Black and White Color Combination Extraordinaire

“Black and White” by Three Dog Night makes a profound statement in many ways, but today it struck a black and white color combination extraordinaire chord.

black-white-foyer

Architectural Digest

I’m of the strong opinion that all color begins and ends with black and white.

Van Gogh

“Suffice it to say that black and white are also colors…
for their simultaneous contrast is as striking as that of
green and red, for instance.”

– Vincent van Gogh

black-white-benchTraditional Home

Put the two together and the black and white color combination extraordinaire takes command of design and space.

white-kitchen-black-floors

My Domaine ~ DISC Interiors

If you are contemplating going with a black and white décor but wonder about the absence of a pop of color, take a look at the following examples of black and white done right.

black-white-wallpaper-bedroom  Maura McEvoy for House Beautiful

black-white-color-palette

Williams Sonoma Home ~ PaperCity Magazine ~ Shabby Slips

black-white-bathroom

House Beautiful

Don’t confuse choosing the design darling color combination of black and white with boring, calculated, unimaginative or stale.

park-city-house-tour

Elle Decor

Selecting a black and white color palette clears the cobwebs of color confusion.

What?

Let me explain.

Have you ever been totally overwhelmed in the selection process or execution of color?

I’ve selected colors with the best of them, and I can testify to the fact too much of a good and colorful thing can confuse the living color out of me.

black-white-cole-and-son-malachite-wallpaper-octagon-wall-sconce-bathroom

Decor Pad

The places and spaces in our homes speak to us in either a whisper or a roar to the intent and result of our choices.

shawn_broaddus_2016_04_01_9999_9

Shawn Broaddus and Mike Hammersmith

Of interest is a recent article referencing how in business and everyday life we should always strive to be inspired, continually educated, and never lose sight of the fire in the belly.

Pulaski-black-chest-accent

Vice-love-canister

 

Jonathan Adler Vice Love Canister

Bolder Color Palette Framed Canvas Art PrintBolder Color Palette Framed Canvas Art Print

Mina Victory Luminecence Metallic Leopard Throw PillowMina Victory Luminecence Metallic Leopard Throw Pillow

Odd as it may seem, the color combination of black and white accomplishes these points.

black-white-CaracoleSimply Put – Caracole

Decoristas seem to never tire of studying new and inspiring design applications.

Inspiration is everywhere.

black-white-decor

Casa Vogue

Opera-Box-wallpaper

black-white-kitchenAtlanta Homes & Lifestyles

Building upon a standard of design is what keeps it relevant as well as timeless.

As decades go by, fads and trends fade from favor.

 

Duncan 1-Light Black Pendant and Rod with White ShadeDuncan 1-Light Black Pendant and Rod with White Shade

Does a certain period, style or color continue to strike your fancy, but you hesitate with the choice asking yourself the question, “Is this still used today?”

I think we all have.

Fear not.

Timeless to say the least, the presence of black and white in interior design and interior decorating choices proves as stunning today as it was sixty years ago.

Ebanista-Savelle-cabinet

Ebanista

Proven decorative ability is ever present when the design and decor color power duo is at play. A traditional decor favorite regarded as a contemporary darling and a modern marvel, black and white is a timeless color combination able to stand strong as the sole choice of color for a space.

This classic color combination choice removes palette doubt and eliminates any chance of the color combination extraordinaire burning out or fading away into decorating obscurity.

Show & Tell

Fall Has Made Its Presence Felt

Fall has made its presence felt!

I am thrilled to finally be able to welcome fall in with open arms, doors and windows!

fall wreathBetter Homes & Gardens

Although fall officially began yesterday, its long awaited arrival is perfectly timed for optimum enjoyment of the season’s first cold front, a hot cup of tea, and warm carrot apple muffins.

living room with fireplaceCountry Living

My eye was immediately drawn to the color palette in this bedroom featured in Traditional Home.

This palette choice hits a decorative high note with warm tones, a balance of traditional decor, and a tip of the hat to two orange and brown.

traditional decor

I snapped this colorful reminder of seasonal things to come from our backdoor Saturday morning.

The rain soaked patio is the remnant from the heavy rains that fell over the weekend.

I didn’t mind the rain at first, knowing full well it was the trade off for the cooler weather we would wake up to on Sunday morning and the first day of fall.

