It' All about color - Creatinng color schemes- Where to start

A few hours ago, I posted the Pantone's color palette for 2012. Immediately, I received some e-mails with the obligatory question " How do I select color schemes for my home"?


For some of us it may feel like a daunting task, but it really isn't, if you follow certain rules.I would suggest that you invest in a color wheel, which you may buy in any art store. This color wheel will proof to be a valuable tool in all your decorating efforts.  I can promise, that this tool will take away any of your fears and will allow you to look at your color scheme with the eye of an interior designer. So, not to worry, invest in this inexpensive tool.With the correct color scheme you are able to set a mood, make a statement or just be energized or if you have lots of stress in your life, you can use color to sooth your soul.

 First, decide if you want to have a warm or cool environment. You may also intermix warm and cool colors


Warm colors ( reds, oranges, yellows) seem to be advancing, moving towards you; thus decreasing the size  and space of a room.  However, if you want to create a warm, comfortable and cozy design style, use warm colors, intermixed with a few cool accessories.

Cool color hues ( blue and greens )tend to recede, they move away from you, visually suggesting a larger and open design style. Consequently, if you are dealing with a small space, use cool colors, intermixed with some warm accessories.

 

Cool Blues 

I hope  that you have gained a little insight into the world of color, and that it will be  easier for you now to select the "mood" for your home.


Stay tune, next blog will be about  how to choose your colors from a color wheel.

All My Best,

xoxo












.

Read More

It's all about color.... New trends for 2012

In March of this year Pantone, the world renowned color authority,  published nine color palettes. Nine distinctive palettes, each with a much thought about name. Don't ask me how they dream up these names or in what relationship they stand to each other, because I just don't know.

Every year I am excited when the new color trends are published by Pantone. I was raised in the fashion industry, so color always has played an important part in my life. For me it's all about color, style and fashion. If you want your home to be trendy, all you have to do is look at fashion fabrics. I guess, I am fashion forward because my PJ's fit the 2012 Pantone "Back to Fuchsia" palette

Courtesy of "Nidhi" Pattern, Colors and Design

My "Fuchsia" PJs

and my blue PJs match the "Indigo Effects" palette.

My Indigo Pj's

Personally I love the "Resilience" palette. Possibly because I always had to be resilient.

Resilience 

The Oil Yellow, subtle and quiet and the peaceful Oasis green are really  fulfilling my color sense. Resilience or stress free? Who knows? All I know is that I felt compelled to buy some blouses in exactly these colors and I am raking in compliments.  

Subtleties

Transcending

Reflection

All color palettes are courtesy of "Nidhi" Pattern, Colors and Design
Maybe you will be inspired with these new colors and are ready to add some to your home decor. You always can pick up a few accessories and change the look of your home.


Until next time.


All my best,


xoxo 

Color is the most powerful way to change and coordinate the look and feel of your home.  

Read More

With love from the USA - Möbel bemalen, ganz einfach

All images courtesy of Annie Sloan

Gefallen Euch diese bemalte und  patinierten Möbelstücke?  Obwohl es nach viel Mühe und Arbeit aussieht, ist es ganz leicht diesen Effekt zu erreichen.
 

Vor kurzem habe ich eine neue Farbe entdeckt und möchte Euch alles darüber berichten. Die  Kreidefarbe " Chalk Paint" ist ideal für jedes Möbelstück, ja sogar Holzböden und Küchenschränke können bemalt werden. Diese Farbe ist wunderbar und so leicht zu verarbeiten.

Annie Sloan hat diese Farbe speziell für Möbel entworfen, aber Ihr könnt auch Eure Wände bemalen, da die Farbe sehr umweltfreundlich ist. Mein Kommentar..... Ich habe mich verliebt.

Auf einer Messe durfte ich mit dieser Farbe spielen. Ich war überrascht wie leicht ich eine wunderbare und echte  Patina erreichen konnte.  Viele von uns lieben den französischen und italienischen Landhausstil. Mit Chalk paint könnt Ihr leicht und sehr schnell Euren Lieblingsstil kreativ gestalten. 
 
