We recently bought a fabulous charcoal gray Metro couch from Room and Board and were looking for the perfect side tables. We knew we wanted something small (to fit the space) and simple (we don’t like fussy). We also knew we wanted symmetry and we wanted to somehow add a pop of color.

We came up with two options.

(1) The Miner side table from CB2 + Breck table lamp in green from Crate and Barrel. Not bad, but perhaps not spectacular. The olive/sage lamp sort of pales in comparison to the saturated rusty orange pillows. Also, the table looks a tad wimpy next to the chunky couch.

(2) The Zest C table from CB2 + Breck table lamp in charcoal. I think this is the clear winner. This image made us instantly realize that bright lime green was an appealing and powerful match to the orange. Plus, the chuncky profile could stand up to the couch.

Here is the complete set, installed in our living room. I think we made the right choice, don’t you?

Do you have any design dilemmas that could benefit from a Mochi quickie?

However, our reader didn’t quite see it that way. She is struggling with the color palette, and specifically the accent color. While the red provides a nice contrast to the otherwise neutral theme, the red combined with the green gives off too much of a Christmas vibe. I like the red, but I can also see our reader’s point. Let’s see if we can give her some ideas for new and even unexpected accent colors.

Existing palette of sage green, black, white and red.

The current room:

My first inclination is just to shift the red to a more orange-y color. This eliminates the “Christmas,” but keeps the contrast.

Another variation on the orange/earthy scheme is to introduce pattern. Here’s a Moroccan inspired palette with accent pillows from Etsy and Medallion curtains from West Elm. I also think the room could benefit from one larger (and more dramatic) piece of art. In this version, I placed a black and white photo of Morocco.

Our reader was interested in exploring blue accent colors. With the sage green, it’s tough to find just the right shade of blue. Here, I opted for a rather purple-ish dark blue. This includes curtains in lustre sheen/Elderberry and art deco glam pillows. The overall look is very sophisticated.

To brighten up the color palette, here is a royal blue. I wouldn’t immediately think to pair sage green with royal blue, but with the right accessories and artwork, it is possible to tie it together. In this scenario, the Japanese print ties together a range of sea greens, ocean blues and misty atmospheric neutrals. With art like this, you can make it work.

Lastly, when in doubt, keep it in the family.  In this case, the green family. Sometimes you can make a pretty and unexpected palette by sticking to a particular hue. In this room, the sage green acts like a beige – in other words it becomes the neutral backdrop to the saturated green. The key, again, is in the accessories. What better accessory to a green palette than some actual live plants? Silk dupioni curtains in Greenhouse add a lush green anchor further matched by graphic pillows.

I hope this gives some new ideas for a lively color pallette with sage green. This room is so close…just that last 10% and it will surely be complete!

Our challenge is to find a way to add some character to this one room apartment using pastels, whites, neutrals or any accessory that is non-permanent. There is a lot you can do with light colors and the right wall hangings.

First, take a look at a panorama of the entire room. Notice the livingroom to to the right, with the dining room toward the back. I like that the living area and bed area each have their own wall. This gives nice separation to the living spaces and an opportunity to create further definition by painting different colors on the walls.

Here is a photo of just the living area. The “bedroom” wall is behind the chair and bookshelf.

Here is a warm color scheme to compliment the neutral green couch and various warm wood colors. I think of this as a muted orange sherbert and lemon sorbet. The pastels are slightly grayed/muted to avoid looking too much like a baby’s room. I topped it off with some posters from The Poster List, which happens to carry some of the coolest and most well designed posters I’ve seen in a while!

Here is a cool version using blues and grays. Sky blue is always a great option for a light color-it’s friendly and happy and works well in the lightest of shades. In all of these scenarios, the living room wall is painted a different color from the bedroom/dining wall. With such light colors, I think a multi-color palette could work really well without being overwhelming.

One alternative to posters and wall hangings is to paint a pattern onto the wall itself. Look how just two diagonal stripes add movement and drama in a room with no other wall hangings. Stripes like this are easy to make using blue painter’s tape. You can even create this “free form” without having to make the stripes level or even.

Fabric is another good way to add not only color, but also pattern. For a truly non-permanent fabric hanging, use 3M Command hooks to hang the fabric from clips or grommets. These hooks are great for rentals because they are strong AND can be removed without ruining the wall. This bold Marimekko fabric adds a lot of visual interest. With the back wall painted a complimentary neutral, the entire living area comes alive!

One reader asked me for some help visualizing her ideas and the ideas from the design meetup. She and her husband are renovating their apartment to accommodate both a home office for two people and a new baby! Below, are some visualizations, which hopefully help them narrow down their options.

Here is their existing apartment:

The first thing you’ll notice below is the floor-to-ceiling built-in home office where the exposed brick used to be. Their plan was to turn that corner into the office. I tried this built-in as a suggestion, which included shelves and some nice lighting. With this in place, I added some earthy accents which include walls in olive green and celery. Next, I threw down a complimentary rug from Flor in the Fret Knot pattern. Flor rugs are really practical (especially for kids!) as you can clean or replace individual tiles and the rubber backing makes them slip resistant.

