From the Studio

Have I got some goodies for you!

Today, we're thinking ... Chocolate. Mmmm! Or maybe, a bowlful of pecans. Or even Chocolate diamonds and pearls! Ooooh!
Well, come on, you didn't think I'd say "brown," did you? Okay, what I'm vying for here is a change in perspective. That's because if I started this post by saying,

"Today we'll talk about "brown," you'd probably hit the mouse and be gone. So would I. But shift your perception and hang with me here, it's going to get delicious.

Yesterday we talked about the sage and brown combo that is beautiful but … getting a bit old in large doses. We discussed the color ‘sage,’ and I showed you some ideas for working with that color and infusing coordinating colors like gold, melon, and apple green. Today we’ll consider the options of working with … okay, I’m gonna say it … brown.

Now, brown – done correctly - can be one of the most beautiful colors to work with. When you include textures (as in sisal, tapestries and chenille) and depth of color (as in rayon or silk velvet) you’ll create intensity of feeling, to great effect.

Every once in awhile in the design industry you’ll hear the statement “Brown is the new black.” Maybe it is, maybe it isn’t but the simple fact is, brown can hold its own, and make your space beautiful, warm and inviting.

In the artist world, the color brown is made by combining red and green. And of course, green is the combination of blue and yellow. So brown is the ultimate result of the three primary colors – red, blue and yellow. When you look at the brown color you have in your space, what colors do you see in it? Is the tone you have more the color of milk chocolate, or is it closer to the bittersweet variety? We’ll look at and discuss some images that show both, and then you can decide.

So here we go … let’s look at some possibilities ...

Brown, Gold and Red.

One designer that loves brown is Ralph Lauren. Lauren's style is labeled "High Country," and his trademark look has defined an entire segment of interior design styles. It was born of his own lifestyle, and is a reflection of what he does and how he lives; the public has responded with enthusiasm. If we don't live like that, most of us want to! And why not? The Lauren look is upscale casual elegance, with lots of texture.

Here Ralph Lauren has accented brown with tones of gold and red. The textures add richness and depth. Lauren is such a pro at layering for visual interest. Some of the layers in this setting are: velvet (shams), sweater knit stripes (pillow) and wool plaid (blanket). The quilted corduroy comforter reverses to plaid and is trimmed in leather. Talk about High Country chic ... this is beautifully upscale casual, and offers a menu of colors and textures that will make you want to "cozy in."

Brown and Pink.

The brown and pink combination always makes me think of ice cream. It's probably because when I was a little girl we had "Neapolitan" ice cream ... you know, it came with three colors in one box ... brown, pink and white. The color combination is classic and somewhat unexpected. Even nurseries are beautiful in this pallette. It's easy to dress it up and make it fussy, or keep it simple, make it sleek and serene. Either way, it's absolutely delicious!

This bed has a bed crown with swagged curtains for an "over the top" treatment and an ultra feminine look. Textures are used in abundance: the brown lattice on the pink shams, the pink duvet is crushed velvet with brown velvet added to the tiered ruffle trim. The pillows are a variety of textures with brushed fringe, ball fringe, ruffles and embroidery. The result is almost that of a princess's bedroom, high in a castle somewhere. What female of any age wouldn't love this?

Below are examples of simple combinations of

pink and brown, with large doses of white.

Brown and White with Monogram.

Here we have a tone on tone with white. Textures are plenty in this setting, too, but they are very understated. The result is quiet, elegant luxury. Do you recognize the element that really makes it pop? It's the chocolate brown monogram on the crisp, white pillows. The shams, duvet cover and dust ruffle are all the same fabric: a soft cafe' brown linen printed with a classic toile design in deep chocolate. You'll notice that in this setting there are no lavish trims, no embellishments. Carefully tailored details are what make this look work. The shams are flanged, and a simple chocolate braid trims the monogrammed pillows and the cuff on the top sheet.

If you love this look, or just love the monogramed pillows, that's easy to do. Just take some white shams (or whatever your color scheme is) to a monogram store and have them do the monogram. Check online for stores in your area. If you have trouble finding one, or if you feel a bit intimidated about that, write to me in the "comments" section and I'll help you track it down.

And before I forget: here's a side note about your sheets:

When you're shopping for bed linens, it's important to go for cotton sheets, and to "count the threads" in your sheets. What does that mean? Well, it's pretty simple: the "thread count" is the number of threads used per square inch when weaving the fabric. (It's required by law that the information be printed on the packaging and is usually in the advertising copy.) Sheets generally start at about a 250 thread count, and can go up to over a thousand. The higher the thread count, the more expensive (and the softer, more luxurious) the sheets. You can find sheet sets at department and discount stores that are very well priced, that are 100% cotton, and that have a nice, high thread count. So go for it! Treat yourself to some new sheets, and put your old ones in the tag sale box. I'll be doing a post soon on bed linens. So that's all for now on that subject.

Okay, back to our "Brown" story ...

Brown with Apple Green and Red (and a little jungle thrown in).

If you're looking for something with a bit more spice, look no further. Take your brown items, and pair them with a saturated apple green, and a deep red. Add splashes of leopard print, and voila! A sophisticated "world-view" design that is elegant and energizing. Note the use of a bold pattern with bold stripes ... using a combination of different patterns, in the appropriate scales, adds a special kind of "layered" effect, and that adds interest. There is a bit of texture added, too, in the brushed fringe on the accent pillow.

Brown Tone on Tone.

If your bedding is already brown, or you want to simplify the look without sacrificing a beautiful design sense, this may be just what you’re looking for. In this example, it’s all about color saturation and texture. Let’s start with the bed skirt: this is a gathered skirt, with sheer layers in a light cocoa shade. As we move up to the bed, we see the sheets. These sheets are very high end, with exquisite detailing.

Notice the pleats on the cuff of the top sheet. There are tailored shams in the sheeting material as well. The bed cover is a beautiful quilted design in a dark milk chocolate, with matching shams. Seriously, if you prefer a simple, quiet space – whatever room you may be working with – this is a beautiful way to instill elegance while keeping the palette very simple.

Brown with a ‘Touch’ of Blue.

So maybe what you really want is to tone down the blue, but not get rid of it entirely. I count this as one of the “fresh, outside the box” approaches to the sage and brown palette that can work for as long as you want it to, because … well, it’s timeless.
In this example, the duvet cover is a light cocoa linen with a darker paisley bordering about 22 inches in all the way around. In addition, the hem detail on the duvet is dark brown velvet. The shams and accent pillows are a combination of the paisley fabric, the light cocoa, and brown velvet. Here the sheets are also dark brown. If that’s too much brown for you, try sheets in a light cocoa, the same tone as the duvet. That would quiet down the brown while allowing the pattern to stand out a little more.

Well, I hope you are over flowing with ideas now. If your color issues aren’t about sage and blue, take the info you found here and try applying it to your own color palette. You can do it! Don’t be afraid to make mistakes along the way. For questions, just post in the comment section and I’ll get back to you pronto.

If you need help, have no fear.

That’s why I’m here!

Create!


Cece D for DDG