Kreidefarbe " Chalk Paint" hat besondere Vorzüge:

1. Das Beste ist wohl daß keine Vorbereitungen nötig sind. Kein Abschleifen ….. nichts. Etwas müßt Ihr wohl machen..... Die Dose öffnen und fertig.
2. Die beste Farbe für Möbel und Holzböden
3. Kann mit Wasser verdünnt werden um die Holzmaserung zu zeigen.
4. Ihr könnt die Farbe auch als Pastose verwenden. Einfach offen stehen lassen.

Habe ich Euch überzeugt. Ihr müsst diese Farbe einfach ausprobieren.


Viel Spaß dabei.

Alles Liebe
xoxo

Read More

With love from the USA....... Heisse Blogs

Hallo Europa, 

Viele Grüße aus dem "Amiland"!

Erst mit dem Dekorieren wird unser  Zuhause eine komfortable Oase. Oft wissen wir nicht welchen Stil  wir möchten  und bleiben kurzum im  Dekoland stecken.  Ich weiß wie man sich helfen kann. Es gibt wunderschöne Blogs von denen man sich Ideen  und Inspirationen holen kann. Hier habe ich eine Liste von meinen  Lieblingsblogs zusammen gestellt. Hoffe Ihr habt Spaß und lasst Euch von uns Amerikanern ein bisschen inspirieren.

Dekoriert wie die Profis und setzt Euren Stil in Szene.

Melissa wird sich ganz sicher auf Euren Besuch freuen. "The Inspired Room" (das inspirirende Zimmer) liebt den eklektischen Einrichtungsstil. Sollte dieser Stil auch Euch gefallen, so seid ihr hier an der richtigen Adresse.

 
Anne from " Fiona and Twig" hat bezaubernde Shabby Chic Accessoires die Euch bestimmt gefallen werden. Schaut doch einfach  einmal vorbei. Ihr werdet es nicht bereuen.

Julie von " Belle Maison" war wieder einmal einkaufen. Oben könnt Ihr sehen was Ihr  gefällt. Ich finde die Koffer einfach ganz große Klasse. Diese Koffer wären "Spitze" als Beistelltisch. Vielleicht findet Ihr einige alte Koffer die Ihr anstreichen könnt.

AnNicole vom "Surburban Cottage" liebt billigen Chic. Wir sagen dazu "Shoe string". Wer liebt nicht billig aber schön? Schaut mal vorbei und seht wie man für billiges Geld sein Nest verschönern kann.

So, das wäre alles für heute. Ich hoffe, daß mein deutsch nicht zu schwer zum lesen ist. Seit dreißig Jahren spreche und schreibe ich nur englisch und habe fast meine deutsche Muttersprache vergessen. Bitte um Vergebung. 


All my best

Read More

Nothing to talk about ..... The Idal Convention

A few days ago, I went to  the yearly decorative art convention in  Hampton Virginia. For me it was a great decision to pay the inexpensive registration fee, hotel cost and other incidentals. Just being with like minded artists inspired me. Beside this, it gave me a chance to see and learn what is going on in our industry.

 Although seeing some of my fellow artists and even a couple of old time students, I missed the educational booth of Modern Masters, and many other exhibitors. The past and the ever so present and exciting "buzz" is gone and lots of familiar faces were absent . We missed Martin Allan Hirsch and his fashion sense, in short..... nothing to talk about. The smoker benches were mostly empty. Naturally, I was there and I was able to entice some fellow smokers to have a seat. There were no cocktail hour  escapades and "deep" conversations. All this made me realize how this convention has decreased in size and participation. That is a shame. This yearly convention is important to all of us. It gives us the chance to get inspired, learn, exchange and much more. 
Discussing the situation with a friend, she told me" it's the sign of the times". I can't accept this, that's too easy and too uncommitted. The convention is our convention. We must support it or pretty soon we will not have a convention and that would be a shame.

I will be at the next convention which is going to be in Reno. I hope that you will be too.

Let's support IDAL and show up!!!

