BRIGHTEN UP: YELLOW

Growing up, my mom decorated with all things yellow and tree of life themed.  To this day, her taste remains the same.  Classic, warm, and welcoming are all descriptions that come to mind when I think of the yellow rooms at my parent's home.  Our house was positioned so that it received both the morning light on the front and the afternoon light on the back.  In the summer the sunlight was shaded by the full trees, but in the wintertime the trees were bare, allowing these rooms (particularly the living room) to take on a stunning late afternoon glow.  On winter afternoons, my mom could be found with her companion (Prudence the Pug) reading or catching up on emails, in this sun filled room.  It is spaces like these that can help us get through the gray days ahead.  Color can affect our daily emotions and behaviors, so why not go with a color that makes you happy?  

With this in mind, I recently designed a yellow guest bedroom for one of my clients, which got me thinking about color and trends.  We seem to be stuck in a navy and gray rut.  I think this color combination can be very beautiful, but does everything have to be in these colors?  With this in consideration, I thought I would share inspiration for bright and cheerful yellow rooms.   

Images via Pinterest

FALLING FOR: POT RACKS

Frank Lloyd Wright once stated that the hearth is the heart of the home.  At my parent's house, I think the Kitchen fills this role.  This is usually the first place we go when we wake up.  Kitchens often feature breakfast nooks or informal dining settings, where homework is done and weekday meals are served.  When my brothers and I are home, we spend the majority of our time in the Kitchen.  Eating, hanging out, or just sitting and talking. 

These days, I am falling for pot racks.  They are the perfect way to showcase a spotless collection of pots and pans.  Pots and pans are usually stored within cabinets and often cumbersome to pull out.  A pot rack, allows pots and pans to be easily seen and available for quick access.  In addition to their function, pot racks also allow pots and pans to become part of the Kitchen's decor.  Function and aesthetic, two of my favorite things.  Here is some pot rack inspiration for the heart of your home. 

Images via Pinterest

NEW ENGLAND AUTUMN: HOME SWEET HOME

I was very excited when my copy of Gil Shafer’s The American Home, arrived on my doorstep.  To this day, this is one of my favorite design books. Many of Gil Shafer’s designs feature traditional, classic, and livable spaces, similar to the home I grew up in. 

My childhood home is an old farmhouse constructed in 1831 featuring reused doors from the 1700’s, wide plank floors, horsehair insulation, and large fireplaces with beehive ovens.  As a child I didn't understand the unique qualities of an old house.  I remember the sad day, when my little brother dropped my spiral glitter wand, between the wide plank floor boards.  Oh the frustration!  I could see it, but it was beyond my reach.  To this day, the wand remains beneath our bathroom floor.  As the years went on I got over the imperfections of our old house, and gradually fell in love with its charm and character. 

Today I often favor the look of older homes, and for this reason I feel a strong connection to many of the interiors in Shafer’s The American Home. In honor of Autumn, and the return home, I thought I would feature some of my favorite interiors in Gil Shafer's book.

Images via Gil Shafer's The Great American Home: Tradition for the Way We Live Now