happy TURKEY DAY

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SOURCES

Kitchen: Better Homes and Gardens

autumn entryway SPRUCE-UP

Let's get cozy tonight...but not where you think!

To my surprise the complementary color palette with orange was the favorite choice for my new ideas for autumn colors.  I mentioned that you can spruce up a space in your home for the season, so here are some ideas for your entryway.





Before:

Above you'll see the essential and functional pieces for an entryway, or mudroom if you're fortunate to have one: a coatrack, storage bench, hamper/side table, and of course a mirror to take a final glance into as you rush out the door.  (FYI, the storage bench is a great spot to store your seasonal pillows.)  A bit bland against this beige wall, don't you think?  However, it is a great neutral base to add some color!

After the spruce-up:

The complementary color of orange is blue if you recall.  I started with a grid-tufted, solid orange pillow from Crate & Barrel, for some subtle texture.  An easy way to pull a design together is by having one piece that incorporates all of your colors.  Can you spot it above?  That's right- The graphic leaf pillow was too perfect to pass by.  Not only does it have leaves for the season, but it has orange, navy, and grey-blue in it for some extra depth.  (Also available at Crate & Barrel).  Next I wanted to ground the space and bring color onto another plane.  This  runner repeats the grey-blue in the pillow to  reinforce our color palette.   The diamond pattern is modern with a traditional feel.  It may even enhance the user's utility of the space since it will feel more like a destination, not a bench to pass by on your way to the door.   I chose the blueprint in navy to repeat another color from the inspiration pillow.  Lastly, a classic frame with a family photo adds a personal touch to this entryway.

Entryway Spruce-up
TOTAL= $428.00

Do you see how these decorative accents completely transform this area?  The contrast of orange and blue bring some warmth, and welcome you to take a moment to sit and tie your shoes.    Repetition of our complementary colors and geometric shapes tie our design together.

With your new 'missmatch' autumn decor, you're sure to get some "Oohs" and "Ahhs" for something other than your sweet potatoes this Thanksgiving!




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SOURCES

Coatrack: Target
Storage bench: Crate & Barrel
Hamper: West Elm
Mirror: West Elm
Orange pillow: Crate & Barrel
Pattern pillow: Crate & Barrel
Runner: Pottery Barn
Blue print: West Elm
Gallery frame: Pier 1

triadic for FALL

Here are some bountiful pins I found on Pinterest using an orange triadic color palette for some Thanksgiving inspiration:

To learn more about this orange triadic palette, click HERE ~

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SOURCES

Gourd vases: Smarty had a Party

Framed art: Nest of Posies
Purple napkin: Smarty had a Party
Barrel of squash: Better Homes and Gardens

color study - AUTUMN: Part 2

Good evening everyone~

I hope you're not blowing away in the whirling winds outside!

A few nights ago we talked about the most popular colors for autumn (read about it HERE).
Now take a seat, get ready and review Part 2 of the autumn color palette, featuring pumpkin orange:

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Well, these new palettes really mix up our usual red, orange and yellow fall leaf colors!  I think the addition of purple in these palettes adds some glamour and feminine flare to the usual hearty colors.

The triadic color palette is my favorite of the four theories we reviewed.  The hint of green is even more unexpected for autumn, and that's probably why I like it.   Surprised?

Thanksgiving is approaching sooner than you think.  Maybe you can feature your green bean casserole in a purple baking dish?  (I said MAYBE.....)

So, now which 'missmatch' color palette for autumn is your favorite?




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SOURCES

Color wheel: toadfool

color study - AUTUMN: Part 1

Autumn is definitely my favorite season....  

The leaves turn brilliant shades of color, the air is crisp, and of course, the fashion.  Warm scarves with a tailored coat and a pair of boots make me smile any day, even with the wind swirling outside.  I also love a delicious pumpkin smoothie- YUM.

Fall is distinctly represented with the warm tones of turning leaves, as I mentioned above.  They also remind us of a cozy fire to sit by and read a good book.  But have you ever thought about another color scheme for this time of year?  

The color wheel is a sure way to create a balanced palette when you are trying to get out of a color rut.  I decided to use orange as my primary color in this series of alternative autumn color schemes:

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BRANCH out this year and try one of these ideas in your home (no tree pun intended).  You can easily toss some decorative pillows on your patio chairs or entry bench, or even layer a soft throw on your sofa.

I happen to love these 'missmatch' autumn color ideas.  Do you prefer the Complementary or Split-Complementary color palette?





