Simply White

As we patiently await Pantone’s 2016 color of the year, many brands and designers are already starting to put forth their ideas and guesses regarding 2016’s color trend.  One very important influencer in color trends and paint, Benjamin Moore’s creative director, Ellen O’Neill, announced Tuesday that the company’s 2016 Color of the Year is Simply White. 

I will admit as much as I love color, I am also huge fan of white.  I never feel more pulled together than when I am decked out in all white (all black, too).  I love white bathrooms and kitchens and I obsess over white bed linens and duvets.  I love white upholstered fabric but as much as I obsess over keeping white clean, I know I could never use it in my own space as I'd cut a side-eye everytime someone decided to sit down.  Nevertheless, white is crisp and cool.  It indicates cleanliness and purity. 

It may seem like an easy task but decorating with white can be somewhat difficult.  The first question is which shade is the perfect white.  Some whites have a blue tint, while others have a yellow or pink tint.  Once you start to look at several, your eyes begin to play tricks making it even more difficult to find a pure white.  Decorating in all white can be used to highlight a particular work of art as we see in many museums and gallery spaces.  You can also mix it up and decorate with layers in a variety of shades of white to give your space more depth.  White can be paired with just about any metal finish from polished chrome for a super crisp look, to a brushed brass for a chic glam feel.  

In light of the announcement and until Pantone unveils their Color of the Year, I have compiled a few photos of my favorite interiors dressed in shades of white. 

An all white interior done right.
Photo via styleathome.com

Stair risers, trim and wainscoting are Benjamin Moore's 'Simply White'
Photo via Benjamin Moore's Pinterest

Kitchen Design by Shea McGhee Design. Cabinets are painted 'Simply White'.
Photo by homebunch.com

Interior Design by Patricia Gray Inc.
Photo via PatriciaGrayInc.blogspot.com

Benjamin Moore's 'Simply White', 2143-70 or OC-117.
Photo via bowerpowerblog.com

Painted Entry Doors

The first thing someone sees when you invite them to your home is the exterior.  Unlike the interior, your home’s exterior is on display for any and everyone to see and to judge its “curb appeal” or lack thereof. The front door is the gateway to your home.  It is the portal to the place where you lay your head, where you store precious belongings and where you prepare meals that nourish your family.  The front door is the throughway to most everything you hold special.  With that notion in mind, I am of the belief that such an important portal should be it’s own shining moment.  Choosing to paint your front door is one way to create that shining moment.  Whether you are quirky and whimsical or classic and refined, the shade you choose for your front door is a way to let your personality shine through and up your home’s curb appeal. 

It is not uncommon to see shades of red, black and white on many front entry doors and while these are classic colors, I have noticed a new trend of doors painted in colors that are equally as lovely, yet unexpected.  Doors in shades of pinks and greens and blues are popping up all over the city and making me stop for a moment and admire the boldness of the choice. 

Monday Motivation: 10.5.15

A Look At Ralph Lauren

By now you've probably heard that Ralph Lauren is stepping down as the C.E.O. of his eponymous fashion label.  Stefan Larsson, formerly of H&M and Old Navy, will be assuming the role of C.E.O. Ralph Lauren will stay on as Chairman and Chief Creative Officer. Given this information, I thought I would take a moment and recognize some of my favorite Ralph Lauren moments from his Manhattan apartment to his Bedford, NY home, to some of my favorite pieces from his home collection and a few fashion moments from his Fall 2015 and Spring 2016 lines.  Take a look below.

Dining Room in Ralph Lauren's Manhattan apartment.
Photo via Elle Decor.

Entrance to Ralph Lauren's Bedford, NY mansion.
Photo via Architectural Digest.

Look from the Ralph Lauren Spring/Summer 2016 collection.
Photo via Fashionista.com.

Runway look from the Ralph Lauren Spring/Summer 2016 collection.
Photo via Fashionista.com.

Runway look from Ralph Lauren Spring/Summer 2016 collection.
Photo via Fashionista.com.

RL-CF1 Lounge Chair.
Photo via RalphLaurenHome.com.

