the haystack needle

color palette generator

We're officially starting to look for our next Brooklyn apartment — where our home will be come June, only Craigslist knows. I've started thinking about what colors I want to bring into our next space. I'm obsessed with this website that instantly generates a color palette based on any photo. Inspiration for decorating a room can really come from anywhere — and this Colors Palette Generator just made it that much easier.

I took myself to the site of one of my favorite people, the uber-talented stylist Lili Diallo. Working with Lili on big fun decorating shoots is one thing I do miss about my old job. A day of listening to her French accent, unpacking props while shaking it to Beyonce, and hearing her tell stories of her native land makes for a lovely day. I also know Lili as my necklace style mentor — she always has the best jewelry on, and she naturally knows how to layer necklaces just right. You may recognize Lili from all her work at Domino — and her stunning DUMBO apartment was just featured in Living Etc. I'm not surprised that I found my dream color palettes for two rooms right on her site. The photo above has just the right mix of soft blues and grays with a splash of yellow-orange for our next kitchen. Here's my color palette:

Our current bedroom is a deep Moroccan blue that we love — it's inspired from our blue room at the hotel where we stayed in Paris. If something works, why not keep it. That's what I say. Here's an inspiration color palette for our next bedroom — another stunning photo styled by Lili.

 

{photographs styled by lili diallo}

rainbow bright

It may because this winter has been dreary, fiercely cold, and filled with NPR shows of the gloomy economy, but I've been hording every bit of inspiration related to color. And not just any old color — rainbows of color. Here's a supersized round-up of everything that's been reminding me of rainbows — and a brighter spring. {photograph above by inoka}

David Stark makes anything over the rainbow possible: including homespun centerpieces that only require test tubes, colorful spools of embroidery thread, and a few buds. {photograph via rachael ray}

Thomas Paul designed these cheerful melamine plate sets in rainbow hues: folk dessert and folk dinner.

These juicy, rainbow colors remind me of Barcelona. {clockwise, from top left} Love this simple, wood matching game about color for kids. Eat cereal + soup from biscuit bowls in a myriad of hues. A mini paper mache figure spells happy. Scalloped stripes of rainbow color make for a fantastic notebook.

 

This tomato rainbow gets me super excited for summer tomatoes! Yum. And I love fried green tomatoes. {photograph by sycamore street}

Pantone color spectrum translated to a rainbow of coffee mugs. A kid's umbrella that'll make a splash — grownups can get one of their own, too.

Italian cotton ribbon in 20 colors? Yes, please, I'll take one in each color.

 

Love the zigzags and exploding stripes of color on these prints: screenprinted prints and handpainted silkscreened painting on wood. 

How fun for a birthday party! I spotted these rainbow cakes on Design Dust (+ there's a link for instructions.)

 

This shower curtain makes me smile. Wire clothespins come as a rainbow set. 

 

J'adore this print. What comes out the chimney of your home? Rainbow smokestacks, of course! 

 

{clockwise, from top left} String up a colorful banner of rainbow fabric flags. I spotted this on Ffffound: the classic Rubiks cube made over with Pantone color chips. Muted rainbow stripes line a fun, vintage-style fabric by Cath Kidston. And my absolute favorite: Ciao Bella gelato.

 

On a small wall, this wallpaper would make a statement — though I'd opt to frame the ribbon rainbows as wall art. {found on Bloesem}

Anyone up for a painting play date? {photograph by willowpoppy}

These prints are by one of my favorite sites; 20x200. Pick up an 8.5x11 limited edition print for just $20 (larger sizes in smaller editions sell for $200 and $2000.) On the left: Balloons. On the right: In One Ear, Out the Other (sounds appropriate for our house!)

Melamine mixing bowls make for a nested rainbow. I love this desk planner for planning the week's schedule of to-dos. 

 

Anthropologie knows how to do rainbow color: Mountain Dandelion rug and Iris bedding.

 

Transportation in color: love these graphic tags. Or send a rainbow-striped handmade postcard.

Feast on a rainbow of fresh produce. Entertain in color with these pompom stirrers.
{both via marthastewart.com}

Be sure to color inside the lines. {photograph via photoschau}  This rainbow tic tac toe board is on my game wish list.

 

And this color wheel quilt from the Purl Bee is the big project I've tagged as my wish project to work on with my mom. I've never quilted — but this lovely quilt inspires me to go for it.

color craving: spice yellow

With this chilly, hat-required winter we're having, I've found myself craving movie nights, take-out Indian food, empanadas, and spice colors. spice = warm + cozy

This photo above is actually taken at one of my favorite places in the world. That is the view from my yoga mat at the amazing Kula Yoga Project, a vinyasa style yoga studio. I travel from Brooklyn to Tribeca a few times a week for a sweaty two-hour class there that leaves me feeling like I can take on whatever is on my plate (and not feel guilty about indulging in the occasional cupcake.) Check out that ceiling color — it's a spice yellow color that always catches my eye. When I'm taking an afternoon yoga class, the yellow ceiling casts a glow in the room. Painting your ceiling a color is not a brand new concept — but something that few people seem to actually act upon. And I've more often seen light colors as a ceiling color choice — pale pinks and turquoise — or a rich chocolate brown. A room with warm white or pale gray walls and a curry yellow ceiling would be a killer combo. 

Or a yellow door would make for a warm welcome. {photo by foto food}
A smidge more inspiration in spice yellow and gold:

Souk pillow by West Elm; curry fingerless gloves by HandMeDowns; Graphic Image Webster's Fashion Color dictionary in yellow; Peculiar Pair Press gift wrap, curry yellow vases from Global Table; Chair Drawing by Lisa Solomon; Jonathan Adler Ojai dinnerware, my Simply Vera gold top.
Cheers to adding some spice in your day!

 

{photograph by Martin Burns}

color me happy

Some of you may recognize this amazing nursery from the color contest on Ohdeedoh. I wanted to share Julianna's nursery here, because I am loving the combination of apple green and turquoise blue. It's so fun to see a fresh color combo done in a nursery — pastels are not my cup of coffee. Cheers to mom + decorator Jenny for creating a wow nursery for her little girl! 

The wall color is Benjamin Moore paint in apple green. Jenny said that the color turned out brighter than she expected, but it isn't too bright for her space (which tends to be dark even in daytime because some trees block the light.) The color choice is a definite winner since it gives the room a lift. That's the thing about paint: the light in your space totally affects the way color looks. Make your paint picks using the natural light in your room — those paint stores have fluorescent lights that alter colors.

I love the art here above Julianna's dresser, so I asked Jenny for her source. Turns out Jenny made the silhouettes herself! She's going to be selling them soon on her Etsy shop right here.

I think Jenny did a fantastic job of creating a stimulating, fun nursery space. She also kept a nice balance of color by mixing white furniture with the bright color palette. Turquoise blue pairs well with a moss green too, if you're looking for a more subdued color palette (or if you have a well-lit space where four walls of apple green might be too punchy for you.) These favorite finds below sport that color pairing — here's a little more color inspiration.

                  

          

                                                                    

{shown above} Angela Adams tray; Hable Construction surf stripe pillow (hurry, it's on sale!); felted wool coasters; vintage globe; Amy Butler's Vintage Botanica charger; Plover Organic bedding

Special thanks to Jenny for sharing her photos! Oh and be sure to check out her fun blog, Jennyology.