"and she was fair as is the rose in May"

Geoffrey Chaucer famously described both women and roses as fair; however today's color is Withered Rose and fair it is not...instead it is Influential, Persistent and Curious.
While admitting that I have never been a huge rose fan (need I refer you to my Valentine's Day rant on them...) there is something to be said for its' classic romantic symbolism (would still prefer a bouquet of peonies) but the color itself is soft, pleasing and a bit unexpected in a home.
 While I don't know a single man who is going to jump at the prospect of this shade of pink showing up on their walls it does result in a sophisticated romantic elegance

and it works surprisingly well in a more modern setting

as an accent to blue it pops more pink and is extremely cheerful and fresh- not quite as serious as it is when paired with more traditional neutrals

Or if you are really bold...take it to the exterior!

If today's your birthday then you should wear and surround yourself with this dusty pink color to help you ease the conflicting parts of your nature and and remind yourself to honor the unique and special parts of yourself and others

Henna on the walls...

SOLD! I am a new believer in Colorstrology...yesterday's color was described as Exciting, Captivating and Provocative...guess who wore a Woodrose bow tie last night on the finale of Gossip Girl???

If you have read my blog before you probably knew there would be a Chuck Bass reference but did you ever think it would be in relation to a posting about mauve?

So today is 19-1334 Henna...Committed, Dependable and Driven

Not so much- when I thing Dependable for interior design

First thing I think of  is a worn in leather sofa...

But taking a nod from the name go ahead Commit and splash it on the walls...

On the walls it is rich and dramatic- playing with the sheen of it changes it completely- taking it from cozy to sexy with light dancing off of it. Most people would be terrified of creating a cave but using soft hued neutrals with it helps keep it light- stay with one shade of neutral (gasp- you can use beige here!) but execute it with different textures within that color- think slubby linens and basket-weaves next to soft mohair velvets and rich silks...but stick with natural fibers- and add in some nature with jute and sea grass.

If today's your birthday you should wear and surround yourself with this color (not actual henna) to help keep you calm and centered when you are avid about something.

Not your grandmother's mauve...

I have a new favorite toy...Colorstrology by Michele Bernhardt- she has taken 366 Pantone colors and assigned them to a day and for each day she gives the meaning of the color and tells what that color means about and for you if that should be your birthday... hooky- yes of course it is but I love the idea- way better than astrology!

So I flipped to today to give it a whirl... May 16th color 16-1806 Woodrose. 

Exciting

Captivating

Provocative

- yes those are the descriptors of this purplish shade of mauve... and I actually really like this color!

Wisteria has this great dhurrie on sale- what a great springtime rug to throw down and lighten things up!

it also makes a surprisingly chic backdrop for neutral uphostery 

the hint of pink makes it a romantic choice for accessories

The actual Hawaiian woodrose is a bit more purple than it's Pantone namesake

toned down in a light hue on the walls is soft and elegant

Loreal makes a woodrose eye palette that is perfect for all those brown eyed girls like myself

Teamed with purple this demure color is sexy and sophisticated and surprisingly fresh

Paired with grey it pops purple

paired with more creamy whites and it goes a bit more pink

Regardless- this isn't your grandmother's mauve and you shouldn't be afraid of it- and hey if today's your birthday: "wearing, meditating or surrounding yourself with the color Woodrose heightens your spiritual awareness and connects you to a higher purpose" 

one terabyte later...

Computers are a funny thing- they are a wealth of information at our fingertips that we take granted until they stop working...But the reality is- when my computer went down- I really didn't rush to fix it or replace it. It was kinda nice for 2 weeks to just not deal with it...enjoy the spring that is in full swing and just look from a new perspective at things...
That being said I was reading the paper one morning- oh yes I do that on occasion (yes- it is the style section but it still counts!) and on one of the last pages was a single page article on one of Rome's grandest illusions...Palazzo Spada.

What appears to be a long majestic gallery is in fact a fabulous 17th century joke...

Francesco Borromini's perspective colonnade is less than 30 feet deep and those soaring ceilings are not quite so...  with just enough room for a small human to stand upright at the very end.

It got me thinking about how every now and then it is good to stop...stand back and make your brain work a little. And while I am not proposing quite as grand an illusion in your home- there are some amazing pieces on the market right now that will make you stop in your tracks for a minute...

This off kilter table appears to rest on a single leg

One would immediately thing there is something funny going on with the cording of these lamps however a carefully placed diffuser on the top part of the shade makes the suspension wire appear almost invisible

These ghost like German made Grand Illusion tables appear to be floating silk but are actually molded acrylic

Yet another floating lamp- this one combines a table making it the perfect modern piece to drop in anywhere

possibly one of my favorite finds- the lamp for every decor! using mirrors and quarters of lamps you have 4 unique and different lamps in one!

The spilling lamp that utilizes colored LEDs to give the illusion of pink tea pouring out onto you work surface

The slashed chair that somehow supports a full grown man on a single leg...once you realize that the rug it is sitting on is not optional because it covers a huge metal plate it all makes a little more sense

Hands down one of my favorites- the dripping table- although I wish it wasn't red- looks like it belongs in a crime scene but still any artist or renegade DIY'er can appreciate the humor of this piece...

technical difficulties...

Pardon my lack of postings...I am having a love/hate with computers...as soon as I get my mess of a laptop sorted out and working again I'll have new posts... but thanks for checking to see if there is something new!