9.30.2009

Infusing Yellow in Your Color Scheme and Interior Design by Amanda Nisbet

Yellow is the color of some of my favorite things including sunshine, lemons and bumblebees. New York-based interior designer and one of my personal favorites, Amanda Nisbet knows how to design a space with the color yellow. In some instances she uses this cheerful hue as the primary color and other times as an accent. Following Nisbet's work as a guide, here are some ideas on how you can infuse yellow into your space's color palette.

In this elegant sunny living room, Nisbet keeps the color scheme warm - yellows, neutrals and accents of red. She selects neutral tans and browns for the upholstered furniture and natural woven rug.

Nisbet selects a soft canary yellow like Farrow & Ball's Dayroom Yellow for room's walls. She coordinates the window floor-length draperies to match.

Nisbet also bring the color palette together in throw pillows and accessories. This Citrus Swirl Throw Pillow from Pieces would do the trick.

In this stunning living space Nisbet pairs golden yellow with neutrals and accents of teal and melon. Yum! Various shades of yellow are picked up in the room's walls, console table, throw pillows, draperies and accessories.

Nisbet frames the French doors beautifully in floor length buttercup draperies. To achieve this look, consider a fabric like Peter Fasano's Vallelunga in Dijion to add a splash of color and interest to your windows.

Picking up additional citrus hues, the sweet bench behind the sofa is upholstered in Amanda Nisbet's own fabric collection available through Holland & Sherry. The Chip 2 pattern in Tutti Fruitti would also look fabulous on an armchair!


A linen Lemon Rope Throw Pillow available at Pieces in a neutral shade armchair would mimic Nisbet's inspirational look nicely.

Nisbet creates an upbeat modern white and raspberry girl's bedroom with bright accents in citron yellow, turquoise and orange. It's darling. Notice how she consciously places bits of yellow throughout the room, but not next to each other.

To achieve this look, simply add splashes of bright yellow and repeat it in small accessories once or twice. A Garden Stool would pull in the yellow accent color beautifully while being multifunctional - use it as a chair or table.


Pair the garden stool with accessories like this handmade, glazed ceramic Double Yellow Parrots to repeat the accent color. These darling feathered friends would look fabulous atop a contrasting side table, but would get lost if near or on the garden stool in the same hue.

In this chic contemporary living area, Nisbet pairs neutral walls and upholstered furniture with black and yellow accents. She selects dramatic golden floor length drapery - similar to Durlee's Sungold fabric below. Nisbet repeats the color in an armchair on the opposite side of the room and lamp shades placed throughout.



An upholstered chair is always a great place to add an accent color.

This romantic tufted Earl Chaise in citrus by Mitchell Gold and Bob Williams would be a great choice.

Like in the Nisbet living room example, adding a table lamp like this Yellow Faux Bamboo Lamp is a perfect way to pull yellow accents to your room.

In this living room, Nisbet combines yellow with deep reds and neutrals to create a warm color palette. She has the wall painted a bright yellow while placing an area rug in a more subdued, muted tone. In addition, Nisbet splashes yellow accents in the throw pillows and ottoman.

This exquisite silk and wool Marigold Tulip Rug by Galbraith & Paul would be a lovely way to pull in a muted yellow tone into your room.

Nisbet creates a sunny breakfast nook by painting the walls and upholstering the bench and chairs in citron yellow. Love those lucite chairs!


Instead of paint, wallpaper is another option for adding color to your room's wall. I love this sweet Bumble Bee Wallpaper from Farrow & Ball and think it would look great in a breakfast nook.

Which of the cheeful rooms designed by Amanda Nisbet is your favorite?

*images from Amanda Nisbet, Pieces, Tonic Home, Mitchell Gold and Bob Williams, Duralee, Decorati

9.29.2009

Household Cleaning Tips and Chic Housewares From Alice Supply Co

It's a bummer and there's no way around it. Keeping your house clean is a chore. If you are falling behind on housecleaning it is time to create a schedule. Create a list of each chore that needs to be completed, how often and when (days/times). Post the list in a spot that you will see often - inside a kitchen cabinet, message board or daily planner. Sticking to the schedule will help you tackle those chores and keep your home clean.

