Category Archives: Colour

Goodbye Summer, Hello Autumn

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Remember when I recently said a sad welcome to summer?

Weird I know.

But my thinking was the longer I have to wait for summer the longer summer will feel.

My case in point, “where did summer go?”

Summer in all its glory with so many wonderful moments…..

Watching the sunrise,

Sunrise

Being one with nature,    Box Turtle

Spotting in the back of the ski boat,    Slalom Skiing

Admiring the scenery,  Bon Echo Park

Relaxing in the backyard,  Backyard Summer

Enjoying long bike rides,  Toronto Skyline

All these wonderful moments are but distant memories now.

But oh well……autumn does have glorious colour like the view out my kitchen window.

 

All images via MODMISSY

 

 

 

Summer is Here!

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The first day of summer begins tomorrow.

Yippeeeee!

Although at the same time I am very sad.  Boohoooo!

Weird right?

Here’s my thinking.

Even though this past winter was a very long, cold, snowy one it was ok for me.  As I explained, it might have been freezing and snowy but it was sunny almost every day, and who doesn’t love the sun plus having a warm winter coat and good snow tires made it even more acceptable.  I was almost sad to see winter go.

So now winter is gone, spring just finished and summer is here.

But summer is so short and goes too quickly – and then its winter again!

So if winter was long it meant summer was longer away.

Understand?

So here’s to slowly savouring a summer of lasting wonderfulness.

Enjoy!                        Summer words

Image design by Modmissy

Robins Egg Blue

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You know that spring is here when the birds are back.

Or maybe they were here throughout the winter but like me they kept a low profile outside.

Whatever.  It’s great to hear their song and see them busily flying about.

And the other day I had the good fortune to find the remains of a hatched Robin’s egg.   Robins EggSuperstitions have it that if a bird poops on you good things are coming your way so I am going to believe that finding the hatched Robin’s egg was a sign of upcoming good fortune!

Of course I had to do a colour check with my Benjamin Moore® paint charts to see if indeed the paint colour was aptly named.                     Birds Egg Benjamin Moore

I thought it was pretty close.

Interestingly enough I just staged a home that was painted Benjamin Moore Bird’s Egg in the bathroom.  With white beadboard and Carrera Marble it was a calm, spa-like space.

Benjamin Moore Birds Egg Bathroom

So here’s to Spring and all the wonderful things it brings and to summer just around the corner.

Enjoy!

All images via Modmissy

Not Your Grandmother’s Wallpaper

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On a recent visit to my favourite paint store (everyone should have a ‘favourite’ paint store with knowledgeable staff, great products and lots of inspiration) to have some custom tinted paint for an outdoor project (details to follow) I noticed that there were some new wallpaper sample books.

And I mean new, as in edgy, sexy wallpaper samples.  Definitely not your Grandma’s kind of wallpaper!

I know that fashion is cyclical and although these wallpaper samples may have been similar in some ways to styles of the past, these newest wallpapers are ‘pumped up’ about a 100 notches.

So what was hip and bold for the 1970’s as seen in this wallpaper sample from a client’s home (before renovation),              Wallpaper 1970s

And the norm for the wallpaper of the 1950’s as found in my home under old wallboard,  Wallpaper 1950s

The newest wallpapers are taking walls by storm     Wallpaper striped

No longer being seen in only traditional or classic-style rooms; wallpaper presents a modern visage in a contemporary space.    Wallpaper Chevron

Wallpaper modernAnd it’s about marketing – these contemporary wallpapers are presented in books akin to glossy design magazines with fashion-forward photography.

I suddenly found myself re-thinking my sentiments on wallpaper.  When we moved into our home 15 years ago about 90% of the walls and ceilings were covered in wallpaper.  I couldn’t get rid of the stuff fast enough!

But now…..who knows, maybe a feature wall in striking contemporary wallpaper might just be the detail I’m looking for.

