Color + Design Blog by COLOURlovers

COLOURlovers Interview with Michelle of Studio M

2012-02-20T08:00:58Z

Michelle Jennings Wiebe is the owner and principle designer at Studio M, an interior design firm. Follow her design musings on her firm’s interior design blog. And if you need a little inspiration or need some design advice, follow the studio on Twitter or Facebook.

Now let's go ahead and check in with her on her favorite colors to decorate with and where she thinks home decor style is headed in 2012.

First up, why don't you tell the community a bit about who you are, what you do, how long you have been doing it, and your background.

I am Michelle Jennings Wiebe, the President/Principal Designer of Studio M Inc., a national interior design firm based in Tampa, FL. I began the firm 20 years ago, pretty much right out of college. I have always wanted to be an interior designer; even since I was a young girl, drawing floor plans and decorating glorious Barbie houses. I went on to graduate from Florida State University, with my degree in Interior Design. (Go Seminoles!) I am also a chocolate connoisseur, a travel buff, and love a great pair of shoes!

What past experiences do you think have contributed the most to where you are now?

Several experiences have shaped me. I grew up in a beautiful historic brick home (built in the early 1800s) in Ohio that was renovated by a “big city” interior “decorator” that really intrigued me. I saw the transformation first hand, and I think this set the stage for my career as an interior designer. In addition, my grandparents and parents owned a business, so I also grew up with a love for real estate and construction. I knew I always wanted my own business!

What colors do you think we will see a lot of in 2012?

Overall, I think color in general will be hot—saturated, bright colors. With that being said, we are using a lot of vibrant paprikas, cherry reds, chartreuses, salmon pinks, all shades of blue (navy is my favorite!), and then gray as a base neutral. Also, our firm is using tons of metallic GOLD! It’s back, baby!

What patterns and trends do you think will be big in 2012?

Geometric patterns, including my forever obsession with chevron, will be hot. In addition, colorful graphic florals are making a comeback in a big way. Our firm loves horizontal stripes and over-scaled hounds tooth. Color blocking is very prominent in fashion, and we have carried that to interiors. Animal prints remain a classic accent, too!

Which colors, patterns & trends are you personally most excited about?

I am really into 70s inspired design, with a modern twist! We are finishing a client’s entertainment area (4,000 square feet alone!), and its vibe is “the 70s meets India.” Lots of golds, purples, turquoises. Really fun furniture and light fixtures. Hints of Marrakesh too.

What is your favorite website or app right now?

I am a huge One Kings Lane fan, and expect to be producing a “Tastemaker Tag Sale” this year. Another favorite site is Modenus which is a wonderful interior design resource. And I LOVE Coulourlovers ! You all are very helpful in putting unusual color schemes & patterns together. I also have dozens of other design sites and blogs that I follow on a regular basis on my iPad; there is so much great inspiration out there.

When decorating your home, what are the top three colors you turn to for the space?

Well, I am getting really antsy to redecorate my home—or build a new one! Right now it is a traditional interior full of varying shades of greens and creams, with chartreuse and fuscia accents in the master bedroom. For my new home, I am leaning towards a more modern scheme, with a gray base, then different colorful accents in each area.

What is your favorite paint color?

I honestly have many paint colors I favor, but one that is just exquisite is Benjamin Moore 1563 Quiet Moments, a soft blue gray that is just amazing in all types of light.

What's the best home design-related advice you've ever received?

I tell all of my clients to only order items they really like! Don’t follow trends, or think they have to do a particular style. They truly have to like it. I also always recommend starting with a fun inspiration piece for each room. This could be a fabulous piece of artwork, a quirky patterned colorful fabric, a graphic area rug, or simply an amazing view. But every room needs a starting point, and all other decisions are derived from this.

When you are feeling stumped, where do you turn for inspiration?

My most valuable place for inspiration is travel! This is where I love experiencing different cultures, architecture, etc. On a daily basis, I look to my piles and piles of design magazines and books! (You should see my nightstand; it literally is covered with them.) I also love design blogs, and have many friends on Twitter that I share ideas and resources with! (Yes, I am a Twitter addict. There I said it.) Lastly, a long stroll on the beach always gets my creative juices going too. It is a great place to dream and devise…..

