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.

Visual Jill's top 5 tips for unique style

We're really excited about the house we just completed. It showcases the top 5 ingredients that we always include in our projects to make them shine.

1. Modern in the mix -- Our designs always include at least a few mid-century modern pieces, mixed in with more transitional styles. In this living room, note the iconic Nelson bench paired with the upholstered green armchairs and white couch.

And in the library, we used our favorite Eames lounge chair with a colorful rug from Joss and Main.

2. Color -- We've said it before, we'll say it again. An amazing accent wall can bring a completely new energy to a room. In the guest room we chose Benjamin Moore's Million Dollar Red, which complemented the rich woodwork in the house.

3. Artwork -- We search high and low for unusual pieces of art for our projects. Some of our best come from flea markets and street fairs. For example, Jill found the fun painting above the child's bed at the Temescal Street Fair. We mix these one-of-a-kind pieces with basics from Ikea and other retailers.

4. Global influence -- Our designs usually include a touch of the exotic -- a painting from Bali, fabric from Tahiti, or a pouf from Morocco, as seen below.

5. Unique accessories -- We look for inspiration pieces that set the tone and/or color scheme for a room. These can be paintings, pillows, vases, or even a funky lamp. In the dining room, for example, the centerpiece vase from Anthropologies filled with succulents is just the right touch for the room.

In the master bedroom, you can see all five of our ingredients working together: modern in the mix (orange ottoman); color (accent wall in Benjamin Moore's Wisteria AF-585); unusual artwork (a painting from Mexican artist Javier Fernandez); global influence (pareu from Tahiti on bed), and unique accessories (Anthropologie pillow).

Inspiration on 4th Street

Whenever we need a shot of inspiration, we head over to Berkeley's 4th Street. We can count on these favorite home decor, crafting and fashion shops to always be merchandised with imagination and style.

Our first stop is often The Gardener, an emporium of exquisite handmade furniture, one-of-a-kind finds from all over the world, beautiful ceramics and jewelry (and, of course, plants). On our most recent visit we saw this wild wire-and-plant wall sculpture:

And we also admired this collection of ceramic bells hanging from rope over a long dining room table:

Leave it to The Gardener to create beautiful displays from humble pieces such as wire and rope!

Another must-see on 4th Street is Anthropologie. As we've talked about here before, we are always blown away by their store displays. Check out this great use of old cans:

Anthropologie is a feast for the eyes and the imagination (not to mention that they have the best clothes and incredible home decor!).

Some of our other favorites on 4th Street are:

Design Within Reach
Convert (the best sneaker selection for women, men and kids!)
CB2 (one of our most-shopped stores!)
Castle in the Air (a magical place full of paper, trimming, and inspiration)
Paper Source

The list could go on and on . . . 4th Street is a must-visit for anyone in the Bay Area who loves good design. Grab a coffee from Peet's and start window-shopping! (And try to make a day of it so you can treat yourself to lunch at Tacubaya!)

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.

Warm and Wonderful Winter Fantasy at Anthropologie

Leave it to Anthropologie to come up with a fresh take on Holiday decorating! We walked into our local Berkeley store yesterday and were awestruck by the clever merchandising and styling throughout.

The ceiling is covered with curly strips of white, silver and bronze paper that hang down to give a snowfall effect, and complementary ivory items are showcased on beautiful tables. There is a touch of sparkle everywhere.

We loved this juxtaposition of the blue chipped painted wheelbarrow with the ethnic-inspired frock. Brilliant!

And check out this original display -- glass globes are suspended on long metal spikes to suggest snowballs.

Of course, since it's Anthropologie, there has to be a few pops of color . . . like the orange wall showcasing these modern-yet-folksy Christmas trees:

We are so inspired by what we saw. Congratulations to the Berkeley Anthro team for creating yet another incredible store environment. Now, time to get out our own Holiday boxes . . .

Decorate

We purchased the book "Decorate" by Holly Becker and Joanna Copestick.  It's helpful to use book as a resource when decorating; you can get lots of inspiration and tips on decorating.  Here are some of our favorite rooms and quotes from the book.  "Decorate" is currently available at West Elm and Anthropologie. 

Outdoor Decor: An Unexpected Room

Porches conjure up so many images: grand Southern porches with rocking chairs and porch swings and pitchers of lemonade, urban stoops piled with potted plants offering a hint of escape from the concrete jungle. To me, porches are like the window seat in a restaurant, or the cafe tables on the sidewalk. I love being able to relax and enjoy the comforts of home, while being a part (peripherally, at least) of the outside world. It's a different feeling from sitting inside, and sometimes, it's the perfect change of scenery. Here's some ideas for making an unexpected (and truly inviting) room from your porch.

CREATE A COMFY CORNER
A few plants go a long way in creating lush-feeling surroundings for the far end of the front porch. And do you recognize that spruce tree in the corner from our Holiday post? The porch is a great place to place your living tree until next holiday season! Throw some fun pillows on the chairs or swing, put out a cozy blanket, and you're all set.

Sketch Book pillow - West Elm :: Spruce tree - Flowerland :: Succulents and small white pots - Flora Grubb

SURROUND YOURSELF WITH PLANTS
For some easy modern art objects, we love these new hanging bubbles from West Elm. Air plants have been showing up all over the place, and they are the perfect occupants for these glass houses. When paired with some beautiful moss-covered branches they feel fresh and calming.

Bubbles - West Elm :: Air plants and mossy branches - Flowerland

HANG-OUT
Placed next to the front door, these chairs are so comfortable you might just sit and stay a while after taking off your rain boots or muddy shoes. A sunny splash of mustard yellow makes them even more enticing and inviting. I can just imagine sitting here with a friend enjoying a hot cup of coffee, fresh scones from The Cheeseboard, and the Sunday edition of the New York Times...

Mustard pillows - Anthropologie :: Solid pillows - West Elm :: Owl - Flowerland

FREE YOUR ART
For a bit of unexpected delight, try hanging or placing some artwork outside. This sweet, colorful canvas was a flea market find, and while it might not fit-in on a wall of Picasso's, it's perfectly at home (and wonderfully refreshing) leaning casually against the window surrounded by plants.

Painting - Alameda Antique Fair :: White pots - Ikea :: plants - Flowerland

So whether you've go a full-sized, southern-style wrap-around, or just a bit of stoop under the awning, there's no reason your porch should be ignored. A chair, a cushion, and a plant can set you up to enjoy a whole new "room" of your house, and maybe get to know the neighborhood!

* Credits: Kyoko Jackson - photography