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The Design Inspirationalist

~ Inspiring Ideas | Spectacular Creations

The Design Inspirationalist

Tag Archives: white

Loving Neutrals

08 Friday Mar 2013

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

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Tags

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

Loving Neutrals

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.

Loving Neutrals
Photo Credit: Country Living

Loving Neutrals
Photo Credit: Coastal Living

the-real-deal-living-room-0313-xln
Photo Credit: Country Living

Loving Neutrals
Photo Credit: Country Living

Loving Neutrals
Photo Credit: HGTV

Loving Neutrals
Photo Credit: Country Living

Loving Neutrals
Photo Credit: APD Interiors

Loving Neutrals
Photo Credit: Country Living

Loving Neutrals
Photo Credit: Digs Digs

Loving Neutrals
Photo Credit: Country Living

Loving Neutrals
Photo Credit: Country Living

Loving Neutrals
Photo Credit: Decor Detal

Loving Neutrals
Photo Credit: My Home Ideas

Loving Neutrals
Photo Credit: Country Living

Loving Neutrals
Photo Credit: House to Home

Loving Neutrals
Photo Credit: Country Living

Loving Neutrals
Photo Credit: Bebeeh

Loving Neutrals
Photo Credit: Decoholic

Loving Neutrals
Photo Credit: Country Living

Loving Neutrals
Photo Credit: Susan Hawke

Loving Neutrals
Photo Credit: Country Living

Loving Neutrals
Photo Credit: AD3 Design

Loving Neutrals
Photo Credit: House to Home

Loving Neutrals
Photo Credit: Country Living

The Cool Winter Blues

09 Wednesday Jan 2013

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

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Tags

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

The Cool Winter Blues

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.
The Cool Winter Blues
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.
The Cool Winter Blues
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.
The Cool Winter Blues
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.
The Cool Winter Blues
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.
The Cool Winter Blues
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.
The Cool Winter Blues
Photo Credit: Country Living

Inspiration Photo Friday: Nautical Days

04 Friday Jan 2013

Posted by melissaoconnor in Inspiration Photo Friday, The Great Outdoors

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Tags

antique, boat, connecticut, fall, house, mystic, nature, nautical, new england, ocean, sea, shore, spring, stars, tree, white, winter

Boy, do I hate the cold. These past few days have been bitter for sure. Winter is never as fun and inspiring to me as spring and fall but it does have it’s beautiful moments.

Below is a photo I took in Connecticut during the end of the fall season. You can feel the cold air hitting your face and the crisp salty breeze from the ocean. I imagine myself living in this white house by the sea. Watching and waiting as the seasons pass me by. Looking out the window at night and seeing the stars twinkle. I have a sense of peace as the calming water by the shore creates a multitude of serenades, just for me.

Oh, do I miss nautical days. Being by the water always makes me feel at home. There is something about the New England area that calls out to me as I have always been drawn to its historic feel. I hear you loud and clear. Maybe one day I will not only stand on your shores but have a little white house of my own. Until then…

{You can purchase this photo in my Etsy shop for $6 + shipping}

Inspiration Photo Friday: Nautical Days - © Melissa O'Connor. All Rights Reserved

Easy Ways to Update Your Bathroom

08 Thursday Nov 2012

Posted by melissaoconnor in Everyday Design, The Home

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

bathroom, color, diy, interior design, painting, repurpose, tub, white

Easy Ways to Update Your Bathroom

The bathroom might not be the most important room in your home or the most used but it is surely important. Its a place where you have peace and privacy and most often get to relax. For me, having a beautiful clean bathroom is a must. Since my husband and I had a low budget when we bought our home, we couldn’t do much to the master bath. But besides completely renovating, there are things I have done to make it more bearable and better looking.

Our half bath downstairs is also a small project we haven’t gotten to yet but plan to in the near future. With just a little bit of paint, new flooring and a new sink, it would totally be transformed and it wouldn’t even cost much. I love home projects and doing it all ourselves is always fun too. I enjoy doing the work and taking all the credit but in the end, its all about taking a step back and seeing the beautiful space you have created.

To all of you who feel the same and enjoy doing DIY projects around the house, here are some great ideas I scooped from Better Homes and Gardens on what to do to spruce up your bathroom. Enjoy!

Using white items tend to cost less because manufacturers make them more often. Plus, white is a perfect color for the bathroom because it looks fresh and clean.
Easy Ways to Update Your Bathroom

Just by updating the hardware in the space, the room can look like it had a facelift. Most hardware is affordable and very easy to install. Definitely a DIY project you can do in less than an hour.
Easy Ways to Update Your Bathroom

By changing or updating your tub area, you can easily make the bathroom look different. There are plenty of companies that you can hire to help with this problem. Instead of remodeling the whole area, why not call in someone like Bathfitter who can simply cover it all up and make it like new. For under $5,000 you can get this checked off the list.
Easy Ways to Update Your Bathroom

Add more storage to what you already have so you can stow away items that don’t need to be seen. Maximize your space and get organized!
Easy Ways to Update Your Bathroom

Easy Ways to Update Your Bathroom

Get creative and turn a piece of furniture you love into a vanity. All you need is to cut a hole out for the sink and you have a beautiful piece that will transform the room. Look for great finds at outlets, garage and estate sales and craigslist.
Easy Ways to Update Your Bathroom

A little bit of paint goes a long way. Revamp your space with a new color or treatment and just see the room transform.
Easy Ways to Update Your Bathroom

Use fabric to create a skirt to go around your sink and hideaway plumbing and storage. Its affordable and fun and adds a nice touch to the space.
Easy Ways to Update Your Bathroom

Think out of the box and repurpose other pieces to use in the space. Like this drawer being used for a shelf. Its easy and looks really cool.
Easy Ways to Update Your Bathroom

{For more ideas visit Better Homes and Gardens, Low Cost Bathroom Updates}

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