For someone that is just beginning down the rode to create a better home, what resources or advice would you give to them?

Enjoy the process. The amount of decisions can be overwhelming at times, but it really is a journey. My home is never really “finished”; it is always changing with new ideas and collections. Make your home YOUR place you always want to come home to.

Geometric Home Design Elements of Simon Page

2012-02-15T00:00:51Z

The designs of Simon Page take us back to basics, to the literal building blocks of good design: geometric shapes. Page, a London-based graphic designer, is all about creating a visual experience that stimulates the emotions. His philosophy is “Good Design Excites.” And you’ll be surprised how exciting circles and squares can get after Page is done with them!

Though all of his designs jump-off from basic geometric shapes, his work gets more sophisticated as he layers on his color palette, cuts and rearranges the shapes in the frame, and develops unexpected patterns and textures. In the words of one commenter, he creates work that “you can get lost in - they are busy, but somehow calming at the same time.”

Geometric Cushion Designs

At first glance, the design covering this pillow seemed to have sequins on it, but on second glance, this is illusion created by bold color choices and the juxtapositions.

The same type of visual tricks follow in his other four pillow designs, which would make a striking focal point in any living room.

Geometric Cushion Designs; Limited edition series by Simon C Page on Behance.

Geometric Retro Grunge

Through repetition, these shape & color combos develop a mesmerizing rhythm that harkens back to the psychedelic patterns of the 70’s. Some of these might make you a bit cross-eyed if you stare too long - even so, they’d make fantastic desktop backgrounds.

Geometric Retro Grunge; 2011 Prints by Simon C Page on Behance

CUBEN 2010

These prints showcase parallelograms, triangles and other angular shapes, each with carefully chosen hues to create patterns that undulate, causing the same “visual riddles” that carry through all his worth. The last few in the set escalate his technique, frenetically layering shape on top of shape for an even more intense visual experience.

CUBEN 2010 by Simon C Page on Behance

How do you react to the way Page combines colors, shapes, and patterns?

COLOURlovers Interview with Gabrielle of Design Mom, Kirsty & Altitude Summit

2012-02-13T08:00:43Z

We are touching base with one very busy girl today! Not only has she built up a successful blog, a new company and one of the coolest new design conferences out there, she has done so while having a family of 6 kids! Truly an inspiration.

One of her newest endeavors, Altitude Summit, has become of those must-attend conferences for bloggers, designers and artists of all sorts. If you haven't heard of Altitude Design Summit yet, you will soon. The panel of speakers are of the top talent out there, including the co-founder of Pinterest, Ben Silbermann, Editor-In-Chief of Martha Stewart Living, Pilar Guzmán, and a lifestyle and art editor at Chronicle Books, Kate Woodrow.

Let's get to chatting with Gabrielle Blair and see if we can find out how she balances everything, how she gains inspiration and more.

Q: First up, why don't you tell the community a bit about who you are, what you do, how long you have been doing it, and your background.

A: I’m a former art director kept inspired by a blog called Design Mom, an ever-evolving site named Kirtsy, and a founder of Altitude Design Summit, which has turned into the annual place-to-be for some of the most talented bloggers, designers, and artists I’ve ever met. In my spare time, I’m a wife to Ben Blair and mom to six of my favorite children in the world -- Ralph, Maude, Olive, Oscar, Betty & June!

Source: DM family photo a: Photo by Blue Lily Photography

Q: What past experiences do you think have contributed the most to where you are now?

A: Some of the best things in my life have happened because of shared ideas. Whether we’re talking about family or our careers or good design, brilliant collaborations are priceless.

Q: What colors do you think we will see a lot of in 2012?

A: I’m already seeing sharp bursts of orange, from clementine to caution and even sherbet. It’s more of a neutral in all of its shades than I once imagined.

