COLOR COORDINATED: SHADES OF BLUE

Hi everyone! I'm Mackenzie from Design Darling and I'm hoping to contribute a coco+kelley column called Color Coordinated.



I was interviewing Christina Strutt, the founder of Cabbages & Roses, for the fourth issue of Rue and she said something that struck a chord with me: “In reality, it doesn’t matter whether your coat matches your curtains, but the home products and the fashion do seem to sit together happily.” She was talking about the visual merchandising in her stores, but it made me realize that I often crave the same things for my home that I do in my wardrobe choices. In other words, wouldn't it be fun if your coat and your curtains did match?


This first Color Coordinated column features a palette I'm just loving right now: French blue, creamy white, and a splash of navy for good measure. Mixing ikat, leopard, and a touch of sparkle, this look strikes me as springy and sophisticated. I'm loving the playful romper with edgy gold earrings, a delightfully dramatic bracelet, and a must-have leather bag!

* Diane von Furstenberg Kindle case, $59 // Shoshanna romper, $285Loren Hope earrings, $40 // Dannijo bracelet, $270 Theodora & Callum wedges, $395 // Foley + Corinna bag, $345




Of course, that dreamy French blue will look equally chic chez vous! Use navy upholstery as a base for bringing in punchy patterns and a timeless chevron throw. How lust-worthy is the leather lamp? It's the perfect classic complement to one of my favorite Leigh Viner prints.

Leigh Viner print, $32 // Williams Sonoma Home ikat floor cushion, $128 Ralph Lauren lamp, $350 // Nate Berkus sofa, $499
Layla Grayce pillows, $118 for two // Jonathan Adler throw, $295

I would love to know whether this is a column you'd like to see every couple weeks here on coco+kelley and what color combinations you're loving this season!

BLUE + WHITE FLORALS: GRANDMA OR GLAMOUR?

The combination of blue and white - especially come summer time - is nothing new. But this year it seems to be popping up even more, and in all sorts of patterns and trends. The most recent manifestation being of the granny-inspired variety...

Whenever I see blue and white florals, I instantly think of grandma's fine china. It's classic, but is it fresh? Can we make it modern and glamorous? I'm beginning to think it might be possible! With a heavy dose of white combined with clean lines to counteract the antiquated pattern, it could work. Would you try this trend?

*sources: bedroom via designspiration on pinterest, mirror and chaise at house of hackney dalton rose collection, lingere at topshop, bowl by maria kristofferson, paul & joe t-shirt, pyne hollyhock print at schumacher

MAKING MY GETAWAY (IN CORAL + BLUE)

I warned you you're going to have to put up with a little pre-vacation dreaming and planning around here...

So, welcome to my first fantasy! I've got one last hotel to book on the Amalfi Coast, and I happened upon this one while perusing Mr&Mrs Smith last night. Welcome to Capo la Gala!

Their combination of modern decor with beachy flair and (hello!) those zig zag tiles in coral+blue put me over the edge! That headboard rivals the view, too!

Even the bathroom is done to perfection, incorporating coral tiles and high gloss surfaces in that same winning color combo. 

And then, you know, there's this.

And this. So that's pretty cool too. Who wants to come with me?

POOL DAYS

I've decided if I can't actually lay by the pool all day (now that the sun is finally shining!) I'd like to at least surround myself with aquamarine and dream about it...

What better color to add a splash of for summer? I want to upholster all my outdoor furniture in the 'Pisces' pattern from Schumacher, serve fresh summer salads on this dinnerware, and fill up the hobnail pitcher with delicious sangria! Casual summer days call for slouchy shorts and plenty of pillows to lounge on. Of course, the summer nights call for a little color too - and I think this luxurious clutch is just the thing.

Now... where's my pool boy...

Styling Magic

I love installations and styling but I'm sure that preparing for High Point Market twice a year might make me change my tune.  Hickory Chair creative director Ron Fiore and his team take on the monumental task of styling the entire showroom each spring and fall and always do an amazing job.  Hickory Chair was lucky enough to move into a new showroom with windows that let in natural light and help create even more real life scenarios.  This little room was off to the side but the touches of blue definitely caught my eye.  It really does make me want to paint the inside of every cabinet blue and restyle my own space.  That seems a bit ambitious so I might just settle for buying some tulips.  Wonder if Ron makes house calls?!

