This week, I have been musing on the design concept of using, what I call, a “punch color.” And also, how to pick the punch colors that you love.

For those of you who are still not sure what a punch color is after reading these posts: {“the punch color, part one“; and “how to pick your punch colors“}, I thought a little photographic lesson would be helpful. Oh, and fun!

Looking at the following photos, we can identify the punch color or punch colors used in the space, and start to get an idea of why using punch colors is a more accessible and affordable way to use color:

punch color :: yellow:
used in the artwork, a vase, the main color of the bedding, throw pillows, a small upholstered piece, and strategically placed books.
secondary punch color :: orange:
used on the headboard, in the bedding, and in the books.

punch color :: pink:
used in the artwork, throw pillows, a painted side table, and a vase.
secondary punch color :: Yellow-green:
used in the flowers, the vase, and the pillow.

punch color :: blue:
used subtly in the curtains, the teapot, the flowers, the dish towel, the dishes and a few items visible in the glass-door cabinets.

punch color :: citrus:
used in the interior paint of the glass-door cabinets, the displayed fruit, the rug, the hand soap, and the plants.

punch color :: red:
used in just a few places in this outdoor space, it still makes an impact: in the pillows, the painted lanterns, and even the fruit and the wine.

For more ‘beautiful colors’ posts, click here.
For more ‘punch color’ posts, click here.
And thank you to everyone who is cheering me on in my dream of Fieldstone Hill Design.Love Fieldstone Hill? thanks. you rock. Would you consider sharing the love by Following {click Follow in the right sidebar}, Liking on Facebook, or linking here from your blog. I just knew you were awesome!

Favorite Colors

Yesterday, I introduced a decorating concept that I like to call “punch colors.”
You can read about the concept of punch colors here.

Today, let’s figure out how to pick a list of favorite colors /punch colors you can refer to when trying to make interior decor decisions.

First, can you list your favorite colors??
If not, may I humbly recommend that you grab a box of 64 or more crayons {there are 120 of them, people. check the official colors out here or go here for the computer friendly color codes.}, and get in touch with your inner-self a bit. Trust yourself, and pick.

I’ve long since picked, and, my favorite colors are: Orange, Brown, Aqua to turquoise, Fuchsia, Ochre, and Olive to Yellow-Green. {I also love the colors of natural fibers and creams – raw sisal, raw cotton, mochas, raw creams, etc.; but I don’t consider these colors for punch colors}

Part of identifying your favorite colors is that it helps you to create a vision for yourself and your space. It helps you to know what you love. And knowing what you love can only make your home a further reflection of what you love.

So. What are your favorite colors/ punch colors??  Some tips for identifying your favorite high-impact colors for your life and for your home:

1. Snoop in your closet. And don’t forget your accessories. Are there a few colors that you always tend to love. Or do you just buy the colors that “Color me Beautiful” told you to buy?? Well. Ignore those. And see if there are any color schemes that bubble to the surface simply because you like them.
2. Pick up a fabulous home interiors magazine. Which spaces are you drawn to. Do they have a color scheme in common? An accent color that keeps popping up? Check magazines from all different seasons to be sure that you are covering the gamut.
3. If you find yourself always drawn to muted or neutral tones, hunt further to find your favorite punch colors. Find those home interior photos you love, and now look more carefully. Do you see any impact punch colors showing up? Perhaps a huge bouquet of red flowers that catches your eye? A pained kelly green table?
4. Don’t be too afraid if you fear that the colors are too trendy or seasonal. Punch colors are not for use on big ticket, or big time-investment items. This is no place for fear. Not if you want your space to look great.

So pick your favorite colors. Make a list. Pick as many as you want; your list can’t be too long. You need something to play with, after all.

And come back tomorrow, for more on using high-impact punch colors in your space.
-{darlene}

For more ‘beautiful colors’ posts, click here.
For more ‘punch color’ posts, click here.

And thank you to everyone who is cheering me on in my dream of Fieldstone Hill Design.Love Fieldstone Hill? thanks. you rock. Would you consider sharing the love by Following {click Follow in the right sidebar}, Liking on Facebook, or linking here from your blog. I just knew you were awesome!

Do you love color?
Could you use more of it in your home?
Do you have the guts to incorporate color into your home?
Or how about this one: do you have the money to incorporate color into your home?

{house beautiful}

Because let’s face it. Using gutsy colors in your home can be a cost risk.
{for example: “What if I don’t want an orange color scheme in my home anymore? What in the world should I do with my orange velvet sofa that cost me $2,000.00?”       ...get the picture??}
But with a bit of risk there can be great reward.
And great design means using beautiful colors.

My advice for this dilemma?
Be both practical and beautiful:  Use what I call at least “punch color” in each room.

A punch color is one color that you select based on 

1. its color impact/presence
2. its connection to something within the current space
3. and it being a color that you have liked {preferably loved} for more than 6 months, but were possibly afraid to use.

Spurred on by Traci at Beneath my Heart, and her inspiration to organize for the new year, and by my own desire to elevate my own household chores into rituals, I decided to tackle my own kitchen sink. My goal was to bring beauty and organization to this simple space through a few thoughtful touches.

This week, I did a series on ways we can transform our daily chores into rituals through beauty and organization. Hate doing laundry? Dread doing your makeup? Housekeeping? Dishwashing? You can read these posts by clicking here.

Now, on to my sink. I don’t share much about my kitchen because, well, it is in “waiting.” It is waiting for painted cabinets. It is waiting for a new countertop. And, true dreams be told, it is waiting for a 2 1/2 thick stone wall to be demolished. I know.

But in the meantime, I have not focused on beautifying this space. Rather, just keeping it clean {did I mention I have 2 young boys?} has been my only focus.
On that note, I give you my “Before” picture:

The first thing that had to be done, of course, was get to my blank canvas {translation: clean up your sink, darlene.}:

 My focus was to brighten this dark space, to bring life through plants and fruit, and to add the joy of beautiful fragrance.

My additions were:
1.  A favorite silver platter at the backsplash
2.  A fragrant juniper coaster
3.  Colorful and fragrant soaps and lotions, in classic containers.
4.  A rosemary plant in a painted terracotta pot
5.  Three large ball jars
6.  A bright bowl of citrus fruits
7.  A picnic-inspired cotton towel. {this makes it look like I meant for my windowsills to be red, which I did not.}

 

For details on why I chose these special touches to brighten up my sink area, check out my post, “rituals :: the kitchen sink.“

Thanks for stopping by my new dream, Fieldstone Hill Design. I would love to know that you visited! I hope you will follow along and enjoy my home.
– {darlene}

For more “beautiful ritual” posts, click here.
And thank you to everyone who is cheering me on in my dream of Fieldstone Hill Design. Love Fieldstone Hill? thanks. you rock. Would you consider sharing the love by Following {click Follow in the right sidebar}, Liking on Facebook, or linking here from your blog. I just knew you were awesome!