Palest Blue, Red, Black and White

I found this delightful picture on MidcenturyJo's Flickr set "Color Scheme Ideas". She describes it as her "latest color passion" and I have to agree. This pale blue with the bold red makes me drool. I would love to do this somewhere in my house but where?? My bedroom maybe?? What would you think of a bedcover in my favorite Urban Outfitter's spread: Flowering Branch or a plain white Matelasse with pale blue sheets. Mmmm. Like sleeping in the sky!

Well, since one of my favorite things to do is copy a look on the cheap, here is a super-budget-friendly way to get a similar look to the picture above.

1. A simple Ikea Tullsta chair in bright red would look sweet in a pale blue room.

It isn't quite as bright as the original but at $99.00 it would be hard to find too much fault.

I would pair it with this fantastic red coral pillow from Amazon.com which is adorable and a steal at $20.99. Too pretty! (and for some reason I can't upload the photo so click the link and enjoy!)

Then again if you prefer a shinier, bolder chair, you can pick up this cute slipper chair for $180.00 although it is a bit 'orange' toned for me. (and not all that cheap for an occassional chair, IMO) Again UO.

For the walls, Ikea will sell you the Fjallasta black, matted picture frame for $19.99 which will nicely contain (with perhaps a bit of creative trimming) the Red Coral 1, 2, 3 and 4 prints from AllPosters.com, each are only $17.99 unframed.

I have to admit, even if it is trendy or "so last year" I just love the look of red coral. I love trees and branches so coral gives you the same look but in red. So sparse and lovely.

Now the blue vase on the floor of the picture turns out to be the trickiest bit of all. To find a pale blue glass vase of that size you are going to pay some big bucks unless you find one at a thrift store, ebay (like the 25" example to the right) or someplace like TJMaxx. I can't see spending 200 bucks on a vase that one of the dogs or one of the kids will knock over. I mean, come ON!!

Anyone have any suggestions? What could take the place of that gorgeous vase for people who have REAL LIVES?? Let's here it.

Having Fun - Daily Turn On

Today's daily turn on is Pylones which has an online shop LOADED with fun, and I mean FUN! This is also budget fun which makes it even better. I was turned on by Apartment Therapy, which featured Pylones as "goofy chic" which I must agree with. What could be better than a cake server shaped like a dachshund out of Beetlejuice, or a bride and groom dustpan and broom set?? Hysterical! Whether you want to add some silly items to your child's room or to your main living area, you will find something whimsical and irreverant at Pylones!

What Color Orange Am I?

You are Apricot

Soft and sweet, over time you let your provocative nature shine through. You are definitely unconventional, but you don't broadcast it. You offer people a fresh perspective on life - so fresh that it can be shocking!

What Color Orange Are You?

What Color Orange Are You?

I Love You Supershoppertoo!!

As I dig around Flickr for photos of rooms that stir me to want to actually de-clutter my house, I occasionally find "deecor-gold". As you know I am a proponent of budget decor, as in: I can't justify spending $400.00 on a duvet cover that someone will eventually throw up on. My joy was unbounded when I found Supershoppertoo who has not only made her space lovely on a budget, but took it from 70's paneling hell to modern gorgeous! And if she can do it, so can we!!!

Here are some examples of her beautious work:

Livingroom before and after ^

Diningroom before and after ^ in fall colors and summer colors. BTW could you DIE for that cowhide rug?

This ^ is the basement Family Room, before and after.

And finally a glorious Sunroom ^ before and after. Every sunroom/porch I have ever had looked like this before picture!!

So go check out Supershoppertoo using the multiple links on this page and let her know how wonderful you think she is, too!

Obsessions

I have an obsession with blue-green. When I pull photos out of decorating magazines I find that most of them are some shade of turquoise, aqua, teal, cerulean, beryl, ultramarine....etc...etc.... but so far I have been terrified to decorate my home in these colors. I fear that in my dark, cold, Vermont farmhouse I will be dooming myself to a frigid decor. (I should be living in Greece. Or at least Nevada)


Thanks to the helpful people over at Apartment Therapy, I have come to realize that blues and greens do not have to be cold if mixed with the right accents. The main recommendations were either orange/red, yellow and/or hot pink.

Here are some of my favorite rooms in my favorite colors although the best picture I have is a tiny cut out from an old magazine of a white iron fence in front of the perfect blue-green with the sign "Conch Salad" on it. Here is to "conch salad blue"!!

To my absolute shame I do not have links for these gorgeous rooms. Many of them I found on Flickr and I was only planning to keep them in my style folder. If you come across your pic and want me to link it or take it down I would be happy to do so. XXOO

Some I do know:

So Sylvie

WaryMeyers

Mount Vernon

BeachBound

MaryDeluxe53

Domino Magazine