Diamonds are Forever. Emeralds are for 2013.

The verdict is out! PANTONE has released the 2013 colour of the year. PANTONE 17-5641 Emerald - "Lively, radiant, lush. A vivid verdant green which enhances our sense of well-being and promotes balance and harmony. Most often associated with brilliant, precious gemstones, the perception of Emerald is sophisticated and luxurious." ( - PANTONE)

How to Choose a Colour Scheme - Colour Inspiration

For colour inspiration follow my Pinterest board Colour Inspiration or check out the AWESOME Design Seed website.

One question that I get a lot is "what is the right colour for my small space?" This is usually underlined with either a fear of colour or a fear that the colour chosen will make your already small space feel smaller. So let me help you take the fear out of it and share with you my motto on choosing a colour scheme for your home.

Step 1: Look For What You LOVE

When it comes to choosing a colour palette for your space, please start by removing yourself from the paint swatch aisles of your local hardware store and heading to the places and things (or people) that you love. Yes, the first place to start when selecting a colour palette is the places you love, because the secret is... There is no "right' colour for a small space". It is about how you want the room to feel, or better yet, how you want to feel in the room.

Maybe you absolutely love fashion; or you are an chef (or would like to think you are) and food gets your blood flowing; or you swoon at the sight of vintage or worn treasures like I do. Whether it is your closet or your kitchen, start there and select an element that is representative of it.

Inspiration for the your kitchen

Inspiration from your closet

Inspiration from vintage finds

Inspiration from that vacation in Provence

Step 2: Zone in on 5 Colours

Once you have selected the item, garment, or memory that brings you to your happy place, you want to zone in on 5 colours from it. Don't worry about whether they match or scare yourself if you find that there are colour outside of your comfort zone. The colours will naturally go together if your use then in the right way so don't fret. Let yourself be free to choose from within your element of inspiration.

Step 3: Decide Where to Put It

Now this is the scary part for most; deciding where to put the colours. Let's take the fear out of it and go back to how you want your space to feel. If you want your space to be bright and airy then choose the lighter colours in your 5 colour scheme as the base and put those colours on the larger elements in your space like your walls. Then use the other colours in the fabrics your choose or as accents. However, if you want your space to be vibrant, choose the more vibrant colours for the larger elements.

Remember that all colours work together when you put them together. Just repeat the colour choices in different elements throughout your space. Before you know it you would have created a space that you love and evokes the same wonderful feelings you get when you look at your element of inspiration.

For more colour inspiration follow my Pinterest board Colour Inspiration or check out the AWESOME Design Seed website.

Inspiration from the kitchen

Inspiration from you closet

Inspiration from vintage finds

Inspiration from that trip to Provence

Happy painting Small Space Dwellers!

XOXO

Fashion + Decor

So I just discovered this AMAZING site and I just couldn't keep it to myself! Now I've always seen the relationship between fashion and decor, knowing that it is never a coincidence that the same colours, prints and designs on the racks pop up in home decor stores from season to season; but I was absolutely mesmerized when I saw how my new favourite site, Fashion + Decor, paired the two. Seamlessly marrying gorgeous runway looks with their decor counterparts. I LOVE IT! This is a site you definitely have to check out.

Now I am warning you in advance - all you fashion and decor lovers - countless hours of oohing and aahing will be spend browsing through this site. Ensure that nothing is on the stove or in the oven... I may or may not have burnt a sweet potato while looking through the Balenciaga Fall 2012 and Gary Hutton comparison. *Nervous laugh*

Here are some timbits from Fashion + Decor.

Alturzarra Spring 2013 RTW and Elle Decor

BCBG Max Azria Spring 2012 and DecorPad

Givenchy Fall 2012 Couture and DecorPad

Lela Rose Fall 2012 RTW and DecorPad

Milly Fall 2012 RTW and Elle Decor

Miu Miu Fall 2012 RTW and Elle Decor

Fall Colour Trend. Not Just for Fashion!

I always find that when September hits not only do the brightly coloured hues of summer fashion leave us for another year, but so does the fresh pops of colour on the home decor front. If you really take note you can see a strong correlation between fashion and home decor. The same colour trends seem to pop in fashion and interior design from season to season. It is like the two are close cousins in a family where intermingling is highly encouraged.

While perusing Pantone's website to get some colour inspiration in preparation of my quarterly home redecoration, I came across Pantone's Fall 2012 Fashion Color Trend Report.

There are a few yummy colours that wouldn't just look great in my closet but in my home. Anyone who knows me know that I love grey, so the featured titanium is a definite favourite. I'm also loving the honey gold, pink flambé and rose smoke. I have no doubt that these will find a way into my 800 sq. ft. in the next couple of weeks!

So in the spirit of fall fashion, I left you some timbits of some gorgeous jackets, trenches and dresses you can expect to see this season and some fabulous fall decorating pallets for your home.