THE COLOR YOU CRAVE: BLUE

When I look in my closet the color I see repeated most often is

Blue

It is repeated in my jewelry box - in the shade of  turquoise - 

a stone of which I can't seem to get enough.

Blue has always been a favorite. 

 It is ocean and sky. 

It is calm and peaceful.

It is light as air, as dark as midnight

It is indigo and icebergs

and baby boys

and robin eggs

 and hydrangeas and cornflowers

It is royal.

For those of us who crave the color blue - it calls to us in many shades.

and it is particularly lovely in our homes...

I never use a full strength color on my walls

I always choose a grayed down version

it is more liveable

more long lasting

more neutral

like the grayed down blue/with a touch of green color above

while this color is more of a gray with a blue undertone

that still reads blue

but is neutral and easy to decorate around

blue and white is a fresh, clean and classic combination

navy is dramatic, lovely and dark

and perfection in this grayed down version

fabulous in a kitchen

sometimes only a spatter of blue is enough

but complete immersion is equally acceptable

blue loves white, or black

silver or gold

formal or casual

 but lets face it - there is no shade of blue

 that isn't beautiful

 or fresh

 or soothing

or tranquil

but it can also be vibrant

classic

muted

 dramatic

soft

or cozy

Is blue a part of your life?

a small part?

 or a wrap me up in it big part? 

 Easy going blue goes with any style of design

and any wood tone you can imagine

is there a blue in your future?

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Dear Claudine,

Love your blog! I’ve gotten lots of inspiration from your design ideas. I have a question for you about my out-of-date 80’s home that I’m hoping you have time to answer. I’d love to update my 80’s oak cabinets and was thinking of painting them white. Same with the fireplace mantel in the adjoining family room. 

But I like having stained wood trim in these rooms! I have a window and door very close to the fireplace. In the kitchen there is a large bay window right next to the cabinets and a smaller window between cabinets over the kitchen sink. Would it look ok to have stained trim with white kitchen cabinets / fireplace? Or do I need to find another solution to update my kitchen?

Thanks for any advice you have!

Rachel Devine

Hi Rachel,

I have seen windows trimmed in wood that work - especially if they also have an additional white painted molding as well - as in this photo.

and in this one

In your kitchen if your cabinets are white and the trim is wood toned, the window will be the thing that draws the eye.  It will stand out like a sore thumb.  However, if you add white molding around it, you can enjoy the warm wood and still tie it in with the mantle and the rest of the home and make it stand out less against the kitchen cabinets.

Good luck!

Claudine

SPEAKING OF COLOR

and a fireplace

source

Contrasts are important in design.

New and old.

Hard and soft.

Dull and shiny.

Dark and light.

It is what makes a room unforgettable.

ORANGE CRUSH.....

NOT AFRAID OF COLOR???

Bring Mae Flowers

I have the perfect remedy to a gray day - it's raining here in So. Calif. - and to be honest, I'm not entirely sure this next question is real.... two came in from the same person but were signed with different names, but it is so entertaining - I just had to answer!  

PAINTED KITCHENS

I LOVE PAINTED KITCHENS

Greige Design

They don't have to be white, necessarily,
although the white ones make me happy

but there are other options, too...

like lovely dove gray

I wouldn't complain about this color - not even a little bit

THE PERFECT NEUTRALS

COLOR FOR THE BAMBINO

Sometimes the best way to choose color for a child or a baby's room is to start with the bedding.
You can't always guarantee that you will find fabric to match your paint color - but you can almost plan on finding paint to match your fabric.  Most home improvement stores carry color matching tech.  Just remember you never want to choose an exact color from a fabric for your walls - it will be too strong - always select a grayed or dirtied down version of your color.  It will be more livable and more sophisticated in the long run.

CHRISTMAS DECOR: COLORS OF CHRISTMAS - BLUE?

Turquoise was announced as the color of the year for 2010

and we did see many versions of that delicious hue

in the aqua and teal and sea foam hues
paired with chocolate and green

and

Other blues made a big comeback.
Deep blues and soft whispers of blue.

We saw it paired with green and cream;
and it made its classic clean, fresh appearance again with white.
But of all the blues, the grey blues were my favorite.

Blue at Christmas hits a nostalgic note for me.
I have never used blue as a holiday palette,
but my father put blue lights on our house each Christmas. 
He loved his blue lights sparkling against the white snow
piled on the roof and the bushes nearby
blanketing the lawn and ground. 
There was something ethereal about it. 
When I see blue at Christmastime, I remember my Dad,
and Christmas at home.  He sure loved himself some blue lights on the outside of the house!