Source: DM dinosaur designs: via Dinosaur Designs, DM orange hair: via Lady Gaga

Q: What patterns and trends do you think will be big in 2012?

A: Remember that I’ve been living in the French countryside for the past year, so I see a lot of classic colors: black, charcoal, and deep navy, gorgeous accents in camel and red, with a Burberry plaid here and an Hermès print there! I find the old-school European consistency so refreshing.

Source: DM hermes: Photo by Candace Meyer Photography via Obakki

Q: Which colors, patterns & trends are you personally most excited about?

A: At the time of this writing it is winter, which is usually when I’m visually drawn to color combinations and patterns that shake my senses a little. Right now, I’m smiling at Chloé’s genius color-blocking, Dinosaur Designs’ latest collection, and the startling chevron used by Edie Parker.

Source: DM edie parker: via Edie Parker

Q: What is your favorite website or app right now?

A: Pinterest has stolen many an hour from me and probably the rest of your readers, but I’m also fond of all the behind-the-curtain sites like The Glow, Closet Visit, and everything Selby.

Q: When decorating your home, what are the top three colors you turn to for the space? What is your favorite paint color?

A: My answer depends on the light inside each house! I have a feature on Design Mom called Living with Kids, where readers share their interiors. Every week, I’m moved to try something new. One week, I’m inspired to paint everything white. The next week, I shift to grays from graphite to a barely-there mist. Lately, I’m very drawn to colors that remind me of ripe, juicy fruit for accessories and textiles: raspberry, blueberry – especially when it’s paired with turquoise - and the color hiding inside kiwis.

Source: DM craft room: via Design Mom

Q: What's the best home design-related advice you've ever received?

A: Take your time. Collect with care. Some of the most stylish homes I’ve seen are also the most well-edited.

Source: DM the glow: Photo of Cynthia Rowley's pool via The Glow

Q: When you are feeling stumped, where do you turn for inspiration?

A: If I can’t get outside, I just start wandering around online! There’s a staggering amount of inspiration out there, and I haven’t gotten to the last page yet!

Contemporary Wallpaper Pattern Trends & Inspiration

2012-02-08T17:55:57Z

Wallpaper of today is definitely not what it used to be with the installation process and the choice of patterns or images available. Ghastly florals and patterns of the past are replaced by reinvented, contemporary florals, patterns and palettes of the present.

This article is presented by InkShuffle.com offering you beautiful Easy Off Wallpaper – perfect for renters. Millions of designs in categories like vintage, cityscapes, and room openers.

We recently published a post about wall stenciling, also a booming trend and a more budget-worthy route than wallpapering, but could also be more work, depending on what you chose to paint. Wallpapering can also almost ensure a very clean, accurate and even more elaborate finished wall as well. At the end of the day, both have their pros and cons like anything else, it's just a matter of budget and preference.

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I'm falling fast in love with Kreme wallpaper patterns. Very Moroccan-inspired design work with fabulous palettes. The example above is one of their more minimalist designs called, Painted Gate.

"Painted finishes, although great in some spaces, don't equate to the luxury and opulence a few rolls of wallpaper can provide." - Cadee Wilder of Kreme

Sourced from slideshow in Kreme Wallpaper California Collection 2012

Contemporary wallpapers are sometimes so graphically reinforced with such dramatic design work. This type of pattern design is so intricate that paint just couldn't replicate (or could, but with a lot of effort).

Template: Antique Spanish by alfarroba

I often come across patterns on COLOURlovers that could be made in to wallpaper, fabric, wrapping paper, you name it. In fact, most of the patterns at Kreme in their collections remind me of some of the high quality pattern work members are creating more recently. It is cool to see how the trends work their way around the block.

Sourced from slideshow in Kreme Wallpaper California Collection 2012

Black and gray are becoming a nice wall and room element in a not so dark-and-ominous sort of way.

Let's talk Chevron shall we? A screaming trend right now and how can you not like it? With such a simple design and shape, there are an awful lot of variations that just keep on coming.

