May 10th, 2010 by erin

It’s time for another installment in our Ask Sanders series, wherein some lucky reader has their decorating dilemma solved by our resident paint guru, Sanders Gibbs. It’s a dream come true, because in case you don’t already know, Sanders is a badass. But don’t take our word for it — if you live in Austin, go visit Benjamin Moore Hill Country Paints, where Sanders puts his talents to the test as store manager. Not in Austin? Catch up by reading this interview with Sanders here.

Without further ado, here’s reader Rossana’s question:

“My husband and I are in the process of painting the nursery. We have differing ideas about what this should look like, but we have at least found a nice compromise with the Ben Moore pear green. The gender is a surprise! The room is about a 10 x 12 room with lots and lots of windows and the one wall that is solid will be the one that we put the crib on, and this is the wall that we will paint Pear Green. Question is: what other color would be nice with PG?”

First of all, great choice! Pear Green is a bright and versatile shade that pairs (ahem) well with many colors. Sanders gave us a broad selection of gender neutral choices to pick from, and many can be mixed and matched to different effect.

pear green

Amp up the drama by mixing pear green with bold brights.

Or tone it down with neutrals. It works well either way.

For a baby’s room, you could play it sophisticated by painting the crib wall pear green, the other walls off white (Sanders gave us Mountain Peak White), and then adding in other colors through accessories and bedding. Or you could funk it up by painting the other three walls a jazzier color, and then using accessories in more neutral shades. Let’s take a look at some rooms with pear green and see how Sanders’ choices work in them.

This playroom in the home of Avocado and Papaya’s Jackie Kersh features a cute, classic palette of green, red and blue.

benjamin moore color palette

Here’s Sanders’ palette, which would work well in a gender neutral nursery: Pear Green with Chili Pepper Red and Peacock Blue.

Another playroom, via Cupcake Wishes and Unicorn Dreams.

And Sanders’ corresponding choices are Pear Green with Stardust and Violet Stone.

I know it’s not a kid’s room, but the color palette in this kitchen would be fab in a nursery.

Pear Green with Banana Yellow and Florida Keys Blue.

And then there’s this hotness — who cares if the Pear Green is on a couch and not a wall? Use your imagination goggles to see that this color combo is off the chain… Loves it.

Pear Green, Mountain Peak White and Silver Dollar. DRAMA. Add a dash of black here and there and you’ve got a winner for all ages.

And here are a couple more pretty palettes, just because I made them up all nice in photoshop:

The bold and the beautiful: Tequila Lime, Juneau Spring, Banana Yellow, Tangy Orange, and Pear Green.

Oh so quiet and sophisticated: Mountain Peak White (loving this white!), Silver Dollar, Taos Taupe and Light Khaki. Brilliant.

That’s it for this edition of Ask Sanders. Rossana, I hope there’s some helpful information here, and hey — maybe we inspired some of y’all out there to repaint. Or perhaps even have a baby… After all, what better excuse could there be to redecorate?

I’m leaving you with this picture of Ike and Sanders. Ike LOVES loves him some Uncle Sanders, mostly because Ike is obsessed with Sanders’ nametag, but also because Ike has good taste in people.

If any of you out there would like some professional advice regarding your painting dilemmas, send in a request and we’ll forward it to Sanders.

Thanks for sharing your expertise with us, Sanders!