I had to keep reminding myself of that as I drove in the storm to pick up a stranded Dave the Builder.

Dave’s back tire chose to blowout right as he topped an overpass.

The rain was so heavy it was difficult to see three feet in front of you.

Believe me, it was not our idea of a fun Friday night.

We’re dry and safe, Dave’s truck is outfitted with two new tires, and fall has arrived.

Blessings!

fall is here

Have a great Monday and enjoy the fall of it all!

Show & Tell

Foyer Thinking: Foyer Decor and Design

Talk of and moodboard creations for entryway and foyer decor and design has got me Foyer Thinking.  You know what they say about first impressions.  A stylish and stunning  foyer is guaranteed to make a fabulous and lasting first impression.

Traditional Home

What is the shelf life of your home decor?  I’m talking accessories, furnishings, accents, lighting fixtures, wallcoverings, flooring- the whole home decor enchilada.

Oak Hill Architects

Do you spot refresh, elegantly edit, or wipe the decor slate clean?  A foyer is a great space to do a little of all of it in. Taking flow and form into consideration lays the groundwork however,  I admire and appreciate a decorative curve ball- a step away from the expected.  It’s a visual treat to the most trained eye, and it keeps things interesting.

chic foyer decorRue Magazine

As I worked on the Foyer Thinking  Olioboard moodboard for a client presentation this past week, I began to feel the pangs of home decor change.

 Better Homes and Gardens

That’s me- a forward-thinking foyer thinking decorator who likes a good play on words.  Giving the client a myriad of options gave me my own myriad of ideas. Standard accessories usually include a mirror, well placed decorative table or floor lamp(s), and a place to hang your hat.  Artwork, architectural pieces, whimsical objects, accent seating, a rug or runner in pattern play- yes, please!   A foyer or entryway offers a welcoming glance -a preview of  your personal decorative and design show and tell.

 

As I find myself deep into seasonal updates, client moodboards, color and editing, decor refreshing seems to be hitting home… mine!  Thank goodness the major design and decor choices in this house continue to hold my attention.  Home decor “staples” are design and decor elements that anchor the space and reflect core tastes.   A sideboard in the kitchen one day may be the entertainment center in the den the next.  That’s the great attraction to great pieces.  I call them decorative chameleons. 

marble-top-sideboard (2)

Then & Now

sideboard-partners

The temptation to remodel, refresh and redo goes with the territory.  I have promised Dave we will start small (you know what they say about promises, they are made to be broken).

Wikipedia

A trip to the Hopefully Classic climate controlled storage unit for a personal shopping afternoon will soon be taking place.  Foyer thinking will do that.  I feel the need to take inventory, treasure hunt, shake things up a bit, and do a tad of editing from within.  You know what they say about first impressions!

Show & Tell

Classic Pieces

Classic pieces connect the thin line between fashion and interior design.

From the runway to the entryway, classic lines, textures, patterns, and colors captivate the tastes and eyes of fashionistas and decoristas the world over.

Martinique-wallpaper

Martinique Wallpaper

Classic pieces in the world of fashion and interior design speak fluent influence and style.

hermes-inspired-orange-equestrian-serving-tray-1987

Chairish

Inspiration is everywhere, and the above image testifies to the truth of those three words.

When fashion needs beautifully collide with home decor wants the result can be fabulous and inspiring.

Where one good eye sees a drop dead gorgeous outfit, another good eye may see a home decor accessory must-have.

I’ve asked the following question several times, even writing a blog post about it.

Scalamandré Tigre pillow cover

Scalamandré Animal Pillow Cover in Tiger

It gets its footing from inspiration and its merit from this visual world we live, write, design, groove, relax and Pinterest in.

When you see an image of an iconic figure from the world of fashion, design, cinema, or music, do you think interior design?

The onslaught of seasonal home decor finds and fashions is in full fall force.

What’s hot, what’s not, and what’s trending makes an interesting read, but I chalk it up to what it really is- a subjective reference guide.

My wallet can’t keep up with the ever changing fads from season to season, year to year.

This is where trend pieces come in.

Selecting affordable wardrobe and home decor accessories keeps things updated, fresh, and fun.

That’s a great and stylish thing.

Oliver Gal 'Travel in Style' Fashion and Glam Wall Art Canvas Print

Oliver Gal ‘Travel in Style’ Fashion and Glam Wall Art Canvas Print

Leaning toward favoring the classics, I follow a basic principle of style in both fashion and interior design.

