, interior design, living room, neutrals, patterns, texture, white

I simply love the color blue. I always have and always will. It’s just one of those colors that can make you happy or make you sad, can brighten or calm a space and really help to bring the feel the nature inside your home. Let’s just say its the color thats filled with surprises.

Always having a special connection with blue, it has been used throughout all my color schemes in my spaces. You will find it everywhere in my home. I’m a big fan of the cool color palette and blue is a rising star in that category. Mix it with grays, creams and other cool neutrals, and you have a space that is peaceful, fresh and brilliant.

Here are some great examples of how to use blue in your home. I hope they inspire you to incorporate this amazing color into the spaces that make you happy.

This bedroom is certainly a place to rest. With pale blue on the walls, it enables to space to feel light and airy, like your surrounded by clouds. The addition of white makes it feel fresh with soft layers and the warm wood tones helps ground the overall design. The small pops of garden inspired colors throughout the room brings more interest and a bit of glamour.

Photo Credit: Country Living

This reading nook is all sorts of fun. Although comfy and relaxed, the various pops of color and patterns allows the space to feel alive and stylish. Blue and yellow are the main characters here and as you follow your eye around from the stool to the plaid curtains there are all sorts of details that help this room have an eclectic feel.

Photo Credit: Better Homes and Gardens

The various blues in this living room allow the space to feel fun and classic. You don’t have to stick to one hue. As long as they are close enough in the spectrum as far tone, it should work nicely. Here, the owners a light toned rug, a couch that matches the rug nicely and then included a brighter more saturated blue for pop. Using this color for the bookshelves really make them stand out as apposed to using the pale blue, which would help blend them in. Again, whites, creams and warm wood tones help to balance out the space while a few hints of green add a touch of whimsy.

Photo Credit: Country Living

The same idea as above is being treated in this bedroom. Various blues in all different patterns and textures really bring a unique feel the to space. Although the room has a neutral backdrop, the blue elements keep it lively, fresh and interesting.

Photo Credit: Better Homes and Gardens

Feminine and cottage chic, this vanity area is all dolled up in light blues, pinks and lavender. These soft colors keep the space light, pretty and fit for a queen. The addition of white and ruffle details really add a cottage feel while keeping modern with how its treated.

Photo Credit: Country Living

A nice way to express your love for nautical design is to simply use blue and white in a simple way. This bathroom keeps with the streamline aesthetic with dark blue walls and white furniture accents.

Photo Credit: Country Living

Fall Colors in the Home

12 Wednesday Sep 2012

Posted by melissaoconnor in Everyday Design, The Home

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autumn, brown, color, cream, fall, home, house, interior design, nature, neutrals, purple, red

Well it feels like fall is officially here. It’s a season with tons of inspiration, especially its colors. How can you not love the many hues that are showcased by nature? It truly is a beautiful time. It’s also a great time change it up a bit in your home. Besides having fun decorating for Halloween and Thanksgiving, try sprucing up your interior space with fall colors and inspiration.

Here are some great examples I found on Better Homes and Gardens’ website of how to use this season’s colors to create warmth and coziness in your home while still having a designed feel.

Using the neutral tones of nature such as browns and creams with a pop of color like red, gives a sophisticated but fun look to a space. Bring in high contrast elements such as the mirrors and lamp and you add more dimension and a way for light to reflect its shine. This helps make the room lighter and airy.

This nature inspired space showcases all the neutral tones of the season with a few brighter colors for interest. You can see there is a nice even feel to the room. This is due to the different browns and yellows that are used. Everything flows nicely and the space is cozy despite the high ceiling. All the wood textures help as well.

I love the texture in this room. The linen wallpaper adds so much warmth and interest and plays as a nice backdrop to the deeper colors in the space. From the dark brown wicker chair to the taupe couch, the amount of different tones allow the eye to be carried around with ease. The pops of red and orange are nice, especially since they aren’t bright. Everything has the same tone which gives the space a sense of cohesion.

This next room proves you can use an array of shades of one color and still have an interesting space. Doing this allows a feeling of warmth and relaxation. The creams help break up the darker browns in a subtle way.

Creams and browns will always give a space a sophisticated look while creating a cozy feel. I love how this space is airy and open but warm as well. The rustic elements such as the chandelier, beams and textured wood chosen for the door, truly add a woodsy yet elegant style.

When pairing dark colors together such as this eggplant purple and brick red, its important to remember to include brighter hues and reflective elements to help break up the space.