Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Going groovy with Lavender

Hey, I am all for computer upgrades, things moving faster and 100's of new fonts. I did ask for this. This photo is supposed to be at the bottom of this post but today is the day of computer reckoning. One failed attempt after another while I go on a blind date with something that I am supposed to love in the end. I love computer technology, just not the dating part. I am trying to make friends with Windows 7 and Adobe Photoshop on one computer and all those Mac programs on another. I don't know why these two companies just don't get married and get it over with once and for all. Life and technology could be so much more pleasant and zen-like if they did. This is like dating two guys at once........not that I ever did that before.

The physical characteristics of our Master Bedroom are very similar to the room above so beautifully designed by Jeffrey Biluber. The high ceiling slope, the windows, the generous proportions, and a well-used fireplace . Our walls are painted a warm and cosy "milk chocolate' (the husbands request), the furniture of large scale and a beautiful design. So why on earth do we not have a headboard and draperies (we do have shutters) that will grandly finish this room once and for all? A son in school, a business launch, a designer hiatus, and a whole lot of indecisiveness about what that defining colour should be, the one colour that will sweep me off my feet and keep me happy for years to come. I am not and never have been a short-term designer. But I am a very patient one.

To be fair to myself, when we built our custom Jack Arnold French Country home eleven years ago every other interior room was 99.9% done and decorated, every paint colour, every wallpaper, furniture placed, every picture hung, every accessory in its spot, so it's not that I was a design slouch. To this day there is little I would change and I still love my home. Every once in awhile I get the urge to downsize into the smallest little cottage, but that usually passes for now as it does with most of us. When I came across these photos using varying shades of purple................well I knew I had found the "it" colour. Milk chocolate and lavender, maybe some accents in eggplant. My teenage attic bedroom was a groovy purple so it will be a sentimental choice even if I twist the tone to a more elegant one. I also have a thing for natural linen so sometimes one photo, one colour combination, can answer all your colour questions.

Colour trends mean nothing to me and never did even when working with clients. If anything, it meant that that colour was going to saturate the market quickly and you know what happens when it starts showing up everywhere.........it becomes dated real quick. To some clients who were eager to jump on what they saw as being current, I appeared like I was out of the loop. If anything I was always trying to protect them, to see past the expired date that was just ahead. It is one thing to wear a fashionable and trendy colour, quite another to dress up a whole room or house. The easy answer is to do what decorating magazines tell you to do when you want to indulge a colour whim, test it out. Throw pillows, a couple vases, or some framed prints. And this theory does work, a temporary dose of aqua has quickly told me this tranquil colour just doesn't have the drama this room wants and needs. I am going to go for it............a groovy kind of lavender. My heart is telling me it is the colour of my dreams.

Top photo by Polly Wreford via Sarah Kaye/2nd photo by designer Jeffrey Bilhuber via Southern Accents/3rd Photo by Dallas designer Shannon Bowers via Veranda/Bottom Photo via Traditional Home

31 comments:

  1. so beautiful and so beautifully said...

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  2. Whatever you choose will be beautiful and I hope you share the results with us. Like you, I've never been one to follow colour trends. I've had blue/gray for years, and tell my husband that the design world is finally catching up!

    Have a wonderful day!

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  3. I very much like your way of thinking and not to jump at every current trend, it's far more important to have your own personality. And I love lavender, though I'm talking more about the actual plant here since I have only last Friday received a 3kg bag full of the stuff and my entire house smells of it - heaven. Beautiful photographs, have a lovely day Carole xx

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  4. I like your thought process and the way you think and I say "go for it". The gut is always right!!!
    xo

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  5. I'm with you about trends...we can get very tired of it..(that said, I hope the toile de Jouy is more seen as a classic than a trend because i'm doing my bedroom all in blue toile).

    Soft lavender seems to work with most of colors...Love it! :-)

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  6. I love these images and that you found the color that speaks to you! I agree with you on color trends. But I doubt anyone as elegant as you could ever be considered "out of it".

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  7. Beautiful post, Sande. Have been so busy and haven't left comments, but always grab a look a your lovely blog. Love the china!
    Teresa

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  8. I find your approach when it comes to colors to be so refreshing!I feel absolutely the same way when creating hats - color trends mean nothing to me too. I loved touches of lavender incorporated in the interiors on the pictures - looks beutiful!:-)))
    Well, I would also suggest wearing trilbe. :-) Trilbe is a close sister of Fedora and another perfect example of chic wearble hat. Thank you for your very generous complement to my Dior treasure. :-)Wishing you wonderful week filled with inspirations and joy.

