2011 Pantone Color of the Year: Honeysuckle

I have to admit that when I first heard that Pantone chose Honeysuckle as its Color of the Year, I envisioned something in a yellow tone. In my neck of the woods, the incredibly fragrant bushes and hedgerows of honeysuckle bloom in white with a yellow center. But they were indeed talking about the even more lovely variety of pink honeysuckle, and there are few colors I love more than pink (and I don't mean that in an I feel pretty, I'm a girly-girl kind of way).

This pink is not a soft pastel pink, but a bold, powerful statement pink which is just the way I like my pinks. You'd be hard pressed to find a ballet pink in my house. The bolder the better in my opinion. Pantone says, "Energizing honeysuckle lifts spirits and imparts confidence to meet life's ongoing challenges." This is MY color, and I don't think there could be a better year for it as I feel like all signs are pointing to GO this year and I'm ready to meet every new challenge and opportunity.

Of course, if you live with any males, it's not always easy to find an acceptable spot in your house for pink, but if you can, I say go for it. Great spots are a dressing room, sitting area, powder room, office or even the inside of a closet (if you really have to hide it and HAVE to have it) or the back of cabinets with glass doors.

Of course, you can always be really bold like the folks who have this kitchen. High gloss bright pink cabinets are sure to put a smile on your face every day.

If you can't quite make the commitment to such a bold color as a wall color, there are plenty of other ways to incorporate it without having it be the focal point in a room. One easy way is with fabrics like the above Balinese Batik by China Seas. I want a chair or bench in this.

Another one of my just discovered favorites is Jackie Von Tobel's prints which include the above Circle Trellis in Candy.

Von Tobel's Paisley Pillow would also be a lovely addition and add a punch of honeysuckle.

And of course, I can't leave out my favorite lacquer trays by Jonathan Adler. Put this on an ottoman or bar cart and you're sure to attract the attention you're looking for.

It's going to be a very (good) pink year!


Image Credits:
Pantone, Gypsy Magic, FJ Design, Decorating Room, Quadrille Fabrics, Jackie Von Tobel, Jonathan Adler

One Year of Chateau & Bungalow

This door at the entry of Vanderbilt Hall, a luxury Newport hotel, caught my eye as I was walking past it this morning. I love the door knockers and the deep green color of the door. I'm sure part of it is because it's one of the things that I loved the most about the house I grew up in which also had the lion's head door knocker and dark green door. It's a striking combination. The entire entry (below) of the hotel was looking crisp and fall-ish, but sophisticated at the same time. Don't be afraid to use rich, sophisticated colors like this. It makes all your seasonal decorations stand out even more.

Also, today is the one year blogiversary of Chateau & Bungalow. I'm really having fun with it and have enjoyed all the feedback I've gotten from all of you. A year ago, when I started this blog, it was a way for me to have a creative outlet while I was unemployed and staying at home with my two kids. Never would I have guessed that it would lead to a new career as a writer/editor. I'm now writing for multiple media outlets, but I am still committed to building Chateau & Bungalow into a much bigger business and hope to be offering products to you all as well. Thanks so much for reading and I would so appreciate it if you share your favorite posts with your networks. I'd also love to hear what some of your favorite posts have been. Was it the color your own wallpaper, the book shelf styling, architectural fences, 18th Century Colonial Renovation? There are 150 posts to choose from! Thanks for a great first year, and here's to many more to come!

Brightening Up Beige

The folks over at Ohdeedoh, Apartment Therapy's kids blog, always have great posts of people's before & after's in their homes. I came across this nursery this week, and was very impressed. On the surface, it looks like a cute well designed nursery, but what's so impressive about it is that upon a closer look, you can see that it is a room with beige painted walls and beige carpet. This is a rental that looks like anything but! So many people get stumped by what to do with a rental and how to infuse their own personality into them. Here, the homeowner put a bright colorful area rug over the beige wall to wall carpet, and added a scalloped wallpaper border that she made from contact paper. To find out how, you can check her blog, IS*LY. While this was done for a child's room, you can easily use these ideas for an adult's room too. So go on, and brighten up those beige rentals.

Turquoise Rocks 2010

Pantone, the world renowned authority on color, has named Turquoise THE color of 2010. Turquoise always reminds me of my grandmother's living room when I was very little. When you opened the french doors into the room, it was like entering the turquoise abyss. Everything from the walls, the fabric and the oversized ceramic shells (0ne of which I have now) by the fireplace were turquoise. I always laughed about that room, but it really did work...in a very bold way. Here is a little inspiration in how to use it as a bold statement or just to add a splash of color to your existing rooms. Clearly, balance is key when using such a bright color so go for it, but don't overdo it.

The retro appliances and backsplash aren't overwhelming here because they aren't competing with any other colors. When committing to a bright color on your investment pieces for the room, this is the way to go. (Coastal Living)

Not only do I love the color of these benches, but I love the idea of the sqaure table with benches on each side. (Homes & Gardens)

Turquoise and fuschia go great together, and they are really well balanced with each other in this bedroom. (Better Homes & Gardens)

Many of you know how much I love a bright painted floor. Once again, it works because it's not competing against any other colors. (Coastal Living)

If you aren't ready to commit to the color on your walls or flooring, you can still make a splash with pops of turqoise paired with classic white plates, silver and clear glasses in a table setting. (Homes & Gardens)

To add turquoise to your own bedroom, check out the new Lilly Pulitzer home line which incluses this Treasure Chest Quilt, available exclusively at Garnet Hill.

You can't go wrong with Fiesta Dinnerware so add that splash of color to your table with all new dinnerware or just a few accent pieces.

If you really aren't ready to commit, but like the color, this turquoise frame by Jonathan Adler is perfect. He has loads of other turquois items as well.

And if you want it as an accent, but not the main focus, I love the Palm Beach Rug by Dash and Albert. Available in sizes from 2' x 3' to 9' x 12'.

Photos: Coastal Living,