Pink

color inspiration: charcoal and blush

in

gray, pink, charcoal and blush via courtney khail (photo by laura zalenga)

photo via Laura Zalenga

I finally found it. My perfect bedroom color scheme-dark and moody, but still somehow refreshingly calm and uplifting.

I know a lot of people tend to gravitate towards bright spaces- and I do too, kind of, when it comes to places like the kitchen or a bathroom. But aside from those areas (and sometimes even in those too) I always seem to fall hard for the dark, industrial, almost grittiness of charcoals, blacks, and greys. (Ever notice almost all of my photos are on a black background despite the industry standard of using white?) They remind me of figure drawing classes in college- where everything from your charcoal covered hands to the polished concrete floors were dark. The only light available was found peering in from beneath the studio door or the one spotlight on the model you were drawing.

Come to think of it, the scientific illustration/graphic design building was pretty dark too. Beautiful huge windows with gorgeous natural light, balanced perfectly with cold metal stairwells, worn wide plank floors, and computer labs completely pitch black apart from the eerily glowing screens of 24 Macs. Everything seemed to tell a story and have a purpose. Funny how those experiences define your style, isn't it? If only I could find a way to live in the Tanner Building. (Which I guess I technically did for roughly 4 years of my life.)

color inspiration: champagne, dusty rose and stormy seas

in

photo via f5,6

Although our home is very bright (I'm a white paint lover) I've always been drawn to the dark and stormy colors. You know, the deep plums, the wrought iron grays, the pipe smoke blacks- they always feel more soulful to me than cheerful yellows, hot pinks, etc. So when I saw this photograph, it took my breath away. It's dark without being overwhelming, has just enough glamour (thanks to the sequins and fabrics) and yet still feels playful because of the various party dresses. Maybe one day (when we have a house that we're allowed to paint all dark and mysterious) I'll try this in a bedroom or a powder room.

color inspiration: cranberry, spearmint, and cream

in

photograph via honeytree

I decided to do something different with my color inspiration today and hope you like it. Instead of trying to mesh different photos together like I've done in the past, I thought I'd give you all a glimpse at what goes on in my mind. Normally it only takes one photo to trigger a color palate in my mind and that's what I decided to share with you all today. This particular photograph I've had on my desktop for months (and months) because I was instantly drawn to the vibrant, playful colors. Pink and green together is definitely not a new concept, but here the combination looks subtle and fresh, as opposed to the loud and preppy connotation I'm used to.

So what do you think? Do you like this set up, or would you rather it go back to the way it was?

Color Inspiration: grapefruit and lemon

in

photograph by matt irwin, styled by simon robins for elle magazine, grapefruit granita via food happy, doodles via me, coconut and grapefruit gumdrops via bhg

Now that the days are getting longer and the temperature is rising, I keep being drawn to bright and cheerful colors. Aren't this refreshing? Makes me want to pour a big glass of lemonade and lounge by the pool. Of course, in reality it is still February and I am writing this while wearing jeans and a sweater. Maybe in a month or two!

color inspiration: navy and pink

in

tassel garland via confetti system, top right photo via elizabeth messina, guitarist via elizabeth anne designs

pairing navy and pink almost always means preppy. I wanted to show how that isn't always case. By throwing in charcoal gray, gold, silver, seafoam, and white it makes it all a little more hipster and a little less country club. Of course if you add the confetti system to just about anything it's already going to be more fun.