October 22nd, 2009 by erin

Hello hello, blog buddies! I am back from the brink of certain death by bubonic infection, and baby Ike is feeling much better, as well. Along with heaping doses of Oprah, Supernanny, and baby Tylenol, your well wishes and kind words healed our sickness. It’s a miracle! Or maybe my resurrection is the result of these hot rooms that have my blood a’ pumping, because you know what — the gloss is boss.

glossy walls

Apartment Therapy

Yesss, paired with deep, dark paint, a glossy finish adds depth and — dare I say — an element of mystery?

miles redd

A super high gloss finish like the one in this room by Miles Redd is like hot lingerie for your walls, and you don’t want to force your walls to wear granny panties, do you?

studio ilse

Studio Ilse

No granny panties here, just sleek sophistication. But make sure to smooth out walls before painting, because a glossy sheen reveals imperfections and no one wants to see that orange peel cellulite on your wall.

gambrel

SR Gambrel

Why not spread the shine to the ceiling, while you’re at it?

sr gambre;

SR Gambrel

And although black looks fabulously fresh in a high gloss finish, a whole rainbow of dark hues could work beautifully.

todd romano

Head Over Heels

elle decor

Elle Decor

marie claire maison

Marie Claire Maison

Dark and glossy is grown up sexy, but use it sparingly. Much like makeup, you don’t want too much shiny, or you risk looking trashy.

dark and glossy

Although a shiny finish does make for easy cleanup.

July 28th, 2009 by karly

After months of zero zilch nada progress made on my home due to analysis paralysis, I finally made some decisions and got to work this weekend.  Everyone had awesome suggestions for my room last week, Sherry had the genius idea to use photoshop to test drive designs and I loved From the Right Bank’s idea to switch the black wall and paint my fireplace a bright color… but I wasn’t up for painting over black.  In fact, you all had so many awesome ideas, I almost had to spend another 6 months in hibernation trying to figure it all out.

But!  My mind was about to explode and I had to make a move.  I decided to go with my gut and laser-light-show it up.  A visit to the always brilliant Sanders sealed the deal when he gave his nod of approval and pointed me to the metallic paint (!!!!) display.  Sanders and I quickly agreed on pearl white and I was out the door with some fancy paint and lots and lots of tape:

I started by free-form taping the wall behind my bed, making each stripe about 1.5″ wide. 

I continued around the corner and onto the 3rd wall.  I didn’t tape the entire 3rd wall, I let the design taper off so that there would be a spot for your eye to rest.  Fancy, huh?

I was actually pretty smitten with the kelly green tape (of which I used 180 yards) and was almost remiss to paint it all white, but green angles are too crazy for a bedroom and I had a plan and I was going to stick to it, dammit.

Ta-Da!  Laser-Light kicks kelly green’s ass!  To understand how amazing and fabulous this looks in real life, please take the awesomeness of this picture and multiply by eight hundred thousand, give or take.  It is seriously out of control.  Do you want to see more pictures?

A close up.  Don’t worry, we’re shopping for new lamps next.  (I will be taking Camilla’s advice and finding some with black drum shades)

Doesn’t the dog bed just make this picture?  What about the crappy bathroom door that’s about to be replaced?  Ok, Ok, focus on the wall… j’adore?

last one, promise:

Once Erin comes out of maternity leave, project #1 is to have her take some decent looking photos of this joint.  You’d think I could have at least photoshopped myself out of the mirror.  lazy lazy Karly.

This project was actually super simple despite my gigantor walls, from start to finish (including clean up) it only took about 5 hours.  With all that extra time left over, I decided to tile my living room fireplace.

WHAT?!  HUH?!  But, Karly, you’ve been indecisive about tile for months!

I know, I know, but Friday night I was having cocktails in Hope’s back yard when I spotted a stack of white marble 1/2 inch tile going to waste on her porch.  Apparently it had been given to her roommate who never got around to doing anything with it.  A few drinks in and I was ready to end my tile misery and make an offer:  $3 a sheet.  Done and done.

If I were to search the world over and could have my choice of tiles, would I pick this?  No.  But is it 800 times better than the bare fireplace I’ve been living with for the last year?  Can I get a hellz yeah?!

Here’s a close-up:

It’s marble, it matches my room, and it shimmers, so I’m happy with it.  Oh, and it was dirt cheap, so I’m really happy with it.  I did some web sleuthing and found out that in the real world it costs $11 a sheet here, still pretty cheap.

