I am totally swooning over these photos that I stumbled across. I don’t even remember the website that I saw them on, it was some sort of Moroccan travel site. Nevertheless, I do know that the all of the images are from Elle Decor…not sure of what year/issue. I think the colors are fantastic and so inspiring…hmmm, makes me want to add some pinks and purples to our living area.
Have you ever ran across textiles that are just so overwhelmingly beautiful that it makes your heart melt and then you get pretty color overdose and you feel like all you can do to fix your textile hangover is to take a nap and sleep & dream about all that colorific goodness you just saw? Okay, well maybe you have not gone that far, but that’s how I felt when I came across the website of Anna Maria Horner. Oh my, I am in love with her pieces and her tutorials, and her home! Oh my gosh her home sums up my style perfectly…filled with color, texture, and playfulness (the total opposite from my husband, as he prefers earthy colors and simple smooth lines and empty spaces). Nevertheless, I am forever inspired by Anna and I am sure you all will be too once you wander about her website & blog.
Just click the last photo below which will link you to photos of her home & be sure to pre-order a copy of her book that is set to release in October called “Seams To Me: 24 New Reasons to Love Sewing”.
I have my eye on her Scrap Bags and the Chocolate Lollipop Bundle! Oh me oh my!
This post is quite obviously inspired by the lovely Frida Kahlo and the beautiful colors of Mexico. I have had the idea for this post dancing around in my head for quite some time now, but it has just come together to where I can translate my thoughts. Frida Kahlo is one of my favorite artists and women in history and I am in constant inspiration by her style & if you have not seen the movie, then shame on you! No I’m kidding, well, kind of, the movie is fantastic and FILLED with color, textile, and pattern inspiration, in fact I think I will buy it after I finish posting this. I think it is a must have for any artist library & the soundtrack is fantastic and features one of my favorite singers Lila Downs(also seen singing in the movie). also, for those in the San Francisco area or for those planning on visiting, be sure to stop by the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art for the Frida Kahlo Exhibit that will be up until September 28, 2008 (thanks Rachel).
Her photos alone are just filled with decorative inspiration. From the flowers in her hair, to the patterns of her skirts, dresses, and blouses, to the richness of your home seen below (which is also affectionately known as “La Casa Azul” in many areas), her entire artistic essence speaks of design inspiration to me.
Her home which is now a museum is filled with lots of authentic design inspiration. My favorite is her studio and the kitchen. The painted yellow dining set above is fantastic and the avocado walls in her studio below is divine! Wouldn’t you love to be able to create in such an open space!
The colors of Mexico in general are intriguing, expressive, and rich, and I love it all. Cobalt, indigo, yellow, turquoise, red, fuschia, mustards, avocado, terracotta, all of these colors can be fused together to bring a beautiful Spanish flavor to your home. What I find interesting are the color palettes in which you can use to achieve the feel of Mexico.
Color & Earth: You can find many homes in Mexico that are illuminating with color from the inside out. From hot pink exteriors, purple painted bricks, or the cobalt blue ocean, and the cool greys & whites. You can never go wrong with shots of color when it comes to the colors of Mexico. One thing that I like to do is observe the food that is often prepared in a country and then translate those colors to my design ideas. In this case you can have very bright colors of fresh red & green chiles, green cilantro, bright lemons, limes, and oranges.
Just as well, you can find inspiration in the earthy tones of a maroon dried chile, avocado greens, terracotta pots, a freshly baked tortilla with spots of browns and blacks, and the mildness of the inside of a diced tomato. You will be surprised at how much color inspiration you can get from foods and spices alone!
Speaking of food, here is a GREAT cookbook that is inspired by the taste of Frida!
I just love color, and when it is fused together with an array of chic prints, it just makes the colors pop right out at you. Belguim DesignerDries Van Notens Summer line does just that. These pieces reminds me of Monet paintings but with a bold and bright palette. The color palette of fashion can lend itself quite well to that of decor, so I thought it would be fun to start doing some color inspiration by picking out some of the major colors that designers use within their collections. Hope it inspires, and who knows you might just fall in love with a color combo that you have never thought of before!
Top image via Vogue Living, Runway images via driesvannoten.com
