Blushing Neutrals

It seems with spring in the air the colors of pale pastels and flowering buds and a fresh new color scheme come to mind.  

Here is a current color board we are working on:

PBI

Our inspiration began with the pillows in this colorway from Williams Sonoma Home.

Using this color scheme is a great way to morph a beige or gray room into a current version.

Have you used these colors?

PBI Office Project

A quick 2nd floor interior design expansion happened this November for a former office client we designed 5 rooms for a year ago. The partners at Meridian Financial Partners  could not be nicer to work with. With 'carte blanche' we installed a reception area and two large offices, continuing the vibe from the first floor. The two level townhouse in historic old town Warrenton, VA, exudes character, with  light filled rooms, hardwood floors and a 3rd floor loft surrounded by glass.  

Here are some iPhone peeks:

Here is how it all began:

I am so thankful to be able to choose the people I work with as well as having the freedom to make my own hours and earn a living doing what I love.

What do I want to do when I grow up? I'm doing it.

I wish the same for you. 

Happy Holidays!

What's new

Update: Our new blog link is: www.powellbrower.blogspot.com since we launched our website on www.powellbrower.com .  Sorry for any inconvenience! 

We hope you continue to follow along!

The hours I spend on blogs and pinterest have been minimized lately, cause honestly, I am not seeing much that's new and unique these days.  The internet can provide inspiration and you can mimic others style, but to create a look all one's own, creativity has to come from within.

As I get ready to do a lite makeover of my kitchen, my previous plan was white cabinets.  That is all you see these days, and to me, not unique anymore. 

 This beauty caught my eye.  I have always maintained a love for the integrity of a mix of natural materials. I'd love something like this with new cabinetry, but that is not in the budget at this time.



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The funny thing about being a designer is that since the possibilities and ideas are endless, it's hard to pin one down that I think I will be happy with over the next few years. Tricky!  So I try to not be too trendy, but instead put together a mix I haven't seen before. Even I do not know what I will come up with.  I swear, it's much easier to design for clients!

Ceiling WOW

Monochromatic neutral rooms are trending today, but this ceiling ups the anti!

Have you seen this gorgeous ceiling in the dining room reveal by uber talented Jessie D. Miller of The Design Daredevil?

Her ceiling 'how-to' features MDF cut with a C and C router from her design mirrored from the wallpaper in the room.

Neutral doesn't have to be boring!!

"It's just paint" we always say.

I've been a color-aholic all my life. I have to admit that looking at tons of  crisp white or dark, moody rooms constantly are somewhat intriguing and they photograph so beautifully.

In looking at my dining room, I was never really happy over the last 5 years with the turquoise paint below the chair rail.  I tried new stuff on the walls, a recent new rug, a new light, but it wasn't doing anything for me.  I love what Emily Henderson said about sticking with a room when it's time to move on:

"Like a mediocre relationship, you can only stay in denial that it’s not really working for so long. You pretend you don’t need to move on, that you can make it work, that everyone is happyenough. But, all the signs point to ‘GET OUT AND TRY TO BE HAPPIER’. It’s just hard because its such a risk. You keep telling yourself, ‘It’s not frustrating enough, it’s not terrible enough,’ to make you jump out … but now and again you start looking. Your eye wanders. Your thoughts drift …"

BEFORE

My husband said our dining room was his favorite room in the house because it was finished and it all matched. That about sealed the deal for me knowing how 'opposite' we are- time to change! I don't like matchy-matchy.  Love you honey, but I know you don't read our blog anyway!

AFTER

I went for a fresh, clean, organic and neutral vibe knowing that I can always load it with color as my whim occurs, which is a given!  

I used Benjamin Moore Dove Wing and BM Ancient Ivory for the trim.

Nothing like a fresh coat of paint!

Inspiration Boost

Everything about this room is so right:

texture, pattern, contrast, light, layers, balance, functionality, greenery...

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Have a great week friends!

swedish fish

One of my very first memories of attaching to a particular design style was when I saw the Swedish Interiors book during college. I asked for it for Christmas that year and read up on everything from Mora clocks to limewashes on floorboards.  I fell hard for it. 

 I still love Gustavian pieces, and would love to have some of peppered into my home one day.  Not the stuff you see all over, on trend and at large retail stores that specialize in furnishing enormo mega-mansions. The real stuff.  But, knowing the small fortune the real stuff can cost, I may have to settle for some nice reproductions.  While I dream of a whitewashed living formal living room, I fear I don't have the restraint when it comes to the execution part.  I often dream about doing it, and stay up late playing around with rooms in my one-day-way-off-in-the-future-dream-home.

Soon after starting this little blog, Mom and I quickly became friends with a local and Swedish interiors-extraordinaire, Loi Thai.  Loi's shop, Tone on Tone, as well as his personal residence could put the pages of Veranda to shame.  I share his loves for neutrals and his clean execution.  I dream of emulating it one day.  But clearly my love of color gets in the way:

I 'get it from my Momma'.  Her brilliant breakfast area really packs a punch.

I don't know if I'll ever find the restraint to do an all neutral room.  Have you? Tell us your secrets on blending a love of neutrals with a love of color.