All my best,

Read More

Inspiration... or the lack thereof

Sometimes creative right side brain souls suffer from lack of inspiration.
 We all know that inspiration is an important part of the creative process.Recently, that's  exactly what was happening to me. The more I tried to create, the more I was stuck. Utterly helpless, I decided to do something about it. I registered for the yearly Decorative Art convention in Hampton Virginia. If nothing else, I knew I would be inspired just being  in an environment with like minded artists.

 

 As the owner of the Faux Academy and a decorative artist, I eventually decided to take a class. Being a student was totally new to me, but I had so much fun. .  I am here to tell you  that it worked. I am inspired again, happy to go back t my studio and starting to create new designs and finishes. My brain is full of ideas.  A warm thank you to all decorative artists who shared, conversed, told jokes and hugged.

Creative types know that inspiration is an important part of our being. If this should strike, there some things you can do.

1. Create a reference file. Every time you get stuck flip through this file and possibly the creative juices are beginning to flow.

2.Hang out with other creative types, talk, share ideas,  learn and listen. from them

3. Allow yourself to be stuck and create anyway.

4. Allow yourself to create "bad" samples and finishes, eventually you will come up with something you like.

Best of Luck

Read More

The painted House.......A Harlequin Patterned Powder Room

My clients love harlequin diamonds. Therefore,  I get a lot of requests to adorn walls with the ever popular design. The Harlequin design,  a repeating pattern of contrasting diamonds or elongated squares standing on end, has been around since  the fifteenth century. It is still a theme which is in high demand. This design can be found in antique fine furniture, marquetry, inlaid boxes, tables, dressers, and even floors.

The Italian-based classical character, the servant, wore colorful diamond-patterned tights and a mask.

Creating harlequin diamonds require lots of patience and measuring, but is well worth the intensive labor involved. If you want to save some time here is a harlequin calculator harlequin diamond calculator courtesy of Silverspoon Murals

Supplies:
Lots of 1"or 2" blue tape.
Soft fine pencil ( I use a mechanical pencil)
White Eraser ( art store or Michaels)
Chalk line 
Chalk in the color of the paint    or 
Pastel Pencils in the color of the paint
Two contrasting paint colors*  or if you like to create a monotone design use Eggshell sheen *

 Level ( if possible 5ft long) **
Ruler (if possible 5ft long)
Drop cloths
Paint roller
Angled paint brush ( for touch ups)
Razor ( for mitering corners)



* If you choose a monotone color theme you may use Eggshell sheen paint and MinWax satin polycrylic. 

** available at the wallpaper section in any paint store.
Step One:

Decide on the size of your diamonds. The rule of thumb is that the height of the diamond is twice the width. Now that you have figured out the the design or size, select a focal point. Usually the wall you see, entering the room. Completed this task you are now ready to tackle step two.

Step Two

Paint the room in the color of your choice.

Step Three:
Having calculated the height and width of

Courtesy of Silverspoon murals

 your diamond theme draw vertical lines onto the wall. The space between each line equals the width of your diamond. Continue around the room until each wall is done



Step Four:
Draw the horizontal lines onto the wall. These lines represent the height of your diamond theme. Continue around the room until each wall is done.

Step Five:
Once you have laid out your pattern you might have to make small adjustments in  each corner so the diamonds match up. You may make these small adjustments with the width only. 

Courtesy of Silverspoon Murals 

  

  Step Six: Find and mark the middle of each rectangle and mark the top, bottom,left and right side. Connect the points, using your ruler, chalk line, pencil or pastel pencil. Be aware that using a chalk line will deposit chalk residue on the wall.

Courtesy of Silverspoon Murals

 Step 7:
Having  your base color applied to all walls (step two) you now have to tape off each diamond. Mark each alternating diamond with a piece of tape, so you will not get confused which diamond to paint with the contrasting color. Use you single edge razor blade to miter the tape corners.

My client wanted a tufted harlequin pattern so I omitted contrasting paint colors, which gives you a subtle effect.

Try this classical design and let us know how you did. Good luck,

 

Read More