Inspired by October

Now that October is in full swing, I feel I have permission to begin seasonal sprucing around our casa. I don't go all-out for the holidays in general, but I do love Halloween. This month, I'm playing hostess-with-the-mostess for a couple of small soirees, so I'll probably go a bit beyond my usual.
Avery is dying to decorate pumpkins, and I need a new centerpiece, so I'm thinking some blingy pumpkins might be a fun projecto.

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..but otherwise, I think a subtler approach - maybe a hint at glossy black goodness, or a speck of harvest orange might be enough to set the mood just right.

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High gloss black doors can do no wrong in my book.

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Whoever said dark walls retract space clearly never saw a powder room this grand.

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However, an all-white kitchen benefits from a shot of color

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Making a huge mental note on the pumpkin detail of the bookshelves amid the slate-y walls. And wait! Is that a cowhide? Cut to mimic Moroccan tile? I die.

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New Trad goodness. Stripes never fail.

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There's just so much gone right in this reading room, but I'll go ahead and note the orange leather.

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So, go on. Let some orange and black do the talkin'.

Plate-Driven Color Palette

Shameless plug of my food blog, here, but there's no question that there's interplay between food and interiors. There's great opportunity for a delish dish to influence style and/or a color palette, so let my food references drive you to eat, decorate!

Taking a cue from this dish of Tandoori Pork I made, we can see the colors of Curry, Saffron and Cinnabar. Don't those conjur up so much more warmth and interest than Gold, Burnt Orange and Deep Red? JCrew was so ahead of their time, way back in the day, when they were the first to merchandise their clothing colors after luscious fruits and ripe veggies!

Once you're tuned in, food colors pop up everywhere in design:

A smattering of spicy barstools

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A little mustard for your walls

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A curry coverlet. Double the cozy.

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Pattern and Paprika. I won't complain.

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Just a splash of Saffron makes it just right

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Tufted curry, courtesy of Nate - but like him, keep it all in check with some cool tones.

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For more lovely inspiration images like these, follow me on Pinterest!

Fall Color Obsession: Saddle and Peacock

Every year about this time, it happens. That lust for all things Fall. I actually try to discourage my brain, since the seasons here in Brazil are opposite of the US, I have little opportunity to relish the fullness of the North American Autumn season, and it always leaves me a little remorseful.
Sometimes, I say to hell with it, and seek out the symbols of the season, other times (like this), they hit me - WHAM-O!

That was the case when I saw this image. Could the warm, saddle leather of the Wassily chair look any more fantastic paired with the peacock-blue of the small bureau?

Megan Young Designs

To me, the colors read comfort, nostalgia, hospitality - all symbols of the Autumn season, and now, my official Fall color-combo obsession. For the record, I'd also throw in some deep, rich cognac, but balance it with a punch of chartreuse - much like this designer did.

I began scouring my house for an area I could work in the combo without doing a complete overhaul.
Living Room.
Coffee table - certainly not saddle leather, but the color is similar. Great.

Broken, and in need of H.E.L.P. Ikea media armoire: Not. So. Great.

If I could get my hands on some Hague Blue paint, it could work magic, ya know?

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A tad O'Killed, but....

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Can you see it?

Don't let my doodling skills fool you. I'm serious, peeps. (Now go ahead and tell me what you think)

Color Inspiration

This week is nutso. Friday, we fly to the States for several weeks of R&R action. Well, I say R&R, but I should probably say running around trying to squeeze several months worth of projecting, shopping, eating, and visiting into a mere four weeks.

I really hope to hit the ground running on some things that need wrapping up in my sister and BIL's casa - one of them being their dining room. (pardon the lame-O iPhone pic)

Among other things, we're hoping to fill the space in the back wall with some sort of buffet/console, as well as add some much-needed focal color. The walls are Dovetail Gray by Benjamin Moore. We've been trying to come up with a vivid but complementary color, but I've been shying away from putting anything too predictable with the deep gray.

And then, it hit me...by way of a bracelet I designed...

Coral - all glossy and juicy.

For a console (or two) taking something like this....

...and hackety-hack hack hacking it into something so good you just might want to eat it. Ya with me?

Stay tuned, Peeps!

Pin-Therapy

Please don't tell me you're not Pinning yet. "Pinning?" As in Pinterest - the interwebs' most delicious collection of all things imagery, and notorious vacuum of precious time? I could (and do) spend hours pouring over images - from delicious design I may have otherwise missed, to clever quotes and phrases - selecting my personal favorites to add to my Pin Boards.

To say it's addictive is entirely cliché, BUT after reviewing my collection of pins, I've come to the conclusion that pins just might be a window to the soul. OK, well it may not be a spiritual experience, but it certainly provides a clue as to what charms you, what defines your style.

Through the lens of my pins, I'm clearly not over yellow. I don't know what that says about my soul, but it sure does soothe me (in an energizing kind of way).

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If you can't get enough of what floats my creative boat through the blog, you should definitely

Braziliant

So, a few weeks ago, I coined the word, "Braziliant."
Brilliant + Brazil = Braziliant.
Contextual example: "You're so Braziliant, you don't even know it!"

Apparently, Essie - makers of can't-touch-this shades of nail polish (doesn't everyone wear Ballet Slippers for their wedding?), are apparently riding my wave.

Behold, Braziliant.

Described as, "a hot orange with a touch of shimmer."
What a perfect encapsulation of the South American soul. I do love the orange/coral trend.

Essie: I'll expect my royalty check forthwith.

Ready for Red?

We're nearing the time of year when, after a brief hiatus following holiday excess, red reappears front and center. It seems there are clear camps regarding red: those willing to use it in their home, and those who can appreciate it in others'.
I'm a member of the former, but I prefer to keep it in small, somewhat unexpected doses.

Sofa = a little too bordelo, but the chandy in an otherwise understated setting could be magical.

Anyone see anything unworthy of our respect here?
No, didn't think so.

The striped chair makes me smile.

Given the choice of redness today, though, I'd have to vote for a glossy Thonet.

Specifically, the new, "twist" on the original.

Two (design) roads diverged...

I have a habit of changing moods midstream. In college, I changed majors (majorly) two years in. In my working life, I went from medical sales rep making good dough to broke law school student. It's no surprise, then, that I often get halfway through the decision process of a project, and take a left turn, so to speak.
That happened with Isla's nursery. I was going down the path of gray this, gray that - soft, neutral, yada yada when one afternoon recently it just hit me: jade green. With touches of gold, and fuschia and clever art. Heavily inspired by de Gournay wallpaper goodness. Knowing wallpaper, especially something that exquisite, isn't part of my limited budget, I've decided to do my own riff off the look.
I was inspired by images like these:

kelly at home

enlighten me as to source

desire to inspire


massuco, warner, miller

So, here's where I'm at....At least for today

How can I do this face wrong?