Monday, January 23rd, 2012
In case you haven’t been reading the blogosphere fanatically, you might not know that Pantone has unveiled their Color of 2012.
Tangerine Tango is the Color of 2012, and I couldn’t be happier.
Last year’s Honeysuckle was alright, but Tangerine Tango fits in with all the color trending I’ve been seeing the past year.
You know I’m a fan of orange, and this is just the deeper orange range I prefer to play with. No apricot or peach tones for me. Deep saturation? Yes, please. This is more in the direction of the persimmon color I’m planning to paint my front door this summer. (I hinted at this in a post about front entries this summer.)
My favorite boxes for stashing supplies are a bold orange.
Boxes by Stockholm from The Container Store.
I just tried to create an image of my house with the updated paint color with the Sherwin-Williams Color Visualizer program, but the color rendering was terrible because it layered the color selected over the existing color which dramatically changed how every color looked. Bummer.
Here is one of their stock house photos with the door “painted” SW 6881 Cayenne. I think it would actually be deeper than this.
So I guess this is the closest I can get to showing the paint color ideas I have in mind.
The top color is a deeper persimmon with more red in it. The middle is closer to the Tangerine Tango. I was doing this in photoshop and couldn’t find quiet the right shade yet. The gray at the bottom is representative of the direction we headed for the main house color. Right now it’s a sage green the previous owners painted it, which is better than the baby blue it was before that. The majority of the front of the house is brick and the side of the house has a large expanse of white siding, so we have to work with all of that when selecting colors.
Okay, the idea of you picturing a really red brick with this color combination was enough to get me to do more tweaking to an image of the front of my house to get closer to a decent visual of the color palette. I don’t want my front door this bright, so you’ll have to mentally combine the images to get the right look. But you can see the gray may end up more gray with a hint of brown in it.
Okay, well you get the idea. I’m happy with Pantone’s color choice and I’m planning on bringing more orange into my life in 2012. Of course trends are trends, and I was already planning on using orange anyway, but it’s fun to see your favorite color get recognition.
Are you an orange fan? What color do you think should be the 2012 color of the year?
Tags: 2012, Container Store, exterior, front door, orange, paint, Pantone, Sherwin Williams, Tangerine Tango
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Friday, March 25th, 2011
One color trend I’ve been noticing lately: Yellow. Sometimes it heads towards buttery yellow. Sometimes it has a hint of green undertone that takes it slightly towards citrine.
Here are a few examples from the retail sources West Elm, Crate & Barrel and Dwell Studio.
The trend of bright punchy colors is definitely in for spring/summer. Gray, white and navy will always be strong partners for yellow.
And you know what I couldn’t resist when I saw the West Elm summer preview? (Hint: Check out those vintage style orange kitchen containers in the upper left corner. PERFECT accessory for pulling the orange accents in the adjacent living room into the kitchen to tie the two rooms together!)
Think spring thoughts this weekend and maybe we can wish the snow away and get those spring flowers to pop up at last!
Photo credits: Images on left side from West Elm Summer 2011 Preview. Composite on upper right side from Crate & Barrel. 3 pillows at lower right side from Dwell Studio.
Tags: accessories, color, Crate & Barrel, Dwell Studio, interior design, orange, trend, West Elm, yellow
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Tuesday, October 5th, 2010
Despite the 70 degree weather we’re experiencing in Minnesota, the trees still know it is fall. Everywhere I look I see the most beautiful mixes of golden yellow, orange, sumac red, green and brown. I couldn’t help but be inspired to create some room palettes to help inspire you as well.
How fun is the orange on the back wall of the white bookshelf?! What’s great, is that could be changed up easily over the years to a new accent color or fabulous wallpaper since the rest of the room is in easy to coordinate with neutrals. Love everything about this room.
And the bold kitchen with the gorgeous wood lining the walls as well as the floor? A raw stone fireplace surround and sleek red cabinets and stainless steel provide a great balance of color and texture while making their own strong statements. And the fluffy chandeliers add great whimsy (and texture).
Again, pops of orange on a neutral but texture filled living room. Do you see how this works? The eclectic mix of furnishings work together because nothing is too fussy. This entry in a more traditional home features beautiful woodwork, which allows that elegant red table skirt with framed detailing really pop. The chocolate brown zebra print stair runner hints at the homeowners playful personality. Using a solid runner for the entry floor prevents that print from overwhelming the space.
