Color Inspiration: Yellow

It's the color of daffodils, sunshine, and Spring. In honor of this being the first day of March, I'm showing off some of my favorite yellows . . .

(image via Poppytalk)

I can't help but drool over these smooth, modern yellow cabinets. Those of you who think yellow is just for country kitchens -- think again!

The cover of the new West Elm catalog, featuring this sunny Everett chair, made me smile.

I'm so happy that CB2 has reinvented the traditional Mexican Acapulco chair . . . check out their Ixtapa chair in these delicious colors!

Our favorite yellow paint color is Laguna Yellow (Benjamin Moore 291). It really made this kitchen and dining room that we staged glow.

And speaking of Benjamin Moore, they've selected Lemon Sorbet as their color of the year. This buttery yellow brings a soft brightness to surfaces.

Do you use yellow in your home decorating? Tell us about it, in the comments below.

Singing the blues (indigo, that is!)

It seems everywhere we look we find new ideas in denim and indigo. Across fashion, furniture, accessories and decor -- the saturated rich blue is prevalent.

Indigo has long been a versatile and favorite color among designers. This indigo color palette created by legendary color expert Eve Ashcroft was featured on Remodelista, showing the wide variety of possibilities within the color family:

For a truly over-the-top indigo scene, check out John Robshaw's bedroom, featuring his own products.

(from Elle Decor, December 2012)

That headboard! Those bed linens! And that deep blue wall color!

The living room below offers a more subdued use of the powerful blue -- set off beautifully by the otherwise neutral palette.

(from Elle Decor, December 2012)

On a recent shopping trip to the Temescal district, we stopped in Esqueleto, which is featuring some beautiful dyed bags and throws from local artists Job & Boss. They are created using a traditional Japanese Shibori method.

And our good old stand-by, West Elm, also offers some great indigo treats for your home.

The Watercolor Brushstroke wall art, $199

The Sweep Armchair, on sale right now for $594.

When it comes to fashion, look no farther than Anthropologie and this cute Patchwork Chambray button down shirt:

How do you show off your indigo? Let us know in the comments below.

Happy (Organized) New Year!

Like many people, I set New Year's "intentions" (I prefer this term to "resolutions"). Always at the top of the list is "become more organized in my daily life". If this sounds familiar, this post is for you. Here's a roundup of some cool products and ideas that can help you get better control over your stuff in 2013.

These bright Lacquered Boxes from The Container Store come in three different sizes -- just right for storing your jewelry, holding your recipes, or color-coding your son's Legos!

Nothing's better than cozying up on the sofa with a new magazine and a cuddly throw . . . but where to keep those mags and blankets when not in use? Try these Felt Baskets from West Elm.

This red cart from Target was designed for a kid's room . . . but I could see it holding pantry goods in your kitchen or paper in your home office . . . wherever you could use a shot of color.

(via Pinterest, via Molly Hayes, originally from quickandsimple.com)

This idea is so simple yet so brilliant. Use an old file holder to organize and store your cutting boards!

I just love this Sticks Multi-Hook Rack from Umbra. A cool modern answer to the ongoing question: "Where do we put all these jackets?"

This photo is from Jill's own closet . . . no need to buy expensive jewelry holders when a simple hook rack will do the trick! Try a similar one from Ikea and corral your bracelets and necklaces all in one place.

For those of us who prefer to have our storage labeled, these cute-yet-modern containers from West Elm are the perfect addition to the kitchen.

(via Pinterest, originally from decor8)

Organize your household projects, blog ideas or client notes with dedicated clipboards!

 Find these colorful ones at a Target store near you.

(via babble)

Those of us with kids are always on the lookout for organized ways to display their prolific artwork. I love this idea of using the Dignitet curtain wire system from Ikea to create a wall gallery.

(via Kirtsy)

And who says a shower caddy has to stay in the shower? It also happens to make a great mini-giftwrap station -- keep your cards, tape, scissors, and gift wrap all in one place.

What are your favorite organizing items and ideas? Please -- share them with us in the comments below!

Holiday Decorating, Part 1: Stockings

Nothing says Christmas like stockings bulging with goodies, hung over a roaring fire. But if you don't have a fireplace (or even a mantel), stockings can still be part of your holiday decorating scheme. They bring the holiday spirit whether hung from doorknobs, on wall hooks, or even on an empty coat rack!

At Jill's own house, she hangs her stockings on her stair bannisters, and varies the style of the stockings from year to year. This holiday she found these charming, colorful and unique stockings at the Alameda Flea Market.

She also bought a set of minis for the pets in the family!

