Tag Archives: orange

It’s May! This month is a big smorgasbord of Mother’s Day (May 12th),  Victoria Day Weekend, Cinco de Mayo, and National Smile Month (UK)! We’re starting to feel the sun on our backs and get an extra spring in our step! Road construction crews and spring clean up are in  full swing. I know our street has started piling up large trash items on the curb, so this month’s palette is inspired by  “upcycling” outdated items! As I was browsing the web for images to add to my ideabook, I kept ouuing and awwing at all the amazing “upcycling” in design. This basically means giving outdated household items a new purpose or new coat of paint. Over the past year or so, many designers have been glamming up outdated or “vintage” items to accent modern decor. This colour palette mixes aged tones, rustic wood, and bold shades of rust to create a chic, eclectic look!

This curb-side inspired palette adapts to  a wide range of style preferences. A great option is to paint your walls neutral hues and accent your room with the wood and rust! The first bedroom plays on a variety of red and orange to add some character to an otherwise grey room. In the second photo, the bed stands out with its gorgeous deep orange comforter. The neutral backdrop adds some depth and interest to the space.The chandeliers in both examples are upcycled! The first is from the Victorian period and the second is a modern spin on candlelit  fixtures.

I’ve always been a huge fan of bold colours in the kitchen, but these warm hues really bring out the wood tones! Both designers used a variety of wood grains with one standout, statement piece. The red base to the island transforms an otherwise “normal” kitchen into a cool, eclectic space. In the second photo, a simple coat of bold orange paint cranks this dining room’s design appeal up a few notches!

Again, the bold rust shades really bring out the beautiful wood grains in the flooring, while the neutral walls and large windows keep the rooms elegant and modern. I definitely saw that fun area rug in the first photo at Ritchie’s in Moncton last summer!

Lastly, this colour palette does amazing things for small spaces. The beiges or greys create an airy feel, while the colour pop give the illusion of a larger space! A coloured office chair, vase, or a solid stripe all make a small space seem less cramped! The grey vintage wall paper makes for a particularly unique design!

Have any of you been browsing the spring clean up curbs for items to upcycle?

Ever wonder what to do when 400 000ft (maybe a little less) of snow is holding your car hostage and the kids–or you–are getting a little too anxious for Christmas? Here’s our suggestions!

1. Sugar Plums

First of all, do any of you have any idea what a sugar plum is? I did not, but when I googled them I realized that I make them all the time! Technically plum is a traditional word for any type of confectionary. The sugar plums we hear of in the “Night Before Christmas” are pretty much Lara bars made into orbs! Here’s the recipe for the sugar plums I made this year (not knowing that’s what they were!) They’re super healthy and delicious!

Ingredients:

1 cup of dates
1/2 cup of nuts
2 Tbs of Peanut Butter
1/4 cup of coconut

Mix in a food processor and roll into balls. Refrigerate.

* This is my favorite combination, but you can add almost any kind of dried fruit to get different flavours.I know some people love dried kiwi and coconut. If someone is allergic to nuts, you could add some seeds or chocolate…m&ms…whatever you want!

2. Glitter.

Glitter can make ANYTHING christmasy and everyone (except the cleaner) likes sparkle!
-Draw a picture or write a phrase.
-Paint over your artwork with modge podge or clear liquid glue.
-Add some glitter. Shake it off and you’ve got a gorgeous Christmas decoration!

You can do the same thing to glitz up some tree decorations!

3. Old-Fashioned Decor

There’s something timeless about stringing popcorn and cranberries, making designs on oranges with cloves, or cutting paper doll chains! Why not make a few on this snowy day!

Popcorn and cranberry garland:

– thread
-needle
-popcorn
-whole cranberries

Thread your needle and stick it through popcorn, periodically adding a cranberry. It’s that easy!

Orange with Cloves

Take an orange and stick cloves all over it! You can spell a holiday word, make a pattern, or whatever you please! These will make your house smell so festive!

Paper Chains

Traditionally, these are made by folding paper, drawing little girls and boys, cutting out your doll shape and hanging them on the wall. I took a bit more modern approach, but it’s easy to adjust to your own style.

Find a large piece of scrapbook paper.

Fold it

Draw the shape of your choice. I went with Christmas Bulbs. I was wanting to use string, but if you don’t make sure you draw to the edge of your paper and don’t cut the edges! See the last picture for an example.

Cut them out!

Do any decorating you wish. I drew the top part of the bulbs.

Make little holes using a hole punch or needle and thread your string through the holes!

Hang them up!

Here are my trees made without the string!

I hope you have awesome snow days!

“I’m so glad I live in a world with Octobers. It would be terrible if we just skipped from September to November, wouldn’t it?” -Anne Shirley.

The month of scarves and pumpkin spice lattes has “fallen” upon us! With temperatures cooling off outside, warm interior hues are a must! October couldn’t be a better month to incorporate this spicy palette! When looking for timeless decor, it’s important to balance bright colours with trend-setting neutrals. This warm palette does just that by incorporating both grey and brown with savory cinnamon, pumpkin, and vanilla.

We think these colours work well together to make an inviting common space. A warm backdrop will make guests feel welcome, while you will love spending down time cozying up with an exotic tea and book!

An alternative space for this palette is the Master bedroom. We are loving the idea of pairing a wooden wall with grey bedding and warm accents. This look artistically combines both modern style and classic comfort. Would you choose a spicy autumn palette for your living space or would you rather keep the cozy colours in the bedroom?

Summer is the perfect time to paint and so why not throw a little summer on your walls this June! Our colour palette of the month is the perfect combination of pinks, oranges, and blues. This colour combo is fresh and will make any space seem a little bit brighter for having it. We recommend this combination especially for sunrooms, family rooms, and children’s bedroom. This is a colour palette for the whole family! To help you on your way, here are some examples of how you can use this palette in a home:

A bright, modern, inspiring, office space

A cute, fun, bright baby’s room

A clean, simple, colorful kitchen