Vintage riflery targets as bathroom wallpaper? Brilliant! The shotgun casings encased in a resin toilet seat cover certainly carries out the theme, but seems a bit much for most situations. I like the pops of color in the accessories on this bookshelf as bar cart.
The bold mix of red-orange and lime green in this library conveys the homeowner’s fearless personality. With such high ceilings and plenty of white to balance the bold colors, the room still feels balanced. Have I used this photo of a vintage red leather chair in front of a glass case before? Probably, since I love the tone of that leather and the simple form of the chair. It seemed a good match for this palette, so forgive me.
I think this really represents those golden yellow and orange tones that so many trees take on at this time of year. A harvest palette, if you will. I can picture that yellow pom-pom fringe on the bottom of a lampshade, along the side of curtains, or the bottom of a roman shade. Pom-poms are not just for the back of your socks (remember being 10 years old and wearing ankle socks with pom-poms on the back? I do!) I just flashed back to some pillows I made for a client years ago in a golden yellow cut velvet with braided trim and a ribbon detail that was similar to the materials in the top left photo.
I had to find you a picture after that description! It wouldn’t be fair to leave you hanging.
I love this media room with those inviting chocolate brown velvet couches, golden yellow pillows, and plenty of throw blankets. Did you notice the bookshelves in the back are orange? Difficult to tell from a photo, but it could even be Hermes orange. What a great punch of color that doesn’t overwhelm because the frame of the shelves has a narrow profile.
Finally, the deep reds of the Sumac bushes make a bold backdrop for two very different kitchens. You can see how it mixes well with orange tones and either dark chocolate brown wood and marble or crisp white cabinetry and stainless steel. I couldn’t resist throwing in the great Weimaraner photo – the chair and the dog both have such great personality!
So that’s your fall inspiration, courtesy of the trees and bushes I see on my drives around town visiting clients and vendors. What is inspiring you right now? Are you drawn to the fall colors or does another season capture your style best?
Tags: bar cart, Bathroom, bookshelf, chocolate brown, fall, foyer, golden yellow, green, Kitchen, living room, orange, pillow, Red, white, Wood, zebra
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Tuesday, May 11th, 2010
We are now only four days away from the opening of the 2010 ASID Showcase Home Tour opening to the public! This has been such a fun, challenging, rewarding process and I’ve really enjoyed working with all the team members. The staff at Vujovich Builders was a pleasure to work with, as were the staff at Mpls.St.Paul magazine. It’s amazing to see how much work everyone has put into making this house and the condo amazing over the course of five months (plus months of additinal preplanning).
This is what the bedroom looked like before I got my hands on it.
It was the older sister’s room, and she has very different interests than her younger brother.
He likes sports, sports, sports.
So the challenge was how to create a space for a 12 year old boy that likes all different types of sports, that can evolve with him as he gets older, and doesn’t become dated or too young looking.
Solution #1: A sophisticated masculine color palette of grays, deep indigo blue, crisp white, and accents of orange to keep it light and playful.
Solution #2: Incorporate art that references all his favorite sports, without utilizing posters of specific athletes. Large wall stickers, custom framed vintage baseball card art, and a spot for a rotating display of his current favorite athletes achieve this goal.
Aren’t you excited to see it?! I know I can’t wait to hear what everyone thinks of the finished product.
Be sure to get your tickets soon so you can be one of the first to see all this great design 26 interiors designers created in two different homes (available at lots of area retailers as well as on the Mpls.St.Paul magazine’s website).
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Tags: art, ASID Showcase Home, bedroom, Blue, blue zones, Grey, orange, white
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Wednesday, April 28th, 2010
Well folks, I’m getting awfully excited as the start of this year’s ASID Showcase Home Tour kicks off in just over two weeks from now. What makes this year’s tour even better than usual?
Two key reasons:
1. This year the tour includes two separate homes that you get to visit with one ticket!
2. I designed a room in one of the homes!
Remember that post about the Blue Zones? Well, the owner of the home I worked on is Dan Buettner, adventurer-explorer and author of “The Blue Zones.” It has been a priviledge to be part of the team working on transforming this home on the Lake of the Isles Parkway in Minneapolis into a masterpiece.
The tour begins May 15th and runs through June 13th, with both homes open Wednesdays through Sundays 10am to 4pm. There are also several special events throughout the month, so be sure to check out the calendar on the Mpls StPaul magazine’s website.