Last year we added gold chain to the greenery with the stockings on the bannister:

If you're still searching for the right stockings, here's a few cool ones we found:

White and fluffy from West Elm.

Colorful stripes from LIVbyLouise on etsy.

Graphic and modern by StudioTree on etsy.

Colorful -- and customized -- from Urban Creative, also from etsy.

Where do you hang your stockings? And what's your favorite thing to find inside your stocking? Let us know in the comments below!

Five Fave Updates for Fall

We know that Fall doesn't officially arrive until September 22, but it definitely feels like summer is ending. Maybe it's the sound of kids walking to school outside my front window, or maybe it's the fat Fall issue of Vogue that's in the mailbox . . . the seasons are getting ready to change.

You might be in the mood for some changes in your home decor as well. Here are five easy things you can do to introduce a new burst of seasonal energy in your home.

Add some green. Try a brighter, deeper green on an accent wall, or just on one piece in your room.

In this home office, we used Benjamin Moore's Dill Pickle on one wall, as well as bits of green in the accessories (colored pencils and file folders). We also love Split Pea from Benjamin Moore, which we painted on this bedroom accent wall and then picked up in the pillows, below.

Place a pouf. We've written about our love for poufs before. Fall is a great time to incorporate a pouf in a deep jewel tone or a strong neutral.

Here we've teamed a gray Moroccan pouf with the Everett Striped Chair from West Elm . . . which brings us to our next idea . . .

Go gray. OK, maybe not your hair, but how about your walls? Or a sofa? Or a rug? As we said last month, gray is really the freshest neutral for your home.

Pick a printed or patterned pillow. A new trend we're loving is two-sided pillows, each featuring a different color or pattern.

Both of these fun pillows are from Anthropologie, always a great place for unique home items.

It's like getting two pillows for the price of one. Just a single new patterned pillow can really wake up your sofa or bed.

And finally, incorporate a personal artifact into your decorating. Maybe it's a painting you bought on the streets of Spain, or some shells you picked up on your summer beach trip. Below, Lauran hung an old metal winery sign that she got at an Italian flea market (and hand carried back on the plane home!) in her dining room.

To add a little "zen" to her home, Jill showcases a Balinese sculpture and prayer beads that she bought at The Dry Garden Nursery.

Try one or two of these ideas this Labor Day weekend . . . and your home will be ready for the changing seasons.

Modern Goes Global

The global decorating trend is still going strong. It's easier than ever to find unique objects that can take your home from "modern" to "modern eclectic."

For example, we just discovered a local treasure called Ring of Fire, which imports goods from Bali and Southeast Asia. Look at these colors and textures -- so inspiring!

Used strategically, these treasures can really add an extra pop to an otherwise modern space. We picked up a few of these gorgeous umbrellas to brighten up our backyard . . .

. . . and we found these beautiful white boxes that add an exotic touch to our modern orange bench.

And check out this painting, created by a Balinese street artist -- you'd think we bought it in a gallery rather than an import store!

Here in Berkeley, there are many import stores that offer eclectic decor options. For Moroccan treasures, check out Sahara, and African Fashion, Gifts and Crafts Center is full of goods from all over Africa.

Many major retailers have also jumped on the global bandwagon. West Elm's newest collection includes pieces created by Potter's Workshop, a South African artist collective.

Also at West Elm are the Kuba Benches, covered in a traditional handwoven Congolese textile called Kuba cloth. Each is one-of-a-kind.

And CB2 offers "One of a Finds"-- described as "original works created in collaboration with passionate artisans we discover on our travels around the world."

You can make a big impact in your home by adding unexpected items, especially when they're from another part of the world. Use an Indian sari as a tablecloth, or put your mail in a handwoven basket from Guatemala. Keep your eyes open for unique finds -- and bring a global touch to your modern space.

Design in a Snap!

We just completed a quick interior refresh for a lovely client who wanted to bring more color to her living space. This is an "after" picture . . . .

The "before" pictures are very tasteful as well. Her home was remodeled two years ago, saturated with browns, beiges and off whites -- as seen in the next four photos.

In preparation for spring, she asked us to refresh the rooms with brighter colors. We used her new doormat as our color inspiration:

We set out to find accessories in these key colors -- chartreuse and aqua blue. We visited Lotus Bleu in San Francisco and discovered just the right pillows, plus a throw and a basket. Then we added ceramics and glass accessories from West Elm in complimentary whites, blues and greens. Here are the results . . .

 We also incorporated some items she already had to create new displays for her dining room table and for the window shelf in front of her sink.

This is a fun and quick way for us to work with clients -- bringing a burst of energy to their rooms at a reasonable rate.