EVERYBODY'S CRAZY ABOUT A SHARP DRESSED MAN

AMEN, SISTER

Cary Grant

"what lingerie is to men, suits are to women"

admit it, girls...

there is class to dark gray flannel with slip of white cuff showing

there is power in a navy blue pinstripe with a deep red tie

there is elegance in an impeccably tailored suit

there is nothing more masculine than herringbone, houndstooth and harris tweed

why not add a little sex appeal to your home decor?

EASY WAYS TO ADD COLOR TO YOUR NEUTRAL DECOR

Both The Hubs and I love a certain old pottery called 'flow blue'.  It was originally a mistake, back in the day when it was made.  The blue dye 'flowed' where it shouldn't when the plates, bowls, platters, pitchers and other tableware were fired/glazed.  The British manufacturers deemed it inferior and sent it to the colonies - but instead of garnering criticism, it became very popular... instead of a 'mistake' it was thereafter done on purpose as the demand for it grew.  I loved the deep blues of this antique dinnerware long before I learned the story - but the story served to make me love it even more.  

I also root for the underdog...

I have a good bit of this in my house, and so I add pops of color to my otherwise neutral decor by displaying the platters and plates and pitchers here and there.

Ceramics, pottery, and other like accessories can add pops of color in a small way, or you can opt for a more direct pop with paint.

While a whole room of deep blue might be a little heavy, anchoring a focal wall with color can bring some personality to a neutral room.  I love how in this neutral room, the blue wall adds a focal point and anchors the family photos - all black and white and framed the same size and the same way for uniformity. 

Fabric is a more permanent way to add color - in the ottoman above and the sofas below - 

definite color is added with furniture.  

When adding color, you can also think past walls and fabric to woodwork.
Think of the mantle or bookcases

or your kitchen cabinetry

A fresh coat of paint often updates tired pieces of furniture

Rugs can add color nearly anywhere

In this room, turquoise is repeated in fabrics, accessories and artwork to wake up a neutral room

Nothing wakes up a room quite like nature.  Fresh flowers, plants, botanicals... they add life.

I love to be surprised by color in an unexpected place.

If you want to color to your home, but are a little unsure how to achieve it...

  START SMALL 

 with an accent or two...

 BRING TOUCHES IN 

WITH  FABRICS

OR A RUG

OR A COLORFUL ACCENT PIECE

ADD A FEW ACCESSORIES...

JUST  REMEMBER TO KEEP THE COLOR CONSISTENT THROUGHOUT ANY OF THE ROOMS THAT ARE OPEN TO EACH OTHER.

 Good luck!

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 QUESTION FROM A READER:

Claudine,

I have just discovered your blog and I have spent the last few weekends going through your previous posts..love it!!  I need your help with selecting a paint color for my living room and dining room which are open to each other. Both are fairly open to the kitchen (can see both from kitchen with double width entries to both). With the help of another color consultant several years ago I selected BM mellowed Ivory for the kitchen walls, BM River Gorge Gray for my cabinets and BM timid white trim. 

Benjamin Moore - MELLOWED IVORY

Benjamin Moore - RIVER GORGE GRAY

She had advised that I paint the dining room area (3 walls) BM Timothy Straw and the Living Room Mellowed Ivory as well. 

Benjamin Moore TIMOTHY STRAW

The color were based upon the upholstery fabric in the living room. 

I like the cabinet color and pleased with the mellowed ivory for the most part (certain light it can be bit much) but I don't think I would care for it in the living room. I will probably purchase new furniture within the next few years so don't want to base my selection on the furniture (images attached ) but don't want it to look off either. Current floors will be replaced - will probably go with a walnut stain wood. Is there a neutral in the gray tones that would work? If not, open to any other suggestions. Note that we get quite a bit of morning/afternoon light. I appreciate any advise you can provide. Thanks, Cindy

Hi Cindy,

I think a nice neutral gray is exactly right for your color scheme.  Try a few of these colors out in your home and see what looks best.  I think you will really like the cooler tones with the upholstery you currently have.  And they are neutral - so will probably look as nice with furniture of the future as with the furniture you currently have.

Northern Cliffs (Benjamin Moore)

Seattle Mist (Benjamin Moore)

Silver Mist BM

BM Beach Glass

BM Smoke

Good Luck!

UPDATING A FAMILY ROOM

It seems to hit at about the 10 year mark.

Suddenly you can no longer stand the outdated colors or style of your room.

For me it was the colors -
I was so tired of the same colors everyday that I craved change.

It was almost overnight -
one day they didn't bug me, the next -
I hated them.

I think that looking at so much color all day

everyday

had me craving calm neutrals to come home to.

For Kathleen, it was both - she wanted to gray down her color palette

and she wanted a nice, clean-lined contemporary look.

We started with a new color palette.
Soft grays, taupes, creams, navy
and a pop of mustard

and went from this....

to this...

We used neutral fabrics with pops of color

and in another 10 years or so, when Kathleen tires of this color scheme, 

it will be easy to add new colors - simply change the accessories

The result is updated, calm, casual and inviting.  

photography:  Shawna Henrie at Bleu Dog Photography

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QUESTIONS FROM READERS

I'm looking for a paint color for second floor hallway. Wall to wall carpet is navy blue. Wood trim and built in wood linen closet is Benjamin Moore white wing. I'd like a color that would be good so we hang pictures on the wall.

Right now walls are white wing. There is no exterior light to the hallway, just painted white wing paneled 1900 doors to bedrooms and bathroom.

Regards,
Jan

Jan, 
Hallways can be dark spaces, so I'm recommending (sight unseen, of course) a lighter palette, but also a definite color so that the pictures you hang will have a nice background.    With navy, I recommend Sherwin Williams AMAZING GRAY or ACCESSIBLE BEIGE.   Of the two, Accessible Beige is the lighter, but in a hallway area, it will appear darker than on the paint chip. (Actually, the family room in the post above is painted Accessible Beige). It has a little more beige but is still a cool beige and will be lovely with the navy.  

Amazing Gray has more gray, is a little cooler and a little deeper color, but has a beige undertone, so again, will be nice with the navy.  

Give them both a try as a sample on some poster board you can tack in place and see which one is more appealing in your space.  Both, in a hallway, will be darker than the paint chip, but with adequate lighting will be very nice on the walls.

Best wishes,
Claudine