Photos by Heather Clawson for Habitually Chic

A RECURRING THEME...

Not that I usually recommend one color palette for an entire home (unless you have a very small space to work with) but....



The mix of rich teal with pops of red has been one that just seems to stick with me! Yesterday I reported from my twitter that there is still a big surge of teal in the marketplace - we saw it in lots of leather goods in High Point - but my favorite way to use it is definitely as a base for the room - whether on the walls, cabinets or floors - with that pop of red and plenty of natural light so it doesn't feel too heavy. Do you think this a color scheme that's doable for your home?

*images via traditional home, domino and lonny

Blue Monday

Even though red seems to be grabbing all the headlines lately, I've been noticing a lot of blue on and off the runway and in the home.  I absolutely love Todd Alexander Romano's new blue apartment that was featured in the February issue of Architectural Digest with its pops of citron, chartreuse and red.  I also noticed these same color combinations in many fashion photos from New York, London and Milan.  Makes me want to buy something blue today!

Photos by Thomas Loof for AD, Tommy Ton, The Sartorialist, Hanneli Mustaparta and Mr. Newton

MY SPRING PALETTE: APRICOT + BLUE

It's official - I'm making this my spring color palette inspiration:

I've already purchased a pair of apricot shorts and a very peachy little belt from Anthropologie, and I adore the way it looks with a pop of blue (any shade will do!). Which is funny because this was what my inspiration board looked like for last spring...

Basically the same line of thought, but a little richer, with indigos and clay reds. I guess I should really start following my own advice a little sooner when making wardrobe purchases! I like freshening it up with black and white accents though - much more current!


*image ali stephens for elle france (source unknown) and inspiration board by coco+kelley

SEASCAPING

Missing my beach time and dreaming of the sea...  I think these two pieces would be lovely additions to the home as little abstract reminders of that feeling of calm I get when looking out at the ocean...

*angela adams rug in gorgeous pile texture

*stunning and intricately layered paper artwork recreating the san francisco bay by crafterall on etsy

WINTER BLUES

Every January I hit this post-holiday realization that winter is not even close to over...

... it's around this same time that I gravitate to bold hits of blue against warm creams and fresh whites...

Perhaps it's a craving for blue skies or tropical destinations?

Maybe it's a pull towards something strong as we try and push our way into Spring...

Or - most likely - it's the fact that this bold royal blue brings a surprising sense of calm at the end of a hectic season and a breath of fresh air with the revitalization of a new year at all once. Either way, I think I'll try adding some doses of it into my life, pronto.

*images via fabio bartelt, miles redd via nymag, david shields, and emily henderson

SUMMERTIME BLUES

Believe it or not, this weekend was spent inside the house watching the rain fall. In August.

It certainly is enough to make a girl just want to stay in bed...

Especially if the room is boasting these soft summery blues...

Of course, if this were my dressing room, I might be just a tad more motivated to rise and shine...

Wouldn't you?

*sigh*... Off to another busy week..!

*images via flickr and interior by miles redd via the love list

GLOBAL STYLE: TUNISIAN TURQUOISE

The brilliant turquoise blues adorning Mediterranean doors and rooftops have long been the quintessence of holiday postcards, but who knew all this beauty was inspired by function? Ancient civilizations actually believed turquoise could ward off bad luck and evil spirits, which is why the color is such a popular choice!

Dar Bibine, a hotel located on a Tunisian island in the Mediterranean, has embraced this historical color palette and updated it by combining archaic architecture with modern designers such as Panton, Gehry and Starck to create a completely fresh style. The clean white lines of traditional Tunisian buildings create the perfect backdrop for this updated design.

The evil-fighting properties of turquoise translate as well into clothing and jewelry, protecting people in the form of pendants, belts, and bracelets. You may be familiar with the blue “evil eye” prevalent in jewelry from Turkey and Greece which goes so far as to cause bad luck for whomever it is directed at!

Even if you're not totally convinced of its powers, there is no doubting this color's calming effect on the psyche, dissolving tension and promoting tranquility.

And as Pantone says of their Color of the Year 2010, "It's not just blue or green, it's both, which means it's calming and invigorating at the same time. And it makes you think of escaping to someplace tropical and beautiful" ... Say perhaps, Dar Bibine, Tunisia?

*images via: darbibine, netaporter