GORGEOUS SHINY THINGS: color

Showing posts with label color. Show all posts

Update: One year ago today...

...I painted my Formica kitchen countertops to look like marble.

I have received a lot of questions about how it was holding up over the past year so I decided to show you (and also I realized how many changes my kitchen has undergone!)

Here is my Ikea Docksta table I also painted today.

This surface has the most wear since it used for homework and eating. There are a few permanent marker spots I can't remove, but I figure I can paint them out...

Here is was a year ago...

The counters one year ago...

And today...

Upclose now...

I do have a few mystery marks I can't remove. A Mr. Clean Magic Eraser takes off most marks and stains though. For those that are stubborn I will eventually paint them and add a fresh coat of polyurethane to the entire counter. That is the secret to keeping them looking new.

What I found entertaining was all the changes.

Yes. It is a well known fact I like to change things up and I might be

crazy when it comes to all things decorative.

To me paint is like underwear and I change mine often.

I was one of those kids that rearranged their room monthly, so this has been going on for a long time and I don't see it ending soon. I also get bored easily and am way too visually stimulated.

In one year the kitchen had:

4 wall colors (turquoise, white, pink, and blue)

3 light fixtures

2 tables

2 types of chairs

2 different curtain panels

and we replaced the dishwasher, refrigerator and faucet.

Phew!

(the pink, orange and purple kitchen)

(the "pink for a day- then the men in my life had to have opinions" kitchen)

And the present kitchen. Got my pink in little punches.

The only remaining original appliance is the Brady Bunch ovens.

The top one broke, so they too will be leaving soon.

The one thing that hasn't changed?

The orange mudroom...

Tweaking...

I have been busy freshening up the painted Ikat Chevron in the entry. It needed to be brightened...

AFTER

Added some greens and pinked up the lavenders.

More spring, Less winter.

BEFORE

P.S.

The bathroom wall has a coat of primer, and Madame Butterfly is moving in shortly.

In case you've been hanging out under the same rock as me...

I'm a bit behind in my mag and blog reading these days, so if you have already (most likely) seen this just move along. I had to post this because I *superheart* it. Eyecandy + one of my fave color combos (yellow, coral and turquoise). Mona Ross Berman, you rock girl...

September House Beautiful

Monday Inspiration

One of the things about blogging I love is meeting and discovering other bloggers. The blogging community is filled with amazingly bright and talented people, and it so cool to be able to connect them on a daily basis.

I was recently contacted by a reader, Chedva Kleinhandler, who lives in Isreal and was inquiring about shipping costs for some wallpaper. Well one thing leads to another, and I discover her beautiful blog Belly Button and she points me in the direction of a fabulous designer Gili Ungar that she now works with and *poof* here I am sharing with you. I just love how this all works!

I am in love with Gili's bold use of color and eclectic mix of styles! I am in heaven with the above combo, so happy and fresh!

Chedva has no idea how greatly I needed to see Gili's work.

See, we are going on our second week of solid rain here, and I was needing some fresh crisp color. I'm just going to chalk yesterday's design choice up to "rain brain", thank you all for pointing out the obvious. I like a challenge, but you and my husband are right.

The kids can have it for their playroom to pet.

I also think his inspirational quote is fabulous...

You can read more about Gili here on Chedva's blog. Besides blogging she also writes for magazines and did a great interview with him. You and also visit his site see his portfolio here. Its definitely a great escape for a rainy day like today.

Thank you Chedva! And thank you Gili for chasing the gray Monday away!

Designer (S)Talk: Jill Sorensen /Marmalade Interiors

When I came across Jill Sorensen's blog Live Like You, I felt like a kid on Christmas morning. I just kept opening one great image or post after another. And then I stumbled onto her portfolio and had an "AHA!" moment. I have had this image in my favorites file and was so excited to finally see more.

I contacted Jill because I was so impressed with

A) her design philosophy (read her "Live Like You" guide to creating your space here, its a serious "AMEN sister!"), B) her bold approach to color and C) the fact that she can juggle so many things at once

(she's a Mom, a blogger, runs her design firm Marmalade Interiors as well as several charities she has founded). She is also insanely talented and living my design fantasy... Here in the states she lives in a color drenched home, but she has a second home in her native Sweden that is primarily white accented by whatever punches of color she fancies.

I was having a serious design crush.

I wanted to know more, and she was gracious enough to answer...

Who are your design/color icons?

I would have to say Tony Duquette, Dorothy Draper, Kelly Wearstler, David Hicks, Ruthie Summers. All of them use and used color in such a fearless, interesting yet fun and happy way. There are no colors that clash. I would also have to add Coco Chanel-I'm crazy about black and white graphics and she did them the best.

What is your favorite color/ color combination at the moment?

I have a new one every day! Orange and blues with citron and white, or navy and yellow with black and white, fern green and aqua, I could go on and on. I'm like a kid in a candy store with color.

I really love this color combination of lavender, aqua and punchy yellow...

and notice the lamps on the night tables... look closer...

HOW FABULOUS?

(Sorry, you know I love lights.)

Do you have a favorite "find" or re-purpose?
My favorite thing is when I find something that looks very ugly and it's like the ugly duckling..it turns in to a swan when it's done. I had this desk at my house in the basement for years and I was just so over the shabby chic French look on it I was ready to donate it. People would laugh and say how bad it looked. I suddenly got the idea to make it dark orange with silver details and use in my master bedroom. It's funny how my worst piece became one that make me smile when I see it.

Do you have a favorite space in your house?
Any space that has received a makeover. My son's room is finished and is now almost our favorite space. The living room as soon it will be finished and the over sized rococo mirror and yellow curtain arrives I think will be my favorite space. And our sunny yellow foyer with the zebra and red chandelier makes me happy.

And check out her gorgeous home in Sweden, so bright and airy...

What is your favorite thing to do when you are not in design mode?

My other passion is acting and writing scripts, which I still keep my toes in. Get pretty obsessive about that too. Surfing and skiing and of course spending time with my son. Other than that I fear I'm in design mode all the time, it's always all around you to take in.

She really is quite the Renaissance girl, having worked in modeling, writing and acting to currently designing her own line of bedding which Marmalade Interiors will be selling soon...

(How great does it look with this headboard she designed?)

OK. I can gush on and on.

Please scoot over to Jill's blog, say "hello"

and develop your own design crush... if you haven't already.

Thank you so much Jill for participating in this post! I can't wait to see what you come up with next.

Take two and call me in the morning

I seem to be fighting whatever sickness my kids have, so this will be short. I'm going to curl up with some tea and catch up on my online mag reading (keep em' coming!). I'm currently on Ivy and Piper and just loving the Diane Bergeron spread. Just what the doctor ordered, major pattern and pop. Click on both links for some major fabulousity and thank me later. Enjoy...