Plants With Personality

What better time than summer to add some fresh greenery to your home?  We’re always suggesting you bring the outside in and expand your view of the natural world, so here are a few fun and surprising ways to do that.

Let’s Get to Planting!

Indoor plants can and should be so much more than a tree in a basket stuck in a corner.  Terrariums are making a come back in home decor and they’re easy enough to make. Instructions abound online, but basically it boils down to choosing a glass container, add a layer of drainage rocks, a layer of dirt and a small (tiny!) plant or two.  The trick is balancing the water so that the plants aren’t over watered.

Photo via DoodleBirdie.com

Use an apothecary jar ( We have A TON in the store) to make a little woodland garden.  Much of the success of terrarium design is in selecting appropriate plants but also in styling the miniature garden with the addition of rocks, shells, sticks, etc.

Photo via Wit And Whistle.com

 

Photo via Inhabit.com

Any glass bottle, jar ( Another product we have a lot in) or bowl can work as a container for a terrarium.

Photo via AntiqueChase.com

 

Photo via ETSY, Salvaged Nature shop

Put your thrift or yard sale finds to a good use by planting a couple of unusual plants.

Herb garden planter by WilliamsSonoma.com

A more typical use of plants inside, try planting a small herb garden for the kitchen window sill.

Photo via MidwestLiving.com

 

Photo via WeeGardens.com

 

Photo via WeeGardens.com

Be creative when designing your indoor plantings – these tiny gardens using doll furniture and little accessories invite viewers close to really appreciate the delicate plantings as well as the whimsical details.

Photo via WestElm.com

If you’re short on table top space, consider the wall as a place to bring greenery into your home – this is a really fun and unusual wall arrangement.

Photo via JoannaGoddard.blogspot.com

Lots of us have awkward corners at the end of hallways or by a back door, etc.  If there’s a window of any kind nearby, consider making a small plant grouping the focal point of what was a dull corner.

Focal Plantings for Outdoors

Photo via InspirationForHome.blogspot.com

As you look out your windows to your patio or deck, what do you see?  Wouldn’t you love to see something as inviting and colorful as this?  Use a few containers and a window box sitting atop your railing to create an appealing nook on your deck.

Photo via DeborahSilver.com

Successful window boxes are filled with lush plantings – sometimes a monochromatic color palette like above.  Notice how well the plantings have been planned – very symmetrical placement highlights and frames the window beautifully.

Photo via AvantGardenDC.wordpress.com

An effective planter box filled with a good mix of greenery only is easy and fairly inexpensive to achieve – be sure to choose plants appropriate to the level of sun received by the window box.  The mix of shapes and leaf colors creates an interesting and vibrant planting.  Notice how the use of the tall spiky grass makes a perfect focal point.

Photo via Shelterness.com

It doesn’t have to be hard or expensive to add a small water feature to your patio or yard.  A few water plants to add some height and a water lily plant for a blooming touch and you’ll be enjoying your tiny touch of water for the whole summer.

 

Photo from my archives.

Sometimes a bold splash of color can make all the difference in brightening a boring wall or corner of your patio.  If you or someone in the family is handy, these would be a simple DIY project, painted in any bright color to contrast with your house color.  (be sure to include drainage holes)

Photo viaThe Nester, pinterest

A large urn filled with a variety of colorful flowers would be a perfect touch to welcome guests as they approach your front porch.  Be sure to include a trailing plant or two in your planter boxes or urns so that the edges are softened.

Photo via The Nester, pinterest

An urn can be effectively tucked into the landscape and offer a change of texture or color to the viewer.

Photo via The Nester, pinterest

The use of this colorful pot contrasts with the leaf colors to make a great focal point on the patio or in a corner of the landscape.  Notice how the little touch of a red flower in the pot carries the color of red from the ground plantings up to eye level.  Just like when planning and decorating a room in your home, be aware of the colors and shapes of the plants and flowers, be aware of scale and heights, and you’ll easily create exciting and interesting gardens – both indoors and out.