In addition, I always advise my clients to try to make tasks as fun as possible. What better way than to use some super cute and chic houseware products from Alice Supply Co? The collection which includes dust pans, plungers, brooms and pails in vivid colors and designs was launched by fellow Californians, Maria Barnes and Raili Clasen. These women have brought serious style into the mundane world of domestic products. We thank you and we salute you!

What is next on your housecleaning chore list?

*images from Alice Supply Co.

9.28.2009

Binders - Organizing Medical Documents

Even in the good times managing paperwork can be demanding. When you're faced with a health issue however, it can be overwhelmingly and numbing. Creating a medical binder is a fairly easy DIY project, but in times of stress I would advise purchasing a pre-assembled binder like Button Up's The Medical.doc™. This comprehensive binder includes eight color-coded sections that make it easy to organize all of your important treatment information inlcuding diagnosis, treatment regimes, insurance filings and correspondence. Best yet, it is now on sale for $9.99 at FranklinCovey - a $20 savings!

Rest assure you have the have the information you need, so you can focus on what really matters - getting well.
* images from Buttoned Up

How To Photograph Your Life Book Giveaway Winner


Congratulations Darcy at Smart-Bottom Enterprises! You were lucky #26 selected from random.org and have won a copy of Nick Kelsh's How to Photograph Your Life book. Have fun taking pictures and capturing everyday moments!

9.26.2009

Wallpaper Design Trends for Your Home and Anna French

Wallpaper has been a trend for some time, but I had to share with you some gorgeous wallpaper by Anna French - thanks Erin at House of Turquoise for this fantastic find! It was Anna's vivid colors and dramatic patterns that caught my eye. Here's a sampling of my favorites.

Do you have a favorite?

*images from Anna French

One Lovely Blog Award

Yippee! Last week Room Remix's P.K. (great design blog & really sweet gal - must stop by) gave Simplified Bee a One Lovely Blog Award. And I don't think she knew I was an avid tea drinker and love the color pink - check out that sweet tea cup!

So now I have the pleasure of passing this award on to five other beautiful blogs. Here are some of my favorites in no particular order:

1. four walls and a roof
2. chic coles
3. bromeliad
4. pure style home
5. odi et amo

Congratulations and please pass on the love, ladies!


*image from Anna French

9.24.2009

Fun Halloween Decoration Ideas for Your Home - Inside and Out

It will be October soon and that means pulling out pumpkins, spider webs, witches brooms and other utterly eerie Halloween decorations to create a spooky entrance to your home. Whether you're a minimalist or prefer a little bit of everything, here are some Halloween decoration ideas you may want to consider. And best off, most are inexpensive DIY projects.


Illuminating a walkway with jack-o-lanterns is an inviting way to guide visitors to your front door. Martha Stewart suggests carving various shapes onto a pumpkin using cookie cutters - hearts, stars, clovers and diamonds.


Created an eerie invitation into your haunted house. This is a simple DIY project I found at Better Homes and Garden. After coming up with the message for your invitation, select a spooky Halloween font like Chiller or Jokerman to be printed on wood-pattern paper. Then paste the message onto balsa and tack the pieces to the wooden steps. If decorating brick or concrete steps, using removable double-stick poster tape seems to do the trick to keep your message in place.

Love the creepy flock of bats swarming this front door. Bat cutouts are a super easy DIY project - you just need black paper and scissors. For more details and a bat stencil, visit Country Living.


A pumpkin covered with orange and chocolate lollipops enables trick-or-treaters to help themselves if they are not too frightened by the paper bat hovering over and witch's broom propped by the door. The pumpkin is carved from synthetic foam - avoid using a real pumpkin because the moisture from the flesh will turn the lollipops' paper sticks soggy. To find out more visit Martha Stewart.


There is just something about black crows that freak me out. These decorative birds crows are perfect to perch outside your front door to add more spook factor. They are available at Pottery Barn along with all of the other autumn inspired house decorations (above) including my favorites - the Mixed Leaf Garland, Malta Lanterns and Rattan Pumpkins.


