Interiors Series-Ice Blue

Nobody was more surprised than me that this photo took my breath away every time I came across it in my photo file. Quite simply put, blue as we see it here was never a personal colour favorite. Not that I am alone, in 2o yrs as an interior designer never did I ever get asked to do a "blue" room. Most associate it with their grandmother's outdated taste. Having said that, why were there so many "blue" rooms in my photo file? I guess things can change or your tastes evolve because I loving this room by designer Christopher May and this bequiling shade of icy blue, it looks fresh and surprisingly youthful. I think those window drapes (or window treatments as we generically say in the biz) are the absolutely perfect blue colour, length and style. In deciding on the expediture in hanging drapes, there can be two thoughts in designing for a window of this height. Drop the drapes to a more "human" scale by hanging at mid-height and leaving the top arch window open, the less expensive version as it uses less fabric. Some people find this human scale more cosy. Or go for the drama and accentuate the room's grand scale (and that soaring fireplace) but doubling up the fabric and the cost. I was always one for the latter approach even if it was wait-and-save. You know me, 99% of the time more is always better.

This one totally caught me by surprise especially since my parents has chairs exactly like this in the 60's and I sure never thought I wanted to see them again. Something about that rustic stone wall, ceiling beams, brick archway has me thinking this colour is a lovely departure from all the other more predictible colours we often see in rooms of this nature. Sort of a Scandanavian element that has been working it's way into my side view lately.

Fabric-covered walls always going to grab my attention, something I personally would love to do. This room by designer Jane Churchill makes me want me to go wash a new pair of bedsheets, hang them outside to dry, give them a iron, make the bed up nice and crisp and and then fake the flu for a day or two. For some reason, I feel positively and luxuriously domestic when I look at this photo. No small response in my case.

If there is a woman alive who doesn't love this exquisite vignette by

designer Suzanne Kasler , I want to meet her.

This is most definately a woman's bathroom. Forget sharing the sink, I am going to guess this woman isn't even sharing a bathroom. Pure feminine. Pure elegance. And pure beauty. What more could you ask from a woman's private retreat? This ice blue retreat by designer Mary mcDonald makes me warm all over.

Top 3 photos via House Beautiful/4th photo via Willow Decor Blog/5th photo via Flickr