A BRIGHT DELIGHT

I'm looking forward to the weekend, so I'm very happy Friday is finally here (can't you see the big grin on my face?). Like weekends, color also has the same effect on most people—it certainly does for me. Here's a wonderful weekend treat from our friends Down Under at The Design Files who featured this creative and colorful one-bedroom loft of arhitect Rodney Eggleston from March Studio. The open-layout apartment uses simple materials like plywood, pegboard and concrete to create an effortless design style. Color was also key in making this home a fun and bright delight. Happy weekend!

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COLOR BLOCKING

Are you mad about color but find yourself doubting how to inject it to your living room? Well, doubt no more. Here's a quick guide from our friends at House to Home that will demystify color for you. If you're in a monochromatic mood, mix textures, patterns and different shades of the color of your choice to add interest to the room. Also, with the large variety of fun wallpapers available to us now, you can pick a feature wall in your living room and use a colorful wall covering to create a focal point. One last but important tip: don't be afraid to be bold as bold can be a good thing. Dare to use combinations of colors you might have never thought of using. Accent pieces are a great way to introduce this color-blocking concept. Are you feeling adventurous now?

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THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL

Do you often debate if and how to add color to your walls? Don't worry, you're not alone. This five-letter word can make some people queasy. When looking to revamp your home, color is always a great way of injecting character and personality to a rather dull interior. So dare to play the color game with these neat tricks and ideas that will help you add life, charm and drama to your decor. Come on, you know you can do it.

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Shades of Beauty

Who said gray is boring? To the contrary., it is an elegant and versatile color that's making waves in the decorating world. If you find you're intimidated by color, but would like to get away from those generic white walls, gray is an ideal transitional color. However, it can be rather stressful choosing the right shade. It all depends in the kind of mood you're looking to set in the room. A neutral color by nature, gray is the perfect backdrop for any other color pop. Here are some stunning images by Swedish photographer Petra Bindel for inspiration. Have a super duper weekend!!

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In Living Color

Adding color to our habitats can sometimes be challenging, especially when planning to use more than a couple of hues. But that didn't stop architects from the firm Tham & Videgård Hanson when designing this outrageously colorful apartment in Sweden. Given carte blanche by the owner of this 4,036 square-feet home, the designers looked to architect Josef Frank for the primary inspiration in their color scheme. It only took close to 7000 multicoloured parquet tiles (12 different colors to be exact) to create the mosaic-like floors. Of course, with this much color the best way to furnish the rooms in this enormous flat was with crisp white pieces to avoid visual chaos. I'm sure it was quite a fun challenge – with great results.

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Winter Whiter-land

Wintertime has officially made its grand entrance! By now, our homes are filled with shaggylicious textures, fluffy throws and soft down pillows to make our pads toasty and comfortable. But what a better way to embrace those long and cold days of the season than with warm winter whites. They're a great way of lifting up our spirit and help us enjoy this beautiful and peaceful time of year. Happy Winter!

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A Brave New Color

Winter hasn't started yet and the new trends for next year are already on our doorsteps. Pantone has just named Honeysuckle not only as 2011 Color of the Year, but also as the defining hue for Spring. Courageous and confident, this reddish pink is a dynamic and uplifting color. “In times of stress, we need something to lift our spirits. Honeysuckle is a captivating, stimulating color that gets the adrenaline going – perfect to ward off the blues,” explains Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute®. “Honeysuckle derives its positive qualities from a powerful bond to its mother color red, the most physical, viscerally alive hue in the spectrum.”

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Soothingly Neutral

Images by William Waldron and Magnus Anesund (below)

From the Fall/Winter 2010 Pantone color report, Oyster Gray is one of the few neutral hues that made the list. This cool, clean and contemporary shade is ideal for home decor since it creates a relaxing and serene ambiance. Be confident when using gray. It works best when keeping a simple palette and restraining the use of contrasting colors. Soft pastels are great compliments, but bright primaries not so much.

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