Monday Color: Army Green

I couldn't make up my mind, so today's Monday Color was selected by my 6 year old son from one of my decks of paint colors. He usually gravitates toward red (his favorite color) or various shades of blue, but to my surprise his little finger skimmed over those color families and landed on Fatique (the Benjamin Moore color shown above).

Perhaps he was reading my mind, as the cooling temperatures in recent days have me excited about donning my lightweight army-issued parka again. And year after year it's one of my most beloved neutrals, along with blue (denim), white and gray. But it's not a color I've used much in my own home or in design projects. So, as usual, I'm using my Monday Color post to explore outside my own experience and find inspiration in a new color. Army Green, as I'm calling it, has many different personalities: sometimes its yellow undertones swing it toward its Olive cousin, but usually its a somber green with a cool gray cast. The rooms and home products below run the full spectrum of this intense hue.























Images above:

1. This velvet tufted headboard in army green (found on decor pad) is softened by sheer white curtains and shiny mirrored side tables.

2. These army green velvet couches are soft and sensual but have the power to ground this whole living room, found on elledecor.com.

3. Nate Burkus' Chicago kitchen is deliciously warm yet masculine.

4. Crisp white trim brings a fresh look to the historical army green exterior of this Victorian home.

5. All the accent colors - from the black, yellow and white table lamps to the bright coral pillows - are unexpected compliments to the army green walls in this living room.

6. Forest Green Print from Ballard Designs.

7. Green Cross Hemp and Kapok Pillow from Enhabiten on Etsy.

8. Atelier Chesterfield Sofa in Bottle Green from Anthropologie.

9. The Moroccan-inspired pattern on Z Gallerie's Mimosa Bedding looks fresh in this army green and white combination.

10. Langford Throw in Olive from Crate & Barrel is a heather mix of army green and brighter olive.

11. A vintage typewriter is even more alluring in army green.

Monday Color: Silver

They say that every cloud has a silver lining. Having hit a few bumps in the road of life myself recently, I'm doing my best to see the silver not the storm. So I chose this powerful hue for today's Monday Color post, in the spirit of eternal optimism and storms that cleanse, but don't destroy. Take a peek below to see if your interiors could use the hint of the positive perspective and uplifting shine that only silver delivers.



























Images above:

1. Metallic wallpaper, complimented by blue-gray upholstery and a lucite and silver chandelier (from Decor Pad).

2. Silver crib, curtains and accents in a glamourous nursery, from Baby Lifestyles.

3. My personal favorite: metalic textured wallcoverings provide perfect contrast to rustic workspace furnishings.

4. Silver-leafed walls add richness to this room designed by Jeffrey Bilhuber, found on The French Eye blog.

5. The silver sheen of a silk rug and velvet upholstery dresses up this otherwise traditional interior, found on nissandra.com.

6. Wide metallic silver stripes are a modern touch in this serene bedroom.

7. Daring silver upholstered pieces make an eclectic mix with these unique vintage finds.

8. Classic architectural paneling gets a funky makeover with a coat of silver paint, below metallic accent wallpaper, found on Bite Home.

9. Haute House Sequin Safari Ottomans from Neiman Marcus.

10. Antiqued mercury glass and silvery brown shade make up Crate & Barrel's Jolie Table Lamp.

11. Silk dupioni pillow cover with silver beading from The Home Centric on Etsy.

12. Mirrored Dresser from Anthropologie.

13. Zuo Modern's funky Aristocrat Sofa in silver leatherette, from www.homeclick.com

Monday Color: Pale Gray

The skies over Long Beach this morning were a beautiful muted silvery gray, enhanced by the light fog that rolled in and out all day (even when the sun finally broke through for the afternoon). Easily swayed by the visual world around me, I decided to pick pale gray as today's Monday Color. I use both warm and cool versions of this easy neutral in design projects all the time and find it is always a soothing hue to be surrounded by. As spare as my wardrobe is, I must have half a dozen pale gray tanks and V-necks in my closet; I guess this color is sort of the design equivelent of my favorite gray T-shirt staples.



















Images above:

1. A serenely organized office in an all-gray palette from Martha Stewart's Living.

2. Also from Living, I love the silvery elegance of this living room.

3. A crisp gray and white Southampton bedroom designed by Vincente Wolf.
http://www.housebeautiful.com/decorating/colors/gray-rooms-1110?click=main_sr

4. A pale gray living room with a few pops of earth tones (Elle Decor image via The Enchanted Home ).

5. The Eleanor pattern from The Wallpaper Collective.

6. The classic Stockton Dinnerwear from Crate & Barrel features a wide band of dove gray.

7. The elegant 5' x 8' Tamira Rug in light gray by Surya

8. The Stokke Sleepi Bassinet & Crib Nursery Set in Gray, available through www.allmodern.com, is a contemporary alternative to white or wood toned cribs.

9. The Organic Cotton Ruched Throw in platinum from West Elm.