Design Inspirations
I visited the White Elephant Sale in Oakland this weekend with my mom and my sister and found these tips to be particularly helpful when navigating the sea of beautiful antiques. The White Elephant Sale is a must for anyone living in the Bay Area...so much fun for those who love hidden gems! Image via decorology
If you haven’t noticed yet, gray is my all-time favorite color. It is one of the best colors to use when decorating because it can serve as a great neutral base, pairing well with both light and dark colors and complimenting both modern and traditional aesthetics. Some might think that gray is rather dull for a favorite color, but there are various shades or “temperatures” of gray that give the color its personality. Warm grays have hints of brown or pink, while cool grays have elements of blue, green or purple. Your choice of warm or cool grays can dramatically impact the feel of a room, making a space either decidedly bold and masculine or ethereal and serene. Whether you choose to use gray as the focal point of a room or as a backdrop to another color palette, the addition of gray instantly adds a touch of sophistication and drama and proves to be the perfect alternative to the oft-used white or black.
When I finally get that dream home, the first thing I will do is paint a room gray…
Gray is a perfect masculine-feminine combination color, serving as a great compliment to pink while still maintaining an element of masculinity.
I absolutely love this dining nook! This is a great example of the versatility of gray. Although the designer chose a bold gray for the walls, it serves as the perfect neutral backdrop to the more rustic chic feel of the space. Notice how the gray walls and the gray settee brings out the ashy gray in the unfinished wood.
The dove gray walls in this master bedroom create the perfect backdrop for the very dramatic headboard and gold leaf mirrors that frame the bed. The gray itself blends with the other neutrals in the room.
I have always loved the idea of cement countertops, and in this kitchen the gray cement is only one of a variety of shades of gray. The cupboards, shelves and faucet all represent a different cool "temperature" of gray.
Gray is particularly dramatic when paired with stark white accents such as the crown moulding, drapery and headboard. This is one of my favorite bedrooms and favorite paint colors. In this room the designer used Pratt & Lambert's "Wolf".
Another great feature of gray is that it can be used in a variety of textures. In this sitting room gray is used as a rich velvet fabric and matte finished wall, but it can also be applied as a linen, silk, cement or metal.
J. Crew's Jenna Lyon framed the entrance to the bathroom in her loft with a cool gray archway. It's almost as if you are looking through a keyhole. I love the black clawfoot tub!
Gray and lilac make a perfect pair, and in this case, the simple addition of a purple throw brings out the cool tones of the wall. Although sometimes difficult to maintain, whitewashed hardwood floors are the perfect canvas for any style or aesthetic.
This still ranks as one of my all-time favorite bedrooms. I love how the drapery frames the window and falls almost haphazardly to the floor. The gold frames and the all-white bedding are very simple, and yet give the space the perfect dose of elegance, sophistication and femininity.
This bathroom is very reminiscent of the Restoration Hardware look. Many people who paint paneled walls or exposed brick choose to use white, but gray can also be a great alternative as it still allows for the texture of the wall to show through but provides a much warmer feel than the stark and rather cold feeling of white.
Every once and awhile we need an image, a story or words of inspiration to get our day back on track. We all have those dreaded “Monday Moments”, but I’d like to give you some “Monday Moments” that make you smile.
A daily reminder to love, forgive, have fun and live out loud. Vinyl wall sticker decal via Vogue and Coffee.
