Gold fever…

It’s sexy.  It’s glam.  And it’s back! 

The gold we’re seeing out there is more of a richer tone than its 70’s counterpart- more burnished – more of an antique gold.

But it doesn’t have to take over the room…..

Check out how this room sparkles with small hints of gold – at the light fixture fittings, lamps, frames, cabinet hardware.  When we really look at this stunning foyer, we notice how gold is going hand in hand with another trend we are seeing:  Rich colors…..

Like turquoise!

But it can just as well softly glow like candlelight…..

So here’s where we’ve been seeing gold (or antique brass):

Starting at the front door!  We’ve put it in door hardware.  Look how plush it looks paired with a super deep purple door…..

We’ve put it in lighting – adding some dazzle in the foyer -

We’ve shimmered up the stair railings …..

and dressed up dressers…..

Where would you put gold accents in your home…..?

-          marcelle

Photo credits:

1: black and gold pendant via www.homeadore.com

2: blue bathroom via www.smallshopstudio.com

3: triple tiered pendant shade via www.urbanoutfitters.com

4: gold door lever via www.dwell.com

5: new jersey foyer via www.elledecor.com

6: turquoise shower via www.tiles.co.nz

7: antique mirror pendant & table via wellappointedhouse.com

8: purple entry door via www.mariakillam.com

9: casbah crystal chandelier via www.restorationhardware.com

10: gold stair railings via marcelle guilbeau

11: living room via marcelle guilbeau

So…..in case you didn’t notice, color is finally making a comeback in fashion and design.  And no more than ever than in the latest fall trends …..

…..starting with clothing fashion.  Check out these color pops at Posh, one of my favorite boutiques in Nashville…..

Posh’s Taylor and Jenna say the colors of the season are wineberry and oxblood…..

golds, hunter greens and deep mustards…..

tomato and plum…..

and don’t forget to punch in turquoise!

For the brave at heart – mix it all up in a fun accent piece, like this necklace…..

Although this is fall season number two for many of these colors, I think they have gotten bolder this year.  And, unlike last year, these fall fashion colors are finally here in home furnishings, too…..

And no better place to see this happening than at our local Nashville boutique, Color…..

Love the turquoise, plum and tomato thrown in with the more traditional fall oranges and browns!

If you’re not so into color pop, you can mix the more earth tones together, for some more subtle drama – like this mustard yellow pottery worked in with hints of tomato and wineberry colored flowers, berries and squashes…..

Or if you don’t have time for all these decisions (that would be me!), just pare it down to two colors – such as the “tomato” in these roses, worked into a wreath made of twigs…..

Exciting – but a little overwhelming?  Not to fear.  Color’s very own home stylist Jason Grant will help you navigate the store’s bountiful offerings, and assist you with your own personal color palette.

Most recently, his work was featured on Styleblueprint.com – a front porch update that was as warm and inviting as it was colorfully exciting…..

Love the more muted plum dhurie rug peeking up from under these amazing burlap-covered rustic wood ottomans…..

Love the way you can have all the punch here – turquoise, tomato, mustard – even a little watermelon left over from the summer! – yet still be definatively “fall” colored – with the deep plums, oranges, and weathered woods…..

Check out the Styleblueprint blog if you’d like to see the rest…..

Let’s here it for the return of color

- marcelle

Images 1 through 11:  Marcelle’s iphone pics

Images 12 through 14:  via Styleblueprint.com.  Photography by Bridgett Ezzard.

As an interior designer, I’ve always drawn inspiration from fashion.  So last month’s Nashville Fashion Week was not to be missed.  My favorite local designer was White Rabbit, whose clothing line is sold at Local Honey.   White Rabbit’s runway show featured women’s clothes that were utterly clean, but soft and sexy;  utterly wearable, yet playful.  The colors du jour were orange, soft greys, and taupe or cream.

So here are some pics of some of the outfits on display – along with my thoughts and inspirations as a designer – as illustrated by pics of furniture from one of my favorite Nashville furniture boutiques – Retropolitan.

Love the curves, the way the skirt swings and curls around itself.  Love that deep reddish orange.  Nicely paired with a bit of black, soft coral and grey.

Reminds me a lot of these whimsical, yet simple chairs.  They feel comfortable to sit in, yet the grillage cut out of it is so playful and interesting.  Love the softness of the way the cut-outs show through…..

Soft fabrics, looks like they feel good to wear.  Loose, but still sexy and interesting.  Love the pairing of the soft coral with the greys.  Love the way the large, organic print on the vest doesn’t dominate the wearer. 

Well, this velvet upholstered chair is like the inverse of the outfit above.  Soft, sensual, curvy to sit on.  Again, love the coral and cream on soft grey, and the large scale yet friendly print on the thrown pillow.

This soft grey cashmere jacket on top of a breezy rose colored dress, with some soft cashmere gloves to warm your fingers during Nashville’s nippy spring days – this just says cozy and comfy one minute, breezy and cool the next. 

Okay, this pairing is a bit hard to explain…..I often get bedroom design inspiration from beautiful fabrics, beautiful draping, beautiful forms.  The clothing doesn’t have to be a nighty or a bathrobe, however.  It is really just anything that says – warm and cozy and soft.  Or sexy.  This upholstered headboard has the soft, embracing feel of the cashmere jacket above.  You can imagine layering it with your favorite silky pillows and layers of bedding, to get the feel and temperature just right for a good read…..

This style struck me as feeling a bit romantically vintage.  Utterly timeless and classic.  Love the way it’s all in the way the clothes drape;  otherwise a very simple, classic look.  Love the way the red rose and the gloves are all the bit of interest you need to jazz it up.

Reminds me of this timeless, classic, leather and black paisley upholstered take on a Chesterfield side chair.  Again, the coral and cream, large scale kidney pillow is all you need to “update” it.

And here she is, “White Rabbit” herself…..Shea Steele, fashion designer extraordinaire.

Do you think she could put some of her her pieces in this playful chest of drawers for me (I’m a size 0)…..?

Credits:

Photos 1, 3, 5, 7, 9:  Photos by Austin Gros for Pennyweight, on Flickr.com

Photos 2, 4, 6, 8,, 10: 

My iphone pics of furniture at Retropolitan