A rich alternative

I'm always on the look out for what's new in colour schemes (knowing full well that there's nothing new , only recycled, slightly adjusted past trends).  I recently read an interesting post on Color Sizzle  titled Tiger's Eye; the name immediately brought a range of colours to mind.  Intrigued, I read on.  Just as I expected, Kelly was referring to those golden amber to honey brown colours suggesting that "if you've been looking for a neutral other than gray or beige, tiger-eye is a great alternative that creates a warm backdrop for many different colors and wood finishes"  Think luscious, elegant and cozy.

source

Then I found a second post by Erica Ward on Houzz who heralded that "old gold" is a new neutral, but gold with a twist - not it's  heavy or brassy predecessor we lived through  in past years.

Now I'm having difficulty warming up to these pronouncements because I'm basically a gray lover, but I do love gray and yellow together so I suppose that's a start.  I am willing to give any colour a chance to convince me of its merits.

The "new" gold is not gaudy or flamboyant, dark or drab or used in excess.   Call it what you will,  gold has always been a staple for homeowners who want warmth, but there's an updated take on this hue. For 2011 we're talking about gentler, softer gold tones, often with a matte look.

Valerie DeRoy Interiors, LLC

This palest of golds, soft and toned, adds warmth without boldness.  The overall look is light and pleasing and one you would not tire of quickly.

Nora Schneider Interior Design

This bathroom has the same overall feel as the room above even though  the wall colour is a little darker.  

toronto interior designer Jennifer Brouwer

Monochromatic, rich and restful in various values of gold from the softest cream to a buttery gold on the walls.  

miami showroom Capitol Lighting

This is a similar look as the monochromatic living room above that is enhanced by the gold on the tray ceiling which causes the rest of the room to glow.

 

via The Lennoxx 

This sumptuous bedroom designed by Jan Showers invites relaxation.  It seems I'm particularly attracted to a monochromatic look.

Paula Grace Designs, Inc.

This amber colour  is very complementary to darker wood tones and the added hints of gray blue makes the colour sing rich and luxurious. 

The Lennoxx  

spaces design

 Then there's gold used as an accent.  I always like the way gold work with black, blue or charcoal. 

SPRING?

Look what I found peeking out of the ground Saturday morning!

...but then on Sunday morning I woke up to more snow :(

Drained.

The current state of our bathroom project as well as my current state of mind. 

Will this room ever be finished???

Well, at least the rough plumbing is done. 

From this point on, however, the progress will be more apparent. The sheetrock will go up and the tile will go down. The bathroom will start to look like a bathroom again. I can't wait.

btw, to see some completed projects across the blogosphere, visit Deja Renew

Hello My Future Kitchen

I'm drooling over this kitchen designed by Steven Gambrel. I love the white cabinetry, marble countertops, coffered ceiling, glass cabinets and dark stained floor. The gray blue glass subway tile backsplash is to die for. All that natural light! Filing this dream kitchen away under "Someday"...

Elle Decor, photo by Simon Upton

Sofantastic

One of the major purchases on the list for 2011 is a new sofa for the family room. The one we are using now is actually sectional we bought in a pinch to fit in a specific space in the old house.  Truth is, we never liked it and actually put it out on the curb just before moving day until we realized, um, yeah, we're going to need that in the new house...

We have a couple of considerations that isn't making this purchase very easy...our dogs. Cute as they are, they are very messy little monsters. 

Harry and Georgia

We are going to need a couch with upholstery that hides dirt well or something that can be easily cleaned. Since our dogs like to sit on the back cushions and look out the window, the new sofa will need to have a tight back or cushions that don't lose their shape. I'd also prefer a sofa with mid to high arms to lean against. 

See? I told you it wasn't going to be easy.
Here's the short list:

Cameron sofa from Crate and Barrel

 Pros: Tight back, high arms, clean lines, neutral color and shape

Cons: Unclear how well this upholstery will hold up, a tad bit ordinary

Hovas sofa from Ikea

 Pros: Inexpensive, cover is machine washable, replacement covers are only $50-$250 depending on fabric
Cons: Cheap construction, not wild about the rounded arms

Monroe sofa from Room and Board

 Pros: Quality construction, many "easy care" fabric options, price, tight back, loving this fabric color
Cons: There isn't a nearby Room and Board to check it out in person

Hutton sofa from Room and Board

Pros: This is a statement sofa! High arms, deep seats for lounging in front of the TV, quality construction and plenty of fabric choices
Cons: Too formal for a family room?

Slipcovered Metro sofa from Room and Board

Pros: Optional slipcover is machine washable and has a nice tailored fit
Cons: This color is still a little light to hide dirty doggie paw prints. Will all stains really come out in the wash??? Reviewers stated that cushions loose their shape (however, R&B offers replacement cushions.)