Extreme Plantings

Photo via Freshome.com; home in Costa Rica

Now, if you’re really serious about going green and living in and with nature, consider the benefits of planting your roof (make sure it can support the weight!).

Photo via Freshome.com; college in Singapore

Plant with Purpose

As you review your available space (whether indoors or out) to determine where you can add a splash or sprig of green, I hope you find some inspiration in these ideas.  Plants keep us in touch with the natural part of the world, replenish and freshen our air and just make us smile.  Isn’t that worth the small amount of upkeep they require?  

 

 

*taken from yourdecoratinghotline.com

Rules Were Meant to be Broken…..

Rules were meant to be broken right? Here area few rules in the deocrating rule that are OKAY to break!

Use wallpaper on walls only. Papered walls make lovely additions to many rooms.  You don’t have to limit wallpaper to walls, however.  It makes great accents and accessories – with or without papered walls.  Try being a little off-the-wall and put wallpaper to use other ways.  Here are a few ideas to jump start your creative juices:

Photo realsimple.com

Frame wallpaper.  Interesting wallpaper pieces in a variety of frames create an eye-catching  gallery wall above.

Photo bryonieporter.com

 

Photo apartmenttherapy.com

Wallpaper furniture.  The stunning dresser above top is covered in wallpaper.  Dress up a plain bookcase by papering the backs of bookshelves as shown above or perhaps top an end table or coffee table with wallpaper (protect the paper by covering it with a piece of glass), and dress up wooden chairs and more.

Photo realsimple.com

Line drawers or shelves with wallpaper.  What a sweet surprise to open the drawer above and discover the pretty pattern.  Instead of buying shelf paper, use leftover wallpaper to line your shelves and drawers throughout your home.

Photo etsy.com

Update a lampshade.  Wallpaper can brighten your room in other ways besides the walls!  Use it for sprucing up shades for lamps, chandeliers and pendants.

Use beige for a monochromatic room. Beige often seems to be the “safe” or “go to” color when someone wants to do a monochromatic room.  But monochromatic doesn’t demand beige – there’s a whole palette of colors out there that can make a monochromatic statement for your space.  Consider these for example:

Photo bhg.com

Green provides a fresh springy feel to this monochromatic bedroom.

Photo marthastewart.com

Red is right in this monochromatic space.

Photo housebeautiful.com

Deep blue is dramatic in this monochromatic living room.

Photo hgtv.com

Brown is beautiful in this monochromatic bathroom.

Use furniture that matches for a cohesive space. This is an “old” rule.  Don’t get roped into the idea that you have to buy furniture “sets.”  This used to be the decorating trend, but we’ve now come back around to a more eclectic and “designed over time” approach in home decor- using pieces of furniture we love or find interesting or meaningful rather than all matching pieces.

Photo bhg.com

This sunny bedroom features a contemporary upholstered bed, a vintage dresser as a nightstand and a painted bookshelf for the second nightstand.

This playful bedroom includes a contemporary dresser as a nightstand, a rattan stool, a wooden chair and an ornate painted bed.

Photo bhg.com

This comfy living room includes a rustic coffee table, a painted media cabinet, an exotic drum end table and a small traditional side table, all mixed in with contemporary fabrics.

Photo bhg.com

A traditional mirror, painted dresser, contemporary umbrella stand and an industrial light all work together to say “welcome.”

Use real art created by an artist. If you love a piece created by a professional artist and you can afford it, lucky you!  Don’t buy into the idea, however, that you can only used signed art in your home.  You might be surprised by the variety, beauty and impact unusual pieces of “non-art” art can make in your home.   Here are just a few others:

Photo bhg.com

Of course I just had to start with family photos!  There are numerous ways you can frame them, hang them, display them.  Pictures of loved ones can be the most precious art in your home.

Photo hgtv.com

The contemporary art in the photo above is actually inexpensive dishes that have been spray painted and installed on a painted wall.