Build your house of style upon timeless and classic foundation and investment pieces, and let trending accessories do what trends do best, come and go. 

A  timeless piece is a quality investment you’ll only have to make once.  

This applies to fashion, interior design and home decor accessories. 

What trends and classics are inspiring you?

Show & Tell

Color Combination Pink and Brown

Shades, tones, hues and variants come beautifully to the page and palette by means of perhaps one of the most striking and elegant color combinations, pink and brown.

Little Greene Paint - China Clay Deep

Little Greene Paint & Paper

striking-color-combinations-pink-and-brown

Milieu Magazine cover

Milieu Magazine

Mahogany and walnut antique pieces tend to catch my eye first over other woods due to their ability to take color.

https://www.houzz.com/pro/periodhomes/period-homes-inc

Houzz

living-room-Embellishments-Design-Studio

Embellishments Design Studio

The ribbon and grain of these woods highlight the rich browns, hints of ebony and crimson reds characteristically based in both the pink and brown color families.

pink-and-brown-color-combination-brush-strokes

pink-brown-entry

House Beautiful

There is no wrong direction to go in with the color combination of pink and brown, and that’s exactly the point.

Brick.

Berry.

chocolate-brown-pink-settee

Pinterest

Chocolate.

Fuchsia.

coffee-table-accessories-Domino-photography-by-Amy-Neunsinger

Domino-Photography by Amy Neunsinger

Cherry.

Mushroom.

gold-leaf-accent-table-with-mirrored-top

 Amanda Nisbet Design

Coral.

Blush.

vintage-70s-pink-brown-scarf

70s Pink and Brown Scarf

Perhaps quite the walk away from a traditional palette, however still in the color combination neighborhood of pink and brown.

pink-brown-fabric

custom-cabinetry-A Layered Life

A Layered Life

That’s the beauty of and attraction to visually engaging color combinations that complement, contrast, and/or coordinate well with home decor options.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/max-garcia/6722874869/

Flickr

Eye-catching color combinations neither restrict or confine, but grant decorative leeway in the rich, deep, bright, bold, understated, whimsical, classic or new traditional scheme of things.

 wright building company

 Wright Building Company

The broad range of pinks and browns opens the world of color up to hues, tones, and schemes prime for personal decorating style interpretation.

pink-brown-end-of-bed-bench

Demonstrated below is four gorgeous examples of this school of thought from Benjamin Moore.

pink-brown-color-palette

Pop of glorious Glamour Pink.

Anything but middle of the road Middlebury Brown.

Classic Coral Pink.

Timeless Tudor Brown.

anne hepfer designs

Anne Hepfer Designs – DecorPad

Pink and brown in soft shades and hues perfect a nursery or tween girls bedroom with an air of age appropriate sophistication.

pink-brown-bedroom

El Mueble

Bunny-Williams-dining-room-sitting-area

Architectural Digest

From a soft hint or faint whisper of, a berry bold statement, or a redefined interpretation of the classics, the color combination of pink and brown plays well to the room.

Show & Tell

Keyboard Diversions And French Themed Home Decor

Keyboard diversions and French themed home decor considerations mirrors one of the main considerations in life; balance.

Stuff happens in real life that takes me away from the keyboard, and stuff happens in real life that draws me to the keyboard.

File:Alphanumeric keyboard.jpg

via

My to do list includes the yearly appointment I always keep- the mammogram.

As you may already know, October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

breast cancer pink ribbons

Why is an interior decorating, home decor, and design show and tell blog addressing breast cancer awareness?

It is doing so because what better interior design is there than our own?

October will be here soon enough, but why not be fashionably early by scheduling an appointment for a mammogram now.

Design the day to celebrate responsibility, health, wellness, awareness, support, bravery and healing.

I took it a step further with a bit of shopping thrown in  for stylish measure.

early morning keyboard and coffee time

Early (very early) mornings give me the chance to focus on my email inbox.

An insufficient amount of caffeine and misplaced readers resulted in me opening an email that under this morning’s hurried circumstances I may have purged.

Turns out opening the email from Kirkland’s was a mighty fine way to start the day.

Call it home decor happenstance.

As I’ve mentioned before, I live in an area of the world that is retail deficient.

