COULD THIS BE YOUR FAVORITE COLOR IN 2012?

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I don’t know about you but I cannot wait for spring to arrive! Winter is almost gone with its long nights and short days, and I can definitely feel the arrival of spring, look around you it’s almost everywhere :) from nature to retail stores, you know when spring is coming. And if you have been shopping for clothing recently you probably noticed two big trends- color and patterns.

This is the perfect time to decide if one or both are for you. As you try to decide where to start your condo decoration, keep in mind that trends come and go but you can keep them with you as long as you like.

As pointed out in few previous blog posts about trends, color and how to go about incorporating color trends without taking the risk of investing too much money in something temporary, I encourage you to consider how important is color for your own personal space.

What I believe is the most important factor to consider is that your home should reflect who you are, so select a color palette that is close to your heart and have fun with it.

When choosing colors and patterns there are 2 main categories you have to consider: temporary (easy to change) and permanent (or almost- more difficult and expensive to change).

If you choose to go with a color splash just for the season and for the entire year not sure if you will keep it for a longer period of time, think of investing in accessories, area rugs, wall features.

Should you choose to go with more of a permanent color accent, consider kitchen cabinets (either lower or uppers or both), backsplash tiles or back painted glass, light fixtures and key pieces of furniture (like an accent chair or a sofa), window coverings.

This year’s colors selected by Pantone vary from soft hues to strong & powerful. Each color can become the focal point in any room or throughout your condo space. There are also a few colors that can be combined for some of you who emailed me questions about how to mix more than one accent color in the mix of neutral background colors.

So let’s start:

Tangerine tango- the color of the year!- it can be such a strong color when paired with dark neutrals but also soft and fluid when mixed with various hues of whites and off whites.

Here are 2 paint colors selected from Benjamin Moore Canadian website- see the two coordinating colors below.



courtesyof jonathanadler.com



Here are few scenarios:

 -      Use this color sprinkled in large surfaces like floors or walls- this powder room is the perfect place for a bold pattern that takes over the entire room, what it’s called small space big drama!



 



courtesy of wstudio.ca



courtesy of wstudio.ca



You can also add an area rug like one of these two, for either a strong pop of color or just hints of it- either way your space could look spectacular!

Solar power- is one of those colors that definitely change one’s mood in any room. It can be paired with either cool or warm neutrals from off whites to deep rich tones of grey, taupe and brown. Yellow and white is a guaranteed happy combination, either in accessories or use on large surfaces.

courtesy of jonathanadler.com

If you live in a loft, a yellow runner is a definite pop of color and could be the main accent of the open space, see in the image below how the white and yellow is predominant and the dark exposed edge of the stair is a very subtle yet strong background that holds the yellow tone and helps it stand out even more.

The 2 color combinations from Benjamin Moore shows you how you can combine it with either warm of cool neutral tones.

The ‘maple gold’ color would work well with either of the 2 neutral below if used as wall colors.

The ‘golden bounty’ tone of yellow- more of a mustard hue- can be combined with the dark color ‘durango’ for the walls and perhaps the ‘graham craker’ color can represent small accents used in front of the dark wall color.

courtesy of jonathanadler.com

Used in small proportions for accents only, yellow works beautiful with white and grey tones and the stripes from the bedding in the image below shows how subtle yet vibrant this accent color can be in a small or large space.

Viceroy Hotel is a perfect example of to abundantly use yellow as the main color in a room, used for more than one surface! I know this is not easy for many of you to pull together, but if you look at this image you can see how yellow is predominant yet very well balanced within the room. If you think about it, many other colors could be used in this ‘formula’.

Courtesy of Apartmenttherapy.com

Bellflower-a wonderful lilac tone, can be paired with both light and dark, warm and cool neutrals. ‘charmed violet’ is the Benjamin color paint I selected as being close to the pantone trend. While paired with white this color can create soft feminine spaces, when used just as accent with the predominant color being the dark paint ‘wrought iron’ and darker variations of lilac and purple, the space could be very dramatic to say the least.

Sodalite blue- one of the trend colors that could be trendy for more than one year, as it works perfect with either cool or warm greys, black and white. 

‘Symphony blue’ paint color from Benjamin Moore shows how soft this blue hue looks when combined with the two sandy tones below. For a more dramatic effect, pair this color (or darker variations) with grey/charcoal colors and metallic textures and white for a sharp contrast. Whether used as a background color or accent, navy blue will always create powerful masculine condo spaces.

Cabaret- is a great tone of hot pink part of the pantone trends for few years now. This is one of those colors you either love or hate, but it can definitely create drama in a small space like this powder room.

