New York Design Blog | Material Girls | New York Interior Design

I have to admit that when I first heard people talking about the book 50 Shades of Grey I was excited to see that someone had finally come out with a book that highlighted the best shades of grey for everyone to use in their home.  It was about time that we were given a guide on what shade to use (where and when) because we all know how difficult it is to get that perfect shade of grey on our walls.  Sometimes it comes out a little too blue or has a hint of purple when all we wanted was straight up grey!  Well, the book wasn’t exactly a guide to grey paint but more of a romantic thriller that explores new love and the complexity of human connection.. and while it’s supposed to be amazing and a MUST read, it has nothing to do with decorating!  So, with that being said, I still plan on reading the book 50 Shades of Grey and I’ll continue to narrow down my favorite grey paint colors until I can create my own guide on 50 shades…or maybe  just 25.  This is where I’ll start:

Benjamin Moore 859 Collingwood

Here’s how Collingwood might look on your walls but this is obviously a room with a lot of sunlight so it’s reading as a very soft and neutral grey.  It might turn out slightly darker in your space depending on the amount of natural light you get

Benjamin Moore 2125-60 Marilyn’s Dress

What can I say other than it’s the perfect soft and subtle hint of grey

Benjamin Moore 1465 Nimbus

Nimbus is more of a greige so it has that slight beige undertone that will keep your space perfectly balanced and calm

Benjamin Moore 2133-70 Tundra

Tundra is a perfect soft grey that will keep things light and bright

These are the greys I’ve used on recent projects and been very happy with – I know I have a long way to go to complete my 25 shades of grey but It’s a start.

Out with the old, in with the new.  Just as in fashion, where we see trends come and go, (and sometimes come full circle decades later) decorating has its trends that move with the colors of the year(s).  For quite sometime now (i’d say over the past 2 years), gray has become the new beige and it’s making a statement like no other.  Gray is such a calming color but it can be bright, light, dark, subtle…no matter what, it’s always soothing to the eye.  This is the very reason I’ve been convincing my clients to use so much gray lately, especially on the walls!  It’s the perfect neutral that will cohesively tie any room together.  Take a look at these gray rooms and see how well it works in different spaces:

I’m loving these lanterns and chairs in this country gray kitchen!

Don’t be afraid to mix your grays and beiges – just make sure that gray is the more dominant color in the room.  It will freshen up your space instantly and keep you on trend!

When it comes to stripes you’re already committing to something bold so don’t be afraid to use them in small spaces, on the walls, on the ceiling, on the floor and just about anywhere you feel fit.  There are multiple ways to get your stripe on, so take a look at these rooms for inspiration and do something fun for Fall 2011.

A perfect way to add some striping to the room is to put it on the ceiling

Add stripes to one feature wall so you’re not completely striped out

Keep the stripes subtle and neutral for a soothing effect

Another subtle stripe with additional stripes in the furniture and rug

Change your basic beige wall into something with style and funk

The striped rug mimics the black and white stairs perfectly!

Bring in some sunshine with bold yellow!

While at the Design On a Dime event the other night I couldn’t help but notice all of the beautiful colors used in each vignette that added a perfect punch to each designers creation and it made me wonder what would we do without the simple use of paint.  Thanks to Valspar, I was able to see how a room can come together and how easy it is to refurbish your old furniture with a touch here and a splash there.

Valspar, who was a sponsor of the Design on a Dime event, shows you exactly what can be done with color, and while their booth might be too loud and colorful for most, think about having one statement piece in a room that would otherwise be boring and dull.  Take a look at the transformations below to see how easy it is refurbish your old furniture.

Add fun yellow stripes to an otherwise plain table

An outdated chair can become a brand new piece with a little paint and even a fun, new, modern fabric!

This desk has transformed from bland to grand with a little ‘pink burst’.  Now just imagine it with some beautiful new hardware from Anthropoligie and you’ve got yourself a smashing office!

This display cabinet obviously needs to shine and be the focal point in your Living Room

What a great idea to keep the inside of the cabinet grey and frame it with a bright “swiss coffee white’

A luggage rack is a great accent piece in a bedroom so make sure you get creative and choose your paint wisely

 

Just remember to add a little color in your life and always keep an eye out for a piece of furniture that’s looking for a quick makeover.  With Valspar paints you can bring beauty to your home

 

House Beautiful dedicated their entire March issue to “the Power of Pink” and have shown us some very enticing ways to use the color without going overboard.  If you don’t subscribe to the magazine pick up a copy at your local magazine stand so you can see how to bring pink back into your life.. without having it look too feminine.  The men in your house have probably been steering you clear from pink because of its girly reputation.  Don’t let them stand in your way!  It’s warm, flattering, sexy and can help just about any mood  

This den has just the right amount of pink in the lacquered walls to make it warm and cozy without screaming barbie pink.  Plus the blue carpet cools down the room quite a bit as does the white sofa and ivory coffee table.