I have visions of finding the world’s most perfect tile one day and replacing this but until then I don’t have to hang my head in shame when the first thing people see when they walk in my house is a bunch of junky drywall surrounding my fireplace.

So, there you have it, my weekend in a nutshell:  cocktails and decorating, what more could a girl ask for?

PS. stick around this week as we have some badassical guest bloggers in store:  tomorrow Andrea from House of Slappy does a fantastic (I mean really fantastic) artist roundup; Thursday, the always lovely Tula of Whorange brightens up the joint with my favorite palette; then Friday, it’s lame old me again wrapping up the week.  Come on back now, ya hear?

July 9th, 2009 by karly

I know it’s starting to become a little passe but I just don’t ever want to get over white walls and bright decor.  Here are some of my faves that I’ve seen recently:

via emma’s design blogg

via light locations

via desire to inspire

Oh, if only my house had the kind of quirky architectural detail needed for crisp, white walls.  Thank you very much 1984 for all your south austin residential blandness.

In other news, is anyone watching this new NYC Prep show?  I just don’t even know where to start with those kids.

 

May 20th, 2009 by erin

Today, I’m in a funk. You know those days where, from the very moment you wake up and rub the sleep out of your grubbly little eyes, you just feel whack? Well, I’ve got a major case of the grumble grumbles, and the only things stopping me from throwing a rock through the window are A) the cost of replacing said window and B) the cost of therapy for my anger management problem. Whew! Crisis averted thanks to poverty!

Anyway, I refuse to sit and stew. So it’s up to me to find a happy distraction, and do you know what makes me happy and distracted?

rainbow brite

Motherfucking Rainbow Brite, that’s what.

I mean, no one can be angry in the face of all that COLOR. Sure, I like black and white and brown and gray. A lot. But sometimes, I just need to visit a happy fantasy land, where Roy G Biv reigns supreme and the world is filled with sparkles. And hopefully donuts. I bet the guy who owns this renovated Art Deco house has a mountain of sparkly donuts in his rainbow painted cupboard just for me.

rainbow house

rainbow house

This dude does not give a rat’s rump about the oft touted “household color palette.” This is a shameless, unapologetic exploitation of paint, combined with an unadulterated love of the Corbusier, Bertoia and Panton triumvirate.

rainbow house

rainbow house

Did I already mention the animal skins?

rainbow house

rainbow house

rainbow house

But, the magical elevator alone is enough to make me forget all the things I don’t like about this house.

elevator

And for all its flaws — or perhaps because of them — I feel that this home is inhabited by a person who likes pastries, rides his bicycle in the house, and plays video games during business hours. Maybe Tom Hanks from Big lives here?

tom hanks big

Whatever. It’s a vast improvement over Tom Hanks in Castaway or The Da Vinci Code.

February 10th, 2009 by karly

Last Sunday, just after watching back to back episodes of my two favorite shows:  Rock of Love Bus and Tool Academy, I was ripped from the comfort of my bed by a prior obligation.  I had promised a few of my favorite ladies that I would join them for drinks.  Of course, I made said promise at 11 a.m., and was remiss to fulfill said promise at 11 p.m..  Yes, 11 p.m., on a Sunday.  What had I been thinking?  Well, anyway, I’m quite glad that I pulled myself together and scooted out the door because, not only did I have a great time with the favorite ladies, but I also met Michelle Marchesseault of Redstart Design.  

Michelle and her business partner, Rachel Shannon are notorious in Austin for their Op Art commercial and residential murals.   Using nothing but tape (only sometimes) hand painting, and a lot of math, these ladies put together the freshest non-wallpapered backdrops in town. 

The residential mural above was achieved using silver leaf.  Do any of you know how tedious that is?  The painting I did in my living room (by hand-cut stencil and latex paint) took a week and a half, I can’t even imagine how long this takes the ladies:

Perhaps if I had conducted an interview (per our Sunday discussion) I would have learned the answer.  But I was busy working so you dudes get pretty pictures and lots of unanswered questions.