Benjamin Moore’s ‘peony’ paint color shows how vibrant this tone is when coordinated with cool tones of greys and white.

Used for more permanent accessories like this very comfortable sofa I spotted at one of the shows in Europe , this color can be the ‘here I am’ color in any room.

Sweet lilac- looks like ‘cabaret’s softer and lighter version, definitely a girls color. You would be surprised though to find out that many people choose this color for their kitchens, in a (sometimes successful) attempt to create a retro look.

Paired with white it creates very soft and light filled with bedrooms with a ‘summer like feeling’ throughout.   

Also area rugs like the one in this image can add just a touch of color in a space that could be white and grey throughout. Best would be to add few more small accessories around the seating area.

Margarita- an ever green trendy color tone- will probably be around for a long time in various tones and hues as many people find this color very calming.  

courtesy of jonathanadler.com

‘central park’ paint color from Benjamin Moore shows you how warm dark or light neutral colors are the best pair for it. This color doesn’t necessarily have to be the predominant color in the room- as you can see in this image, few accessories are doing the trick.

Driftwood and Starfish- are again neutral tones that may be the pantone trend for 2012 but can definitely stay in any room for many years to come.
These two colors I have selected from B. Moore as the pantone equivalent can do wonders in a small or large space and can work on their own without any vibrant color punch.

Cockatoo- is not just one of the color tones many of our readers ask about especially this time a year when spring is knocking at the door but also throughout summer.

B. Moore- ‘calming green’ is one great comparison which looks very fresh when paired with cool neutrals.

In a completely white or white & grey space, this area rug could be a soft accent without taking over the room, while when mixed with dark tones of charcoal it could become a strong accent that could potentially dominate a small seating area.

So now is the time to answer one of the most frequently asked question I receive from you- which colors can be combined together and how?

This is a tricky one, mostly because it may not be easy to put in a formula and when done right it works like magic, but when done wrong (meaning in the wrong place or amount of each color) it could be confusing.





courtesy of jonathanadler.com



courtesy of jonathanadler.com



One designer who has a great portfolio including color mixes, Jonathan Adler has a few good examples like this dining area where accent color revolve around the black & white contrasts.   or this dramatic runner with blue tones leading to an area where you can see accents of orange and reds.  

Shelving units are one of those elements in any room that could bring color in and I’m talking about a strong mix of colors like in this image.

Area rugs  are great opportunities for bringing in a mix of colors without feeling guilty for using too many colors. The advantage of using more than one color accent is that you can pick the predominant accent and play with it further, introduce artwork that brings out that color even more and the result could be nothing less than spectacular!

Wishing you happy mix & mingle with the colors of 2012!

DID YOU MAKE ANY DESIGN RESOLUTIONS FOR 2012?

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As early as the first week of January, all I could hear people talking about was their new year’s resolutions. Some more realistic than others, some are the same as the past 5 years (uummm, that’s already a sign that you should change how you go about that particular resolution J) and some lovely couples I met recently have actually made design resolutions!

Well, I can assure you that design resolutions may be little bit easier to reach than the personal ones.

At the end of the day, making New Year’s resolutions may be a trap for many of you out there- you know you start strong in January and by March you could be disappointed over your lack of power to keep going. I found that the key of meeting any goal depends not on how hard you work on your goal but on how bad you actually want to…be successful, lose weight, reach financial goals etc. When you just kinda’ want it, you will most likely be super excited at the beginning just to slowly but surely replace that goal with another one a bit easier to reach. When you really want to achieve it, nothing will stop you! Every day/week/month you check in with yourself and accurately assess where you’re at.

Unless you want to make really safe resolutions like the hilarious Howie Mandel made one great resolution for 2012- lose 'wait'- no more waiting in line, just go get what you want :)

Making design resolutions should not put any kind of pressure on anyone, because the design of your home should not be something you only dream off but many times it is something you need!

Here is the top 5 design wish list of all condo owners I met in 2011 and few easy ways to make your design wishes come true:

1.    We need more storage space, but we don’t know where to start.

I’m sure many of you living in spaces less than 700sq.ft. have already considered this as a top priority design resolution. Here are 3 simple ways to tackle this issue:

-      Make a list of all the items you NEED to keep. You know what that means, don’t you :) I’m talking about de-cluttering first. Too many spaces are filled with items we don’t know for sure if we will ever need again- the easiest way is to move everything that is not of daily or weekly use in a storage space.

-      Try to ascertain an approximate size of the storage space you need and where idealy would it be located.