‘Hang’ here for details to follow!

All images via Modmissy

Image 3, 4, 5:  Metropolis by Michalsky Living

St Patrick’s Day

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Happy St Patrick’s Day!

A day to eat, drink and wear green.

I have made green mousse for dessert,

Green Mousse

 

I will wear the only piece of green clothing I own, Green Coat

 

And I’m thinking green beer just might be on tap for this evening!

As for my décor, I have no green.  Nothing.  Not a piece of green in my décor.

But I used to….

My livingroom walls in the 1980’s were painted Mayan Green, Benjamin Moore.

Benjamin Moore Mayan Green

In the early 1990’s my bedroom walls were painted Deep Green, Benjamin Moore.

Benjamin Moore Deep Green

My living/dining/kitchen walls a few years ago were painted a soft green – Saybrook Sage, Benjamin Moore.

Benjamin Moore Saybrook Sage

I have lived with my fair share of green and thank you very much but I am done with green!

But who knows, style is cyclical.

Have a great St Paddy’s Day.

Cheers!

 

 

 

Colour of the Day – Olympic Passion Red

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Have you been glued to your TV watching the Olympics?

I have.

Glued to TV

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So many of the sports seemed to be based on speed – death defying speed!

Athletes barrel down the mountain on skis or sleds at speeds upwards of 95 km/h (150 mph) and 152 km/h (95 mph) for luge.

Speed skaters can attain speeds of up to 70 km/h (43 mph).

And figure skaters while moving at high speed jump or are thrown into the air!

Crazy right?

Do you find yourself holding your breath while watching?

So what drives these athletes to do what they do?

It has got to be PASSION!

So in honour of ‘passion’ I thought ‘red’ should be the colour of the day.

PS.  Remember to breathe! 

Alvar Aalto Flaming Red Vase

Alvar Aalto Flaming Red Vase

 

Alessi Grater with Cheese Cellar                 Alessi Grater

James Hallan Acrylic Red Chair

Red Chair

 

Wave Bookcase in Red by Vidame Creation

Wave Bookcase

 

I thought these red items looked like they could ski, skate or slide.

1. Modmissy   2. www.iittala.com   3. www.alessi.com   4. www.jameshallam.com 

5. www.greeen-store.com

M.I.A. – But I’m back now!

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Wow…..it’s been a while.

Lost my momentum – but I’m back on now.

bike riding

A lot has happened since I’ve been ‘missing in action’.

Autumn colours, the massive ice storm of 2013,  Ice Storm

Christmas (I did put up a tree), Pantone’s Color of the Year     Pantone Radiant Orchid 2014

Home renovations and lots of other stuff that I will write about in the coming weeks.

I’ve also been busy working on some really interesting client projects.

One project is a client’s basement that had to be totally gutted due to flooding.  Definitely a silver lining of an awful situation.  Check out the wallpaper that was in the basement bathroom that was probably hung in the late 1960’s or early 1970’s.  Love it!  And why wouldn’t I – same ‘mod’ colours as the back of my business cards!!       Mod Wallpaper And finally the Olympics – 17 days of excitement and passion.

The power of each of us comes from all of us.  Whether it’s your team or your country the power is the unity of the world.  Here’s to everyone!

Olympic symbol

 

All images via Modmissy.

Summer Sabbatical

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I apologize.

It’s been awhile since I last posted.

I had a good summer, spending as much time as possible at the cottage and as much time with my son before he headed off to university.

But now both my son and the summer have departed.  Sad.

Although I should not forget that September is officially still part of the summer season and my son will probably be home soon enough with a huge bag of laundry in tow.

Thought I would share some photos of what keeps me so spellbound at my cottage.

Early morning sunrise with the lake reflecting like glass.  Sunrise

Moon rising over the same setting – outstanding colour.  Rising Moon

An inky-blue sky with the moon reflecting over the water.  Rising Moon

All images via Modmissy