This MBR has a very soft hue of pink which keeps it warm and inviting

This LR ramps it up a bit with some florals mixed in with greens and citrines

It’s always nice to play earth tones (grey, brown, beige) against pink so that it doesn’t become the focus of the room and has interesting contrast throughout

You can never go wrong with making your daughters room the center of pink.  Afterall, the color was created for girls!

The greys play nicely in this tradtional room where you would never expect pink on the walls

So soft and serene.  I wouldn’t mind climbing into this bed at night!

All photos are from House Beautiful Magazine and can be seen online or in their March issue which will be on stands shortly.  Take a look at the entire issue to see how pink can inspire you even if it’s just a small chair in the corner of your room or a throw pillow that can easily be replaced.

 

I have two clients who have recently come to me with extreme interest in using blues – one for a Dining Room and one for a Family Room.  Because blue is my favorite color, I of course am jumping at the thought of these rooms and trying to dig deep to come up with something spectacular.  As I search for inspiration I came across a beautiful “small wonder” that is Todd Alexander Romano’s apartment in NYC.  It’s what he likes to call modest with a view and what I see as heaven!

The lacquered blue walls have just enough navy and just enough aqua in them to create a luxurious space that’s not too dark and not too flashy.  The touches of ikat, apple green and bright yellows add just the right punch to the room to break up the monotany of the blues and keep the room interesting. 

The same color blue continues in the hallway and foyer and is accompanied by great art, rich caramel and a bright contrasting white ceiling that allows the light and the space to still feel open and airy

A close-up of the lacquer and bright yellow flowers which always make a room shine

The apple green velvet plays beautifully off the blue walls

A chinese red plant stand that adds one more needed punch to the room without going overboard

A detail of of blues and reds and golds

One last detail of a brighter view of the apartment

 

It’s obvious that Todd has done a beautiful job mixing just the right colors, materials and styles and has created a comfortable, chic yet modest space with a view so he can enjoy the city just by looking out his windows.  This is certainly inspiration for me and I hope I can use blues in a way that will result in something as stunning as this!

So as it turns out, one of the stenciled floors I posted last week (the turquoise bathroom with white medallions) was a stencil created and sold by Sunny Goode.  She designs these stencils to make it fun and easy for you to create a whimsical touch on your walls, your floors, your furniture – wherever your heart desires!  Check out Sunny’s website for more decorative paint ideas and products.  Looks as though she’s come up with some pretty bright ideas!

Looking for a change but don’t want to break the bank on this project?  Why not paint the floor in your powder room or or entry hall or guest bedroom or wherever you’re dying to mix things up.  It’s something you can do yourself if you carve out the time and kick your family out of the house for a few days   Below are some fun examples of what you can do to make a pretty big statement without having to spend a ton of money.

 

Get out your stencils, purchase your paint and give your floors the funk they deserve.  You’ll be amazed at how quickly it will change the room and how easy it is to do a quick and cost efficient make-over.

I’m often looking for artists – photographers, painters, sculptors, etc. for my clients and it can be difficult to find the right style and the right fit for each individual client…But when I find an artist whose work I love and admire, I’m sure to show it to just about everyone I’m working with because I know someone will love it just as much as I do.  I recently met an artist at an event whose work is stunning, therefore, I’m sharing it with you.  Her name is Leah Durner and she lives and works in NYC.   You can view her full portfolio here and contact her for further information.  Below is just a small sample of some of her paintings that I love!

Martha Stewart and Omnimedia hosted a party last night for all the fellow bloggers who are in town for the BlogHer Conference this weekend and what a great party!  There were well over 400 bloggers in Martha Stewart’s office on 26th Street, mingling about, tasting recipes from Martha’s latest issue of Everyday Food, playing with the latest and greatest crafts products, getting fake lashes put on and blogging/tweeting while doing it all!  I myself passed on the fake lashes, but went straight to the crafts table to see what it was all about.

The punch around the page kit had to be my favorite!  How adorable is this hand-crafted stationary that take seconds to make.  It’s fun, cost effective and might even get your kids to write their thank you notes if they can have fun while doing it!

Want to paint your dresser or your wall in a faux bois?  It’s easy to do with Martha Stewart’s painting kits which are expected to hit stores in September.  Keep your eyes peeled and check her website for availability.  There are plenty of painting effects to choose from so whatever your style may be, I’m sure she’ll have the right tool!

Faux Bois

Herringbone

Now to the food..I was only able to sample a few things but can tell you everything looked amazing and well worth the time in the kitchen.  The first thing I tried was the Bistro Slider with pickled onions

Yum!

Grilled S’mores

So easy and fun for kids!

Another great idea for a party/dessert if you’re crunched for time or just want something different and fun – create an oreo cake on a cake stand for all your guests to pick apart.  You’ll of course want to have some milk near by..

Thanks Martha/Omnimedia for a great evening.  I look forward to trying new recipes and craft projects at home!