home decor

I'm a firm believer that colour provides us with certain benefits at certain times and  I take note when I find myself attracted to a certain colour.  My past loves have been black, green and purple.   All of a sudden I am hugely attracted tored  and I want it around me in my home.  This is a first for me. Red accessories I catch myself looking at red things on Pinterest and Olioboard.  I want to hang up one of my red paintings.   Evoked, 2013, Margaret Ryall, encaustic  “Painters use red like spice.” — Derek Jarman.....  If so this is one hot painting.  Why red now?  From yoga I know that red  is the color for the base or root chakra located at the base of the spine; this chakra allows us to be grounded and connected to universal energies. Red also affects us physically.  It is stimulating and boosts our physical energy levels, increases enthusiasm, action and confidence, and provides a sense of protection from anxiety an...

This must be aqua week! I am noticing it everywhere.  After writing a post yesterday about aqua, I opened one of the blogs I follow this morning to be greeted by a lovely room make -over by Kelly Porter of Color Sizzle and the walls are painted aqua. The accents are red.  I wanted to share this lively combination.  While it is too much colour for me, I know it will appeal to lots of my readers.  Pillow and lamp love on my part!  source And another living room with the same colour scheme, but the colours are used in a very understated way. It is all about the intensity of the hues. Which room would you be most comfortable in?

Red  is a great accent colour anytime, but it seems to be even more inviting at Christmas.  All it takes is the merest hint to bring a room to life. It can be used in small accessories, window treatments or furniture.  In all can't be ignored. A splash of red always works source What a difference a pillow can make.  Remember to have at least three hits of an accent colour around a room to create movement.   Black and red are very dramatic   source Red and black is always dramatic, and when your throw a bold pattern into the mix it is even more so.  Stunning patterned bar stools   source  Red and gray is refreshing.  I especially like this crisp blue red with a white pattern. Three hits of colour is well displayed in this vignette.  A sprinkling of red source Red paired with black and white patterned area rug is very eye catching.   What an interesting window treatment for more than one window set close together. Vertical ...

Trying to be earth friendly is an ongoing battle especially at Christmas.   I hate the fact that all the pretty gift wrap ends up in the landfill because  it isn't recyclable.  paper gift  bags work for me and I always reuse  those I receive. I  also purchase fabric bags when I see them and hope the receiver  passes them along to another person. When the last of my gift wrap runs out (probably this year), I plan to use brown paper (Kraft Paper) which you can recycle.  The options for dressing it up are endless. Here's a few nifty ideas to get you thinking about the possibilities:   Braided wine, a bit of greenery  and a pine cone.  What could be simpler than that?  Wrapping the twine around the package off center adds to the design element.  What a great way to share old photographs.  Copying them is so easy these days.   Love how the black satin ribbon looks with the green and the stamped gift tag.  Th...