PB Square Grand Slipcovered Sofa from Pottery Barn

Pros: Saw this one in person. Comfortable and large. Slipcover is available in a Stone Slubby Canvas that is the perfect shade of greige. Machine washable. Replacement cushions available.
Cons: Unlike the Room and Board option above, you can't just take the slipcover off and have a perfectly upholstered piece underneath. Replacement slipcovers don't appear to be readily available on the website. 

Choosing a Paint Color

Some of the materials that we purchased for the main floor powder room were easy decisions, but there are others that we're still on the fence about. The decision making process can become daunting because we know that whatever we pick out today is going to be what we'll need to live with for years and years. Naturally, after spending all this time, money, and energy, we want to love the finished room!

Luckily, the decisions left to be made, like the wall color and window treatments, aren't permanant fixtures. But they'll still be a hassle and incur a cost if we want to change them. In a house that has plenty of rooms needing attention, I don't think either of us will be excited about repainting a room that we already crossed off the list.

So...sometimes it helps to have a visual to lay out the options.

Chair rail, charcoal gray walls



White walls, picture molding

Black walls! 

Navy walls

Decisions, decisions...which is your favorite?

Take one roller shade and...

Do you want a WOW treatment for your window? Here are easy window treatments that won't set you back a week's pay, but are sure to be noticed.  All you need is a simple roller shade and a little time.  Perhaps these ideas will inspire new creations in your hands.

Take one roller shade and ...

....paint it.

Better Homes and Gardens

A simple, large scale design and a vibrant colour create quite an impact.  All you need is a white roller shade, a pencil and acrylic paint.  When you've finished painting and everything is fully dried, use hot glue to attach a strip of contrasting ribbon at the bottom as a finishing detail. The addition of the ring pull adds a  detail that certainly works to add interest.

Home Workshop

Here's another take  in stripes using the same process. All you need is a ruler and painter's tape and some left over acrylic paint. 

My Home Ideas 

I think the simple designs work best int this treatment.  White and green always look so fresh no matter what the application.

...use origami paper on  it

Better Homes and Gardens

 This is an updated idea based on the quilt.  Origami paper squares are attached to a roller shade with craft spray adhesive.  Spray both the back of the paper and the shade for best results. To get a perfect grid  you should start by marking the vertical centre of the blind and applying the squares from that line out to the edges. Start at the bottom and work to the top.  If you have space left over at the edges and you don't want to cut a square, consider using a plain paper as a border. A coordinated ribbon can be glued at the bottom.  When everything is dry, apply  2-3 coat of acrylic matt medium over the top of the paper (available at art supply stores) to allow you to  gently sponge off any dust or stains.  A quicker solution would be to ....

 ... use wallpaper on it

Curbly

I like the busy pattern with the simple side panels.  This gives a very put together look with very little effort or expense.

 ....use contact paper on it

 Apartment Therapy

Now how easy can it get?  The sky's  the limit to what types of designs you could make from contact paper. Think about all the motifs you could use in a child's room. 

.... stencil it

Martha Stewart

The effects you can achieve by stenciling are as varied as the stencils you can buy or better still make yourself.  Check out  how to stencil a shade  on the link above.

...create a cut out design on it

Martha Stewart

This simple but elegant look is easy to achieve and works best on a coloured shade. Again, you can depend on Martha to show you how.

...use fabric on it 

 Photo: Sara French

This bold, contemporary design in my daughter's guest bedroom is a far cry from  the original shade which had  a scalloped edge below the weight bar complete with a decorative fringe . The scalloped edge was cut off at the weight bar to square it off, and then fabric was attached with spray adhesive.  The shade was rewound to roll over thus hiding the mechanism for a  more polished look.

This is a similar look with a more traditional pattern.

Little Bean Workshop provides a good description of how to apply fabric to a roller shade. Check it out here.

...add ribbon to it

 via Little House in the City

I love the crispness of this application, but you could get different looks by changing the pattern and colours of the ribbon.


...use vinyl appliques on it

photo: Vera Greene

Vinyl appliques (Roomates Deco) offer interesting design options for shades. This  open weave  in an outside mount  covering the window trim allows for a seamless continuation of the wall design.  My talented sister, who can create stunning looks from very little,  suggests leaving the design at the bottom  of the blind  for easy  rolling. 

I almost feel pressed to come up with a nifty design for my own home, but all windows treatments are currently up to date. Do you have any ideas about embellishing a simple roller shade  to add to the list?

Handmade Online

It is no secret that I do most of my shopping online. It is so convenient and I love that I can find virtually anything that I'm looking for.  I know Etsy has been around for a while, but I just started looking to it as a decorating resource. I've used it to purchase pillows like this one:

and these:

I considered this lighting fixture for our downstairs bath and would still like to find a place for it elsewhere in my house

But one of the handmade items I'm most excited about are the custom curtains and roman shades that are available. There are so many options! Here are just a few of my favorites.

These are from Kona Interiors

Custom Drapery Panels from SLCDesignsHome

Another great space in Barcelona