THE RUB OF THE GREEN

Is your home styled to a T to welcome the New Year? It might be time to rejuvenate your decor with a lively, radiant, lush Emerald green–chosen by Pantone as Color of the Year for 2013. Most often associated with brilliant, precious gemstones, the perception of Emerald is sophisticated and rich. Since antiquity, this luminous, magnificent hue has been the color of beauty and new life. The jewel-like tone will create a luxurious feel in any room. Just add a splash of it with accessories or small pieces of furniture to infuse a sense of clarity, renewal and rejuvenation to your home. Here are some stylish, on-trend accents that will help you create your own Emerald City. Watch out Oz!

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BRIGHT AND FRESH

Neon colors are the talk of the town of late. From home accessories to the top fashion houses, these vivbrant hues are showing up in full swing this Spring. So get ready to put your sunglasses on as bright is the word of the season. But don't worry, just an accent here and there will do the trick. When in doubt, take cue and inspiration from these gorgeous vignettes showcasing neon yellow and green. Have a swell weekend!

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Let's Tango!

The votes are in!! Pantone has chosen Tangerine Tango as 2012 Color of the Year. This chic and delicious hue will be setting the tone for everything from fashion to decor next year. “Sophisticated but at the same time dramatic and seductive, Tangerine Tango is an orange with a lot of depth to it,” said Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute®. “Reminiscent of the radiant shadings of a sunset, Tangerine Tango marries the vivaciousness and adrenaline rush of red with the friendliness and warmth of yellow, to form a high-visibility, magnetic hue that emanates heat and energy.” You can energize your home with Tangerine Tango patterned home accents. Pillows, bedspreads and tabletop accessories in this high-impact hue will add drama and spice to any room. Or incorporate Tangerine Tango appliances and personal electronics for an unexpected pop of color. Looking for an inexpensive way to perk up your home? Paint a wall in in this color for a dynamic burst of energy in the kitchen, entryway or hallway. Here are some great pieces that will certainly fire up your decor.

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The Depth of Simplicity

• Written by guest blogger Alvina Lopez, a freelance writer and blog junkie.

I love visually busy rooms. They are far from boring, and I believe they appeal to a subconscious human instinct to take in diverse information. Before we were in neat, organized homes, humans were outside surrounded by the infinite variability and complexity of nature. With this logic, I believe we all like complex patterns in our interior designs. However, as much as we like complex information in our designs, it is entirely too easy to have a room (and its occupant) suffer from over-stimulation. For rooms with gritty urban cement walls or detailed brick patterns, you need to carefully arrange a room with simple, smooth, and minimalist furniture. The furniture then serves as a smooth palette to contrast against the busy walls and floors, thus turning a confusing room into a unified, cohesive one.

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TRENDS: Fall Decor 2011

I can't believe how fast time is passing by. It seems like it was yesterday that we were talking about last Fall design trends. OMG, can you believe tomorrow is the first day of Fall already? Unbelievable! The good thing is that there new trends setting the tone for our homes this season. Style at Home magazine has rounded up their top three, and I'm loving them all:

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Summer Trends

• Written by UK based guest blogger Daniel Nelson, design writer for mydeco.com.

Trends forecasting is a terribly difficult game to play, especially when new products can arrive and steal the show mid-season — all it takes is a well placed Missoni print and the direction can change. Over the past three months we have seen mydeco.com users in the US steer from their usual hiding place creating 'feminine' and 'classic' interiors and moving over to creating modern, contemporary living spaces. So, what does this say about the changes to interior design for 2011?  Who can say? But we do know that as we're well emerged into Summer, our minds head towards clearing space and creating lighter, airier spaces that make us feel calm and peaceful.

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GIVEAWAY: Icelandic Sheepskin

I've been wanting to get my hands on a sheepskin for some time, and while browsing the net to find the right one I finally came across a very neat online store Black Sheep (white light). Isn't that a cool name? I immediately fell in love with their variety of tones and large scale — and thought you would too. You can check them out here. That's when I approached them to see if they were willing to participate in a giveaway for my beloved readers. Luckily, they agreed. So thanks to their generosity, a fortunate reader can win one of their fabulous eco-friendly Icelandic Sheepskin, valued at $129 (above). 

After reading what Black Sheep (white light) is all about, I liked them even more. Believe it or not, these Icelandic Sheepskins are eco-friendly as they're bio-degradable and tanned 
without using harmful chemicals. To be specific, these sheepskins meet strict EU directives concerning 
environmental preservation and protection. They're really one of a kind. BTW, their generosity goes beyond this giveaway, as part of the proceeds of every sheepskin sold goes to help the homeless. You can read more about their great cause here.

Sorry, but entries for this giveaway are no longer accepted. But as a consolation prize, Black Sheep (white light) has put the shorn white Icelandic Sheepskins on sale on their web shop — saving you $20 off the regular price until March 6th.

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Hare It Is!

Image via Flickr

According to the Chinese Lunar Calendar, we just started the year of the Rabbit. It's supposed to be a placid year, very much welcomed and needed after the ferocious year of the Tiger. Good taste and refinement will shine on everything, and for once, it may seem possible for us to be carefree and happy without too many annoyances. So, here's a collection of fun and chi-chi finds for your home that celebrate this adorable little creature. Happy Year of the Rabbit!!

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