2012 Benjamin Moore Color of the Year: Wythe Blue

The Benjamin Moore paint company publishes their Color of the Year every year and the color for 2012 is Wythe blue. I just love it!

Wythe blue is like a robin's egg blue but a little dirtier. I think this color will be very versatile and can easily give your home decor an updated look. I also love the other colors in the palette. I feel that they're perfect for a traditional spaces with contemporary accents. Here are some photos for inspiration...

I Heard a Rumor that HONEYSUCKLE is the HOT Color for Spring/Summer

While reading Cosmo on my miserable stay in the Phoenix airport waiting for my obnoxiously delayed flight, I stumbled upon a teeny-weeny little article saying that honeysuckle was the "it" color of the season. Typically I don't take design advice from magazines which feature articles like "75 ways to please your man", but I actually agreed with them this time. Honeysuckle is a very warm and cheery hot pink variation, it is a perfect accent color. Bring it into your space through pillows, artwork, or my personal favorite...fresh flowers (especially peonies)! Also, look out for this color in fashion. If honeysuckle is too bold for you, try salmon; its lighter counterpart. Here are some images I found that use honeysuckle in creative ways.

Gray is the NEW Neutral

I'm sure you all have been noticing the trend of a lot of gray and flesh tones being used in fashion. I absolutely love it, and I think it may be a long lasting trend. But fashion is not the only place where gray has found a home, I've been seeing a lot of grey interior design schemes as well. Gray is a great color, it's softer than white or black and I think is more complimentary to other colors. Consider gray next time you need a neutral color to get an updated and contemporary feel.

Mellow Yellow

Yellow is a color that can be very, very beautiful; but also extremely difficult to work with. Too much yellow is jarring and not very easy to live with. Color psychology actually reports that yellow is a difficult color for our brains to process and therefore is not exactly a so-called "happy color" (which is contrary to popular belief). But yellow used in the right way can really bring life into room. With spring coming into season I feel that a pop of yellow may be just what can get you out of the winter blues! Here are some interiors for your inspiration!

PS: Lately I have really been loving the yellow and gray combination. Look out for that in interiors as well as in fashion, you'll be surprised by how often you see this trend.

PURE Bliss with White

After a brief week long hiatus I am back with another color culture post for you to enjoy! This weeks subject is one of my favorite colors to work with...white. White is so strikingly beautiful when it is done right. From cozy and country to magnificent and modern, white can provide a neutral and versatile background for any space in your home. Remember to spice it up with pops of interesting accent colors; and don't be afraid to use dark contrasting colors to add depth to your space. Here are some interiors that I just love, love, love. Let them inspire you

Sky, Baby, Navy.....BLUE!

Blue is an amazingly versatile color. The many shades and tones of blue can bring a variety of feelings and style to a space. When done correctly blue color schemes are gorgeous but they can be tricky. Here are some tips for making a beautiful blue space.

• An all blue space can become somewhat depressing (and dull) so liven it up with pops of different colors. (Notice the introduction of vibrant apple green into the interior depicted in the center photo.)
• Blue can be very calming and relaxing. Consider using blue as an accent against neutral colors in a bedroom or bathroom.
• Make sure to employ variety of blue in your space. With the many tones and tints of blue there are so many fun combinations to make!

Natural Beauty: Working with Earth Tones

Selecting a color palette can sometimes be overwhelming! The possibilities are seemingly endless and it can be quite exhausting. Besides that, sometimes when you get the finished product done the colors just don't do what you want them to! So I wanted to investigate with you each week different ways that color can be used in a space so that you can develop your own personal taste for color schemes.

This week we are going to look at the way earth tones have been used in a variety of spaces. Earth tones are warm and relaxing, but if done in the wrong way can be rather dull. Each interior pictured has a different feel and appeal, yet a similar general color pattern is used. Let's take a look at some beautiful spaces

In this space deep chocolate browns are used along with creamier tan colors to create an interesting contrast between light and dark in this contemporary seating area.

This bedroom area uses tan bedding with a white canopy to add some romance to the typically more rugged earth tones.

This great room is the perfect example of the multifaceted nature of earth tones. Although the color scheme is rather monochromatic, the splashes of orange used around the room make the browns more vibrant and warm.

This is a bedding set in my apartment. The room is rather small and the walls are painted a deep tan color so I did not want my bedding to compete with the wall color. The background color of the pattern on the comforter is exactly the same as the wall color. The touches of orange, and more surprisingly grass green, help to make the set more fun and lively.