Spring Greens & Vermilion Hues

I have been on an indoor gardening kick lately, filling every nook and cranny with plants (that I hope I won’t kill). One of my favorite places to implement greenery is on the mantel. When visiting homes in the south, I rarely see plants on fireplace mantels. Maybe it’s more of a west coast thing? Whatever it is, I am a huge fan of juxtaposing books, plants and sculptures together in this tiny little area of the living room.

After the holidays, I left my mantel pretty bare. We are talking two plants. I don’t know about you, but after Christmas I need a non-decorating season. A clear the clutter, let the house breath, decorating hiatus.

I decided to leave the mantel clear until I felt inspired. Well, January and February came and went. And then March came along with spring, and I still didn’t have a shred of inspiration. But! Then one day I stumbled upon a gorgeous vermilion colored candle on a stack of vintage red books at West Elm. Ding! Ding! Ding! I was smitten by the simple display and could not wait to take this candle home with me. I had finally found my inspiration. This color combination was exactly what I had been looking for, except I didn’t know it until I saw it.

Searching for inspiration without perimeters is a beautiful creative process. If you haven’t tried it, you should the next time you are re-designing a space. Look for a feeling, a color or a flavor instead of an object – the process is more interesting when you don’t have specifics.

Smitten with Emerald Green

I’ve been on a green kick lately. Specifically, emerald green. I’ve been implementing the color into so many of my current designs and I just adore it. It’s vibrant, unexpected and has so much classic appeal. A win-win in my book.

My dear friend, Audra Harvey, and I were discussing how perfect a vibrant green goes with grays, blacks and whites. And how lovely it is to use a bold color that is strong but not overwhelming. After our discussion, I moved my black-white entry rug into the dining room and decided to finally paint my dining table base emerald green. I have had the perfect green paint for two years, and a million Pinterest photos screaming for me to take the green plunge. And yet, I just couldn’t get myself to do it. What can I say, I have commitment issues when it comes to my home. ha! But when I saw the black and white contrast in the gray room, I knew I had the perfect opportunity to use a bright green. After painting one section of the table, I was smitten. My only regret is, I wish I had done it sooner.

Photos via Sage Atelier, Intimate Weddings, Burberry, Traditional Home, Domaine Home, Apartment Therapy, Honestly WTF, Brabbu, Enter My Attic