I’m thankful for the retailers that are located in our area, but man do I envy those of you who live in or close to a town with many retail options to shop and choose from.

retailers-in-town

Online shopping is the only option in most cases of retail pursuits.

Dave the Builder and I have been discussing projected plans for a getaway. Do you know one of my travel considerations?

The shopping.

I do love me some LasVegas, but I’m retail restricted because of the “how am I going to get all of this home?” limitations.

Thank goodness for online shopping and retailers who offer free or heavily discounted shipping charges.

Retail luck struck during my post mammogram brick and mortar shopping spree in the form of a 65% off sale.

Joy-Tribout-interiors 1

Joy Tribout Interior Design

I’m a sucker for French themed home decor.

And cow art.

Cattle Graze I Hand Embellished Canvas Art PrintCattle Graze I Hand Embellished Canvas Art Print

Pair a cow with the word Bonjour in a white and French blue palette, offer it up as a home decor accent at a great price, and my interested is piqued.

Reasoning out and concluding a mix of pattern and color would broaden the range of use, I was thrilled to find the Sorrento serving platter and rectangular trays and Noble Excellence Ikat bowls at Dillard’s.

French farmhouse dishes

The border of the platter and tray is reminiscent of a Louisiana French hallmark– the fleur de lis.

What is this I see on yet another markdown display?

My eyes can scan and spot a sale table three departments deep.

I couldn’t resist the Rosanna Farmhouse Pantry cheese dish with the look and charm of a vintage hobnail pattern.

Rosanna Farmhouse Pantry cheese dish

 

Pressing engagements, responsibilities, and retail therapy may have kept me away from the keyboard, but it renewed what’s important in real life- health, awareness, and the joie de vivre.

 

Show & Tell

Must Love Cinnamon Oatmeal Cake

Noticeable seasonal changes, scents of the season, and a crisp chill in the air tap into my craving for cinnamon oatmeal cake.

fall-at-home-collage

As the dog days grow shorter and first signs of changing colors make their presence known, thoughts of fall naturally come to mind.

Fall baking enthusiasts know now’s the  time to take inventory and stock up on the essential seasonings of the season. To know me is to know my number one fall baking requirement- must love cinnamon.

cinnamon-sticks-bundled (1)

My second fall baking requirement is rooted in the simply delicious- September is time to bake something, anything, that includes this most delicious fall baking ingredient, so let me introduce you to the recipe for Must Love Cinnamon Oatmeal Cake.

Must Love Cinnamon Oatmeal Cake

Must Love Cinnamon Oatmeal Cake

Ingredients

1 cup quick cooking oats

1 ½  cup boiling water

1 ½  cup all-purpose flour

2  teaspoons ground cinnamon

½  teaspoon nutmeg

1  teaspoon baking soda

1  teaspoon sea salt

½  cup shortening

1  cup granulated sugar

1  cup firmly packed brown sugar

2  Tablespoons dark Karo syrup

3  eggs

For topping:

1  stick butter

1  cup shredded coconut

3/4  cup packed brown sugar

2-3  Tablespoons milk

1  teaspoon vanilla

1 cup pecans, chopped

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Grease or spray with cooking spray a 9 X 13 baking pan.

Combine quick-oats and boiling water together in a small mixing bowl and let stand 20 minutes.

In a separate mixing bowl combine flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking soda and sea salt.  Using a whisk,  blend the dry ingredients together to eliminate lumps.

sugar

In a large mixing bowl add together the granulated sugar, 1 cup brown sugar and the shortening.

Mix ingredients together on medium speed until combined.  Add in eggs, one at the time. Beat in prepared quick cooking oats.

creamed sugar

Gradually add flour mixture to the wet mixture, beating until well combined.

Pour batter into prepared baking pan.

cake batter

Bake at 350 for 35 to 40 minutes, or until knife inserted in center of cake comes out clean.

For the topping:

coconut topping

In a medium saucepan over medium high heat, combine 1 stick butter, coconut, 3/4 cup brown sugar, vanilla and  milk together.

Stirring constantly, cook mixture until it boils. Stir in chopped pecans.

brown sugar

Pour topping over the cake and spread evenly over top of cake.  Allow cake to cool before serving.

Must Love Cinnamon Oatmeal Cake

Let me know what you think.

signature-food-Darleen

Show & Tell