Sourced from slideshow in Kreme Wallpaper Muse Collection 2012

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These large chevrons would definitely be something you could tackle with paint!

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Modern chevron patterns don't always mean sharp angles. More and more organic chevron patterns are emerging in so many variations.

source: listed under Chevron

This handmade wallpaper is simply amazing! A unique take on the chevron pattern, but still kept simple and fairly clean with a little rough edge to it, giving it a bit more personality with curved instead of sharp edges.

source: listed under Rousseau

From the same handmade wallpaper source, this artist has outdone themselves with this very detailed piece. My favorite being the magenta and orange overlay. Another image from the source has a gold and coral overlay. I wish there was more information about each wallpaper piece and artist links.

source: Dandelion Clocks by Sanderson

I love the simplicity of most contemporary florals right now. This popular dandelion shape has been floating around for some time now, being used as a design element from wallpaper to fabric and beyond. The muted grayish palette is also a trendy combination.

source: Alice by Marcel Wanders

We are seeing lot of two-hue palettes and nice combinations of lines and shapes to tone down a busy design. This palette of orange over red or coral, a "fire on fire" combination, is super hot right now as well.

octagon | Soprano Teal | Marenka (red squares) | dimensional squares

Geometric shapes can be loud or subtle, dimensional or flat. Many collections exist and the pattern opportunities endless.

skulls | Ripple PaperForms Wallpaper

There is so much that is being done with wallpaper from dimensional effects to literal 3D effects like this Ripple PaperForms contemporary wallpaper by MIO (above, right).

There are simply too many wonderful designs and styles of wallpaper patterns to showcase here, but we will continue to pin them in our PATTERNlovers board on Pinterest.

Have you come across patterns on COLOURlovers that you would definitely put up on your wall?

creations used in this post:

Home Decor Trends: Moroccan Pattern Stencil Wall Tutorial

2012-01-31T11:58:39Z

Stenciled walls are becoming quite the trend right now. And for good reason, it adds an awesome pop to the room. I have been dying to stencil a wall for a while now, the problem is, the process looks very daunting and frankly, a little tedious. Finally, I decided to go for it and stencil the main wall in my living room to give the rather drab room, a big pop.

Source: 1, 2, 3, 4

After looking through tons of color palettes and patterns, I set out to find the perfect gray and decided on a Moroccan pattern similar to the bedroom below. I bought the "Wall Stencil Marrakech Trellis" from CuttingEdgeStencils for about $50.

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I tested several paint colors in all shades of gray and finally found the perfect shade. I chose, "Timber Wolf" by Benjamin Moore. If you are in the market for the perfect gray paint, I highly recommend trying this. I have tried so many that were too blue, too purple, and too brown and found that this was the perfect gray hue.

After trying out 15 paint colors, I ended up with "Wolf Gray" by Benjamin Moore (seen below) because I switched and confused the word "wolf" and ended up painting an entire wall a color I hadn't even tested before.

The photos don't translate the colors quite as well as in person. This shade is really a dark blue as opposed to a slate gray. After painting the wall the color you choose, the real fun begins.

I started stenciling in the bottom left corner as it was the most discrete. My first chunk took 20 minutes to complete. As I continued it started getting a lot easier. Here are some pointers I learned through the process:

- Pour a half-cup of paint into the tray
- Work the paint into the roller by rolling it around evenly a few times. You don't want clumps of paint on the roller or the stencil will come out clumpy in places.
- Once the paint is evenly distributed on the roller, roll over the stencil a few times quickly.
- I liked the look of the gray coming through, so I would only roll it a few times. It gives it a "stamped" sort of look which I preferred against the gray.

To ensure the stencil lines up and it is even throughout the wall, make sure the stencil is lined up with the white paint from the last group you did. Tape all 4 corners and its stays right where it needs to be for you to quickly roll over it.

Doing a full wall is much easier than a wall with a huge fireplace in the middle. Luckily, the stencil I purchased came with smaller stencils to fill in areas and edges that the large stencil wouldn't fit in. For each edge of the fireplace, I used the smaller stencils and filled in the lines one by one.

