Blue, I thought I was over you. I thought as soon a Pantone named Turquoise color of the year, I would pack my bags and move onto brighter and more sunny shades. But the fact is, that when done right, you are simply stunning. Rich and moody, or energetic and powerful, and so accommodating in the way you work with just about every other color. Trend or no trend, I need a bit of you in my life.
Confession #1: I love Color. Confession #2: Color on My Own Walls Scares Me. What’s up with that??
Construction is strumming along (mostly on schedule, can you believe it??), and in the near future the Boy and I will need to pick paint colors. Cue constricted chest, hue panic, chromatic anxiety. What if I choose wrong? I don’t want to Go Bold and then want to gouge my eyes out. Or Go Soft and face the fact that I settled for Safe each and every day of my life.
So I’m trying to sike myself up, because while part of me would be quite happy with all white walls, and smartly accented wallpaper bits, THAT is not going to happen in this house. Today’s color of choice: BLUE!
I enjoy blue. Navy and Cobalt are rich and strong backdrops for most other colors. Thanks to Erin, I have been fully educated in the joys of Yves Klein Blue. Don’t know about it? Go forth and learn. I used to love turquoise, but since its been named color of the year, I love it a little less. Damn you, Pantone. I like my blue rich, think Peacock. Here are some rooms that work for me…
It’s my birthday week. I am NOT a birthday person. This year, is particularly hard as the house renovations have me totally tweaked out to the point that I barely feel human right now. I thought it might make me feel a little better to devote the rest of this week to things that make me happy. So today I have compiled an imaginary birthday wish list. Just a few self-indulgent items that make me twinkle for a few bright moments.
In no particular order…
1. These pillows by Madeline Weinrib, because I can never, ever have enough pillows.
And I love these two combined together- the crisp black and white chevron against the colorful embroidered Suzani. While I enjoy the designer pillows, and would surely appreciate the quality, I’d also happily settle for discounted fabrics like this and this sewn into new covers for my existing cushions.
2. Photography classes and a great camera to help me capture moments of beauty.
4. A really good book that I am unable to put down.
5. A week in St Thomas with my hunny and some good friends.
6. A bubble Bath
7. A new bag. Something lovely and designer, that makes me feel like a million bucks.
10. Cocktail Rings that I adore and remember to wear.
I love a little blue in the kitchen.
It can be cheerful, soothing, powerful, or even neutral.
Blue looks great against dark cabinets, or white cabinets, and it makes a lovely accent.
Plus it pairs well with so many colors; green, yellow, purple, gray, brown, white, black, and my current fave orange!
Turquoise is Pantone’s color of 2010, so add a little blue to your space!
I’ll show you how….
My favorite way is a blue island. An island is a great way to add a bit of color to your kitchen without committing to the whole space.
Love this blue island mixed with white cabinets and open shelving. It feels neutral, but the color adds a little fun to the space! Pic via Urban Grace Interiors.
Another white kitchen with a beachy blue-green island. Classy and colorful. Kitchen designed by Shelley Gordon, via House of Turquoise.
A bold blue island looks great against a brass hardware and a Mexican terra cotta tile floor. Pic via House of Turquoise
Or if you are a little more bold, paint all of your cabinets blue!
This kitchen looks rich and invigorating. The black chandelier over the island punches up the space. Pic via Domino Mag.
This light blue kitchen looks great against the dark wood floors. This is a good example as blue as a neutral. Kitchen designed by Linda Banks.
A blue-gray kitchen adds a little color to this space without being over the top. Kitchen designed by Phoebe Howard.
This kitchen is the opposite of neutral, with bold turquoise cabinets and walls. Rich, classy and saturated… I love it! Kitchen designed by Thomas Britt and Peter Napolitano via House of Turquoise
This kitchen contrasts a maple island with blue-green perimeter cabinets. Modern country done right! Pic via House of Turquoise
Aqua cabinets liven up this kitchen. Pic via My Sweet Savannah
Another idea I Love- cabinets with glass doors and painted interiors. This gives you just a pop of blue and will really make white china stand out. Pic via Simply Seleta
Not ready to commit to painting your cabinets? Paint your walls instead! It creates a great space and is easier to change down the road.
Dark cabinets, blue walls and orange chairs. See how fun blue and orange are together? Pic via Decorpad.
Another place to add some blue is in the backsplash of your kitchen. The space between your kitchen counters and wall cabinets is typically 18″. That is just enough space to add a bit of color and personality to your kitchen.
Kelsey Grammer’s kitchen has a blue patterned tile backsplash. Pic via Decorpad.
A subway tile is a classic look for a backsplash. This subway has been updated in a cheerful blue hue. Pic via Sunset Magazine.
This kitchen features blue mosaic accent tiles and medallion, as well as a dark blue granite counter which offset the creamy cabinets nicely. Kitchen design by Design Manifest. Yep, that’s me 
Do you like the idea of Blue, but only want it as a small accent? No problem. It’s very easy to accessorize with blue. Small touches can make a big impact.
I love this blue pantry door. Such a nice surprise in this white kitchen. Pic via House of Turquoise
Don’t forget about lighting! This blue light adds a little modern fun to this country kitchen. Pic via Cote de Texas.
I love how this kitchen features blue barstools. (plus a fabulous wood inlay floor!) Kitchen designed by Mrs Limestone.
Open shelving is a great place to display blue accessories. Accessories add so much personality to a space and are easy to change up when the mood strikes you.
Blue vases add a nice personal touch to this kitchen. Pic via Elle Casa.
An open niche above the refrigerator creates an unexpected display case for blue vases. Pic via Traditional Home Mag
Or be fabulous like designer, Windsor Smith, and paint your whole friggin floor blue! Your probably not brave enough to do it, are you? I’m not!! But I sure do admire it from afar.
