Need a Little Color?

While the polar vortex may be making our days cold and gray, I'm never at a loss for color at my house. As a matter of fact, there are those who think it's a little too colorful around here, especially a designer. I don't care. It's my house, and I like it this way. Besides, I try to tone it down by using neutral furniture with a wide expanse of hardwood floors. I also like to include spots of black and white to balance all the color.

The wine bottles over the stove are just leftover decorations from my wine party. I thought they turned out cute, so they get to stay a little while. I do love my orange tea kettle, and the butterfly collage over the stove. They are my own photos from my own garden, so it reminds me that summer will eventually return.

See, here's the thing. I like using things in my decor that mean something to me. If I hired a decorator, it might look fabulous, but they'd use generic items without heart and soul. So I'll go right ahead and use this corny little stitchery that I made so long ago. I can tell by the initials in the corner that I made it before I was even married.

Would I change anything? Of course! That rippled wood over the kitchen window has got to go! We still haven't installed the granite counters that we want, and I'm considering painting the cabinetry white, while adding a microwave stove hood. And when the appliances start to fade, I'll have to decide whether I'll get stainless steel, or will that already be on its way out? But it won't stop me from displaying my apron just because it's cute...

or a darling teapot.

I try not to worry too much about what others think about it. Someone actually said "Holy $%^&!" when they saw my paint choice, but I just laughed. You see, when I look, I see the picture we bought at a lovely winery, the candle holder I made with pebbles from my hometown beach, or the Indian vase we bought in Sedona Arizona.

 

I can look at this picture and remember the rainy, rainy day when I visited my hometown and there was nothing to do but go through the gift shops, searching for a memento. 

It might not be the most comfy throw pillow, but knowing I got this on a special trip to Mexico is reason enough to put it in my favorite chair.

 Some spots are just plain colorful, with no special memories involved. Are you overloaded with color yet?

And when I get to missing my garden, I have enough houseplants to hold me till it comes back.

 

Even the half bath downstairs is the same bright asparagus green. But I added some sepia toned prints I took of my hometown lighthouse to give it my own touch. And I really like the cabinet we found that turned the pedestal sink into a vessel style set up. 

 Now my whole house is not this colorful. I actually have toned it down in the rest of the house. The dining room has colorful accessories, but is otherwise sedate, at least in my book. 

I have a traditional china cabinet in here, but it's contents are anything but traditional. This is also where I keep my child sized tea set, so that I'll be ready to hold lollipop tea parties with my grandchildren when they get old enough. 

All the colors in my house make it hard to be down hearted, even in the middle of winter. But don't worry, the master bedroom is quite restful in blue and white. Maybe someday I'll show it to you. Since my garden is sound asleep this time of year, I decided to do a few more homemaker type posts in the meantime. After all, my profession these days is Domestic Goddess. That's what my Facebook page says anyway!