After several more hours of the same work over and over again, I completed the entire wall. There were places where paint clumped up, but when I finished the wall, it was hard to find those places that were smudged, so I decided not to worry about it.

Stenciling Photos & Process by: Allison Silber

Overall it took about 10 hours to paint and stencil this one wall. It is definitely a lot harder than just picking a color, painting and calling it a day, but I love the look that this wall brings to the whole room.

As far as pairing decor with a stencil wall, the one problem is that you can't have too many other geometric patterns in the room as they all start to clash (hence the 4 pillows I have with all the same pattern). I decided to order a textured rug that was more muted, and some textured solid color pillows to balance out the patterns in the space.

Interior Paint Palettes We Love

2012-01-20T16:29:16Z

Recently, we spent some time reflecting over some beautiful home decor images in order to curate these ten beautiful palettes from the Martha Stewart paint line in a collaborative project titled, "Paint Palettes We Love."

Peruse these lovely combinations and fancy what your space might become, reinvented with fantastically bold or mellow combinations that might pull your imagination strings. One thing I adore about Martha's paint line is that her and Kevin Sharkey dig in to their memories and whims when building a collection of color around them. You can literally see these things in the names of the paints themselves.

Inspiration: A Sunny & Sweet Flower Arrangement

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This sunny flower arrangement was procured from the sweet tooth of Kevin Sharkey. A few of his favorite sweets happen to be lemon drops and raspberry rock candy.

"Consider things that never fail to make you happy -- a box of pastel crayons, macaroons from Paris, a beloved artist's paintings -- and make note of their colors. Then bring the palette to life by plucking it from nature: Arrange flowers, leaves, branches, fruits, or vegetables in the shades of your passions." - how kevin creates

We took this arrangement and furthered its use by adding a wonderful palette drawing from the strongest points, which could be a great base for an entire room.

Kevin Sharkey's Bedroom

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A very strong and masculine space, Kevin's room is quite impressive, very minimal yet not feeling empty. Obviously the massive graphic painting is a striking visual element that helps keep the furniture grounded in such a large space. Kevin said,"I wanted the bed to look like a bento box."

These heavy colors definitely work in such a large space using the Sharkey Gray as a base, not to light and not too dark of a hue to wrap it all up nicely.

Skylands Guesthouse: A Bedroom Built Around A Lamp

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Martha had this entire room designed around the Italian alabaster reading lamp pulling from ruffled edges, fluted top and ivory lamp base. A very serene feeling pulls from the room to create a very innocent palette.

Functionality: American Colonial Kitchen

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Clean, white and steel-accented kitchen is brought down to earth with its mahogany countertops. Painted wood paneling and earthy sentiments keep this space from becoming too chilly.

Staying Grounded: Colonial Bedroom

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A very earthy palette describes this Colonial bedroom. The centerpiece being the heavy baroque Swedish desk comfortably pulling the colors together.

Colonial: Synchronizing A Pink Room

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Pink rooms are becoming more and more popular, but to pull it off right, without it screaming "girly" or "princess" - the right palette should share the same space. Here the grays and browns within similar hues really bring the "pinkness" down a few notches to simply create a beautiful, classical space.

Turquoise Trend: Cool & Collected Office Space

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Who doesn't want some energy thriving in their office? But use too much and your brain won't be able to function. Balancing out your visual energy colors with grays and other muted contrasts can definitely bring a room like your office in to a focused, enjoyable space.

Balancing Act: Soft & Striking Living Room

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Who doesn't love some sunshine and rain at once? The trick is getting the right balance to get a beautiful, non-amature space. You wouldn't want your finished living space to look like a kids room. Toning it down and bringing the colors together with some neutrals can help these two striking contrasts coexist nicely.

Manhattan Loft

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Collaborative wood accents definitely help ground this high-patterned space and light, warm neutrals give the darker hues balance.

Green Living Room

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Green can be a very serene and focus intensive hue. The right green combined with earthy darker hues give off quite a bit of richness. Adding balancing neutrals and you've brought it all together in a meditative, relaxing space to spend time in.

