Hello friends, it is Leslie here with January’s edition of Color Me Pretty. How are you? I hope that you are doing good and I’m happy to be with you for another year on decor8 with my column. I hope you enjoy and look forward to my color stories and craft ideas each month. For January, I find myself thinking about bright fluorescent pink during these long rainy days in the Pacific Northwest. It’s definitely a trend, I see it everywhere at the moment – especially in fashion, on blogs and over at Pinterest!
Instead of mixing bright pink with the typical winter grey I thought it would be fun to use Kraft paper brown along with some softer shades of pink and a light blue. It’s fun to try something new.
Color cravings can be very fleeting in creative projects and I have a hard time playing in the typical colors of the season. Do you know what I mean? I am like many who tend to want what we can’t have! In the winter I long for summer colors to contrast the dark days and in the summer I daydream about snowy white, pale grey and chocolate browns. I guess it comes back to texture, as any color can look great applied to the right material. Warm cream cable knits in winter and then the same creamy color on linens and leather in summer. These days anything goes if you love it and it helps you feel creative.
I pulled out my watercolors one evening last week and had fun creating triangle and striped patterns in the shape of hearts. I thought they would make a nice card to top off some simply wrapped presents. You can do this with any bright paper. Just make yourself a little template to make things go faster.
Another home craft project I have been thinking about and finally got around to making is this little dreamcatcher. I liked the notion of something catching your good dreams. With a new year upon us it is nice to do something to remind us of what we are dreaming about for ourselves and for others. I wrapped a metal hoop from Michael’s with some cream washi tape. I then tied a crochet doily with some string to the hoop. Finally, instead of feathers I decided to use beads, which I threaded on string and then tied to the hoop. After making one, I now have ideas on how I want to make dozens more! So watch out I may have more featured in the column next month!
I hope you have had a wonderful start to 2012. I look forward to seeing you back here next month. Take good care! – xo, Leslie.
(styling/images: leslie shewring
I really like the work of stylist Jenni Juurinen in Finland and find these two photos from her portfolio quite lovely, particularly the spoons dipped in neutral color paints and the gorgeous wallpaper…
I found Jenni via Emmas inspirational pinboard… Don’t you just love Emma’s eye? I do. She really curates such lovely pins and her love of white, clean spaces makes her a kindred spirit of mine for sure! Here are a few more from Jenni’s portfolio – I think the pendant lights with the wooden beads are amazing and wonder who makes them. Such a clever idea! I’m also crazy about charcoal gray walls at the moment so these rooms make me happy…
And speaking of Finland, did you know that my book is now available in Finnish?! I know, right? Serious! I’m so excited to think of it being in Finnish book shops. Quite cool! It is called, “”Sisusta tyylillä – 1000 inspiroivaa sisustusideaa kodin jokaiseen huoneeseen” and is available for purchase here.
Does anyone know the name/manufacturer of the wallpaper shown above in the second image?
(images: jenni juurinen)
I spotted this gorgeous furniture designed and made in the Netherlands and couldn’t help but share it with you. Magnificent! It’s from a company called SlowWood, have you heard of them before?
I really appreciate that each piece is handmade by a local Fryslan craftsmen in solid wood with 100% natural finishes and mineral paint and I love their clean, modern look and feel.
Found via: Visje bij de thee.
(images: Ben and Tatjana from Studio Aandacht)
Have you noticed that interior swings, particularly popular in loft spaces, seem to be catching on more and more? You will even spot a few swings in my book, purposely put there because I thought they were fun though admittedly quirky and unconventional. When I got a press release this morning from Svvving, I just had to show you their, “Exceptional interior swings for adults” to get your honest opinion. So here’s what I’m referring to…
From Svvving, “Ideal for large residential areas and lofts interiors spaces, this beautiful unusual object used alone or in pairs, can also find its place in the living room, the chamber, the bathroom, the office, the reception, the waiting room, the lobby of a hotel or coffee lounge, for everyday small pleasures.”
And a little swing music to get you in the mood – though an entirely different swing altogether! But fun still!
SO! Interior Swings – hot or not? You tell me!
(image: svvving)
Would you like to visit an eclectic home today belong to a blogger who shops mostly second hand? Oh yes, of course! Lovely Amanda from Here’s Looking at Me, Kid and her partner Phil want to share their cozy Ohio home with you. I thought it would be fun to get her thoughts on decorating so in addition to her photos, here’s a mini interview too. I hope this gets your creative wheels spinning and pay extra special attention to the many details – very sweet!
What is the inspiration behind your eclectic second hand home decorating style?
Amanda: I’m really inspired by eclectic places that aren’t too carefully decorated. I like to see homes, like the loft space of Emily Chalmers (of the book, Flea Market Style), that look like the contents have been collected over a period of years and where everything is truly loved — though might not perfectly fit. We’ve only been on our own for just under five years and have been in this apartment for under two, so collecting and curating is something we’re just beginning to figure out. We are moving into our first house soon so I’m looking forward to wallpapering (yippee!) and arranging beautiful treasures that will add a nice, cozy feeling to our home. It’s also important to note that in addition to the dream homes of admirable artists and designers, I’m also heavily inspired by our tiny budget. If it’s free, made by me, or found at a thrift store, it’s much more likely to take a place in our ever-changing home.
How do you define your interior style?
Amanda: My style used to be much more modern, wavering between an intense appreciation for minimal Swiss design and American mid-century modern style. Since moving into this 1920′s Tudor revival apartment, I found my tastes encompassing more of a crazy variety of styles- like a mix of kitschy vintage, traditional, and a dash of the sort of mid century style I can afford.
Where do you find ideas and inspiration for your home?
Amanda: On blogs, online and in magazines. I appreciate referring to my inspiration folder, where I had adhered all of my favorite tear sheets from Domino, Metropolitan Home and Elle Decor. Since most of my inspiration is found lately in the digital world, my inspiration folder resides at Pinterest these days. It is tremendously important to save images of homes and styles I love because it can be so difficult pin-pointing my exact style. I appreciate all good design but don’t necessarily want to live with all of it in my home! Keeping inspiration folders online or otherwise makes everything much less overwhelming, helps me detect trends I enjoy, and encourages me to figure out ways to bring similar elements into my own home.
What do you love about your home?
Amanda: I really adore the high ceilings, unique architectural elements, and even the squeaky old wooden floors that hint to our apartment’s mysterious history. The structure of the space really sets a nice vibe for everything we’ve put inside. We appreciate the things that fill our apartment and are quite proud that none of our home furnishings and accessories are monetarily valuable. Almost everything has been purchased second hand, and that sort of responsibility makes for guilt-free enjoyment of everything we have.
What makes a house a home?
Amanda: We host lots of parties in our apartment, so it’s important for our space to seem approachable, comfortable, and intimate. I love that when new guests arrive and proclaim that “everything is just sooo you!” To me, that means our apartment hasn’t been just a living space, but a home that says something about the people who live there. I love to be here, our friends love to be here, and happiness abounds in our home. And that’s why it’s more than just a house.
Lovely, right!? What caught your attention? I love that striped light green sofa shown directly above because my mother had this in our home when I was a child and it made me happy to see it again! I also love all of her rugs, they are fun!
(images: amanda johnson)
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