FEARING THE SANITARIUM

 Choosing a wall color doesn't have to scare the living daylights out of you. 

 Just remember a couple of things.   

1.  You are creating a background for your design.   

2.  Backgrounds are best created with neutrals.  

3.  Neutrals are just grayed down colors.  

They are beautiful.  

They don't have to be boring.

This room has a neutral background and a neutral palette, but is anything but boring

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Diwali Celebrations @ Honolulu, Hawaii!

Diwali is a joyful, festive occasion for all who celebrate in India and throughout the world and so in Honolulu,Hawaii..Wherever there is an Indian Mind there is a Diwali!

Amerjit Ghag lives in the tropical paradise of Honolulu,Hawaii.Her home is an expression of her love for colour and pattern.A space that reflects her Indian sensibilities and colour combined with the design aesthetics of Western.

Here are some Diwali celebrations all the way from Hawaii from the very enterprising Amerjit Ghag Of "Chai Studio ".

These  images Inspiring all of us towards a pure and peaceful way of life; filled with character and love.All these elements used in decorating are simple and reveal her warmth,her love for colour and pattern combined with the rustic elegance.The warmth of the space attracts us to each of her simple corners and she wishes the readers a joyous Diwali!

All Images And Ideas Conceived By: Amerjit Ghag..

A GOOD WARM NEUTRAL GRAY

HELP WITH A NON GROSS COLOR

When you buy a previously owned home, you buy that owner's taste in color and surface materials.

Sometimes you are lucky, and its a neutral you can live with for a while

but sometimes, you can't wait to make changes...

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Divinity on diwali!

I simply love the approach of the Diwali season. 

The slight winter chill, the happy faces, the excitement of shopping, Diwali decorations and all that.Its now that the festivals has gained so much popularity and we celebrate it in various styles At home it was always the Divinity,the Pooja,the Ghee lit lamps and Marigolds.Still it remains all the more traditionally rooted at our homes.


Let the Divine ideas of Diwali surround you forever.Here are some snippets from the earlier celebrations of earlier years:)-

All images :Lakshmi Arvind

Please do not copy images..nor share without permission

CURB APPEAL

LOOKING GOOD!

Our houses can't go to the gym to get a quick workout

Or hike

or run

and they can't trim their own shrubs

So when it comes to getting in shape

looking good

and creating a beautiful curbside look at your home

your house has to rely on you.

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CELEBRITY HOMES....

LOOK-E-LOOS

Former home of Michael Jackson, Los Angeles, California

Yes, I'm as guilty as any of you...

I love to look at other people's homes, especially celebrity homes.

One of my favorite blogs is Hooked On Houses where you get to peek into beautiful celebrity 

and non-celebrity and even fabulous movie set homes on a regular basis.

So, I thought I'd take you on my own little tour and share my guilty pleasure, 

because I'm always amazed at how 'ordinary' celebrities turn out to be.  

Like this house - home to Harrison Ford.

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COASTAL COLORS

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  WHEN THE BEACH IS A STATE OF MIND
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Coastal decor is one of my all time favorites.  
  
  
  
  I live on the West Coast, but any coast would do.  
  
  
  
  Its a casual, easy living, non-fussy way of decorating.  
  
  
  
  A nod to the seashore in a 'not in your face' sort of way... 
  
  
  
  not contrived ... 
  
  
  
  a lifestyle not a trend.
  
  

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FOR THE LOVE OF KITCHENS

Kitchens are the heart of the home. 

It's where families gather

Even when there is more room in the rest of the house

If you could wave a magic wand to make changes in your kitchen

what would you wish for?

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CHOOSING THE RIGHT COLOR(S) FOR YOUR HOME

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  SILVER MARLIN, ANYONE?

  
  

Adding color to your room takes an artists eye.

Too many of us get caught up in the 'matchy matchy' world.

You know what I'm talking about.  

Where all the fabrics are exactly the same color.

Where all the woods match exactly.

Where the paint is the perfect lighter variation of the sofa

and the pillows and the curtains and the rug match. 

perfectly.

And the room ends up looking like a furniture catalog.

And it has no depth.

And its flat.

via

the fern fronds above are green

they all look perfectly wonderful together

and yet there are so many different variations of green its hard to count them all.

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LAYERS OF DESIGN...

TACKLE A BIG JOB BY CUTTING IT UP INTO BITE SIZED PIECES....



I often write about choosing wall color.  It's one of the steps to creating a beautiful room, but not usually the first.  I start below that.... at my feet.

Starting at the bare bones of the room simply makes sense to me.  Start with the floor and the architectural details, like molding and trim, built-ins, paneling, wainscoting and bead board, you wish to add.  

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HOW TO CHANGE YOUR COLOR SCHEME

I have been swimming in my kitchen

Or at least that was the feeling I had when  water began pouring out from the baseboards

and now that the repair has been made and my walls are open and drying

I am trying to find a bright spot in the chaos

via

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IN LOVE WITH GRAY

Welcome home.

via

A few simple rules to choosing exterior paint color - 

Consider the roof color when choosing your new color -  Roof color should be darker than the house color - Make the door stand out with a darker or bright color - Accent the trim and architecture of the house with a contrasting or complimenting color - take into consideration size as a dark color will make a small house look smaller.   

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HOW TO CHOOSE WALL COLOR...

Fabric first.... then paint...

via

Before the first layer of decorating is applied, before the floors and the ceilings, windows and walls, you have to know your palette.  You need to have your colors in mind.

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WHICH WHITE?

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  Sometimes subtlety is the order of the day.  When white is wanted, it doesn't have to be boring, or even very 'white'.  White, like gray or beige or blue, comes in many varieties.  

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INSPIRATION FOR A WALL COLOR

Apologies all around. 

Better Homes & Gardens

 Sometimes life's little challenges get together and decide to all come at once. 

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