Have you put together a space-palette for your own spaces? Are you dreaming of of a palette for your spaces? I know I am! Maybe some of these COLOURlovers curations will jumpstart your ideas.

If you want to locate the paint colors from each project, each curated palette in this post includes the colors made through the Martha Stewart paint line.

Palettes used in this post:

Brightening Up Your Spaces with the Latest in Lighting Trends

2012-01-19T18:15:00Z

Lighting a space can make a significant impact on the emotional palette. From the design of a lighting fixture to how it radiates in a space can make or break the entire theme.

This article is presented by LBC Lighting offering you the easiest and most convenient way to purchase contemporary lighting including Juno Lighting for your home or business.

There are a myriad concepts being done with lighting, from astonishing buys and extraordinary DIYs, everyone’s got a bug to be the most unique.

Beaded Chandeliers

Beaded chandeliers are becoming quite a popular trend. This style can encompass beads or discs made from many different types of materials such as glass, shell or metal and of course plastic or ceramic.

turquoise beaded | black metal discs | bone-colored beaded | green DIY beaded

It seems that while manufacturers came out with these gorgeous pieces more prominently in early 2011, the DIY crowd is just starting to pick up on producing them in a variety of fashion. If you'll notice, the bottom row in the image above are similar lighting fixtures. On the left is the Malibu Chandelier by manufacturer Serena & Lily while on the right, the DIY blog, SimplySalvage.com decided to make their own version of it. I think they pulled it off pretty well.

Industrial & Farmhouse Lighting

The look of rugged, raw metal and thick glass I think sums this trend up nicely. From wire caging to mason jars, it's hot hot hot right now.

wench hook | 3 tier upside down mason jar

Definitely a category more akin to the DIY crowd because of the non-complexity it entails. Not to say that some of these haven't had some hard work put toward them. But you'll definitely find this styele in both formal and informal circles.

As mentioned, all types of repurposed jars and bottles are currently the bee's knees. In the DIY crowd, I find that this category is pretty intriguing because you're bound to come across the men who create, which can lead to finding other treasures in their handmade troves you may have been missing out on.

turquoise ceiling lamp & interior

I really enjoyed this entire white room where touches of turquoise bring the eye full circle with the centerpiece being this rustic ceiling lamp.

wire chandelier | hanging wooden slat lights (green room) | stir-stick lampshade DIY | wooden box light

The Lamp

I wish I had more areas in my house for this type of beautiful light feature. If you are re-doing an old lamp or buying something new, the possibilities are literally endless.

Being a DIYer myself, I am partial to some of these that take a quite out of date, trifted brass lamp and give it a new pop. Both lamp shades and lamp bases, there is so much you can do with each to seriously reinvent the original piece. Ceiling lamps in the drum shape are also a must and an endless list of styles and mediums.

Impressive Design

Lighting fixtures are great ways to add a final glowing touch to a room. Keep in mind that the type of lighting you choose can enhance or completely change a spaces color scheme, so don't wait last minute to decide on the fixture and lighting type when building or re-doing an interior space. As a centerpiece, accent piece or just plain usefulness there are so many brilliant designs and ideas to dress up our spaces.

Do you own or have made any type of unique lighting? Do you have anything you've been eyeballing on Pinterest for a someday piece? How about colorful lighting? Let's see it!

...and if anyone is interested, here is the rest of my lighting roundup on my personal Pinterest.

Home Decor Trends That Will Lead 2012 By Storm: Part 1

2012-01-06T09:32:56Z

Home decor has become quite a happening thing that can encompass your whim and personality more and more. It is more widely accepted to make your space a unique one instead of trying to keep up with the Jones'. Let's take a look at what trends became red hot in 2011 and are sure to become more so as 2012 launches off.

Owls & Birds

The owl is a decor trend that has been there all along in some shape or form since the 1900's. Through taxidermy, design inlay on a leather piece or stitched in to a hanky, these mysterious night creatures have been a part of our culture as a piece of interest for a very long time. I remember my grandmother had a macramé owl in her indoor greenhouse when I was a child and other various owl decor in a very 1970's fashion.