Lounge Moderne.
Photo via RalphLaurenHome.com.

Anette Swing Arm Sconce in Polished Nickel.
Photo via RalphLaurenHome.com.

Master Bathroom in Ralph Lauren's Manhattan apartment.
Photo via Elle Decor.

Runway Look from Ralph Lauren Fall 2015 collection.
Photo via Vogue.com.

Runway look from the Ralph Lauren Fall 2015 collection.
Photo via Vogue.com.

Runway look from the Ralph Lauren Fall 2015 collection.
Photo via Vogue.com.

WeWork Chinatown DC

Most of my entrepreneurial career has been spent working from home or from local showrooms and coffee shops (upon the occasion when my Internet at home has been down).  But earlier this summer, I bit the bullet (finally!) and leased a shared office space in the WeWork building in the Chinatown neighborhood of Washington, DC.  Now you can find me at 718 7th St., NW, Washington, DC 20001.

Check out a few photos of the space below!

After entering the building, this beautiful wide staircase greets you and directs you upstairs to the WeWork offices.

Neon WeWork sign just outside the office space.

Reception desk where you can pick up mail and packages and reserve conference room space.

One of three conference rooms, available by reservation only.  This one is for when you require a more relaxed meeting space!

A second conference room.  This one is a bit more formal but still relaxed.

Third conference room and definitely more of what you think of when you think of a typical conference room space!

Private phone booths for when you need to take an important call away from the other co-working entrepreneurs.

Long tables for shared working space.

Sofa, chairs and bean bags for additional (but slightly more comfortable) shared working space.

The kitchen and designated eating space.

Monday Motivation: 9.28.2015

Be who you want to be.  Live how you want to live.  Create what you want to exist.

Ceilings: The Most Ignored Territory on the Home Front

Photo Credit:  Houzz, Dillard Design Group, LLC

    The most ignored space in the home is the ceiling.  Homeowners spend oodles and oodles of time and money decorating their walls and floors with wallpapers, window treatments, paint, rugs, tile, and hardwoods but rarely elect to do anything with the ceiling.  The ceiling represents a great opportunity to add an additional design element to your space.  Here are five ceiling treatments that will add a bit of pizzazz to your home.

Painted Ceilings
Most people decide to leave their ceilings white, as they fear painting it will make their space seem smaller.  But painting your ceiling can give your space a warm cozy feel.  Dark colors will make the ceiling feel heavy and cave-like, as visually they make the ceiling seem lower.  Other ideas for painting include ceiling murals and stripes.  Murals add whimsy and visual interest.  And stripes can widen or elongate a space depending on the direction in which they are painted.

Medallions
Medallions are an easy way to add a distinctive design element to a room without too much fuss.  Medallions serve to anchor the chandelier and are available in a wide variety of shapes and styles.  Some medallions can be painted to match the finish of the chandelier or on a painted ceiling, can be left white to add a bit of contrast.  Ceiling medallions come in a variety of sizes from 4” to 36”; the size best suited for your needs typically depends on the size of the room.  A smaller medallion typically works best in a smaller room.

Coffered Ceilings
A coffered ceiling consists of beams that are installed along the ceiling in a grid-like pattern.  The coffers are formed from the parts of the ceiling that are recessed by the beams.  These ceilings typically require a higher ceiling height as the beams can take up a foot of available ceiling height.  It is very important to consider the size and shape of your room when planning a coffered ceiling, as any lighting will need to be installed within the recessed portions of the ceiling.  The size and shape of the room is also important in creating a fairly symmetrical beam pattern.  Coffered ceilings tend to be very architectural and add an air of formality to the spaces in which they are constructed.

Tin Ceilings

Tin ceilings were all the rage during the late 1800s through the early 1900s.  They lost their appeal for a while but recently there has been a resurgence in the popularity of faux tin ceilings.  Tin ceilings add an extreme amount of character and a vintage quality to any space. 

Wood Paneled

A wood paneled ceiling consists of installing grooved plywood, beadboard, or wood planks along the ceiling surface.  A paneled ceiling helps to draw the eye upward and across the room and provides an immediate feeling of coziness and warmth.