As for furniture, there are some pieces with clean lines, but a welcoming spirit including the Quinn chair and Reese couch from Room and Board. I always love to finish off a room with some hand made accessories from Etsy. This chunky and colorful bowl from finishes off the look.

Keeping the same base, here is blue version of the living room. I darkened the cabinets of the home office, added a blue wall and brought in some darker woods to compliment. To keep the room from getting too dark, however, notice the light cream Delta chair with the white checkerboard Flor rug. I love how this rug makes the room look so fresh! Lastly, this interesting Petal bowl brings the blues into the dining area.

I love this bold palette of orange-yellow, black and white. The orange wall really pops and give some fun personality to the room. The wall is particularly striking with the geometric Flor rug. In this scheme it’s best to keep furniture and other accessories to a minimum or the small space will be overwhelming. A simple black chair, white cabinets and a grey kitchen keep the focus on the rug and wall. And of course, I couldn’t resist these adorable bowls.

Lastly, a soothing combination of warm gray and jewel-tone teal. Here, the color is actually on the cabinet doors and the main wall recedes as a backdrop. Instead of a huge rug, there is a plush brown ottoman, which can serve as a footrest, a table, extra seating or even a play object for kids. Ottomans are great multi-taskers and a good option for flexible multi-use spaces.  I did add a small mat at the front door for wiping your feet and finished the room with a lovely original watercolor.

This apartment has great potential as functional space packed with uses and stylish space for a young family to call home. We wish them best of luck with their renovations and new additions!

We scoured stores for affordable curtains to fit our oversized windows, but couldn’t find anything we liked (and could afford!) So, we had our crazy DIY curtain idea and I decided to sew the curtains myself.  My mother, in her inifinite wisdom and years of sewing experience, advised otherwise, but I’m stubborn, and went ahead anyways.  Here are the results.

First, I needed an oversized curtain rod for the extra wide windows. Again, affordable options were limited and I searched for an alternative. I ran across this great DIY project from Shelterrific, where they used an electrical conduit as a curtain rod. As they suggested, I purchased two 10′ rods (for around $10) and had them cut to half of my window size. I then attached them in the center with a conduit connector. Voila! Instant extra long curtain rod. I used regular curtain rod brackets to keep the rod in place. Thanks for the idea, Shelterrific!

Next, the curtains. While vactioning in India last fall, we picked up some gorgeous rusty orange heavy-weight satin with a subtle sheen. For less than $100, we had curtain fabric, lining fabric and enough extra for matching pillows. It’s good to plan ahead when making trips abroad!

I chose to make hidden tab top curtains. I like the clean look-similar to grommets, but without the messy hardware installation. First, measure and sew the edges of the lining fabric. Then, attach the lining to the main fabric (right sides out) and finish the side edges neatly.

Next, sew the header and the tabs. For this, I basically made “belt loops,” which are sewn into the wide hem of the header. I found that a sturdy grosgrain ribbon makes a great tab (and you don’t have to sew the edges). I spaced my loops about 7″ apart. You should adjust based on the size of the window and curtain.

Here’s a close up of the tab.

Lastly, hang the curtain on the rod. Then, measure and pin the hem. I found it useful to hang the curtain and pin the hem, to ensure that the curtain just grazed the floor. Remove the curtain, sew the hem and you are all set! Here’s the finished curtain. I tied the panel in place for 24 hours to train the fabric. I imagine a light steaming with the iron would also help.

Check out how clean and nice the hidden tab top looks! I love the modern edge-not too fussy.

Sewing your own custom curtains may not be practical for everyone. Don’t despair, you still have options! Before I embarked on my project, I discovered that my local dry cleaner/tailor would sew curtains to my specifications. This is great option if you don’t have a access to a sewing machine (or the patience to do it). So, ask around before you settle on an off-the-shelf product.

The owners chose to keep their original black appliances and maple cabinets, so we are working with a palette of white, black and light maple. I found some great tiles at Modwalls, which come in a nice variety of colors and are really affordable. Here is the dramatic Marakesh blend.

If you are willing to commit, a backsplash is also a great place to add color to the kitchen. I like this bold Tango blend. A solid color would also make a nice statement and feel less busy.

One of the great features at Modwalls is the custom tile blender. You can pick multiple colors and blend them in any proportion to create your perfect palette. Here is a brown and white blend for something more muted than the colorful Emma above.

A lighter look in a custom blend of white and speckles of green.

If you don’t like the looks of small squares, subway tiles are another good option. Here is Modwalls Lush tile in dune. I love the elegant lines and tasteful colors.

The backsplash is also a great place to mix textures and materials. While I love the glass and ceramic tiles, I’m always drawn to earthy stone and marble. Here is a great mix of glass and stone in matchstick shape from Glass Tiles Etc. So earthy and stylish!