The recent trend of owls from about 2009 through the present has definitely picked up on a new level of design playing off of vintage styles with a modern day twist that makes them not so tasteless, but fascinating and simply adorable from everything home decor, holiday ornaments, fashion and party decor. People can't seem to get enough owl.

grey and pink room | pink and green room | neuteral | white minimalist

The owl and bird trend in general, is not slowing down. At any rate it's expanding with every which way it can. Other flighted creatures can also be seen in home decor in continuing trends, such as the little "blue bird" but owls seem to be on a branch of their own.

Wall Art - The Family Tree

Wall decals and wall silhouettes with paint are not super new, but more recent trending is the art of the family tree, literally. Family tree, wall art is something to look out for more of in 2012.

Stair Makeovers

I am constantly amazed at what people are doing these days with their houses. These stair makeovers certainly came to be in 2011 and I don't see them going anywhere except up in 2012. Think of the possibilities! I don't know about you, but I'd love to makeover a set of stairs with COLOURlovers patterns! If only I had stairs...

I adore these yellow stairs with varying patterns! Definitely something one could do with custom wall paper and some COLOURlovers made patterns! Aside from big booming bright

light blue patterns | black zig zag | crazy pattern mix | happy colorful words

Patterns, patterns everywhere! There is also no shortage of big bold colorful stairs with a variety of messages leading up or down the steps. Why wasn't this a fad 20 years ago, it's so simple?

color names + slide stairs

If all else fails, go with stairs and a slide! I love how minimal, yet fun this set of stairs look. I love how this area is centered around the kids in the house, noting that there is a slide with a huge arrow pointing downhill. I could see many hours being spent here!

The Rebirth of Ruffles, Ruffles and more Ruffles

Boy have ruffles really been hot the last year or two and they're only getting hotter and more varied. Pre-ruffled fabric, now available to everyone, has been taking fashion and home decor enthusiasts by storm in 2011.

white duvet partial ruffles | beige duvet partial ruffles | plumb full ruffle duvet | aqua gradient full ruffle duvet

In the past, ruffles have more traditionally been a seen on the fashion scene or when done with interiors in the 90's on fairly tasteless fabric (to our generation) and nothing like what's happening now. People love ruffles so much that it seems they have been incorporating them anywhere possible!

From throw pillows, bed spreads, curtains, you name it, it can be covered in ruffles! What a great way to add physical texture to your home, but personally, take in to consideration that too much ruffle could happen.

The year is sure to bring on some exciting changes as well as morph and continue some of the quite popular trends of 2011.

Do you see any brand new trends for 2012 to claim all by itself?

Wreath the Holiday Season in Colors Galor

2011-12-12T17:40:22Z

More than just a decorative touch, wreaths have existed since the times of the ancient Romans. Before Christianity, pagan rituals of mid-winter often featured a wreath of evergreen with four candles.

The candles were placed in each of the four directions, representing the elements of Earth, Wind, Water, and Fire. Rituals were performed to ensure the continuance of the circle of life.

Elements (TraditionalGerman Advent used for representation)

Some Christians use this idea also. The four candles represent the advent of Christmas and the hope of returning light in the Spring.

Laurel Wreath Crown (Victor) | Gold Wreath Crown (Gold Olive Leaf Crown) | Olympic Gold Medal (1996 Olympic Games

In ancient Greece, olive wreath crowns were awarded to victors in the original Olympic Games. Today, modern Olympic medals often bear the same olive wreath image. These wreaths stood for Victory over challenges.

Poinsetta ( Red and Gold) | Beautiful Nature (Magnolia) | Inspired Nature (Design) | Eucalyptus Love (Sage and Red)

The Christmas wreath has much symbolism attached to it. The shape of the circle has no beginning and no end. This circle could mean the eternal nature of God’s love or the Circle of Life. The use of Evergreen branches suggests victory of life through darkness and challenge. Think of the Greek Victors Crown. Think of the hope that light will come back to the world with the advent of Spring.

