carly on May 28th, 2009 | No comments »

Our first post on exterior colors comes from reader inquiry. She wanted some ideas for her parents’ house before settling on a final palette. I just love the hacienda bungalow style – complete with arched colonnades and a terra cotta tile roof. I’m certainly envious of this warm weather home.

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Spanish style homes often look best in classic Mediterranean palettes. Colors include yellows, peach, pink, olive, terra cotta, brown, white, etc. Think lush, warm earth tones and refreshing cool waters. This is Behr Sunbath, a color that is optimistic and timeless. It also goes well with the terra cotta tiled roof. I created some contrast with bright white trim and a dark brown deck.

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Another classic hacienda color is pink (or coral/peach). I chose Behr’s Antique Cameo and again contrasted it with a white deck and brown columns. Make sure the pink/peach doesn’t clash with the terra cotta roof. A warm shade of pink should do the trick and a little Bougainvillea adds another dimension to the palette.

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If yellow and pink are too colorful, why not a tasteful beige?  I found this nice color from Behr called Cardboard. When used with terra cotta, white and dark chocolate brown, Cardboard is much more interesting than the name implies.

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Lastly, and perhaps my favorite, is white with colorful accents. White is very fresh with the roof and greenish-blue trim. The element of the shutters adds even more visual interest with a beautiful tile pattern. I found these lovely Pueblo shutters at Shutterstile. An architectural accent like these shutters is not only distinctive, but can provide inspiration for the entire palette.

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I’m always a fan of trying daring colors on interiors and exteriors, but sometimes it’s nice to stick to your architectural roots. Rooting this house in a Spanish hacienda color palette is both festive and classic (and will look great even years from now).

We hope our reader’s parents find something they like!

Continue reading about A Warm and Sunny Hacienda Exterior

carly on May 8th, 2009 | No comments »

We recently found inspiration in the form of some lovely handmade tiles. Terra Home produces beautiful tiles and tableware, made with much skill, and from the looks of it, much love too. They have a handful of different styles for sale at Etsy that seemed to be perfect for the kitchen – from Eastern influences to the classic Tuscan style.  Check out what we came up with!

Cluttered, a tad boring and, might I add, the typical tiny pre-war Manhattan kitchen.

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Turquoise Moorish Tile

First, I always adore turquoise and anything that reminds me of warm climates. This Moorish inspired tile has a perfect  Mediterranean meets Middle East feel. I paired it with a bold cobalt wall and covered the clutter with white cabinets.kitchen2

Limone Tile

Limone Tile

Next, I tried the Limone Tile from Terra Home’s Italian Sketchbook series. I’m attracted once again to the warm Mediterranean feel.  This series is casual and sunny – perfect for a fresh contrasting palette of yellow, black, and white. The tiles work as a mid-wall border and draw attention away from the cluttered countertops.

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Cream/Sugar Set with Flowers

Cream/Sugar Set with Flowers

Lastly, sometimes inspiration can be found in an object and translated onto the walls. I am enamored by this pastel cream and sugar set and thought the colors would work perfectly on the walls. Indeed, the pastels lighten up the tiny space. The handmade feel of the pottery is so nice, I placed two of the dessert plates on the back wall in place of tiles. So lovely!

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Continue reading about Finding Inspiration: Terra Home