Mini-palette: Brown, Yellow, Sage, Beige

My first thought is a yellow and brown theme, to match the existing furniture and accessories. The color inspiration comes from Olympic paint in Calabash, which I paired with a chocolate brown. An aqua/sage striped curtain keeps the room looking modern.

Mini-palette: Teal, Terra cotta, Black

I found more inspiration with Olympic colors Blue Bayberry and Baritone. I love the combination of teal/blue with Terra Cotta. Add a little black and the palette really pops. To bring it all together, add some tall curtains in modern organic print.

Mini-palette: Terra cotta, brown, beige, yellow

Continuing with the Terra cotta, here is Olympic Ginger on the wall. This is warm and spicy, without being dark and oppressive. The Ginger coordinate easily with the the brown and beige of the existing room. I also love the existing throw pillows on the couch with a modern/ethnic rainbow appeal.

Mini-palette: Dark and light green, beige, brown

Lastly, a calm and friendly green in Dark Sage and Asparagus. The combination of muted green with bright green keeps the room lively, but still feels understated and earthy. Simple curtains soften the back wall. Also, note the green paint on the mantel and the back of the bookshelf to highlight the architectural details.

First, we start off with a living room.  As a note, in our before photo, the walls are painted using Benjamin Moore Eco-spec paint in Tundra. At the time of painting, Eco-spec was the best low-VOC paint on the market from Benjamin Moore. 

Benjamin Moore Natura

As detailed by Dwell, Benjamin Moore now offers an even better option-their Natura line of paints. Natura is a zero VOC product and is available in all of the fabulous Benjamin Moore colors. Benjamin Moore is available at various paint retailers and hardware stores. Your best bet is to check their retail locator.

Here we try out Fresh Butter from the Color Samples collection.

Below-Benjamin Moore in cheery Blue Daisy.

YOLO Colorhouse

I had never heard of Yolo until I read the Dwell article. It looks like Yolo is available at various green building stores, but check their store locator.

Yolo has a very tasteful and well curated palette. Below is Stone 06.

I love their deep neutral earth tones. Here is Stone 07.

AFM Safecoat

Safecoat also has a nice limited palette, though I had trouble navigating to it from their site. Rather than using the typical earth element theme, Safecoat uses Ayurveda to categorize their colors into a system of healing and meaning. I’m always a sucker for Eastern philosophy! Safecoat, like Yolo, is available at specialty retailers or through contractors.

A bright juicy green called Pitta Day.

I always love yellow, and this is especially nice as it dips into the orange spectrum. This color is Vata Landscape.

Mythic Paint

No need to play it safe with color just because it’s safe for you and the planet. I find the Mythic color palette very user-friendly and the retro graphics are charming. Mythic doesn’t seem as widely available as other brands (at least here in NYC), but the dealer locator will confirm.

I love-love-love any shade of Terra Cotta and in almost any context. Below, the Mythic version called Moroccan Clay.

I’m also quite enamored by deep aqua teals, which are my favorite beachy jewel tone. Here is Emerald Bay.

There’s really no excuse for not using eco-friendly paints. They are healthier for you, your family and for the planet. Plus, the paints are widely available and comparable in price to their chemical laden counterparts. Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, these paints come in a full spectrum of colors from the softest whites to the deepest shades of earth and jewel.  It might be time to update my own living room!

I picked 4 of Kris’s recent color stripes and tried them out on our friend’s very bright (and clean!) Hong Kong apartment.

Cherry Blossom Palette

First, a spring (and Japanese) inspired cherry blossom palette. You can see how the color stripes are pulled directly from the photo to create endless custom palettes. I thought the dining room would look great as a dramatic accent wall and the black doesn’t disappoint!

Venetian Palette

Who doesn’t love Venice? These colors make a warm, inviting space. I always love shades of terra cotta and the green is just the right shade of olive. Also notice how we added a throw blanket on the couch to pull the color across the room. The walls include art from CB2 and West Elm.

Rustic Door Palette

Next, a modern room inspired by rustic architectural details.  Blue and brown are an excellent combination that can be both modern and classic.  To give it a little playfulness, you can also include the aqua color stripe.  Big paper lanterns and live bamboo freshen up the whole look.

Sweet Treats Palette

I couldn’t finish this post without a proper striped wall, of course! Again, the dining room wall is the perfect place to highlight the lovely sweet treat palette.  With a wall this bold, you don’t need much art.  However, a bold light from CB2 helps balance the strong graphic pattern.

I’ve been following Kris’s Color Stripes for awhile and we hope you can find inspiration, too. Why not use your own favorite things or places to inspire a palette for your home?

Here’s how we applied some spring color in Astoria.  This apartment has great bones – old-school arched doorways and light flooding into the main living area.

We always love a warm, tuscan orange. Here we combined it with a shade of butter, for a delicate and inviting room.

This apartment faces east and gets tons of light. It may be nice to cool it down with a most lovely pastel purple. We love purple because it’s cool, calm, but somehow still full of passion.

Lastly, for a pop of color, how about a warm gray paired with an electric purple-pink?  We love the surprising shock of color as you turn into the kitchen from the living room.

What are your favorite spring colors?