Grey, the new neutral

As I was sitting on the beach over the weekend, I was in awe of how nature is such an inspirations in design. 

The color palette around me was amazing.  Sea weeds had washed up on the beach and in late afternoon light was bouncing everywhere. 

The Dijon color of the seaweed against the gray beach with blues and greens reflecting from the water were just beautiful.   There were splashes of white as the water rippled in.  The white was subtle yet striking.

GREY is the new neutral
I wanted to share with you how adding a touch of a color to a neutral pallette can liven up a space and turn a room into a beautiful and fun place.  Grey is not limited, it can read contemporary or transitional.  It's all how you pull it together.

 

Jennifer Brouwer 

In the photo below Jennifer Brouwer did a beautiful job in this living spaces combining different shades of grey in solids and textures and adding that POP of sunshine.  As on the beach, you see the touches of white in the wooden blinds, the lamp shades, vases and base boards that all play their part in bringing the room together. 

Martha O'hara

Why this room works:

Again, we see a beautiful example of how that pop of sunshine whether it be Dijon, yellow or mustard combined with the neutral greys and the balance of white complement each other.  The dark woods of the floor and furniture set the stage and allow light to dance around the room.  I think Martha did a beautiful job in this room and I especially like the unexpected red chair by the piano.

As I stood up to take pictures, I could not help but realize how even my fuchsia beach chair just POPED against the grays and mustard's. 

Niki Papadopoulos

When I came across Niki's photo, I thought VOILA how cool!
I love the way the Fuschia accents on the back of the book shelf and the club chairs add so much fun to a room.

Add color to your life, it's a sure way to put a smile on your face.

Share some of your thoughts or pictures of a grey and a pop of color with me, I'd like to smile

Create Wall Chic with Art Galleries

One of the hottest trends in home decor is creating spectacular walls with an      Art Gallery picture arrangements.

 If your wondering how designers do it.  I'm going to share a few tips to help you create Wall Chic!

Planning is key!
Don't start hammering right away or you'll have too many holes and an uneven, imbalanced display of art.  Find the right size wall for the right pieces.  Measure it out so you know the amount of space you are working with.  Remember, AVOID direct sunlight.

Personalize your home by showcasing the things you love

Begin by selecting the pictures, art or mementos you would like to group together.  Create a story or grouping of pictures and artwork that share something in common.  Grouping collections of photos and art tend to add interest.  It's all about BALANCE not just the SIZE of the artwork

Arrange   Arrange all of your pieces on the floor
You want to create balance as well as a story.  Lay them out on the floor  placing the largest piece in the center as the focal point and work out.  The center piece should be hung  60-65" off the floor to the center of the artwork.  Other pieces will hang lower and higher depending on the look you want.   It is really helpful to make a note of the distance between each picture and that should not exceed 5".  If your hanging pieces over furniture, leave at least 8" between the bottom of the frame and your furniture

Now, take a step back and admire!

*The arrangement should read as one piece,  something like putting a jigsaw puzzle together

Here are a few of my favorites,

 what I love about them and why they work

I started with Pinterest  http://pinterest.com/rosadest/great-wall-ideas/# and had to stop before I got a little carried away.

I love this wall color, it adds drama and really lets the black and white photographs POP.

Great Walls on Pinterest

This black and white wall gallery by Charlotte Moss shows great balance of frame sizes

 

If you love symmetry, this arrangement is for you.  By placing the largest piece in the center and the botanicals symmetrically placed on either side create a wonderful story on this Southern Accents wall.

This stairway gallery reflects the homeowners taste in art and personality

 

This photograph from Southern Accents is the quintessential balance of color and symmetry

 

 

The photograph below shows a unique way to create a wall gallery using a rod and hanging the paintings, black & whites and pencil drawings from either small chains or coils as you see in museums