A LITTLE FLORAL INSPIRATION

I'm a fall baby.  Born in October, I always love the end of the year seasons, when the air turns crisper, colors turn warmer, and the promise of family gatherings and Christmas cheer are on the horizon.

On the other hand, Spring is a pretty magical time, too.  I love the new growth in the garden, and picking new plants, and bringing the outdoors inside a little with plants, flowers and accessories.  Nature can be heady.  Moss can be magical.  Spring casts a certain spell...

It cast a rose spell on us - The Hubs and I had a slight sprinkler problem and some plants had to be removed for the repair - which left a little room in the garden for more roses....  Here's what came home with us...

Carding Mills (David Austin English Roses)

The Alnwick Rose (David Austin English Roses)

Sweet Mademoiselle (David Austin English Roses)

Bolero (Romantica)

I love the look of these multi-petaled English roses and the amazing color and fragrance.  We actually went back for another of the white romantica rose, Bolero.  Once it bloomed we were stunned at its size (4") and beauty.  It has over 100 petals and opens up with just a blush of pink in the center and has a wonderful scent.  We fell in love.  

I look forward to the Spring Celebration at Rogers Gardens, a plant nursery in Corona del Mar, California, each year. They are are a serious nursery, and a large one, but more than that - they also have several gift shops, a restaurant and an on-site florist.

Each Spring, their team of florists fill the largest of the gift shops with dozens of beautiful fresh arrangements for their Spring Celebration. It's a bountiful display of their considerable talents that looks beautiful and smells even better.  I can provide a look for you here ....I wish I could also send the aroma!

Hope you enjoyed the little floral tour - its back to the garden for me - I have to go plant roses!

EXPLORING WALL COLOR: GRAY

EXPLORING COLOR

Benjamin Moore BENNINGTON GRAY

ONE OF THE FIRST STEPS IN DECORATING YOUR HOME 

IS CHOOSING A PAINT COLOR

Decorating is always easier if you have a clear color palette in mind.
Even with an idea of what colors you want in a room, selecting paint can be a daunting task.
There are literally thousands of colors to choose from, and even if you have a general idea what you will be using in your decor, wall color is difficult.

With that in mind, here are some tips to help make it a little bit easier:

DO:  CHOOSE A NEUTRAL COLOR FOR YOUR WALLS

Kylie M Interiors
[Benjamin Moore GRAY OWL]

I'm not talking beige or tan here.  Neutrals are not limited to whites, tans, browns, grays and beiges. Nearly every color can be a neutral - It will be the muted down or grayed down version of that color, but that is actually the best version to have on your walls.  It will enhance but not overpower the rest of your decor.

Your wall color should not be the first thing you see when you enter a room - it should all pull together as one balanced look.  If your guests say, "Wow, now that's a wall color".... you've missed the mark. They should be saying, "What a beautiful room!..".

DO:  TRY YOUR COLORS OUT BEFORE PAINTING

Paint some samples of the colors you are considering.

Instead of painting samples on your walls, paint two coats (letting it dry between coats) on poster board or foam core board. Leave a 2" white border around the sample, otherwise the current color on the wall may influence how you see the new color.  This allows you to tack the poster board to your wall and move the board around the room to see it in different lighting.

Clay Beige by Benjamin Moore

Paint often has hidden undertones that may not be immediately visible. That's important, because wall color is affected by light, and the light in your home is different from the light in anyone else's home.  Light changes throughout the day with the position of the sun and there is artificial light in the evening that differs with wattage and the type of light.  Natural light is also influenced by the direction your room faces and sometimes with the vegetation in your yard.  You may find that soft sage green that looked lovely in the paint store turns into pea soup in your home's evening light.  So live with your samples for a day or two - and see if it is a color you love.

Accessible Beige - Sherwin Williams

DON'T:  LET COLOR INTIMIDATE YOU

Paint is the easiest and least expensive design element to change.

Don't stress over wall color - if it doesn't turn out as hoped, just repaint.

Bennington Gray - Benjamin Moore

Woodstock Tan (Benjamin Moore)

Neutral

Benjamin Moore colors

(Valspar -Blue Arrow)

Sea Salt by Sherwin Williams

Benjamin Moore's color palette is truly exceptional.  (Pottery Barn also uses their paint for the catalog).   Sherwin Williams has a great selection of grays, cool beiges and grayed down greens and blues.  In face, gray is not limited to the lighter version of black you grew up with.  Today's gray includes a full spectrum of color and intensity and looks beautiful paired with your favorite color.

Gray looks wonderful with silver, and surpisingly just as elegant with gold.

It is beautiful paired with cream or crisp white

Gray doesn't overpower or fight with other colors.  It is the perfect well-behaved neutral.  It is perfect with warm tones.

It warms up with burnt orange or pumpkin

One of my favorite combinations is a soothing gray beige with cream and tan

A calm gray beige with white is a perfect palette for a soothing nursery

Gray-blue creates a cool, clean classic with white and chrome/silver

Revere Pewter (Benjamin Moore) accented with black

Fabric and Upholstery take on the gray tones in this design by Candice Olson

Darker greys create a more masculine atmosphere

and a more dramatic design

 

a combination of gray and tobacco with darker woods -

proof that gray works with nearly every color and wood tone

soft gray painted cabinets

Gray and white  -  a classic look

beautiful layers - light gray walls with deeper upholstery and rich wood tones

Centsational Girl
Benjamin Moore TRANQUILITY

paired with cream again - I'm liking this!

this soft gray with lavender is beautiful, airy and feminine

Stonington Gray (Benjamin Moore)

Willow Creek (Benjamin Moore)

design by Helen Green

Gray-greens sooth and calm - and look striking with white molding

Gray beige is often called Griege.

Since warm colors move toward you, they often make a room feel smaller or cozier.  A cooler color will feel more calm and expand the feeling of the room.  Beige is generally a warmer color - but when it is grayed down to a 'greige' is becomes a cool color.

Gray is a perfect cameleon - cool on its own - when paired with warmer colors it allows them to shine

there is nothing 'cool' about this room..

tell me you love the ledge behind the bed and the giant mirror as headboard that adds light and dimension to this room.  that's creating brilliant magic, baby!

the pale gold with that beiges-gray (greige) -  poetry

from mochatini.org

Taupe is basically grayed-down brown or tan.  

tan is the perfect compliment to this silver blue room

Sandy Hook Grey (Benjamin Moore)

Creekside Green (Benjamin Moore)

from Better Homes and Gardens magazine

white washed (gray washed) woods

Like an overcast day, gray enhances the other colors around it. 

 I hope you have enjoyed exploring gray with me.