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SOURCES

Color wheel: toadfool

time for a MAKEOVER

I hope you got the chance to see the mood board I created for my new blog design at the end of October.  I was trying to incorporate those colors into my new logo, but it just didn't feel right.  The black and white contrast paired with the bright magenta and cyan was just too harsh.  After many, MANY color trials, I decided on this, what you see in my header above.

As a reminder, my blog personality is spring/winter.  I've chosen to use spring colors: radiant orchid, lavender, and spring green instead of using cyan for fresh ideas and creativity.  Winter is still represented with black and white.

I've also made some new tools for you to use.  In the right column I've added a general search box, organized my posts by category, and added my contact information.  Just one more thing- I updated my bio on my "about ME" tab.




Here is my BEFORE:

And here is my AFTER:

Also, be sure to check out my updated Facebook Page and Pinterest with my new logo!

Have a good night~

IKEA? yes, PLEASE!

My husband and I have been living in Oregon for almost two weeks.  As I mentioned last time I'm taking an e-course series which is a lot of work for this blog (I hope it will all be worth it!).  My husband has been doing most of the unpacking of boxes, and I know he's so anxious to start making our new place look like a home....But I told him I just need ten more days to finish the e-course, and then I'll start drawing up plans.

So, Sunday morning rolls around and my husband asks, "So, do you want to go to IKEA?"  Yes, of course I'd like to see what's new!  I was hesitant because I haven't even measured our place yet, but decided to go so we can get some essential storage items to help unpack other boxes.  That sounds logical, right?

We walked in and I already needed a snack, so I got a snicker doodle cookie.  It was so soft and yum, but I saved the rest for later.  We both agreed we wouldn't stay too long (ha!).

On the list today:
- Additional towel hooks in bathroom
- Additional storage in bathroom (over-the-Johnny cabinet?)
- Shoe storage at entry

Of course we did some browsing for other things that we are waiting to buy for a bit...

We had the Ektorp sofa for several years, so I think we are ready for something a bit different.  We saw this sleeper sofa in dark grey.  It is more of a modern style.

And this bed with drawers below would be great for some extra storage.  There is even a storage headboard from the same collection.

Okay, so back to business....

There is only one towel rack in the bathroom of our two bedroom apartment, so we need a better solution.  It just drives me crazy to have a towel draped over the shower rod...I think this new double bar should do just the trick.

We couldn't decide on a new medicine cabinet today for more storage for our everyday toiletries.  This cabinet was our front runner.  It is similar in style to the mirror in our bathroom, with deep shelves.  But do we really need another mirror?  I'm going to shop around a bit more.

There was a lot of back and forth when it came time to choosing items for the entry.  Our entry is about 3' x 5', not much space so it needs to be planned just right.  I want to a place to put our shoes away.  I also need a space to hang our coats, because our coat closet is across the living room- not ideal.  

I was attracted to the shoe storage units that look like a console because it looks like a piece of furniture, well it is a piece of furniture, instead of just a shoe rack with metal bars.  Then I found a simple wood bench, which housed beneath it, those very metal bars I despised....but I really loved the idea of a bench.  So, with shoe storage below, we could get an overhead unit with several hooks, a hanging bar and a shelf on top- Perfect, an instant mudroom!  But then once I hung up a jacket, it was starting to look like a closet, not the cute mudroom I envisioned.

So, I went back to the shoe console idea.  Since our wall is only 3', we need to make the best use of our space.  Oh, and did I mention I'm on a budget?  Moving is expensive, so I wanted the best bang for my buck!  The unit I wanted was actually going to overhang the wall about two inches, and would that drive me crazy? Maybe? Well, what if we use a small unit that is about 20"L, and then use my Martini Side Table as a stool?  Hmm....then we can get a coat rack to hang on the adjacent wall that the door opens to.  That would allow me to hang a picture frame on the wall above the shoe cabinet, and still have room for an accessory- Yay, Let's do it!

Oh, and I also found this great rug!  This is the style and feel I picture for our place.  It's modern, but a bit different.  I like the neon yellow mixed with muted colors in a geometric design.  (Now that I see this image, the yellow looks less neon, but it's still the concept I like)

Four hours later we left IKEA into the dark of the night of 5:45 pm.  Time just disappears in that place...I was so ready for some dinner (I even ate the rest of my snicker doodle cookie when we were debating bathroom cabinets).  My husband is downstairs eagerly assembling our new IKEA shoe cabinet- hopefully that goes well.  Now I am forced to start drawing before my class ends, but I'll start with the entry way.  I'm really excited too!

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SOURCES

Sofa: IKEA

Bed: IKEA

Towel bars: IKEA

Medicine cabinet: IKEA

Shoe cabinet: IKEA

Coat rack: IKEA