I'm "green with envy" over these rooms...

I love the color green.  From chartreuse to forest green, there's a hue for everyone.  It's the color of life -- nothing gives me more joy than the appearance of the first green crocus shoots sprouting up from the cool earth signaling springs arrival.  In home decor, green adds energy and warmth to a space.  It pairs well with many colors including navy, yellow, white, orange, purple, peach, lavender, pink and brown -- and you can use dark or light woods and all the metallics, so it's very versatile.  If an entire green room is not your thing, you can still enjoy it by adding some green covered pillows, a green velvet ottoman, or matting your favorite black and white photos or artwork in green with black frames.  

Here are some of my favorite green rooms...

A fabulous use of green as an accent in the sofa pillow border, artwork and rug.  And a gorgeous example of how well green works with metallics -- I want that chrome coffee table!

Amazing green room.  The gorgeous peach silk curtains and white upholstered furniture keep the formal style airy and comfortable. 

I want to live in this room! I love the eclectic style and use of rich patterns and textures that make this room sophisticated and quirky at the same time. 

A beautifully tailored and open room that uses subtle green tones to add interest and warmth.

Wow!  A fantastic punch of green with dark wood furniture, black fireplace mantle and gilded mirror.  I get an immediate rush from looking at this room.  

This is a lively green that pops even more when viewed as part of this fun vignette of colorful ties and artwork.  The white ceiling and wainscotting keep it from being too dark and busy.

You can never go wrong with handpainted wallpaper, but when you do it in a fabulous light olive green like this, you'll never tire of it...

I have an affinity for laquered walls, and I love this olive color.  It's sophisticated and chic and works beautifully with the antique french mahogany and leather chair.

Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous!  The green walls and sofa could easily overwhelm a poorly designed room, but in this room, the use of a mirrored fireplace wall as well as neutral modern tables, a large white-bordered painting, silverleaf mirror and crystal chandelier help to ground the room.  The beautiful red wood floors break up the color and add interest.  An amazing room!

Tangy, quirky, spicy -- that's how I see this room and definitely not for the faint of heart...

One of my all-time favorite green rooms done by Sheila Bridges, one of the most talented interior designers in the industry today.  This is the room I want to create in my own home some day. 

Simply beautiful...

A chic and modern room that's beautiful to look at and comfortable to be in.  Although there's a lot of green in here, the white keeps it clean and open.  Lovely.

de Gournay handpainted wallpaper and orange velvet dining chairs.  There's nothing more to say.

Have a lovely green day...
http://www.verdigris.bondandbowery.com/

The Power of Red...

Happy Valentine’s Day

Not for the faint of heart, red rooms inspire passion and promote appetite. Whether you add a dash of red to spice up a neutral palette or go all out and paint every wall red -- a laquered red wall is to die for -- you’re sure to ignite interest and get conversations going in a red room. 

Here are a few examples of how to do it right…

Love the red wall with black frames and chesterfield settee.  A great way to mix traditional and modern and soften the edges.  The white club chair and midcentury Warren Platner steel case side chair lighten up the feel of the room and add interest.

This is a fabulous room with mesh steel divider and red accents that serve to add some punch to an otherwise neutral palette.  The subtle asian influence creates interest without overwhelming.  Just beautiful...

 Those fabulous red laquered walls speak for themselves! 

A great way to use red without the long-term commitment.  Red drapes along an entire wall.  This room looks rich, luxurious and comfortable. 

 DeGourney wallpaper and shiny red leather.  This is what I want my office to look like!

Chic, modern and tasteful.

A lone red Arne Jacobsen "egg" chair draws the eye into the room and makes it super chic and comfortable.  I just want to lounge in that chair in front of the fireplace all night...

A fresh and tangy palette that keeps the room open and airy...

I love the simplicity of this room.  The midcentury red velvet swivel chair is just what it needs to keep it from looking drab.

A beautiful way to do a traditional library.  The chairs keep it from being too intense.  The flowers make it happy and welcoming.

 The Red Room at the White House.  An appropriate way to end with Red in grand style...

* photo credits: ELLE DECOR, Travel and Design, Peak of Chic