Mellow yellow

Even though it's sleeting outside in the dreary winter, I can't help but think about spring and all the color it brings...especially because stores like Target already have new spring lines out in bright hues. I'm guilty of purchasing things to put me in a sunshiny mood ... like these cheery yellow canisters (that I bought in green for my kitchen) from Target. Though I lean more toward green for my own home, I can definitely appreciate all the new yellow accents out there. Gray and yellow complement each other well -- the marigold introduces a joyful presence, while slate brings things back down to reality. Regardless of the weather outside, chrysanthemums can always be in bloom on your walls, floors and chairs. I'm always drawn to its graphic elements in any form. Here's what I would use to inject a little spring in my home:
See polyvore for a list of the sources from my collage pictured below (the framed flower is from art.com).

Quote of the Day: "Watch out, the yellow ones don't stop!" -- Buddy from "Elf" while crossing the street in front of taxis

Star-crossed love

These starburst mirrors were a must-have item that I've wanted since I started decorating my apartment more than five years ago. The mirror (similar to the Pottery Barn, Baker or Plantation versions above ... click photos for links) is the perfect focal piece -- it makes the room feel larger doing double duty by reflecting light, plus it's gorgeous to look at! But ... and this is a big but ... the only ones I could find were around $500. I thought about saving up for it, but in reality, it was too much to drop on one piece.

Instead I headed to Target and found a round mirror with etched circles on it. Before I got around to hanging it like six months later (seriously I have major procrastination problems with hanging stuff by myself), Target, being the best store ever that it is, had come out with miniature versions of the starburst mirror. Naturally, I bought two ... at only $30 each. Twice the star power (for a measly fraction of the high-end stuff)!

This not only worked out better for my wall (the one starburst mirror would have felt a tad too small for the space), but it also complemented my circle-etched mirror I had already purchased. Circles are continued throughout the space in lamps, pillows, candle holders and furniture in the living room, window treatments, mirrors and my table in the dining room .... and a few other places throughout my apartment.

Then I found green pillows at Target probably a year later with sunburst patterns!

Now they have a larger capiz version at Target online but it doesn't say how much it costs. But I'm more than satisfied with my trio of mirrors for now!

Quote of the Day: "Every star has that certain something that stands out and compels us to notice them."

-- Maureen O'Hara

Lamp lust

After ogling these milk glass lamps at Pottery Barn (now discontinued) for forever, I finally purchased one on sale over Memorial Day weekend. I'd been debating between the green and orange one, which would add a shot of color to my entry way. But my mom, being the voice of reason that she is, pointed me in the direction of the gray base, which would be a neutral that could work in more than one room.

I'm having a little buyer's remorse because I always go for bright colors, but it's hard to get the full affect because I don't yet have a table to put it on (see my wish list at right for possible options!). I have had a gray crush lately and gray goes great with purple, which is my other accent in the living room. So I'll live with it a while ... it was the last one in the store and I hate to pass up a good deal!





Quote of the Day: "You will never have buyer's remorse with wood. You can change your furniture, window covering or color scheme, but the wood will always be there and, most important, be appropriate."
-- Ellen Paris

Floral & fashion

Fashion and interior design go hand-in-hand. Floral themes are especially hot for summer in shades of baby blue, green and purple -- another one of my favorite color combinations. If you have trouble narrowing in on your design aesthetic for your home, the easiest place to start is your closet. If you have fabulous floral print shoes ... try an accent pillow with a similar breezy style. If you're a fan of circular jewelry ... try a trio of globe lights hanging from the ceiling. Choosing your color palette should make you happy, and you aren't going to walk out the door wearing something dull and dreary ... are you? Choose your home accessories the way you would a flattering outfit for a night on the town.

1. Marc Fisher Dawn sandal

2. Pier 1 Blue Floral pillow

3. Necklace from Anthropologie

1. Sea of Cortez earrings from Anthropologie

2. Scarf Scene tote from Anthropologie

3. Fabric Floral Balls from Pottery Barn Teen

1. Patched Embroidered pillow from Pier 1

2. Floral cardigan (I think from Ann Taylor)

3. Floral rug (I think from Anthropologie)

Quote of the Day: "Be careful what you wear to bed at night; you never know who you'll meet in your dreams."

Purple & orange

If I had a second bedroom, my plan would include decorating it in one of my favorite color combinations: purple and orange. And, of course, white! The overlapping squares daybed from West Elm would be perfect for piling the colorful pillows for a lush place for a guest to collapse. Shades of orange are sometimes hard to match, but I think these would work together well. The Astrid chair may be a little too much orange, but I love it so much I had to add it. (I also like this canary print tangerine chair from Target.)

1. BlissLiving purple pillow
2. Lamoon Modern pillow
3. Gemini Flamingo pillow
4. Astrid chair from Anthropologie
5. Pines in a Fall woodcut from Etsy
6. Capri Teardrop lamp from Jonathan Adler
7. Overlapping Squares Daybed from West Elm
8. Kaley Bloom rug from Pottery Barn


Quote of the Day: "I want a love like my bed. Someone to support me, someone comfortable, someone who will listen to everything I say, and will be there to catch all my tears. Essentially, a bed is the greatest model of an idealistic love there is."

Coral fixation

Beach accents add a calming feel to a room, whether through found objects like shells or an ocean-like liquidy turquoise for wall paint. I used all of the above in my dining room, from a hurricane filled with sand and starfish to a faux coral piece on a shelf to a capiz chandelier over the table.

Because my apartment is small, I also have an extra chair in the room, which has a small accent pillow with coral. Then I added a coral votive. Then I started to think ... when does a room evolve into becoming too "done." Themed rooms are common for kids' spaces, but what about adults?

For the most part I think if you're staying true to yourself and you like the look, it's OK. I chose to have a focal shelving unit which houses all my capiz frames, shells, etc. But they are all white, which cuts down on the clutter. My walls are turqouise, which offers a contrast to the stark objects. Plus I introduced orange into the room through framed art and the orangish coral. My rug brings all the colors together: orange (more of a peachy tone really), turquoise, beige, purple (from my living room).

I love the details and textures with the pearls in this new coral pillow from Pottery Barn (above).

I also love the color and graphic image on this Dermond Peterson Coral Red Linen Pillow, and this Red Coral Needlepoint Pillow from Bellacor.






Here's my coral pillow (below) from Pier 1 (like $7 on clearance!).





Quote of the Day: "Most people don't realize that large pieces of coral, which have been painted brown and attached to the skull by common wood screws, can make a child look like a deer."
-- (Deep Thoughts with) Jack Handy

Trendspotting: Chasing rainbows

Rainbow hues are everywhere these days. I think people are finally realizing that consumers want a choice beyond black or white. Even kitchen appliances are in the mix, with shades like cobalt blue, eggplant, mint julep, lemonade, etc.

{Above, Sami Hayek wall clock for Target.}

I, for one, am glad. I hate seeing something in the store that is perfect for my apartment, only the color is all wrong. If you're color-happy (because everyone knows that color affects your mood, right?), here are some easy examples to incorporate more tones into your home:

These table lamps from Design Public ($99) offer a great way to infuse color into your decor.

{Top: Multi-blocks pillow from Pier1 ($35); middle: Geometrix pillow from Chiasso ($48); bottom: Rainbow wall shelves from The Company Store }

Quote of the Day: "I'm in a weird position, because I like rainbows,
but I'm not gay. So whenever I go out wearing a rainbow shirt,
I have to put "Not gay." But I'm not against gays, so under that
I'll have to put "... but supportive." It's weird how one group
of people took refracted light. That's very greedy, gays."
--Demetri Martin