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  9. I agree. Go always with your heart/gut. Once I see a trend arriving at the big box stores, they don't seem so intriguing any longer. You have such impeccable taste ! xoxo

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  10. Ohhh...Purple and Toile....LOVELY!

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  11. All white, navy, khaki, cream, aqua, and the right shades of gray and pinky peach have been my favorites since I was a teen.

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  12. You should go for the colors that make your heart sing! For me, a touch of Red or Aqua have always done that, so I have alwyas put just a touch of those two in my interiors.

    Lavender is such a glorious, restfull color. perfect!

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  13. I have never been one to follow the trends either, and find I am happy when others have grown tired. I am just redoing our bedroom in lavender and linen/khaki, however, because I find it a very tranquil color! It was great seeing these ideas!! You have a wonderful sense of style that I love!!

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  14. You are oh so right....I love the rooms pictured, very elegant and chic ~ with a twist. Isn't that dinner setting gorgeous in the last, especially with the warm wood background.

    Good luck with all those marriages honey....
    xoxo

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  15. I agree 100 %. Lavender is my favorite color, and lavender with linen makes me swoon. I've already decided that in my next house, my study/office is going to be in shades of lavender, linen, and celery. Crazy, I know, because I haven't even found my next house yet, but this is what my heart and gut tell me.

    I love the idea of lavender and milk chocolate--beautiful!! Thanks for the beautiful photos, too. xo Gigi

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  16. I agree with you on accents rather than full colour!

    Lavender, deep purple, plum, mauve etc are all wonderful and have such a soothing effect if used in moderation and in harmony with neutrals.

    Love pic no. 2 - amazing!

    xCharlotta

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  17. Beautiful images. I'm not typically a lavender person, but I like the touch of color with the neutrals.

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  18. Oh YES! So soothing and so wrapable!!
    {is that a real word?}! Love every inch of this post! Lavender never leaves gorgeous style~~
    XO

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  19. Personally, I find color trends so annoying. Especially because I tend to choose whatever color isn't of the moment, and struggle to find what I'm looking for. Then, 6 months later, when I've finished my project, the color I loved is EVERYWHERE.
    And Mac is always better :)

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  20. I love these images and the first one is gorgeous with the lavender and lilac. One of the fabrics is a Manuel Canovas toile which I am actually going to use on one of my jobs. Can you believe it! Beautiful post as always!
    Happy Easter!
    Frances

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  21. There is something to be said about a warm splash of lavender.
    I got a chuckle out of your computer dance. I am takng an online class for photoshop. I'll just say an experience all the way around for me, but I'm learning somethings. smile... xo

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  22. XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

    Hello Friend, I love love love your blog, it‘s very interesting!!! I really like your style!! i‘ll visit you many times for sure honey.

    XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

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  23. love your post today. the color combo is beautiful. i say go for it!
    kathi

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  24. Another lovely post, Sande, full of all kinds of truisms! I agree, linen and lavender is perfect and restful to the sense, for when I see the color lavender I also SMELL lavender; have a wonderful day...Andrea

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  25. Dear Sande,
    Lavender is such a beautiful colour. Not only is the fragrance beautiful and calming but it seems to have the same effect in soft furnishings. Every image is wonderful.
    Trends will come and go but, this classic look is beautiful, always. XXXX

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  26. You are just the kind of designer I would put complete trust in. You look out for their best interests. Trends are fun but they are 'trendy', simply put! When they launch the color of the year I run the other way. I adore the lavenders, and whatever you do I am 100% certain it will be stunning. Averill who has the blog Odi et Amo had some terrific examples of lavender & purples interiors today. I can just see you Sande in your hip, mod, purple attic bedroom as a teen. Did you have flower power decals like I did? Happy Easter to you and your family. xx hugs

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  27. Sande, I love where you are going with your Master. I so agree about trends, I have never been a trend girl I usually go running the opposite way. I did a post on Lavender/Lilac a while back I don't know if you would like any more inspiration but I do have quite a few pictures of Lav. and Lilac. Can't wait to see what you do. Kathysue

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  28. Love your blog, love your writing! I'm still laughing about the whole "dating" analogy, when it pertains to computers. You are a darling!

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  29. I love the lavender, so pretty.I just bought some new spring bedding with light lavender. Looking forward to spring and your inspiration. Helen

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  30. Sande, oh my gosh!!!! What a beautiful blog. Lovely home!! Lovely person!!

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Your comments are such a lovely addition to my day. Thank you.

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