Greige

Greige is a color between gray and beige. It is an easy color to live with, it is more calm than stimulating so it makes very good living rooms and bedrooms. It is has an air of sophistication, not choosing a subjective color. However because of its neutrality any color will look very good next to it. Yellow is particularly good, pink definitely, black is striking and red enriches it. We see it with a touch of orange often.

Which style does it suit; almost always with a faded chateau look, looks very good with contemporary clean lines and most suited to a renovated industrial space. It also has an effect on the light making it softer, diffused.

Some would say it is safe, I would say it is good taste. Some materials are particularly suitable for this color: wood, brick, stones, metals and glass. Its best fabric companion is linen.

And there is the fantastic blog: Greige Design

all images via Pinterest

Light and Airy

There are many inspirations for a light and airy room, you can look at gardens or the countryside, but I like the beach, the big sky, the light reflection from the water, the sand, pebbles and weathered wood all give a feel of airiness and lots of light.

This selection of furnishings from Next are to give a room a feeling of being by the beach, the colors, the materials and textures all invoke a feeling and my love of the beach.

For the main surfaces, the walls and the floor, cool greys, like the color of sand are Dove Feather, the floor a limed oak and the rug Natural Baby Flump Rug will make the space feel large and airy.

The clean lines of Lyon sofa in Teal, the color of the water

accented with textured cushions in a deeper shade of teal and weathered wood of Hartford coffee table and glass lamps with big white shades. I like the glass lamp where you can fill the lamp base with collected shells or pebbles.

For the windows, the best to keep it light and airy are sheer voiles where the light can filter and create a sense of spaciousness. For the walls a large photo of a beach with a big heart.

Next is having a fabulous Room Restyle Facebook competition where you have the chance to win £1,500 worth of Next Homeware so you can create you own dream space, click on the link and have fun.

Paper and Glass

Last night my friend Jane Moriarty, showroom manager for Neville Johnson hosted an evening event for a few designer makers of paper and glass. The featured work was by Carol Farrow who makes comtemporary hangings of paper and pots of paper and clay, Gillies Jones who makes glass bowls and The London Glassblowing Studio making colorful vases and plates.

With champagne and canapes Jane warmly greeted us and introduced us to the makers of these very beautiful objects.

 

 

The selection of work is represented Design Nation, a group to help promote the many and very good designer makers in Britain.  I am always amazed by the quality of beautiful 3d design and applied arts that are made here. Some more views of the paper hanging and pots Carol Farrow and bowls of Gillies Jones:

And many thanks to Jane, who so frequently opens her showroom to many, always gracious, with a smile and a little gossip.

 

Orange and Pink

Hand blown glass lamps, Porto Romano

Orange and pink Ikat and tie and dye patterns for chairs, curtains and sofa for a beach house.

I like to have the lamps part of the color scheme and hand blown glass, the best.

The Coffee Table

Source: brissi.co.uk via Kelly on Pinterest

     Rectangle, painted wood, cabriole leg

The coffee table is an expressive piece of furniture, it is social, we gather around it with family and friends. We talk and tell stories, watch TV, share time together. We place our drinks there, a glass of wine, a cup of coffee or a cup of tea. It will be where we reach for canapes or cakes.

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Square, bronze frame, glass top

There is not a definitive style for the coffee table, its' style is as limitless or limited as your budget and imagination. The only limit I would put on it is the height. 18" or 46 cm is best, so it reaches the height of your knees when you sit so it is easy to reach for your drink or your laptop or your magazine or to reach for the..... which shape, which size, which material is determined often by the size of your living space and how much space you have in front of your sofa.

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Rectangle, steel frame, glass top

When we are not entertaining it is pleasant to have a bowl of flowers, a collection of coffee table books, the latest issues of your favorite magazines, des objets trouve, nothing too high because you want to see the person sitting across or adjacent to you.

Source: imgspark.com via Kelly on Pinterest

Round, wood

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Rectangle, upholstered

Carrara marble top

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Mirrored

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Packing palette, casters, a bucket of white paint

 

Miners railroad train cart, glass top

Source: designspirationsk.com via Kelly on Pinterest

Electric wire spools, a bucket of white paint

  In many conversations this week with my family, my sister was telling me she has to find a new coffee table, unhappy with the present one she was undecided what she should get. I think a guide, as always, would be to get the tape measure and measure how much space do you want to give to a coffee table and the next thing to consider is how much entertaining do you do.  A couple of things to avoid are:

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Much too low

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Much too big

Source: roomandboard.com via Kelly on Pinterest

Noguchi table, always works with traditional or modern, sculptural, beautiful.