green with envy!

hello,

Today's post is about celebrating Pantone's Colour of the Year for 2013 - Emerald Green. 

Plenty of Colour

Pantone has declared their choice, "Lively. Radiant. Lush. A colour of elegance and beauty that enhances our sense of well-being, balance, and harmony." 

That is a tall order for one colour! Fortunately, its rich hue, its association with royalty, and the fact that it looks good on everything from dinner rings and designer handbags, to throw cushions and vintage furniture are all evidence in support of Pantone's claim. 

I must admit - prior to the last year or so, this colour kind of intimidated me. It seemed a little too bold for my own personal taste, as my preferences have always been with what I would call "safe" colours (thus, the not one, but FOUR grey cardigans in my closet).  However, a few months ago, I stumbled across this gorgeous "malachite" necklace from Stella & Dot: 

I LOVE it! And ever since I received that gentle push in the fashion forward direction, emerald green has been popping up everywhere (or perhaps it's been there all along and I am only now noticing it?) Anyway, last week, I may or may not have (let's go with "may have") purchased this super-sweet blouse from Anthropologie. 

And, we all know that a girl can dream, right? So why not "dream in green?" I love, love, love this emerald green bag from Marc Jacobs . It is high up on my "covet" list. Keep on dreaming, Kerry! 

We can always trust the design gurus at Marimekko to be on trend in delivering the boldest, richest hues of the season. I have always loved this classic pattern, and here it is in a vibrant shade of emerald. 

And, seeing as this is a design blog, I should also share some pictures of cool living spaces - all of them injected with this lively, lush, and sophisticated colour. This first image comes courtesy of Interior Design magazine and features a "stop-dead-in-your-tracks-this-is-totally-amazing" plate installation on the wall. How cool is that? I love the sharp contrast between the jewel tone of the green, and the light and airy white backdrop. 

This next image comes to us from the style mavens over at Better Homes and Gardens. I love the playful patterns, the symmetry, and the successful mix of old with new. If you ever wondered what a traditional wing-back chair would look like with contemporary upholstery in a geometric pattern, well, now you can.

Then, I stumbled upon this image. An emerald green velvet toss cushion? Swoon! I also love the bold chevron print of the drapery panel and the way this colour commands such a preppy presence against the neutral tones of the sofa, side table, and table lamp. Beautiful!

Finally, this eclectic mix of a vintage wood table, when paired with contemporary white "branch" chairs (love!) and the painted metal chairs (industrial meets regal - who'd have thought it would work?) adds just the perfect dose of whimsy. And the DIY centrepiece? Super cute!

Wow! I love this colour! Looking outside my window at the moment, and seeing the world covered in a blanket of white (very pretty in its own right), I am even more inspired to inject a few bold "pops" of colour into some upcoming projects.

Have a wonderful weekend,

Kerry

Simple Scandinavian Style

hello,

I feel that I must begin this post with a little story. Approximately three years ago, I found myself reading "The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo" series (who wasn't, right?) Anyway, you know how book characters often become Hollywood actors in your head while you are reading (or is that just me?) Well, from about page eight of book one in this suspense-ridden trilogy, the main character, Mikhail Blomkvist, was "played" by the handsome Liam Neeson (it fits, doesn't it?) Anyway, fast forward through the release of the Swedish movie version with sub-titles, as well as the Hollywood Blockbuster starring Daniel Craig (also handsome, but where was my Liam?) Needless to say, I bypassed several invitations and opportunities to watch these movies as I didn't want the images in my head to be disturbed (I am sure many professionals would have a field day with that comment, so let's just keep that between us, ok?) Fast forward again, until approximately one month ago, when I found the Daniel Craig version on the movie network and decided to give it a chance. And you know what? It was pretty good. Turns out, I didn't miss Liam as much as I thought I would. The best part, however?

The minimalist, Scandinavian-inspired, cabin in the woods that Mikhail finds himself living in while he does his research and sleuthing. I fell in love with it. So simple, so organic, so inviting. I looked online for some images of it to share, but couldn't seem to find any (perhaps I should have left Liam's name out of my Google images search?) In lieu of "actual" images, I thought I would share other images of what designers are calling "Simple Scandi Style."

This fishing camp is beautiful just in its simplicity. 

1

White, white, and more white - mixed with a few "pops" of carefully placed colour. 

2

I love the sharp contrasts here - black with white, cool steel with warm wood, old with new. 

3

I love the whitewashed planks and the entire wall of built-in bookshelves. 

4

Look at how three very different styles (contemporary chairs, traditional table, and casual-country bench) work together perfectly against the neutral backdrop. 

5

This day bed with built-in storage is calling me with its soothing grey palette and inviting textures. 

6

Here, industrial meets organic with a successful interplay between warm, textural wood and cool, smooth metal. 

7

Yes, I know that Christmas has come and gone, but if you can mentally remove the Christmas elements found in these images and focus on merely the "winter warmth," you will notice how cozy and inviting this space truly is. 

8

How fabulous are these oversized drum pendants? 

9

So, in a nutshell, this is what "Simple, Scandinavian Style" means to me (and please note, I do not propose to be an expert on the subject - these are just my humble musings):

• minimalist - clean and simple design - without a lot of ornamentation 
• use of natural elements (hardwood, stone, natural fibres, etc) 
• functional and purposeful 
• calm and serene spaces with relatively neutral palettes 
• eclectic mix of old and new 
• typically white walls are used to visually open up the space and to take advantage of natural sunlight 
• warm and welcoming environments
• love of the outdoors reflected indoors - nature photography, vessels of wildflowers, bowls of pinecones, pebbles, or shells
• delineated spaces with clearly defined traffic areas (i.e. furniture placement is based on easy accessibility) 
• small "pops" of colour (artwork, accent pillows, a quilt or throw, and even a coffee mug) are integrated to ground the airy and bright feeling of the space (and to add some visual interest) 
• use of ambient lighting (several light sources are warmer and cozier than one large fixture)

Looking to incorporate, instill, or invoke a Scandinavian aesthetic in your home? Here are some inspiring places to look: 

• Scan Decor
• EQ3
• Mjolk
• FresHome Design and Architecture Blog
• From Scandinavia with love blog
• Style at Home - Scandi Style on a Budget
• The Finnish Place
• Hindsvik blog
• Love Nordic Design Blog

Well, I think that's it for me this evening. I am off to dream of cozy Nordic sweaters, whitewashed birch  plank flooring, an iconic wishbone chair, and perhaps, if I am really lucky, my Liam will appear and wish me sweet dreams. ;)

xo
Kerry