These chic Mercury Glass Glass Pumpkins are out-of-stock at Pottery Barn - darn it! But if you are up for a small craft, visit The DIY Show Off for a fantastic version you can easily do at home.


Here is another great way to decorate a pumpkin without needing a carving set. I spotted this adorable collection of festive painted pumpkins at Tiny Talk. I am going to be pulling out my gold spray paint and pens for sure!


If throwing a Halloween party decorate the 'green' way with fun prints perfect for any age group or gender. Green Planet Parties offers an adorable and sustainable Halloween Decorations Party Kit. The kit includes: two trick-or-treat bags, ten flag banner and tablecloth with a dozen bat appliques that are sustainable tabletop confetti.


These folk art inspired Pirate Pumpkin and Halloween Cat figurines at Gumps would be perfect to dress up an entryway. The cat's glitter-dusted tulle collar is the best. And their heads are set on springs and move!


These aged terra-cotta cubes decorated with vintage lettering spell out an eerie warning to your guests. Perfect to arrange on the buffet, fireplace mantel or dining table. Also available at Gumps

9.22.2009

A Tour of San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom's Penthouse - What a View

Talk about a room with a view. San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom's 20th-story penthouse condominium in the city's Russian Hill neighborhood has priceless views - Coit Tower, downtown, City Hall, the Bay Bridge and the crown jewel, the Golden Gate Bridge. Newsom hired San Francisco-based designer Michael Agins of Agins & Associates to transform and update the 1,800 square-foot, one bedroom and two bath 1930s Spanish Revival high-rise penthouse.

Here in the living room, Agins arranges the furniture to emphasis the room's fireplace and mantel focal point by centering the Holly Hunt sofa directly across and lining armchairs on either side. This creates a cozy and inviting place for the mayor and his new wife, Jennifer Siebel to converse with guests. Not wanting to detract from the period architecture and breathtaking views, the elegant arched windows are kept bare. The asymmetrical decor on the fireplace mantel is beautifully done. It would have been a great example in my recent article, Tips on Decorating the Fireplace Mantel.

The living room is anchored by a chocolate, cream and gold Moorish-inspired area rug by Oscar de la Renta. The rug's gold accents are beautifully picked up by the stunning mustard Portuguese armchairs from Heather & Company Antiques.

The small galley kitchen was opened up and modernized to accommodate large parties. Here is a view of the bar topped with Calcutta marble - it contrasts nicely with the rich brown walls and cabinetry. Agins brilliantly has the custom shelving behind the bar mimic the arched windows in the living room. The shelves are backed with mirrors - love this look!

In the media room just off the living and dining areas, Agins creates a dramatic statement with white leather lounge chairs from Minotti and sweet Twig table from House 849. Aren't those lounge chairs fabulous!

Here is a view of the media room from the living area. The dark chocolate-colored velvet Holly Hunt sofa and ottoman melt into the walls painted in Pratt & Lambert's dark brown. The color scheme really allows the urban art to pop.

The warm and elegant master bedroom is gorgeous in a dark green color scheme. The area rug by Kelly Wearstler and the headboard with nailhead are my favorite elements in the space.

On the wall opposite the bed, Agins hangs a collection of mirrors that reflect city views. A cozy wing chair with nailhead detail by Victoria Hagan is placed in the corner next to a window. The tree stump side table brings organic elements to the space.

With the mayor's wife in mind, a lighter color palette of gray was selected for the library. The lush velvet Holly Hunt sofa is beautifully framed by the floor length draperies in wool. The orange accents - throw pillow and books - are fabulous too!

But, now I am curious because the Newsoms just had a baby girl - Montana Tessa Siebel Newsom on September 18, 2009 - and where is she going to sleep? Do you think they converted the library to a nursery? In any case, she will have a fabulous view. And congratulations are in order to the new parents!

UPDATE: The penthouse was sold earlier this year for a reported $2,935,000. Read it here.

*images from Luxe Magazine