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.

Making a small home live big

Are you familiar with the saying "Less is More"? Well, last week we staged a home that really exemplifies this statement. The builders made such efficient use of the limited space that they were able to include an office, a game room, and a great outdoor area in addition to the two bedrooms, 1 bath and living room/dining room.

We chose our paint and decor color palette carefully to create an easy flow between the different sections of the house.

All photos courtesy of Lisa Ratner.

The front door opens into the living room, where we used a soothing mix of blue, grays and whites.

From the living room you can look past the beautiful wood columns (with closets inside!) into the dining room, kitchen and office. The blues, grays and whites continue, with an unexpected splash of yellow in the office.

The full chalkboard wall in the office is a fun (and useful) detail.

The two bedrooms are small but packed with character. We think the bright accent walls make the spaces have a bigger impact.

As great as the inside of the house is, it's the back deck, patio and plus room that really make it stand out among other small bungalows in the area.

The deck is accessible via french doors from the office or the master bedroom.

From the deck stairs you enter a good-sized patio that includes vegetable beds. It leads into the bonus room (doors on left), which is next to the garage.

Here's the diagram of the layout, where you can really see how well the space is used.

We are so impressed that such a small home can feel so spacious and livable.

We love CB2's lookbook

Have you visited CB2 lately? We think they got it just right this season -- great colors, shapes and textures. Their latest catalog is full of inspiration -- here are some of our favorite spreads.

This photo shows how you can use bold and modern items in an older home with wood trim and details. The juxtaposition of old and new is exciting and fresh.

We admire how they've mixed colors here -- cool and warm tones against a neutral gray wall. The artwork ties everything together.

On an opposite note, these white walls and other neutrals get just a pop of color from the fabulous new green sofa. The expert mixing here comes in the form of texture -- sleek plexiglass, rich leather, painted wood and smooth fabric.

And if you need some pillows to inject a new feel to your bedroom or living room, look no further. CB2 has a terrific assortment (we've already picked up a few ourselves).

Spring 2013 fashion colors work in the home too!

Pantone, the world-renowned authority on color, has released its official Spring fashion color trends. And we love them.

In fact, we've been using most of these colors in our latest decorating projects -- via accent walls and accessories.

Dusk Blue
Our choice for this tone is Buxton Blue by Benjamin Moore. It makes a wonderful accent wall in a bedroom, as you can see here in our latest project . . .

(photo by Liz Rusby)

Grayed Jade

For a soft greenish blue, we really like Covington Blue, and we often use it in bedrooms as well for a calm, peaceful feeling.

(Photo by Liz Rusby)

Tender Shoots

It's no secret that we love bright greens! In another bedroom, we used Stem Green to create a bright and playful vibe.

Lemon Zest

Our go-to sunshine color is Laguna Yellow, which is bright without being too neon. We've used it in bedrooms, kitchens and offices (below).

Poppy Red

Reds can be tricky, especially if you want to find the right color for an accent wall. We made a bold impact with Million Dollar Red in this bedroom.

Of course, you can use these bright colors in a room without painting a single wall. In this living room from our latest house, we injected color through pillows, artwork and other accessories.

(photo by Liz Rusby)

Neutrals + Bright Color = A Fresh Look for an Older Home

Last week we staged a home for sale in Oakland's hot NOBE (North Oakland Berkeley Emeryville) neighborhood. It's a big old house that's been skillfully renovated, leaving many of the original details in tact. When choosing the color palette for this house, we focused on soothing neutrals -- especially grays -- complemented with pops of bold, cool colors.

The entrance hallway is painted an inviting blue.

All the trim in the living room and dining room are a medium-gray semi-gloss. We carefully chose the right accessories -- a teal tray, citron pillows, a fuchsia orchid -- to provide bright spots throughout.

The office nook features a dark gray chalkboard wall -- a great backdrop for the bold accessories.

In the master bedroom, paler gray walls are an unexpected partner to a lavender accent wall and orange rug.

A tranquil blue-green color balances the white trim and dark floors in the guest room.

And finally, in the nursery we chose a (perhaps unlikely) bright green rug and bold blue pouf to contrast the otherwise neutral room.

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 2: Bright Colors and DIYs

Some of the most refreshing holiday decor we've seen falls outside of the traditional red, white and green color palette. It's fun to incorporate brights and neons for a change.

For example, in Jill's living room, we went with a "black, white and color" theme:

We also love this happy garland from Midget Gems featured on Apartment Therapy:

(via Apartment Therapy)

Your table settings and centerpieces are an easy opportunity to add color. For Jill's holiday place settings, we set out a bowl of bright Christmas balls and then carried the color through the ribbons tied around the napkins:

We tucked an air plant under the ribbon as a modern alternative to the traditional fir tree clipping.

Two DIY projects add some extra fun to our decorations. On the kitchen wall, we hung an original art piece created by Lauren Hosmer from our team.

Lauren glued mini-cookie cutters together (get out your glue gun!) and then painted some of the interiors with red acrylic paint. After hanging the piece with clear fishing line, she inserted a few air plants for a funky touch.

Lauren also created the dramatic vases on the living room table:

Lauren transformed simple wine, Perrier and sake bottles using acrylic paint and painter's tape. (Hint: remove the labels from the bottles and paint the white layer before adding the colorful stripe!) 

What's your current holiday color scheme? Do you have a favorite Holiday DIY? Share them with us in the comments below!