Hit the Ceiling...with paint!

Domino Mag. Soot paint from Benjamin Moore

Picking a paint color for your wall can be challenging, making sure the color is coordinating with the furnishings, and is harmonious with the look of the room. What you don't usually think to do is to paint the ceiling! I've been seeing a lot of that lately and it looks quite fun. It can either make the room look very cozy and warm or it if you do it with enough drama, it can raise the ceiling as well!

This Sills Huniford sitting room has a light lime green painted ceiling. It really draws attention to the beams above and draws your eye up. I really love that ladder off to the left with the newspapers on it--like a library.

Sara Story, who is always quite fun, used a magenta paint in this long kitchen area. I think it works well because there is so much light flooding in from the window and she used little purple and grey accents around the room.

You are, of course, never limited to just paint on a ceiling. Using ceramic tiles reminds me of an old villa or estate somewhere in Europe--perhaps Italy! Robin Bell used this Moroccan tile design in an outdoor space. I think it makes the space look very exotic, yes?

This is a child's room from Domino. Using wall paper on the ceiling is also a fun idea. The walls are a plain light green color, while the ceiling is the element of interest. This is a sweet and whimsical idea for a child; they can lie in bed and look at the stars! This is Osborne and Little Firibata Star pattern.

From House Beautiful: the walls are nearly the color as the ceiling and is only separated by a nice thick moulding. Quite pretty and classic in this small kitchen.

Exposed wood beams such as these add to the "lofty" feeling. These look like they are stained and even have brackets. Interior by Fern Santini of Abode.

This little den by Eric Cohler is one of the most creative ones I've seen. The colors in the room are gorgeous and you can find each one of them on the ceiling in the cross word puzzle! I wonder if it was customized for the client, and what it says. I love how the lines of it flow right into the lines of the windows and the curtains. SO amazing.

This living room has light chocolate colored walls, but is mainly covered with wall to wall bookcases. The top part of the wall then moves right into the ceiling so you're not sure where the wall ends and the ceiling begins. The blue color is agua vert by Philip's Perfect Colors. I love how they kept the mouldings white, even on the fireplace. They're such a beautiful architectural element.

Another ceiling treatment that I've seen is tin ceilings! Apparently they are quite affordable and definitely adds a vintage look to this room. Usually they are used in kitchens, but in a bedroom can be interesting as well. By Kathy Andrews Interiors from Point Click Home.


You can read more about ceiling treatments in Point Click Home HERE. I super wish I could paint the ceilings in my apartment. Usually they are painted the plain white and I'd love to add something fun like a painted ceiling someday. Do any of you have painted or wall papered ceilings? Thoughts? Feelings?


Alicia B.

Red and Green and X MAS all over!

I just found out that I will in fact get Christmas Eve off from work so I am imposing myself on my family one day early! Now I can really feel Christmas coming! Not feeling the Christmas spirit? Don't celebrate Christmas? Well, here are some red and green rooms that you can enjoy all year round no matter what you celebrate. Yay!

Tomo Callahan designed this sweet study. I love the eclectic look of this room and the rolls of wallpaper off to the side make my wish that my stash wasn't hidden under my bed.

Mario Buatta's room in Kips Bay I believe from a few years ago. This is the perfect looking room for a holiday gathering. A tartan seat in the middle in front of the fireplace and dark green walls to ground the room.

Miles Redd uses many dark red accents here that do not clash with the pink wall! Crimson flowers, red and white throw pillows, sweet red pleated shades, etc.

How classic does this look? It's from House Beautiful 1943 and still looks perfect now in 2008!

I love the green moire silk on the walls of The Green Room in the White House (taken in 1968).

This is a red kitchen from Domino Mag. It's accented with greens (chair, green bowl, plants) and wood tones.

Bunny Williams designed this formal yet still country styled dining room with a rich muted green. I love the plates on the wall inside the wood paneling. A bit too 80's for me though.

Anne Miller designed this small sitting room. Somehow the red seems more inviting than bold and aggressive (we all know how I feel about red). I think it's the stripes. I really like the yellow accents on the chairs with this red.

A bright pear green Benjamin Moore paint is the backdrop for this sweet bedroom. I am super in love with those monogrammed sheets. They look vintage in such a mod sort of setting. From Domino Mag.

Sara Story's fun red bathroom with red and white tiling is quite festive! I especially love the round ball lantern hanging from skylight we can't see.

Kathy Abbott used a bright traditional green wall paper in this dining room. SO pretty.

I think my favorite is the red tartan (swoon) and green walls in Mario Buatta's room. Thoughts? What are your favorites?


Alicia B.

Marble Quarry

In one of my classes right now we are to design a worship space (not necessarily religious worship). Mine just HAPPENS to be in a marble quarry (my idea). The entire room is dug out of a black and gold marble quarry (which may or may not exist) right outside of New York City. The idea is that the marble is cool, calming, smooth, and light bounces off it creating a beautiful effect with the gold. Marble is used in a lot of bathrooms and kitchens; take a look how it's used when you're not in a fictional quarry.

Sara Story uses this amazing orangey marble on this intimate fireplace scene.

In a break from the typical clean white marble, this marble has gorgeous dark veins running through it creating a great contrast. By incredible designer, Nancy Boszhardt.

Marble is often times seen as traditional or "old" but in this space it makes it feel more contemporary. By Matsouka Wang Architects.

In contrast to above, this DEFINITELY is a more traditional feel. Designer Juan Montoya uses slabs of creamy marble on the walls, as columns, and on the floor.

This marble fireplace that I found in Domino blends right in with the rest of the busy patterns in the living room. I feel like it's rare to see marble with lots of contrasting veins in it; people are usually using it to create a cleaner look.

In this Christopher Peacock kitchen, he uses a marble top on this island which is a very beautiful and traditional look but...see below...

He then uses little marble bits to make up the backsplash in the rest of the kitchen. So much you can do with stone!

This was the darkest marble I had seen used and it was only a small part! It def creates a dramatic effect though in this deco style bathroom. I super love those monogrammed pink guest towels too!

How do you feel about marble? Too traditional? Not traditional enough? Want to live in a marble quarry?

Alicia B.

Home Offices

A messy desk at home (in my mind) can be debilitating. Home offices have many uses, even if you are not working from home. I like to sit at my desk to read emails, chat with friends, and blog. I display postcards that remind me of people or things that I enjoy and keep letters from people. They can be very inspiring as well. I like to keep mine organized so that I can add things as my interests change as well. I love the examples with a little vase of flowers. Below are some inspiring examples:

Sara Story. Shes an amazing designer. Look out for a spotlight on her soon.

Sara Story. Grey color palette but still warm feeling.

Todd Romano. What a lovely view.

Ione Skye. Bright vibrant colors.

Sara Story. I love the orange storage boxes. SO organized.

From Domino mag. Great for someone with a small space, this desk is wall mounted.

Windsor Smith. This one looks so cozy.

This one is my fave from Living, etc. www.livingetc.com The desk is an antique and I'm in love.

Alicia B.