Invaluable - Contemporary Color

Elizabeth Bauer Design

Whenever I'm working on a space, I look at the layout, furnishings, curtains, etc. But the one thing that probably gives a room the most personality - and the thing that can punctuate the personality of the owner so well - is art. I've done posts about this in the past, but I was recently approached by Invaluable to do a different sort of post. Invaluable is an auction website devoted to the sale of all manner of beautiful paintings: abstract, landscapes, portraits, watercolors. However, they understand that figuring out how to make those pieces work in your home can be a challenge. That's where I come in!

Invaluable painting by Marie Raymond

In order to give you some inspiration as to how to incorporate artwork into your own home "gallery", I thought I'd create three very different spaces in three different styles, all featuring artwork currently on auction at Invaluable.

Living room by Jolene Ballard and Amanda Malson of Domicile ID

Foo Dogs from FeelinVintage on Etsy

For the room in today's post, I'm imagining a bright feminine space, full of fun and life. First, I would drench it in a color like Benjamin Moore's "Cactus Flower".

Then I would bring in accessories that complimented the boldness of the color, but put a cool, glamorous, modern spin on it.

Chair - Leaves - Pillows - Bar Cart - Pottery - Lamp

How fabulous are those Chiang Mai Dragon pillows! Indigo blue, hot pink, and leafy green make such a great color combination too. And don't forget a little bit of gold!

Then I would do a light, modern style sofa atop a fun floral rug like this....

Rug by Safavieh

But then you need your artwork!

Living room by Angie Hranowsky

I love how Angie Hranowsky's work usually involves a good dose of color and a really good dose of abstract art.

Invaluable painting by Rod Withers

 I would do a few mid-size pieces like these, hung vertically, maybe over the bar cart.

Invaluable painting by Roberta Harris

Is this painting not fun?! There is just something so playful about it.

Entryway by Jonathan Berger via House Beautiful

I think "playful" is probably the best way to describe this kind of room. But what better way to start and end your day, than in a space that makes you smile?

Invaluable painting by George Kleiman

I already talked about my obsession with oversized art here, and this piece certainly fits that bill. It clocks in at a whopping 70 inches tall by 93 inches wide! Love it!

No matter what pieces you choose, the key is to have fun and not take the whole thing too seriously. It's your home and you're the one living with it, so make it a place you love!

More fun with art next time so stay tuned!

So Fine

Living room in Lisa Fine's Paris apartment 

Colorful, layered, cozy, elegant, collected. Love!


Other side of Lisa Fine's Parisian living room



Let the sun shine

Living room by Schuyler Samperton

The sun is finally beginning to reemerge after days of gloom here, and, in order to honor its reappearance, I thought I would showcase a few rooms that are flooded with light.


Bedroom by Michelle Workman

Sparkling with glass and lucite and glowing with soft peach walls, this room invites its inhabitants (Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony) in to relax.


Bedroom by Michelle Workman



Bedroom by Katie Ridder

This bedroom is a more energetic space, buzzing from the combination of patterns, textures, and colors.


Design by Amanda Nisbet

Blush and fuchsia in the same space? Pink perfection!


Home of Sarah Jessica Parker by Eric Hughes


As this bedroom is part of a Hamptons beach house, Hughes used a good dose of white to create a clean and simple retreat.

Bedroom by Eric Hughes



Design by Molly Luetkemeyer of M. Design Interiors

I absolutely love this bedroom by Miss Molly Luetkemeyer. The warmth from the pink on the textured walls is further augmented by the wood accent furniture, kilim-style rug, and tones from the chevron-striped curtains.

Bedroom by M. Design Interiors


I hope you all have a fabulous weekend and enjoy a little sunshine wherever you are!


Blush

Let me tell you, I love the color pink. From rich raspberry to barely-there blush, I don't think any other color can create such a glow in a room. Of course, your use of pink can be restrained to a few accent pieces or fully committed with petal-hued walls. It's really up to you how rosy you want to go!

Now, I believe in diving head first into color, so most of the rooms featured in this post are fairly saturated. However, they still show great design and give examples of where to add color, whether you decide to turn the volume up or down on the intensity.

 Suzanne Kasler knows how to warm up a room with color. Although she painted only one wall of the dining room above in this cooler-toned pink, it was just enough to add a nice glow to the whole room.

The linen colored walls and furnishings in this dining room offset the pale, coral-hued drapes and accents just enough to make the room feel soothing, sophisticated, and calm.

Both of the photos above are included in Suzanne's wonderful book Inspired Interiors. I have recently finished reading/perusing it and just love all the pictures, ideas, and tips she included. I highly recommend it!

Designer, Mary McDonald, is certainly not one to shy away from color, and her expertise allows her to pull off the bright pink above perfectly!

Kelly Wearstler's interiors are always exciting. From residential projects to lavish hotels, she knows how to bring gilded glamour to any space.

The following photos feature blushing spaces by Steven Gambrel, a designer I just recently came across (although he's been around for years). His website describes him as having a "passion for timeless, comfortable houses that improve with age", which I think describes these two spaces perfectly. Regardless of the rich, rose wall color, these rooms have a classic feel, making them seem like they've been there for a century.

 Like I said before, you don't need flushing pink walls to create a glow in your room (although I highly recommend it!). Accents as small as a bouquet of peonies or as striking as full-length coral curtains, can bring just the right level of luminosity that you are looking for.