This photo of former partner, Jason, does provide some insight on what a bitch this job must be.  But I have to say, that finished ceiling is out-of-control amazing, and totally worth the effort. 

Clearly, these ladies like ceilings.  Writing this post is only heightening my ever-present craving to scrape all of the popcorn off my ceiling so that I, too, can have the Redstart treatment.

The Vivid Walls of Austin’s Viva Salon

One of the many bedrooms for, ahem, the Real World Austin set

I love when artists and designers post pictures of their process.   Same with set building on DVD extras.  I could probably skip most of the movies I watch and just enjoy all the behind-the-scenes design goodness alone.  Ok, actually, I have done that before, it was pretty damn awesome.

This freeform latex and GOLD LEAF(!!!!!!!!!) residential mural Speaks directly to my heart.  Shhhh… can you hear it?

And I know that I was just getting all mad at Elle Decor the other day about their piss-poor butterfly trend prediction, but I really like the space above.  I’m 100% sure it’s the palette, and the fact that the butterflies aren’t all lame and colorful.

Speaking of animals I love:

This lovely horse is snugly nestled in at one of my favorite bars in town, the Red House.  There are plastic and painted horse heads everywhere, and that, my friends, is a motif I can get behind.

The mural at Frou Frou always caught my eye when I lived a couple of blocks away.  Somehow taking things I don’t generally like on their own:  red and pink, and putting them together, really does it for me.

The ladies of Redstart don’t just sit around contemplating repeating pattern and huffing paint all day, they also get their exercise on by participating in Austin’s own synchronized swimming troupe, The H2Hos.  

So, looking back on my Sunday night on the town, I have to admit, it wasn’t so bad after all, almost as good as Rock of Love Bus, almost.

January 8th, 2009 by erin

So, I have this secret interior decorating weapon called Living Spaces. I bought the book for a buck at a Goodwill a while ago, and was amazed to find that its 1978 goodness is perfectly aligned with current interior trends, and maybe even a few upcoming trends that I will attempt to predict a la Miss Cleo. This bad boy was produced by the Whitney Library of Design, so you know it’s good. Anyhoodles, I’m starting a series based on inspiring images from the book, so let’s see if I can get this sweet puppy to fly.

living spaces

living spaces

Clean lines, natural surfaces, neutral backdrops — this ain’t your momma’s carpet infested house. Actually it’s a fat villa in Florence, and what I’m really digging is the colored trim against the pale background (please ignore the hideous table setting… yikes!). So I’ve done my very bestest to find some contemporary examples of trim that are not painted white or blended into the wall color. Why should all the other surfaces have all the fun, anyway?

pink window trim

Sorry, not sure where this picture came from, but let me just say that it takes some pretty powerful trim to distract me from the vintage card catalog in all its sexified glory.

pink trim

If you’re really brave, you can dispense with the white altogether and bathe the entire room in saturated hues, like this pic from Domino. (By the way, has anyone received their January copy via mail yet? Anyone? Anyone?)

yellow window trim

Sad story: this is NOT the picture I wanted to include. Months ago, I saw this gorgeous image of a very spare room with pale walls and maybe pale concrete floors, and the only color in the room came from the citron yellow window trim. I cannot for the life of me find the picture… I swear, I went all Captain Insano and searched for HOURS for it, and I’m really tired now. OCD sucks. If you know which picture I’m talking about, please send me the link and I’ll swap pics. Until one of you superfantastic readers can bail me out, you’ll have to make do with this pic from Apartment Therapy.

