Pantone colors Spring 2014

Pantone is the leading industry predictor for color trends.  Here are their predictions for best colors for Spring 2014, as reported by Ell Decor.

18-3224 Radiant Orchid                                                           18-1651 Cayenne                                                                                                    

18-3949 Dazzling Blue                                                     16-0000  Paloma                                                                              

15-1225  Sand                                                                   15-3920  Placid Blue                                                                            

16-3823 Violet Tulip                                             15-6114 Hemlock                                                                        

14-0852  Freesia                                              17-1360 Celosia Orange                                                                 

We are solidly back to color.  Your investment in neutral colors can be updated by simply adding a few pillows in some of these favorite new colors.

Luxury for Less

10 Great Ideas- Give Your Rooms a Luxury Look for Under $150

1.  Paint your ceiling the same color as your walls, if they are 9 foot or higher, if you are using mid-tone colors or lighter.  This is a look Interior Designers use to emphasize any moldings you have.

2.  In the Master Bathroom make a frame out of molding to go over large plate glass mirrors.  Gives you the look of large frames mirror which can be much more expensive.

houzz.com Echelon Custom Homes

3.  Get rid of plate glass mirrors, changing out powder room & guest bathroom mirrors to an artistic looking mirror.

4.  Use a small chandelier in the powder room.  You can hook into the existing electrical taking down the strip vanity lighting.  Swag the chandelier with a plant hook  and hang down slightly in front of mirror.  





 5.  If you have walk in pantry, you can hang a chandelier in there using the existing light at the center of the ceiling.  Also painting the walls behind your shelves, really gives this room a special look. You can also wallpaper, instead of painting these walls.

 
 











 









6.  If you do not have a walk in pantry, change the doors out to  something dramatic.  You can use regular French doors from Home Depot and paint them.  However, look at these beautiful red doors from a renovated kitchen.







7.  Several homeowners are updating lighting in homes.  Changing out some of your eyeball lights using the existing electrical already in the ceiling can be very effective.  You should update to pendant lighting in the following areas:  over kitchen sink, over kitchen island and another place not usually thought of is:  over your fireplace.  Ballards Catalogue has a kit for $79 that includes the parts needed to do those with a choice of pendants to use.

8.  If you do not have an abundance of moldings in your home, you can add just picture frame moldings in a rectangle or square, paint a contrast paint or wallpaper the area.  Finish off with an existing piece of art for a Drama Wall.

 room designed by Eileen Kathrine Boyd for Holiday House Traditional Home

picture courtesy Elle Decor

 9.  If your laundry room budget does not allow for cabinet work, you can still get great design from stock shelving available at major hardware stores.  You can leave shelves the color they are, or paint them some fun, funky color.  This is a perfect room for a little whimsey.

picture courtesy Better Homes & Gardens Magazine

10.  Have a small Living Room that only fits small sofa and 2 chairs, use two ottomans in front of coffee table, instead of trying to squeeze 2 more chairs in there to give you seating for 6.  You can also use this look for the Family Room, it is particularly helpful to have rollers on these if you have kids.  It can become a handy homework spot.

Field Stone Home Design

 

Favorite Houzz Living Rooms for Today

I love these rooms selected from Houzz.com.  Hop over to their site and see what your choices for favorite Living Rooms would be.

I just love the dramatic use of black walls, yet you would call this room "light and airy".  The bookcases are artfully arranged with black, whites and some metallics.  The mix of wood legs on the upholstered pieces and the metal on the glass coffee table give a fresh classic look to the room.

courtesy of Laura Hay, Design and Decor

courtesy of Urban Development

Oh!  What a ceiling!  This is a beautiful ceiling design by Urban Development.  This is a small living room and the furniture was selected with each having some personality to balance out the ceiling.  There is no need for any crown molding or other architectural embellishments.  The colors are fresh and timeless, and the rug is really well selected for this room, color and fresh style.

picture courtesy Tom Stringer Design Partners, Houzz.com

This is a very usable layout for a large living room.  It is broken into mini rooms for different usage.  The table in front of the fireplace is beautiful as it is and has varied uses as well.  I can picture a family cozied up in front of a fire working on a puzzle or playing a game.  I can also envision a friendly bridge foursome.  So often in today's casual lifestyle, the living room is the unused area of a home,  Tom Stringer Design Partners have given this Lakeshore Dr home a multi-purpose layout that may become a family's favorite gathering spot.  The designer has even addressed proper lighting to enhance table use.  Kudos, TSDP!

picture courtesy Staples Design Group Houzz.com

This combined living space would convert anyone to a open floor plan fan.  Using lots and lots of white give the area a light airy feel, and the entire area is mini spaces connected to each other by the lack of wall.  This type of floor plan is perfect for young families who want to keep an eye on their children's activities as well as aging couples that desire fewer footsteps to have access to rooms.  This beautiful area is designed by Staples Design Group, as shown on Houzz.com.

picture courtesy CWB Achitecture and Design NY

This is a small room and has been so well updated to allow a seating space for six.  The colors are fresh and current, and the feeling is dressed up, but welcoming.  The window molding gives the room an important look and provides architectural interest.  Great design by the CWB Architecture and Design Group in New York.