Green is a calming color, perfect for any room in the home.  It is the color of health, renewal, and rebirth.  Depending on the hue, you can set it against white, black, or brown and have a crisp, contrasting look. Whether you choose a moss green or a bright spring green, green is a healing color that will leave you peacefully invigorated and refreshed.

Photo: Southern Living

Photo: Martha Stewart Living

Photo: Coastal Living

Photo: House Beautiful

Photo: Real Simple

Photo: House Beautiful

Photo: White House Museum

Photo: My Home Ideas

Photo: Martha Stewart Living

While a coat of flat white paint is never a bad choice for the ceiling, there is so much more that can be done on that fifth wall space.  Choosing a color instead of the safe choice can make for a bold, exciting look.

Photo: House Beautiful

• A light color is a good choice for a low ceiling as it can make the ceiling recede and appear higher.  If you are looking for a more cozy look, you’ll want to pick a dark color to make the room seem smaller and more intimate.

• While flat paint is considered the standard for ceiling paint, you may want to consider using an eggshell when painting with a dark color.  The slight sheen will give it a more interesting look and reflects light beautifully.

Photo: Southern Accents

• In a room with odd angles, a soaring ceiling, or anywhere you want to create a unity of space, painting the walls and ceiling the same color can be a great option. You may want to dilute the paint on the ceiling with a bit of white because it can appear darker.

Photo: Coastal Living

• Light colors that contrast the color of the room are a whimsical yet traditional take on the painted ceiling.  Try a pale turquoise with lime green walls, a subtle green with light coffee colored walls, or a pink with white walls.

• Blue is a classic choice for the ceiling color on porches, but try it inside.  It looks beautiful when paired with bright white walls and a beachy look.

Photo: My Home Ideas

Red is a classic in interior design.  When you choose to paint your walls red, you are making a clear decision to make a statement.  That room becomes bold, dramatic, and meant to be noticed. So if you’re in the mood to stir up energy and emotion in a room, take a look at the photos below for inspiration.

White architectural molding around the windows is a nice contrast to the rich, cherry red of the room.  An oriental rug is traditional yet never outdated when paired with red walls.

The red wall takes on a literary appeal when used next to a map print wallpaper.

High shine lacquer, a crystal chandelier, shiny floors, and antique inspired furniture is endlessly glamorous.

Shades of yellow give red a warm, family appeal and make it suitable for the most conservative of homes.

White geometric accents and a bright red are the perfect welcoming committee in this foyer.

During our vacation last week, Linda and I were excited to visit the Heard Museum in Phoenix, Arizona.  Every year the museum holds their popular Native American Art Exhibit where they feature Native American culture.  This exhibit in particular focuses on current Native American artists and craftsmen, featuring the work of over 700 artists.

Often, clients will ask where interior designers draw their inspiration.  Inspiration was in abundance at this exhibit.  The colors, patterns, and materials all contribute to future design ideas.

The work pictured below is called the “Indigenous Evolution” by Tony Jojola, and Isleta and Rosemary Lonewolf.  It is an art fence that references the land and culture of the Southwest using clay and glass in a stunning array of colors.  Seeing works like this is an inspiration to design with a bold use of color and texture.

Photo: Traditional Home

Don’t limit your metallics to cameo appearances on lamps or coffee tables.  Entire rooms draped in shades of silver, gold, and shiny grays make a dramatic, glamorous statement.  Mix all of these colors together to create a monochromatic metallic effect.  Create interest with tone on tone prints and textures.  Shimmer and sheen take the center stage in these fabulous rooms.

Photo: Phoebe Howard

Photo: House Beautiful

Photo: Traditional Home

Photo: Phoebe Howard

When many of us think of pink rooms, we think of a ballerina pink for little girls or a hot fuchsia in a tween’s bedroom.  Pink does not have to be childish at all!  In the spirit of the month, we are going to look at pink rooms that are not only grown up, but stylish as well.  To ease into pink, opt for pale shades that can pass as neutrals.   Grays, tans, and whites offset the sweetness of a pink and give it a sophisticated side.  You can also make your pale pink look glamorous with gold accents and shiny mirrors or crystal lamps.  With a bold pink, pair it with black and a little animal print to create an edgy look or contrast it against crisp white.  Use the pictures below as inspiration to incorporate pink and its spirit of youth and vibrancy into your home this February.

Photo: Martha Stewart Living

Photo: House Beautiful

Photo: Martha Stewart Living

Photo: Ciao Interiors

Photo: Jonathan Adler

Small pictures frames do not have to be restricted to the tabletop.  When arranged artfully, small photos can make a huge impact.  Black and white pictures look sophisticated when kept in a sleek color palate of black, white, and silver.  Hang them in a geometric arrangement for an orderly, tailored look or try a more haphazard pairing with frames of all size interspersed randomly on a wall.

Photo: Martha Stewart Living

Ribbon adds a vintage flair to a pretty arrangement of old photographs. The oval frames are an unexpected touch.

Photo: Martha Stewart Living

Black and white photos in black frames are a bold look against this burnt orange wall.

Photo: Sunset Magazine

This photo arrangement continues from the table to the wall creating an organic, beachy look.

Photo: Southern Living

Adding smaller objects in between the frames create a visually interesting look.

Photo: Coastal Living

Mismatched united in color scheme create a casual, country feel.

Painted floors are an interesting and artistic  way to spruce up an old room.  Forget re-finishing, stripes, solids, geometric, and organic designs look fabulous painted on a wooden floor.  You can do everything from a shabby, organic look to a crisp, geometric paint job.   A traditional stripe or diamond looks great, but you can also branch out to do a fun design for a kids’ room or kitchen.  Below are some beautiful examples of painted floors from Coastal Living.

With 2010 fast approaching, home decor magazines are hard at work predicting the big colors for next year.  The colors this year are youthful, playful, and optimistic.  People are yearning for happier times, and this bright colors reflect that attitude.

Highly saturated bright blues are perfectly refreshing in the living room.  Pair it with browns and blacks for a striking contrast between the bold hue and something more subdued.

Purple is a fabulous color in the bedroom.  It is a unique color that makes a bedroom instantly stylish.  If you are feeling daring, try it in the living room.  The floor to ceiling purple drapes are sophisticated.

A light aqua is like a breath of fresh air.  It is reminiscent of days at the beach and summer mornings.  Pair it with white and darker shades of aqua for a monochromatic look and toss in pops of orange, or yellow.

Yellow is an optimistic, happy color that instantly makes us cheerful. Use this bright shade as an accent in your main living areas, as the feature color in your kitchen or powder room, but keep it out of the bedroom.

Neutrals are taking a turn towards grayed browns.  These are warm shades with a contemporary edge.

Incorporate these colors into your home for a bright and cheerful start to 2010!

The white kitchen is a timeless, classic look.  Whether it is accented with pops of color, such as blue, or kept completely neutral with stainless steel and light wood, it is a fresh look for the home.  Below are several photos of beautiful white kitchens, from contemporary to country to traditional to nautical to outdoor.  It is a theme which one can play upon in a wide variety of ways.

Photos: Traditional Home