So maybe you like the idea of having non-white trim, but are looking for a little less contrast in value:

lavendar and green room

Even if you choose color for your walls, you don’t have to paint the trim white. Thoughts on this color scheme? Photo courtesy of Marie Claire Maison.

blue trim

A more subdued palette of butter yellow and a pale purplish blue, courtesy of Apartment Therapy.

gray walls

This twist on traditional features dark gray walls with medium gray molding, which reads as understated and sophisticated rather than cartoonish. Photo by Richard Powers.

black trim yellow walls

Or perhaps you’d like to keep your Sanders-approved color on the walls, but still want to funk up the trim? Once you go black, you’ll never go back. Like, seriously — it would be a pain in the ass to paint over.

But, no pain, no gain, right?

black trim white walls

Elle Decor UK reminds us to “Go With the Flow.” With gorgeously framed windows like those, (and a disco ball!) I’m feeling a lot more fluid.

black trim

This quirky room from Apartment Therapy might be enough to make me take the plunge. I love the Roy Lichtenstein look:

lichtenstein

Color is fun, but there’s certainly nothing wrong with classic, clean and simple:

bo bedre

In these images from Bo Bedre, straight black trim sets off the crispness of the architecture and decor choices.

black trim windows

I love the simple black trimmed windows in this otherwise light and bright space. Image via the awesome decor blog, Roseland Greene.

black window wall

Finally, I’ve been crushing over this gorgeous room since the always fabulous Door Sixteen first posted it. It’s the perfect mix of drama and breathing space, and the stunning architecture doesn’t hurt. I loooove the way the black draws attention to the windows, framing them like pictures.

White trim, eat your pale, listless heart out (but don’t worry, I still love you).

November 14th, 2008 by karly

Wow, it has been quite a week here!  Between meeting Sanders, an illicit yacht party and my trip to Albuquerque, I’m just plum tuckered out.  So, what do you get out of this?  Why, my favorite thing to show you after a vaca:  select scans from my inflight reading material.  Yesterday’s inbound trip kept me filled with colorful glee vis-a-vis the fine pages of Living etc.  Ici:

The stairwell in a Montauk Island Beach home.

Yes, yes, that blue is not nearly exciting as the shades we’ve been drooling over this week, but get a load of this close-up:

Pool Pushers, photograph by Anthony Goicolea

A perfect portrait for a beach home or for my dining room, whateves.  Have I ever mentioned how much I like swimming?  AND staged photography?  I really, really love staged photography.  I want to marry it.

If you execute an art heist at this Long Island home and find yourself a little weary from throwing bricks and climbing in windows, you can take a nap here:

See how that ceiling-mounted wallpaper lovingly rocks you to sleep and whisks away all your worries about pesky little things like:  ”impending prison sentences” and “failing polygraphs”

Yep, no need to worry, I’m sure the federal guards will let you decorate your cell just like this:

Are you dudes getting the full effect of that high-gloss white vinyl headboard? Dreamy, right?  It’s eerily similar to the one I plan to make for my own bedroom.  I will invite you all over to drool over it once it is completed.  Through bullet-proof glass, of course.  I saw how you were eyeing the paintings in the first photo.

Speaking of paintings, I’ll let you have these (take them!  get them away!) but I’ll be keeping the mirror, thankyouverymuch:

What do we think of a red bathroom?  How do you envision the shower in this joint?  Is it tile?  Red tile?  I just don’t even know.  Help me out here.

Also in this issue were a couple more scan-worthy visions from other homes:

STICKER WALL!!!  It’s like a car covered in bumper stickers, only not stupid and annoying.

and finally:

A nice place for me to rest over the weekend.  Schew, I’m oh so sleepy after all this hard work Erin and I have done on your behalf this week, I feel like I really do deserve this entire room all to myself.  For free.

