In Living Color

Buying a house is a very personal decision. Once that decision is made, making all of your belongings work in a new space can be a real challenge. Heck, it can be downright difficult. What if nothing fits? What if the colors are all wrong now? What if the style is just not ‘you’? Making this new house a home is where an experienced, custom designer can really help bring out the ‘you’ in your new space.

Each space starts with a detail that you love - natural light, something that can be made beautiful, though the idea of beauty is most definitely in the eye of the beholder. In my experience, beauty is in the eye of the homeowner.

Take this gorgeous beach house in the panhandle of Florida right off of the 30A beach strip. To some eyes, this is a blank slate to help clear your mind while oscillating between naps and the beach. The clean white and neutral shades are a breath of salt-filled sea air.

To my client, the new homeowner, this room was a canvas to be painted. Over the course of a four day weekend, we worked together to bring this home to life! Swapping out white-on-white lamps for vibrant green beauties and starburst chandeliers. Mixing the simplicity of the existing wooden dining table with bright and sunny orange chairs. With the addition of a versatile floor runner from Flor.com, the entrance was transformed from sterile to inviting. 

The Beige Before

This home conversion didn't stop at the first floor, we completed a head to toe makeover! Incorporating existing furniture into the new design, this guest room became a joyful yet comfortable place to spend much needed time away from the daily grind. 

The Inviting After!

The addition of artwork and a fun geometric rug we give the same headboard and beautifully paneled walls a whole new look. 

Whether you are the person who prefers subdued, neutral tones or the person who must have vibrant hues in their life can reveal quite a bit about you. The science behind personal preference toward color is tied to things like personality type, mental organization, evolution and personal experience. Are you a clean, organized, focused person? You may gravitate toward clean whites and neutrals. Are you outgoing, energetic and social? Bright colors might be your lifeblood. In an evolutionary sense, blending into surroundings is beneficial for some. For others, calling attention to yourself is a way to attract others, showcase personality and build a unique place to live. 

Regardless of your preferences, every home can be personalized to fit your individuality. 

Color of the Year

Presenting, THE Color of the Year for 2022: Very Peri! Or: Laurel Leaf. Nope, it’s actually October Mist, wait, Arts and Craft, wrong again, Evergreen Fog, the list goes on. Apparently, there are many different opinions on the matter. Who are making these choices? What does it mean?

Starting with the Who, Pantone launched the idea of Color of the Year way back at the tail end of the last century. Announced in 1999, Cerulean was the first chosen Color of the Year. This marketing ploy was a brilliant way to pump new life into the vast world of color. The idea expanded across industries, influencing everything from clothing to furniture to home trends, decades before the idea of an influencer was on scene. The concept has been so widely embraced that now there are several colors of the year released by every color company that you have heard of, and quite a few that you haven’t. 

So, who is the who behind the Who? Is there some bunker of color specialists out there playing “Pin the Tail on the Next Color of the Year”? Or, is there an airy oceanside mansion where elite designers and artists gather to test hundreds of colors on all kinds of medium, waiting for the perfect color to make itself known? The answer is a blend of these two extremes. The Pantone company website states: “Twice a year Pantone hosts, in a European capital, a secret meeting of representatives from various nations' color standards groups. After two days of presentations and debate, they choose a color for the following year.”

A secret meeting of unnamed experts?! Days of presentations and debate somewhere in a mystery city in Europe?! The Color of the Year is big business! 

What does it mean? For a concept to have staying power, there must be some substance that resonates with people. The Color of the Year is a visual depiction of where we are as a society. Brilliantly, can be seen as both a reflection of where we have been, or a forecast of what lies ahead. The original Color of the Year, Cerulean is a calm and pleasing shade of blue. If defined as color that reflects society, 1999 was a year of hopeful anticipation toward completing the 20th century. If seen as a color shape the future, Cerulean can be seen as the calm needed after the dramatic panic of Y2K. 

2002 strikes me as another noteworthy year that can be demonstrated in color. After the horrific attacks on September 11, 2001 the world was filled with anger and unrest. Appropriately, True Red was chosen as the color of 2002. This fiery tone reflects on a most devastating attack on American soil, and takes us forward to the beginnings of war. What could be more fitting than True Red? Fast forward to 2021, we have an interesting twist to the trend by naming two Colors of the Year. Ultimate Gray and Illuminating, colors that demonstrate the dichotomy of despair and hope. By the end of 2020, society felt the grayness of despair for the unrelenting persistence of the COVID-19, but also was illuminated by hope that the tools available to humanity could power through the crisis. 

The examples go on and on. A marketing stunt that turned into an annually anticipated event, a reflection of society and a guide to navigating the future, the Pantone Color of the Year has rightfully earned its place in the world of design. Once you know the color, I promise you will see it everywhere! Here are some of my favorites that have come out so far this year:

Birdie Hall Brush Pots

These colorful, smooth crystal tumblers by House of Cardoon are a great way to add some Veri Peri to your life without much of a commitment. 

The Little Lumbar

I adore this lovely lumbar pillow from the Little Design Co.! It's perfect to add a pop of color to any room in the house. The greek design detail is versatile to mix with anything from a formal living to a beach house back porch. The deep blue is a great combination to the Pantone color of 2022!