Photo bhg.com

Antique cutting boards and bread trays create an artful kitchen display.  Other kitchen items you might consider hanging are antique rolling pins, painted trays, delicate china plates or platters.

Photo marthastewart.com

Have an everyday item, like a playing card, a letter, or a vintage post card enlarged to poster size and hang in a ready-made frame.

Photo whatisblick.com

Popular and inexpensive, wall decals come in all shapes and sizes.  You’ll find great ideas for every room in your home – words, graphics, contemporary, traditional, for adults and for kids.  They’re easy to apply and easy to remove.

There’s no doubt decorating “rules” they provide a valuable starting point and a direction in decorating.  But if you can learn the rules, you can also learn when and how to break them.  Which ones do you break or want to break?  Share them with us by leaving a comment below – we’d love to hear from you.

 

 

*as seen in yourdecoratinghotline.com

Color Burst!

Every year there are multiple sources vying for “color of the year”.  Most paint companies choose one, designers tout them, retailers embrace them.  Pantone is an internationally recognized color source and every year they pick and promote their color of the year.

This year?  A bold choice for sure, Tangerine Tango is the newest, freshest, hippest, hottest color in town!

According to Pantone, “Sophisticated but at the same time dramatic and seductive, Tangerine Tango is an orange with a lot of depth to it. Reminiscent of the radiant shadings of a sunset, Tangerine Tango marries the vivaciousness and adrenaline rush of red with the friendliness and warmth of yellow, to form a high-visibility, magnetic hue that emanates heat and energy.” 

  Pantone suggests mixing vivid with soft pastels for a pleasing palette.  As usual, this color will show up first in fashion (ready for a Tangerine dress or shoes?) and move to home decor later. This is definitely a high energy, no-shrinking-violet color that will scare many home decorators away.  But, you don’t have to be afraid!  (You may remember that last year’s color was also a bold choice, “Honeysuckle”, which is a bright hot pink.)

Decorate with Orange

Bold colors are an opportunity, not an obstacle.  This particular orange has LOTS of red in it, making it easy to blend with a host of other colors.  Colors that will blend well with this vibrant color are any shade of gray (a fabulous neutral) or beige or brown.  Shades of light blue or grayed blue would be beautiful since that’s the complement of orange.  Unless you want a super strong and visually stimulating room, avoid blues in the same strength (cobalt) and choose something softer.  Greens with a yellow base would work very well as a background for tangerine (think gardens).  In most cases, the colors I would avoid would include clear or dark purples, reds, and pinks (lighter or grayed tones might work).

Photo ApartmentTherapy.com

Contemporary dining room design by New York interior designer Marie Burgos Design

Consider trying an accent wall before committing to painting a whole room.  Balancing it with lots of neutrals is a good idea, but contrasting it with the stark crisp white here actually increases its impact since the contrast is so high.

The best way to embrace a new color in your decor is to try it out in small doses.  Remember, accessories are your best friend and just one or two in a fresh new color will add interest and revive a room you’re growing tired of.  Try it, you’ll see!

Contemporary bedroom design by San Francisco interior designer Lisa Benbow – Garnish Designs

Photo via DecorPad.com

 

Photo via Voge Living, Australia

Or, if the tangerine is just TOO bright, borrow the idea, but make it your own.  Tone down the color, make it softer, choose a different undertone….whatever makes the color more usable in your home.

Photo Color Made Easy book

The above photo uses a strong orange, and uses it everywhere, but it’s not quite as vibrant as the tangerine.  See how beautifully it pairs with cream and brown?

Contemporary living room design by Los Angeles interior designer Zuniga Interiors

Photo via DecorPad.com

An imminently livable room, the orange has been grayed down dramatically, making it earthy, warm, and so easy to live with.

Leading Edge of Color

Are you ready to be the first in your neighborhood to embrace and showcase this luscious color?  Can you commit to full strenth, full on Tangerine?  If so, show us the results.  If not, show us how you do manage to incorporate splashes of orange in your home decor.  

 

 

*As seen on The Decorating Hotline