Showing posts with label blue. Show all posts
Showing posts with label blue. Show all posts

Friday, August 23, 2013

As we head into the last full week of summer, here at Whittington Design Studio we feel like singing the blues.  Blue skies!  Blue oceans!  Blue lakes!  Blue pools!  We are really going to miss the endless, soothing blues of our summer vacations.

The good news is that blue is a color for all seasons.  Here are a few ideas to keep you seeing blue all year long.

Make a splash with pool-inspired glass mosaic in your kitchen:

Photo: House Beautiful
Don't want to invest in a new tile backsplash?  
Try some blue and white dishes in a display cabinet:

Photo:  House Beautiful
Or a painted blue backdrop for your white dishes:

Photo:  House and Home

Blue and white bathroom tile is another gorgeous way to make a splash:

Photo:  House Beautiful

Thinking about how you are going to miss the summer sky?  
The shimmer in this blue wall paper evokes the romance of a soft, blue dawn:

John Mahoney Kiku Komon wallpaper printed on silver mylar.
Photo:  House Beautiful
Or go bold with the deep, cobalt blues of twilight ocean waves.

Love these big blue bubbles!
Blue Baloons Wallpaper by Dedar of Milan.
Here's another way to add a touch of blue sky:

Benjamin Moore "Ocean Air" ceiling.
Room by Whittington Design Studio
You may not be able to dip your toes into the cool of the pool come autumn, 
but you can slip into some cool, blue leather:

Basset blue gray vinyl ottoman with cream piping.
Room by Whittington Design Studio
Global Views vintage arm chair.

Or sink your toes into a sand and blue rug:

Jaipur Monsoon Rug (Jenny Jones Global)
Evoke the memories of your beach-combing finds with these beach glass-inspired lamps:

Use blue as a neutral to pair with any color.
Here we used a Jamie Young lamp and Benjamin Moore "Tranquil Blue" walls.
Room by Whittington Design Studio

Regina Andrew Baha Blue Glass Lamp

The natural wonder of ocean-side flora comes through in these organic fabrics of blue, white and gray.  They add earthy sophistication to dining chairs, pillows or accent chairs. 

Coralshade Linen (Breeze)
Katerina Tana Collection
Schumacher Feather Bloom.
Martyn Lawrence Bullard Majorelle fabric (as seen in House Beautiful).
Smokey blue linen dining chairs.
Photo: House & Home

Sea grass anyone?
Blue can feel so earthy paired with greens and textured grasscloth on the walls.
Room by Whittington Design Studio
Silvery blue green grasscloth from York paired with Lacefield Pillows.
Room by Whittington Design Studio
Sigh.  You can almost hear the sound of the breeze rustling through the grasses in the dunes.

Summer slipped through our fingers way too quickly, as usual.  Hold tight to the season's true blue beauty by adding more gorgeous blue hues to your home.

And then go inside to wait for summer 2014.

Do it!

p.s.  Even in Ireland -- the land of 1000 shades of green -- they love their blue! Check out these gorgeous blue and white house fronts against an impossibly blue Dingle, Ireland sky.




Singing the Blues

Tuesday, July 2, 2013

It's not too late to make it look like you planned all year long for your Fourth of July celebration.  We searched the newsstands and even our own archives to dig up some Fourth of July favorites.  Here are fun and quick ideas to make your party festive in a flash.

1.  First things first:  start with Old Glory!  
We love the impact of the American flag in a patriotic home renovation (featured in this month's Coastal Living magazine).  You could get the same effect by adding a large flag to any accent wall -- inside or out.

Photo:  Coastal Living
2.  Play with your food.  
Nature provides plentiful sources for red, white and blue treats, so go ahead and play with your food and your guests will enjoy their edible art.

Fruit on a stick -- so easy the kids can make them for you!  

Photo:  Family Circle
Photo:  Weelicious

Source:  skinnytaste.com
Ice cream sundae toppings as a colorful centerpiece -- pretty, tasty and easy!

Photo:  Better Homes & Gardens
3.  Keep it simple  
Simple vases or water glasses (like the Marta Cooler from CB2) with colored stones or striped sand will dress up basic candles in patriotic style.

Photo:  Better Homes & Gardens
Photo:  Martha Stewart Living
4.  Add some sparkle and shine!
Save yourself some time and energy and purchase a cake from your local bakery.  Then jazz it up with sparklers or colorful fruit.

Photo:  HGTV

Photo:  Martha Stewart Living
So go ahead and rally the troops to pull together a quick party for your patriotic family and friends -- it's easy to make them think you were born to celebrate the Fourth of July.

Do it!

P.S.  Don't forget the cocktails!

Learn how to tap into this great idea here.

Spiked Lemonade
Guy Fieri's 4th of July Cocktail

Want more?  Take a look back at Fourth of July, Whittington Design Studio style:  2012.  2011.


4 Quick Party Ideas for the 4th of July

Sunday, December 23, 2012

Day 23: Blue Christmas