 

 

 

November 13th, 2008 by erin

As promised, today I am presenting Sanders the Paint Guru’s picks for the hottest upcoming trends in color, and when I say “color,” I mean COLOR. If the gray days of fall are getting you down, then this palette is sure to jump start your morning. When I asked Sanders what the most popular colors for next year would be, he immediately said “electric blue, bright orange, acid green, red, yellow.” As usual, Sanders was on the money. Check out what the October issue of Elle Decor UK said would be the “Hot Trend For Homes”:

elle decor uk

Versus the color palette Sanders put together during our interview:

sanders color palette

I told you that Sanders was good! If you ever had a crush on Roy G Biv in school, then these rooms are for you. Witness the power of dramatic paint to completely transform a space. (All photos courtesy of Domino)

domino colors

Don’t you feel more cheerful, well rested and motivated, already? Maybe you won’t even need that extra cup of coffee. Perhaps you should start a new exercise routine… Who’s up for climbing Mount Everest???! Ok, let’s take it one step at a time, shall we?

Since I’ve asked for help from you dear readers at least twice, you probably all know by now that I have a red dining room and kitchen, and I’ve been worrying that maybe it’s a twee bit overblown. Perhaps instead of taking it down a notch, instead I should pump it up with a steroid injection of brighter, orangier, funkier, red:

red kitchen

(Photo courtesy of Living Etc.)

Or maybe, like Karly, you’ve been craving some sunshine in your space. Why not go for a zany shade of yellow on the walls?

yellow room

(Photo via A Mad Tea Party With Alis, who also has some great posts on color)

I love the super bright funkadelic yellow paired with dark dark trim and subdued, weathered floors. Shall we just say that the dead fish on the table adds to the rustic charm? Yes, we shall. Those chairs are pretty boss, too.

For those of you who love color but want something a little more sober, why not a bold, cobalt blue?

cobalt bedroom

(Photo via Living Etc)

It’s much more unexpected than the usual aqua tinged walls, but still restful enough to catch some much needed Zzzzzz’s at night. A silver leafed ceiling could be a magical complement (and gold is always fab).

Or perhaps you prefer to just scramble the whole color palette together and have a delicious rainbow omelette?

m interiors

This whole house decorated by M. Design Interiors is a madcap acid trip fantasyland, and I really want to live there. The sleek furnishings and square lines have an awesome 70’s vibe, so perhaps we should throw a hip blogger’s disco party? I think I’d have to ditch the tulips, though.

If you’re not into all out color, maybe just a peep of bright paint would do the trick.

m interiors

I love the use of primary shades in this super white space, courtesy once again of the fabulous M. Design Interiors.

Ok, I know that lots of you out there love color, but would prefer to confine it to accessories and furnishings for a splash of bright something something against a neutral background without the commitment of paint. Here are some renter friendly solutions that will still give your pad some punch.

colorful accessories

(Photo credits for each row, left to right: Living Etc, Living Etc. Domino, Living Etc. Terramia, Andrew Suvalsky. Living Etc, Domino)

Why not reupholster a vintage couch or chair in a shockingly bright fabric to create a substantial focal point in your otherwise neutral room? Or you could always do some super mod pillows for a cheap and easy burst of color (bonus points for resourcefulness if you can sew your own). Also, I kind of want a lime green clawfoot tub now… If only I had a bathroom big enough for one!

Anyone want a cush headboard fit for a princess in a color that won’t make your prince cringe?

m interiors

(Photo via M. Design Interiors)

Yeah, baby, I can dig it. Now how about a red green combo that’s miles away from Christmas?

flux interiors

(Flux Interiors)

That is one delicious lampshade, and I love the repeat of the color on the window frames. Is that an Ikea couch? If not, they have a very similar version that comes with a zillion different slipcovers, so you can redecorate annually without breaking the bank. I am voting for new pillows though. How about a row of Obama heads instead of Mao and Marx? Yes we can.

If you already have great bones, highlight them.

yellow couch

(Photo via A Mad Tea Party With Alis)

A burst of sunny yellow makes this old school stunner look fresh, clean and modern. How much do you love the charcoal piping? Fabulous.

Even bold color can be subtly softened by its surroundings.

lampshade

(via If the Lampshade Fits)

Purpley gray walls set this versatile tomato red couch afire, but an otherwise subdued color palette keeps things cool and sophisticated.