-      The best part- look for clues- what do I mean by that? Every condo space has many corners, niches, jogs (especially with curved or angled condo floor plans)- these are great opportunities for adding a built in or purchase a storage unit. Built ins are the best though because you can fill in the entire width, depth and height of the space and if you make the unit out of MDF you can paint it in the same color as your adjacent walls and voila- your built in almost disappeared! Here are few examples for you: Here are 3 good examples:

ü  1 bedroom- 653 sq. ft from San Diego- very nice layout, pretty clean and looks like more recessed areas have been properly designed to fully utilize the space- but I can always find more storage space- see the markup with magenta- think of full height built ins with a combination of closed and open spaces- a tone of extra storage space!

ü  1 bedroom- 582 sq.ft from Toronto- nice layout, some may be afraid of the “tunnel effect” considering the length of the foyer and main open space, but with the right furnishings and mix of colors it could be a great space. Again- look at the areas highlighted for potential extra spaces.

ü  1 bedroom + flat (den)- 697 sq.ft. from Vancouver’s Millenium Park- great layout and a few built ins opportunities not to be missed in case storage is your dilemma.

So take a good look at your floor plan and try to identify these areas, you will be amazed how much more storage space you can create without affecting the overall look of your space. Also read again this blog post and you will see hidden space treasures, so many areas you may have not thought about converting them into storage spaces.

2.    How can we create a furniture layout that serves dual function so we have less clutter? If you read my blog post “No dining table? No problem!” you will see just a few examples of how multifunctional furniture makes its way fast into small  condos.  Here are few more ideas:

ü  Dining area- if you don’t sit down and have dinner at the dining table every day, think of not having a dining table and create a larger living space where you can entertain friends, have maybe a small desk incorporated into a built in etc.

ü  2^nd bedroom- if you will not have guests too often, create a layout similar to a den- either home office or just a family room that could be easily converted into a guest room.

ü  Den area- this is one of my favorites rooms as it is usually the smallest space yet it comes with so many design possibilities, read again the condo den blog.

3.    I am moving into my brand new condo and don’t know how to furnish my bedroom, nothing seems to fit!  

So you purchased a fantastic 566 sq.ft. condo penthouse and waited for 4 years to move in just to realize you can’t fit a queen bed?

There are a few things that you should take care of before making your final purchase, and one of these are: make sure you have an accurate furnished floor plan with dimensions!

Just because it looks on paper like an OK layout at a unheard price of $$ per square foot, doesn’t mean it will be exactly what you were looking for.

After a quick exercise, my client was somewhat disappointed with the small bedroom where fitting a queen bed and 2 night tables leaves no space for moving around.

So now you have to make compromises and that’s not what you wished for when you bought this great place. Take this as a great lesson and make your “wish list” before purchasing your condo.

4.    What are the best way to select wall colors, furniture upholstery colors and art? I actually wrote before about the exact steps I follow many times when designing condos, you can read the post again here .

     You can also think of the colors like you would use them in your wardrobe- will you choose a colorful suit, jacket etc? then you must know that there is no need to add another scarf or tie to add something to that color J if the color is used on a large surface that will (without any doubt) stand out, the rest becomes secondary.

    

      That color better be one that you would not just like but LOVE to see every day.

5.   How can I add color to my space without being stuck with it for years to come and without spending a fortune to change that color every year?

   

     This answer comes easily now after you read the post about the formula for selecting colors, to make it easier think of colors as being just sprinkled in your space.

     You walk in and see the overall colors scheme somewhat neutral, either light or dark, then select key spots where your eyes should go first to look for color, for e.g. white built ins can have color coordinated books, dark den spaces could have art with a touch of color, light or dark bedrooms may have the bedding color coordinated for every season or your living space seating area may have different throw pillows for different season or special events, anniversaries, holiday décor etc.

I cannot wait to receive your questions with your design challenges and hope to make it easy for you to solve them :)

HOLIDAY CONDO DECORATING FOR EVERYONE-part 2

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When it comes to Christmas decorations I have to admit that every year I’m looking for some new ideas, more so related to a theme.

As many of you emailed me about Christmas decor colors and themes, I thought I’d give you some ideas of how to create a theme and decorate your entire condo space consistently so it doesn’t look like you simply put together all your decor accessories received over the years.

Here are a few theme examples:

-       eco friendly holiday decor
-       nature inspired holiday decor
-      white holiday decor throughout
-       pick a color for all your decor- red, blue, yellow, green, purple?
-       in the mood for a multicolour and vivid decor?
-       materials- what kind? green? faux green? woodsy?


I’d like to tackle few so called ‘problems’ many of you write me about. One of the most common is the lack of space for a Christmas tree. I actually don’t think this is a problem, it just gives you an opportunity to come up with something new.

