Monday Color: Lavender & Ivory

I found my inspiration for today's Monday Color post in the recent Elle Decor spread featuring Hilary Swank's Manhattan apartment designed by Mark Zeff. Her living room is awash in accents of stony lavender against an ivory back-drop of boxy Calvin Klein sofas and a massive putty colored area rug. Plus one wall is clad in planks of reclaimed barn wood! **swoon** The overall effect is serene and airy, yet earthy and grounded, marking the beginning of my love affair with this sophisticated lavender and ivory combination.

























Images above:

1. A shot of Hilary Swank's living room with art and accent pillows in an ethereal lavender.

2. A darker lavender upholstered bench pops against an ivory bed and grasscloth walls (from Decor Pad).

3. From Design Shuffle, via Dream to Life, I love the infusion of color these plummy lavender chairs bring to the bone-colored walls of this dining room.

4. An ivory bed is surrounded by grayish lavender walls and touches of peach and violet throughout the room to create this restful master bedroom retreat, designed by the team at my former company re:place.

5. Pale beige walls and all-neutral furnishings are a design staple allowing allowing the addition of virtually any accent hue. In this room, a pale lavender Ikat accent pillow is the simple show piece of color, found on Real Simple.

6. Another Decor Pad find, this masculine lavender pairs well with wood tones, a mustard headboard and off-white walls. I love the vintage science chart but am not so certain I'd want to sleep beneath a bee hive!

7. From a Happy Color Combinations post on House Beautiful, this eclectic living room adds chartreuse and gold to the lavender and ivory mix. Happy indeed!

8. Anthropologie's Le Versha Chair in Plum.

9. Selati, a zebra print chenille from Osborne & Little.

10. New Hope Plum, a profusion of purple hues in an abstract painting by Randy Hibberd, available through Z Gallerie.

11. Nourison's Parallels Rug in Lavender, available from Rugs Direct.

12. The Lulu Nursery Collection from Serena & Lily.

Storage Stars

Whether you consider yourself an organized person or not, you're sure to have heard the old adage "a place for everything and everything in its place" at least once before in your life. It's a timeworn value that's very much alive in my house. But as both professional organizer and interior designer, the "place" must always be just as pretty as it practical.

My files live in 3 identical dark woven pandan boxes. My socks and underthings know only labeled canvas bins as their homes. Everything from the sporting equipment by my entryway to the cooking utensils in my kitchen to the Q-tips in my bathroom are all stored in appropriately sized wicker containers. Every functional storage piece I chose reflects my style and love of natural materials, is pretty to look at while serving its valuable purpose. Aside from in my attic where temperature and an imminent leak someday are factors, there are hardly any plastic tubs under my roof. (My one exception: OXO's BPA-free POP Containers for food staples like rice and pasta and for my son's markers and crayons. Plastic, yes, but still pretty cute.)

I'm pleased to see more aesthetically pleasing storage pieces on the market than ever before, for every style and taste, for children and adults alike. Function is just a given for these beauties.


Printed Canvas Storage Bins from Garnet Hill in 3 new patterns range from $28 - $48.


Handmade Senegalese Storage Baskets from Serena & Lily, on sale for $54 - $118 (shown in Aqua/Orange, also available in White/Natural, Pink and Blue).


Cargo Naturals File Box in Bluestone from Home Decorators is made from 100% recycled, post-consumer material and available in 3 other colors $36 (the collection also includes magazine butlers and boxes of various sizes).


Ikat Woven Storage Bins from West Elm range from $39 - $59.



Firenze Handbag Storage $21.99 and Open Bin $14.99, two styles from the somewhat preppy fabric-covered Firenze Storage Collection available at The Container Store.


Ikat Storage Stool $149 from Viva Terra.


Target Home Milk Crate in Paulowinia Wood $24.99 from Target.


Every healthy kitchen could use the organizational efficiency of this Farmers Market Epergne $75 from Sundance.


Patterned Storage Vanity Stool $79.99 from Bed, Bath & Beyond.


I prefer the original flea market version, but if you don't have the time to scour endless stalls, then these Industrial Baskets and Liners - Set of 3 $239 from Restoration Hardware Baby & Child are quite authentic looking.


Chalkboard Office Accessories from cb2 range from $4.50 - $39.95.


Mini Mountain Peaks Bath Basket $48 from Anthropologie is also available in two other shapes/sizes.


For adorable, handmade fabric baskets, head to Sewing Momma's Etsy shop for one-of-a-kind storage like this bin, pictured, $27.99.


A Tad Plaid Storage Baskets from Land of Nod are $49 for a set of 3 and are available in Pink Plaid or Blue Plaid.


3 Sprouts Organic Monkey Storage Bin in Yellow $39.99 from All Modern.


Trend Lab Baby Caterpillar Storage Bins - Set of 3 $47.99 from Kmart.

Monday Color: Salmon

My mother has always had an affinity for the color salmon, which she repeatedly paired with various blues in every house that I can remember. I can't blame her; salmon is an incredibly pleasing and versatile color to decorate with, falling comfortably between its more daring cousins of orange and pink. It can feel either classic or modern, depending on the way its used. Feast your eyes on these delicious salmon rooms and accents.....























Images above:

1. A salmon pink inspiration board from one of my favorite blogs, The City Sage.

2. A pop of salmon on upholstered dining chairs, found on the Dream Design Live blog.

3. Sheer salmon curtain panels in an otherwise neutral room designed by Katie Ridder.

4. I love this hi-gloss salmon library, found on Blu Label Bungalow (image from House Beautiful).

5. A bold salmon takes on even more energy against a deep blue and paired next to a patterned slipper chair (photo by Thomas Loof).

6. Salmon and gray are a unique but natural color combination, found on We Heart It.

7. Salmon is commonly paired with deep browns, but this eggplant and salmon combination imbues an extra sense of sophistication and warmth (found on decor pad).

8. Williams & Sonoma Home Cashmere Throw in Lantana (and 6 other available colors).

9. An area rug in salmon and tan from the Country Living Farmhouse Stripe rug collection by Surya, found on www.justarearugs.com.

10. The Fringe "Asia" Tray available at Bloomingdales features many colors with brilliant pops of salmon.

11. Serena & Lily's Coral Diamond Throw Pillow