color cues from amanda nisbet

As much as I love and gravitate toward neutral spaces and color palettes, there is nothing like a bold pop of color to make a room feel fun, fresh and crisp-especially as the weather gets warmer.  I've admired designer Amanda Nisbet's work since I saw a Hamptons home she designed in Coastal Living a few years back - she is a pro at using color in unexpected places like the trim on a seagrass stair runner, pieces of art, bold curtain panels, striking lighting or even a bowl of brightly colored flowers to amp up her otherwise neutral spaces.  The result is fun, sophisticated and so fresh.  Here are a few of my favorites from her portfolio:

To see more of Amanda's work, check out her portfolio here.

glossy black front doors - anything but boring

Picking paint colors, furniture, accessories, art for OTHER people is what I do best.  But when it comes to making sometimes even the smallest design decision for myself, forget about it.....I will go back and forth over making a final choice on most anything when it comes to my own home.  Take, for example, my front door.  I posted months ago about wanting to paint it pale blue/gray.  Then again, a few weeks later about wanting to paint it black.  I procrastinated for another few weeks because of all the pollen, but the pollen is now long gone, so it's time to put paint brush to front door and I am going with.....glossy black! 

I think I wavered so long on this one because I was afraid that black would be boring, but after I saw the first coat going up, it is anything but!  It's simple, classic and sophisticated and it's going to look amazing with the ginormous green ferns flanking my door! I'll be sure to post before and after pictures once I'm done, but in the meantime, here are a few images that got me on the glossy black bandwagon in the first place:

Wendy Posard / Gil Schafer

Thomas O'Brien via Domino

Tumblr / Birgitta Wolfgang

BHG

Tim Barber / Hammersmith Atlanta

via

Andrew Skurman

Need I say more?

benjamin moore whale gray + gray bathroom cabinetry

After posting this gray cabinetry shot in my portfolio last week, I got a TON of emails asking what paint color was used (it's Benjamin Moore Whale Gray, one of my absolute favorites!)  Going darker gray was a pretty big step for my client, but once she saw how well it picked up the grey veining in the honed Carerra marble countertops, not to mention how gorgeous it looked with a white bowl sink and fabulous lucite drawer hardware, she was so excited she did! 

I think making the decision to go with Whale Gray was a bit easier for my client, since this was in a downstairs guest bathroom - a perfect place to go gray on your cabinets if you love color but are scared of making a color commitment in your kitchen.  From pale, wispy gray all the way to bold charcoal, you just can't go wrong with gray cabinetry in the bathroom.  Here are a few beautiful examples:

via

Urban Grace Interiors

Tim Clarke via Coastal Living

2012 Southern Living Idea House

Classic Casual Home

Urban Grace Interiors

Urban Grace Interiors

Hope you're off to a great start this week!

spark modern

If there's a better way to give your living room, bedroom or porch an inexpensive pick-me-up than by changing out your throw pillows, I have no idea what it could possibly be.  You'd be surprised how much a 20x20 inch square of gorgeous fabric can completely change the feel of a room!  Etsy seller Spark Modern is one of my go-to shops for a great selection of beautiful designer fabric pillows at unbeatable prices - many clients have ordered from them and they never disappoint!  Most designer fabrics are available to the trade only, and for those that aren't, there is usually a minimum yardage requirement, so a pillow in your favorite designer fabric for less than $100 is a steal!  If you're looking to add a pop of color or pattern to your decor this spring without dropping a lot of dough, check out their selection here.  Here are a few of my favorites:

my portfolio is live...finally!

I FINALLY have updated my portfolio with pictures of recent projects!  Thank you to everyone who has been emailing and asking about updates to projects I've posted about in the past...it takes a while to completely finish each one and then to stage it and get it ready for their beauty shots, so thank you for your patience (and for continuing to check in for updates!)  I'll be updating again real soon, but for now, head on over HERE to check out some finished spaces. Here's a peek of what's over there: