When I think of Easter, I think of egg hunts, bunnies, painting eggs, and soft pastel colors.  Calming blues, romantic pinks, elegant purples, sunny yellows, and nurturing greens like the colors below.

Pinterest

Pastel colors are quite therapeutic.  It really soothes the soul and sets the mood just in time for Easter. Amid all the fun activities from painting Easter eggs to eating chocolate bunnies, take some time for a spring makeover such as adding an egg print accent pillow for your bedroom, pastel planters for your table centerpiece, colorful ceramic egg cartons to hold your decorative eggs, or a bunny burlap bin to store your magazines.  There are many things (big or small) you can do to bring Easter festive decor and spring colors to your space!  Below are some pastel Easter decor ideas & inspiration for you to consider.

Etsy

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Painted furniture is super fun, especially ones that pop and sparkle with color.  Using colors in various hues makes a piece of furniture interesting and it makes a statement that says, “look at me!”  You can DIY by painting the arms or legs of a chair, buying painted peg legs and swapping it out on your sofa, or purchasing them new.  If you have a neutral color scheme in your living room, try painting the legs on your coffee table or side table red, mint green or yellow.  You can also mix and match different types of chairs to include in your dining room such as the Arden Chair by Chris Eckersley and the Jake Chair by Koskela.  Below are some images to inspire you to either DIY in your own way or purchase them online!

Checks and Spots

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Saint Patrick’s day is coming up and it is known for shamrocks, leprechauns, the color green, Celtic dancers, and anything Irish.  I had the wonderful opportunity to travel to Ireland back in May and enjoyed the breathtaking lush green landscapes, the pubs where you can ask for a “hooker” – a pale ale style beer brewed by Galway Hooker, Irish folk music, and Fungie the dolphin gazing at me while kayaking in Dingle.  Ireland is a beautiful country and it IS nature.  The landscape and scenery exudes a rich green which to me represents growth, renewal, energy, harmony, and tranquility.  Using the color green in interiors produces a calming and relaxing mood in the surrounding space.  From lime green to mint green to emerald, there are many various shades and hues of green that you can incorporate in your home to celebrate Saint Patrick’s day this year.  Below are some green home decor ideas to inspire you.

Lushome

Anthropologie

Upcycled Wonders

Red is a popular color and quite appropriate for the month of February. It is used in many well known company logos from Coca Cola to H&M, Target, CNN, Toyota, Adobe, Canon and much more. Red is considered a bold and strong color that evokes certain emotional and physical reactions signifying brand identity. It depicts strength, leadership, and confidence which is why some of the largest companies in the world use the color red.

When I was designing my logo, I knew I wanted to use some red because not only is it one of my favorite colors (next to mint green and burnt orange), but for me, red represents love, warmth, passion, energy, and excitement.  To walk into a space and feel all those emotions is a wonderful sensation. Most people shy away from using bright and bold colors in their home, sticking to safe and neutral colors such as white and beige.  You have to be pretty fearless to paint your walls or kitchen cabinets red. Even a red patterned rug or sofa is daring and courageous for the average person.  However, there are some beautiful, striking, and vivid designs that wouldn’t have been created and implemented without the imagination and braveness of people who chose to be fearless and bold. This Vday, take a risk by letting go of your fears and adding bright colors like red to your space. See the amazing transformations below that can result from being daring and spontaneous.

Emery Design Associates

This modern kitchen designed by Emery Design Associates features sleek, red lacquer cabinetry, modern handles and stainless steel appliances.

 A Cup of Jo

 You can make a DIY project with family and friends fun by painting existing pictures frames Red versus purchasing new.

Lonny

Want to be more daring?  Paint your walls red like this living room of Cath Kidson’s London Home.

Artistic Designs for Living

Not quite ready to paint your walls?  Try a patterned wallpaper in your powder room like this one designed by Artistic Designs for Living

Painting the walls aren’t enough for you?  You can take it a step further and incorporate red patterned rugs and upholstered furniture with red accents like this design from Stef Albert.

2015 is a new year with new design trends and new colors.  Marsala is Pantone’s color of the year.   Gold is making a come back along with wallpaper, indigo/deep blues, mixed metals, four poster beds, graphic tiles, etc…  Fabrics and patterns are on the rise.  Mirrored furniture and Chevron prints are considered “out”.   Interior designers are expected to inform the world what’s in style and what is trending each year.  I think it’s great to be aware, but more importantly, I believe in finding a design style that fits you and lasts as long as you want to keep that style.  Some people follow design trends every year because they want to keep up to date on what’s “in” versus what’s “out”.  They want the latest and greatest.  However, other people don’t want to make changes to their home every year or every time there is a new design trend.  They want a style that lasts and works for them which I think is awesome.  However, if you are someone who wants to not only be informed, but also wants to incorporate at least one design trend in your home (if you feel like a change), you can wallpaper an accent wall in your bedroom or change the color of your walls to Marsala and/or deep blues, or you can add gold and brass accents to your home.  Regardless of what the design trend is for this year, it’s all about finding and owning your design style, being comfortable with your design preferences, and being yourself.

Below are some ideas for what is trending for 2015.

Four Poster Bed – Photo from Details

Pantone Marsala – Photo from Pantone

Deep Blues – Photo from MissAliceDesigns

Brass Pendant – Photo from Iacolimcallister

Graphic Tiles – Photo from Marazzi

What is Feng Shui? Feng means wind and shui means water in the Chinese culture and that has come to represent good health and good fortune. Many people don’t quite understand or connect the significance of feng shui with how it affects your way of living. Feng shui examines how the placement of items within a space affect the energy flow in your living environment, and how these objects interact with and influence your personal energy flow. Your personal energy flow affects how you think and act, which in turn affects how well you perform and succeed in your personal and professional life. I believe it’s important to layout your interior space so that you can allow good “qi or chi” to enter providing you with the maximum level of positive energy to flow and circulate in your surroundings. This harmonizes you with your space and can help improve your way of living. Below are some feng shui do’s and dont’s.

1. Place the bed diagonally to the door or between the door and the window so that you are facing the door but your bed is not directly in line with the door.

2. Do not place your bed directly in front of or underneath a window as energy enters and leaves a room through the windows.

3. Do not place your bed directly across from the door or in line with the door. This placement has your feet pointing towards the door in this arrangement and is the worst possible position since its considered the position of death.

4. Never place your bed on a wall shared by the bathroom.

5. Never place furniture in natural pathways in a room. This will block the energy and cause it to become stagnant and negative.

6. Place a couch against a wall in your living room//family room but not floating in the middle of the room as it allows the energy easily and freely in the surrounding.

7. Clear clutter as much as possible as it can block, interfere, and distort the flow of energy in your space.

Try rearranging your furniture to see how the flow of energy moves around in your space and if you feel an improvement in how you feel.