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

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."

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