Hm. I’ve seen this color combination before. First here, then here, and now right here:

I think I might really like this color palette.

*Image from Lonny magazine.

This color combo always reminds me of the glamtastic ‘80s. Yet when it appeared on the runway this year, it looked new—I could actually wear these looks without feeling like a totally-fer-sure valley girl!

From Jason Wu, Givenchy, and Lanvin:

But my favorite was an all-black ensemble with awesome gold shoes from Mulberry:

Then there’s the whole baroque trend, which puts me in the mood for big hair (although honestly, what doesn’t put me in the mood for big hair?); super-wearable black and gold stripes, and chic black accessories with gold hardware that may offer more mileage than trendy clothes:

I’m looking in my closet to see if I can throw this trend together without buying anything (shopping diet, remember?), and I’m sad to report a big, fat zero. For me to follow this trend, simple gold jewelry over black clothing will have to do this year!

Merry Christmas, everyone!

Happy Christmas Eve! Here’s a simple little post today, in favor of the painted door. Doesn’t it look good in this basically neutral interior? And next to that black-and-white floral wallpaper? Hellooo, chartreuse—you’re looking mighty fine.

*Image from shelterness.com.

I get so excited about Pantone’s Color of the Year announcements! I am always both intrigued by and critical of their choices.

A couple of days ago they made their announcement for 2012 Color of the Year, and it’s the very vivacious Tangerine Tango.

Although I think that, in 2012, we’ll be moving away from these intense, saturated colors and move toward paler shades, Pantone probably made the right choice. The average Consumer is usually several paces behind the Designer—so although I would have preferred Tangerine Tango as the color choice for 2011, I’m aware of that chasm and imagine that next year’s Color of the Year will probably gravitate toward pale.

An all-white living space appeals to my obsessively clean nature, but I wouldn’t want it to look cold and stark; I’d want it to be cozy and lived-in to counteract all that whiteness. An Oregon family achieved that in this charming farmhouse renovation.

I especially love the kitchen. It makes my eyes happy.

*All images from Country Living.

Remember this awesome table setting color palette? I was just looking at Benjamin Moore’s 2012 trend guide, and one of their palettes include two colors similar to the dirty aqua and acid green:

Benjamin Moore Color Trends 2012: Earth and Sky

I love how they applied these colors in two different ways to one dining room. Room number one:

And room number two:

Most people are at least two years past their obsession with peacock blue. For me, teal was never really a trendy obsession—it’s more like an ongoing fascination.

I don’t know why this color provokes me so much. But it does, especially when it’s paired with clean neutrals and brights, like in these rooms from the current issues of Adore Home and Lonny:

This image from West Elm showcases Benjamin Moore’s “marine blue” wall paint, which coordinates with their current line of furniture and accessories:

Years ago, when I attacked my first (and only) upholstery project, I was desperately looking for teal velvet to recover my vintage chair. I searched everywhere I could get to by train but found nothing, so I eventually gave up and bought plum-colored velvet instead (you can kind of see it in the corner of our living room here), which was nice, but I’m still pining for that teal velvet piece of furniture. Don’t tell my husband, but I’m secretly hoping to own a teal velvet sofa someday!

Something like one of these, perhaps?

Or, oooooh—maybe the teal piece to invest in is a luxe upholstered bed. And then to accent it with modern geometric pieces, like this:

So while you’re onto bigger and better trends like camel and lipstick red, I’ll still be out there, creating my perfect room with peacock blue!

I was just perusing J.Crew when I realized that their “bright dahlia” color is exactly like the one Brioni used in their fall collection! It was absolutely stunning on the runway when paired with the cantaloupe/camel color. It’s possibly my favorite color palette from the fall runway.

So this week has been ca-razy! One of my closest friends in the world is visiting with her family. Her whole family—as in fifteen of them. We’ve been staying out late every night, talking, laughing, and reminiscing. I guess I’m too old for this insanity, because I’m seriously wiped out. Of course it doesn’t help that my kids wake up at 5:30 every morning! Anyway… I’m tired. That’s my excuse for why my posts have been short and lacking in substance. I need a pajama day.

Clearly I’m not the first person to suggest orange for an October wedding. So although I don’t win points for originality, maybe I can win points for the cake. The cake that, er, I didn’t make but found on the Internet? Alright, originality fail. But I think you can appreciate what I’m trying to do with this inspiration board—freshening up an expected October color palette.

Yes, it all started with the cake. Isaac Mizrahi’s fall 2011 show sent a “waiter” down the runway, carrying this elaborately decorated, three-tiered cake. Some asked why; I just drooled (over the cake, people! Minds out of the gutter, stat).

So I used the cake as my starting point, and the small glints of silver at the center of each flower established the accent color. The result is super stylish.

Invitation: Watercolor Tulips Invitations by Wedding Paper Divas
Favor Box: Image from stylemepretty.com
Cake: Runway image from elle.com
Shoes: Martinez Valero Cimmy Heels in Orange Satin
Dress: ML Monique Lhuillier Strapless Taffeta Dress
Bouquet: Image from stylemepretty.com
Tablescape: Image from aileentran.com
Kiss with Confetti: Image from stylemepretty.com
Earrings: Briolette Carnelian Drop Earrings from yesstyle.com

If I had my own spring 2012 collection, maybe this would be part of the color palette. Pretty pale lilac, delicious cherry red.

As a side note, when I started this blog last year, I never planned to post these illustrations. Since I’m not a fashion designer, I don’t want to pose as one. Yet I admit—it feels good to have a place to store all these images floating around it my head! And now that I’ve started, this is rapidly becoming one of my favorite subjects to post. So thanks for reading!