Be sure to pick up the latest copy of Mpls StPaul Home magazine for lots more information on both homes, tickets, sponsors, etc. Be sure to flip to page 66 for a sneak peak at Son’s Bedroom, designed by yours truly! (Ok, I can’t resist sharing this with you now.)
There have been some changes to the design since the magazine went to print, so you’ll have to come and see it in person to see how it all came together in the end.
I’ll be at the house as much as I can fit in during the month, but if you would like to meet me at the house and get a personal tour, just let me know! I would be happy to show you through the house and describe all the details that went into transforming this home.
I’d love to know what other rooms catch your eye as you flip through the magazine. Are you more of a “Calhoun Chic” or an “Isles Eclectic”…. or something all together different?
Hope to see you at there!
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Tags: ASID Showcase Home, bedroom, Blue, blue zones, Grey, Mpls StPaul magazine, orange, Wood
Posted in Industry Updates | 2 Comments »
Thursday, April 22nd, 2010
Ok, so I’ve been told that all that floorplan and elevation talk the past couple of weeks was a bit heavy. So this is a sunny breath of fresh popping color to break up the floorplan talk and make you smile (unless you hate orange, like my mom).
It all started with the receipt from my neighborhood dry cleaners (1). I loved that it was bright orange, therefore easy to spot the pick up reminder on the fridge, but also just so darn peppy!
That got me noticing all the other orange items I surround myself with, and quickly realized how much it has become my go-to accent color for personal accessories. So here is a detailing of some key orange items I use on a daily basis.
(2) My favorite pencils ever! These are orange, have a pattern, sharpen easily and the eraser actually works. Amazing. I love the size & dimensions of the coordinating notepad. Great for my to-do lists (which keep each day in order). [Source: Office Max DiVoga line]
(3) Next to my desk is a tall file cabinet. I love these hook magnets in orange for keeping my frequently used tools within easy reach. I literally have a pair of these little orange scissors in every room of my house. They are perfect for everything from cutting off price tags (bedroom) to cutting out furniture templates (office), etc. [Sources: Mini Spot On Magnets - Container Store, Scissors - Target]
(4) I couldn’t resist the opportunity to add color to my CPU. [Source: Dell]
(5) Since I’m always on the go, having my files with me and handy is essential. But the nice compact jumpdrive I have is easy to forget when it’s hanging out in the CPU down by your feet as you are getting ready to leave. So I added this ribbon to make it easy to spot in my computers, my purse, and to ensure I never leave it behind again!
(6) I was frustrated with my previous tape measure which never locked in place (I think I would need to be a big burly construction worker to break that one in!) Since this is a key tool in an interior designer tool kit, that just wouldn’t do. I spotted this in a bin at Home Depot recently and loved the functionality, color and ease of use, and the bonus low price (I think it was under $3!) [Source: Home Depot]
(7) I picked up this cart at IKEA years ago (probably at the Chicago store, before Minnesota even had an IKEA) and it fits a variety of storage needs and has evolved nicely with my needs from back when it primarily held sewing supplies to now storing my less frequently accessed office tools. [Source: IKEA, no longer available]
(8) Even my wallet is orange! [Source: Target]
(9) I still like to sew occasionally, and this is one of the pouches I’ve designed and utilize to keep all my odds and ends organized and easily accessible. This one holds coupons for groceries, another holds all the coupons for clothing stores, and I have two small ones in my purse that have cough drops and Werthers hard candies in them, respectively. They are all in different bright, fun patterns that make me smile.
(10) Finally, this is my water bottle that helps me keep hydrated while running around town picking up tile samples, returning fabric samples, visiting construction sites, etc. I confess I’m a water-aholic … I think I drink between 8 – 12 glasses a day, on average. This was a “free” gift with a donation to WWF (one of my husband’s favorite organization to support) and was thoroughly broken in on our trip through Japan last summer.
So those are my orange accessories, I hope you enjoyed this sneak peek into my office and purse! So my question to you is – what’s YOUR go to color? What colors always draw your attention flipping through magazines, catalogs, browsing at shops, watching other people? I know my mom’s partial to purple, and my friend Kate can always be spotted holding at least 3 things that are bright green. Where do you use color in your life to express your personality?
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Tags: accessories, color, orange, organization
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Colleen Fox Slack | email: colleen@colleenfoxinteriors.com | phone: 612.868.0348
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