I found lots of great alternatives to a Christmas Tree! This year Restoration Hardware has some interesting decor accessories & mini lights like these wonderful super small warm LED lights called starry string lights which can be wrapped around any kind of branches. They work great even on these driftwood trees, what a great alternative to an evergreen tree and a touch of rustic, this is the answer for Maria who was asking me about decor elements to create a more woodsy feel and look to her space over the holiday.

Another alternate is to simply use Christmas decorations on a oversized vase/planter with natural branches.
This is really easy to do and it lets you play with your own color theme. I’m sure you’ve seen these white painted branches everywhere, why not create an arrangement and use mirror finish decorations as well as your favourite color for this season.

Let’s not forget about using just evergreen branches and garlands on the largest walls of your condo space, for a great visual impact!  

Decorations come in so many styles these days, I particularly like the ones with crystals as the candle light (I’m sure you will use them!) will reflect so beautifully and create a truly magical feel in your space, even better crystals and pearls! looks like you can use your jewellery too...ladies! J

Not sure how to make your house plants look festive? here’s a great idea! love how this live east Indian holly ferns have been dressed up for the holiday or these faux potted pine trees also from Pottery Barn.

If you thought about where to hand your stocking over the fireplace mantle which is completely missing from your tiny condo living room? Not to worry! You can use any of the wall shelves you probably used to create a more intricate design for any wall.

Here’s a great mini tree idea- wire card holder tree!  or this tea tealight holder from Blomus for a more contemporary look. Another great find are these lit antique mercury glass trees from Pottery Barn.

Branches & decoration are by far the easiest way to dress up your condo space for the Holidays.

Be creative and use any arrangements you may already have, this image is a great example of how you can turn a window seating area into a focal point, this could literally be the place where you put all your gifts waiting to be unwrapped on Christmas day.

 

For the eco design lovers, there are plenty of options! The cardboard tree idea   is a great one! It comes in different shapes  and allows you to be as creative as you wish.  

David Starck has few amazing ideas for holiday decor like this one, you can have so much fun painting the wall and adding just a touch of decorations for a more simple/minimalistic approach.  

And even corners like this one, with just a reclaimed wood stool, painted in white with few accessories and evergreen can become a great little detail in the corner of any room.

Ikea has a small tree made of felt  which can be used either on its own or as a grouping.

Are you looking for a serious punch of colour? Here are some inspiration images- think of your favourite color for the season, it doesn’t have to be the exact color as in these images.

Colored artificial Christmas trees have been popular for a few years now  and as you can see they work really well with designs based on a dark color scheme.


They also work great in lighter rooms  where color becomes the main visual attraction.  Even small details like  presents ribbons color coordinated with the red berries and small ornaments could really create interesting details in any room especially in the living space.

When getting ready for a festive dinner, why not think of color coordinating the main decor pieces .


Did you design your space with white floating shelves in the den or perhaps living space or even bedroom?
Here’s how you can transform the look from a neutral color approach  into not just colourful but adding a touch of sparkle, color and light. Blue decorations mixed with silver and white accents look amazing during winter time especially if you have a white decor inside and outsid

White Chritmas decorations have always been one of my favourites! Especially when it snows and everything is white, it almost feels like you bring the snow in.  

A simple wreath can work above the windows, or a silver one works great above a white buffet already accessorized with white bowls and table lamps.

Anything as simple as  this arrangement can work really well on floating shelves, ledges or an actual fireplace mantle.

Working towards a white Christmas decor throughout? don’t forget to add in a couple of white pillows like these jewelled snowflake embroidered pillows from Pottery Barn.  





And you can always mix ever green with flowers that are more like “spring” flowers like white tulips, as they have full green leaves they blend in really well when paired with candle holders also decorated for the festive season.  


For a minimalistic and more abstract look you can play with another great decor accessories designed by David Stark.

Vintage look lovers! there are so many accessories for you, I almost changed my mind with my own decor when I saw these wonderful candles  with musical notes at Pottery Barn.


The truth is that going vintage requires quite a bit of work as one corner or one ledge decorated with this style is not enough, especially if you have an overall contemporary looking space.


But the warmth surrounding groupings of items like the wood candle holders, the old books, the decorative mirror, the branches simply wrapped and the reclaimed wood ledge is not comparable to any other look.

If you like detailed accessories like these star mirrors or these vintage wall mounted skis or these ornate wall mounted hurricane candle holders...then go for a vintage look!

Christmas ornaments look really precious when they come in finishes that makes them look old, as old as Christmas tradition is! Afterall, it’s all about the essence of the values we live our lives by every day especially around Christmas when we all sing...Joy to the World.

That’s what we all want, don’t we? Enjoy the holidays :)


Images provided as courtesy by House and Home, Pottery Barn, Restoration Hardware