If you’re feeling more daring, go for the gold:

orange kitchen

(Photo via Living Etc)

I really hate barstools, but at least these are camoflaged by a similarly hued tangerine kitchen bar with matching countertops. I love the harmony with the orangey wooden floors, as well as the contrast with the blue mirrored glass in the background.

And last but not least, some gorgeous shades of green and blue that are fresh but not overwhelming:

fawn galli

If you’ve never checked out the Brooklyn home of Fawn Galli, go there now. Her house is a gorgeous reminder that color is fun and doesn’t have to be opressive or vulgar. And she has a giant deer sculpture. My hero.

That’s it for this Sanders-inspired roundup of ultra ultra brights. What do you think? Could you live with these acid hues, or are you planning to stick to neutral basics? Tell us all about it.

June 30th, 2008 by erin

I’ve been living with a caliente red dining room and a tequila blue living room for so long that my eyes were bleeding from the Mexican Restaurant strain of it all (not that I don’t love me some muy delicioso Mexican comidas!) when I looked from one room into to the next. One of those colors had to go, and after much agonizing DH and I decided to keep the red. The living room was painted a soothing pinky gray and I am hoping to post before and after pics very soon, but first major accessory shifts are needed to restore Casa Erin to top form.

In the meantime, I’ve been cruising color palettes for inspiration, and despite disparaging pink and red in my last post, that combo is still feeling very fresh to me. My favorite is Miles Redd’s living room (Sorry Miles… I’m turning into such a stalker!):

miles redd

First of all, how sexy is that couch? I know it probably cost a bazillion dollars, but I think I’d give a tooth for it. Maybe even a front one. Anyway, Miles went for broke with this… NOT a subdued pink. NOT a subdued red. Full frontal nudity here. Raunchy.

While I totally want Miles’ entire apartment, I think pink and red are easiest for us mere mortals to pair when the furniture is kept streamlined. Check out this mod combo designed by Aussie firm BKH that was featured at the Kips Bay Showhouse (photo courtesy of Elite Choice):

kips bay

How much do you love that orangey red painting on those coolly pink walls? It just pops and clashes its little heart out, and the black scaled down furniture helps keep the look modern instead of 1980’s mauve disaster.

Y’all know by now that I’m a Jay Jeffers fan… That guy can go from kooky to classy in 2.2 seconds. This San Francisco apartment is carefully neutral, but the dining room has an ultra glam pink ceiling paired with pops of red for edge.

jay jeffers

The beigey walls go a long way toward keeping this look polished instead of claustrophobic. Here are a couple more examples of careful accessory choices to keep the look edgy, but not cluttered:

domino and wearstler

(Domino paint palette on the left and Kelly Wearstler’s office on the right)

Simple black fireplaces add some much needed geometry to both spaces. I really hate those sconces in Kelly Wearstler’s office, but she shows (once again) that she is master of the plate wall, and the lime green apples are fabulous with that pink.

My friend Hope Perkins of Hot Pink Pistol fame had this amazing pink (of course!) house that looked gorgeous in pictures but kinda made me feel nervous in real life. So, I think that to be able to live in these spaces, I personally need some neutral air to breathe. Therefore I present to you this most appealing mix of space and color that I found whilst reading Habitually Chic’s awesome blog:

panza

This is the gorgeous Palazzo Ducale di Sassuolo in Modena, Italy, featuring color block paintings by Winston Roeth which were donated by legendary collector Giuseppe Panza. I love the gold, white, pink and red combo (with a teeny flash of lemon yellow) and I totally think I’m going to steal it. My new wall color isn’t white-white like this, but it’s pale and cool enough that I think it’ll work. I’m going to have to fake the gold fretwork, since I (sadly) don’t live in a 17th century castle, but I’m hoping the look will still be edgily sublime.

Stay tuned!