Square Wreath (Regal Fruit Sunburst) | Mixed Greenery Wreath (Silver Bird) | Berry and Greenery Wreath (Very Berry Square) | Succulent Wreath (Rich Texture)

Square wreaths are gaining in popularity—perhaps non-traditional, but just as exquisite.

Vintage Christmas Ornament Wreath (Beautiful Handmade) | Grinch Ornament Wreath (Grinch) | Oval Ornament Wreath (Metal Funky Stocking) | Silver and Teal Ornament Wreath (Bubbly Holiday Cheer) | Pink, Blue, Lime Green Ornament Wreath (Festive Deco Mesh)

Color and texture are vividly portrayed in these gorgeous ornament wreaths. They domonstrate how wreaths can be meaningful or just plain fun.

How did we come to hang wreaths on our doors? Decorative wreaths using different floral arrangements were used anciently to identify different families and houses. Whereas today we use house numbers.

Building your own wreath is a lot of fun! There are a myriad of bases to choose from. If you need inspiration then Etsy and Pinterest are amazing resources.

Paper Cone Wreath (cornerhouseblog DIY) | Paper Star Wreath (littlebirdiesecrets DIY) | Yarn & Felt Wreath (Etsy) | Tie Wreath (bedifferentactnormal)

Wreaths are wrought with lore and tradition as well as whimsy and fun. Whether you hang a wreath on the door to welcome visitors, or on the wall to complete your home’s decor, the splash of color on a cold winters day is sure to add a feeling of warmth, building excitement for the coming season.

Love this color? Live in it! A New Paint Color Feature Powered by Martha Stewart Living™

2011-11-23T09:56:35Z

I often hear COLOURlovers described as a place to help people find great colors... "Like for when you're looking for colors to paint your kitchen or bedroom." Problem is, it has been hard to take a color on our site and find a matching paint color in the real world.

So, we're super excited to announce a partnership with Martha Stewart Living™ to get her paint colors on the millions of colors, palettes & patterns pages here at COLOURlovers... By far making this site the biggest color resource for paint color inspiration!

I've had the pleasure of spending some time at the Martha Stewart HQ in New York city and it's like Santa's workshop for creatives. Each room is full of people making awesome stuff... pastries in this room, ornaments in that room... It's the kind of place any creative/crafty person dreams of being locked in over night. Since Martha Stewart and her creative empire are all about crafting & creating... we're thrilled to work with her and all the awesome people at MSLO. The addition of these paints to the site is going to open so many great opportunities for interior designers & decorators, and even just somebody looking to add some pop to a boring white wall.

Finding the Paint Colors Your Love

Wherever a color is displayed on our site, along with the HEX & RGB numbers for that color we'll also show you the closest matching Martha Stewart Living paint color. And every display of that paint color will link you to the Home Depot site where the Martha Stewart Living paints are exclusively sold. From the Home Depot site you can easily & affordably try out a paint tester to make sure you love the color.

Note on Color Matching: Since more colors (16 Million) can exist on a computer screen compared to paint colors... Not every color on our site will be a perfect match to a paint color, but we're working hard on perfecting the matching logic so the color that you're loving here can be the color you're loving on your walls.

Martha Stewart’s 280 custom colors are inspired by themes found in nature and the home. Martha Stewart Living also supports the entire decorating project through an innovative color coordination system. Symbols match color families and themes, and coordinate with other household products throughout the store like rugs, furniture, and storage.

Colorful Story Telling with Paint

Along with adding the paint colors to the site, we'll be showcasing some of the beautiful home images from Martha Stewart in our Home Inspirations & Trends section of our site as well as some write-ups here in the blog. Having the ability to link colors we love to paint colors is really going to add a whole new layer of awesome to the site!

Paint Your Space. Share It With the World!

When you use this new feature to paint a wall in one of the spaces in which you live, make sure you post up a picture in the comments. We'll be showcasing a gallery of awesome painted spaces soon and I hope yours will be included.