Robin's Egg Blue...

Robin's Egg Blue...my favourite colour, in all its intensities. I love the image it represents: pale, perfect blue eggs cradled in a nest made with love by mother Robin. It is the perfect metaphor for me. I, too, have built my nest with care, in a swath of watery blues, taupes, and greens...all combined to imbue a feeling of comfort. I love the element of nature this colour lends to an environment. It makes it difficult to feel very removed from the outdoors.

I love the speckled eggs, which add the tiniest bit of imperfection to the fragile hiding places of the soon-to-be baby birds. In fact, the sweet saying, "A little birdie told me..." immediately brings to mind a robin whispering in one's ear. The simple fact that such a delicately coloured egg comes from a brown and red bird puzzles me. The disconnect between the two affirms the notion that mother and child need not look alike to belong together. It is the perfect blending of all that is akin to nature, and it doesn't have to make sense. Nature just is, and it is the best source of inspiration when creating our own nests. Whether we draw inspiration from the ocean, the ground, the forests, or the flowers shooting forth from the grass... it is a great starting point for choosing colours and textures. But for me, it is as simple as a perfect little robin's egg...could a house be any more perfect than that??

Got the Blues??

To be honest, I have only recently (in the last few years) gotten back into the colour blue. The last few homes I have built I used tons of yellow in all its shades. Cream, pale yellow, daisy yellow, right up to muted mustard shades (think Benjamin Moore's Vellum. In the home prior to this one, I discovered the most beautiful shade of blue- kind of a washed out robin's egg blue. I used it in my bathroom and I loved it so much, I carried it with me to my new home (again in the bathroom). I also painted my kitchen cabinets the freshest shade of blue-gray and I am thrilled with how I feel when I enter my kitchen. Blue truly is soothing...not at all cold, although I think I will feel cooler in the summer with so much of it around me.

Colour selection is one of the most daunting choices when decorating a room (or rooms). That is because there is so much choice!! Does it really make a difference if you go with the dark sage as opposed to the olive green? In a word, yes - every space has different light and shadows and a colour can look totally different from room to room. My best tip is to find a colour you love either in a decorative item or even the clothes you are wearing. Chances are, if you like a colour enough to wear it on your body, you will likely enjoy it in your home. Take this inspiration piece with you to the paint store and have them colour match it. This is your best chance for making the right paint selection. Meanwhile, back to the blue, why not give it a try? Paint a small bathroom or even the back of an open cabinet or shelving to breathe new life... fresh air...a bit of summer... into your home!!


***the photos above show my kitchen (sorry for the repeat performance), and my dream living room and bedroom (if I could start from scratch...)

To theme...or not to theme

I like themes...hoever, I tiptoe around them for fear of them exploding. What I mean by this is that themes can grow exponentially. They can become like a disease and become out of control. Take children's rooms for instance. Little Sally wants a Barbie room. We've all had requests like this. Barbie bedding, Barbie (cringe) wallpaper border, Barbie lamp, curtains, etc, etc. Some of us are giving enough to cave into themes like that. I, however, would be inclined to inject tasteful touches of Barbie (like framed Barbie outfits in shadowbox frames, Barbie sheets, a Barbie nightlight). I confess to loving certain themes if they suit my tastes. If my sons were still young enough there is no doubt in my mind they would be staring at a vintage cowboy- themed bedroom! Yes, some themes are downright acceptable, but where do we, as individuals, draw the line?

Several houses ago, I was in love with pineapples as a decorating symbol, not theme. I had a garden flag with one on it, and a pineapple door knocker which I loved, and some other nods to this symbol of welcome. Sadly, I let them go as a nearby house adopted pineapples as well, so it was time for me to "move on". Stars, too, have always been a recurring theme in my homes. I always place one in each front window along with a single electric candle light. I can't seem to give the lights or stars up despite them becoming so popular. Stars are popular because they are so good. As long as your home doesn't look like a constellation display, then all is well. As for me, in the summer I replace the stars in the window with starfish...talk about a departure!!!

I would have to say that my new recurring "theme" involves our feathered friends. I love the colour robin's egg blue, nests with eggs, porcelain monochromatic birds (no parrots here!), and I always stop in my tracks when I see such delicate beauties. I try to limit the number of such treasures, but I probably have at least one nod to this collection in each of my rooms. Is it a theme and is it o.k.? I think so and I hope so. I guess it boils down to whether we each love our own "themes" and whether they can be simply discovered throughout our homes or are screaming out "look at me!"

My next attempt at "tasteful theming" will be this summer when I transform my mantle into a beachy display of seaside treasures. You can be the judge of whether I have kept it tasteful or over the top!! Coming soon...