One of the things I love most about life in Canada is our four seasons. Winter drags on, but when the warm weather arrives we truly appreciate it. Today is the first day of summer and it has me thinking about fresh clean colours.
I took this photo while kayaking at the cottage. The simple reeds appear to be dancing on the lake. I love how the water changes colour with the weather. It can range from an intense blue to gray — just before a storm.
Blue is a tricky colour to get right in an interior. I’m drawn to Farrow and Ball blues as they’re always spot on. I love Cook’s Blue paired with a lot of white, Lulworth Blue in a softer setting and Parma Gray, almost anywhere. The best Benjamin Moore blues are usually called grays. I love Wickham Gray and Stonington Gray. Woodlawn Blue is another winner, but many of the BM blues are just too strong for me.
The more it rains, the greener the moss gets. You can see how beautiful a hit of green would look in a room with soft gray walls. Consider trying Farrow and Ball Pavillion Gray, Cornforth White and Lamp Room Gray.
I’ve used Benjamin Moore Terrapin Green to paint the inside of some glass cabinets in my kitchen. It looks fantastic at night when the cabinets are lit up. If it’s too intense for you, BM Brookside Moss is also beautiful.
This time of year it’s all about green. That doesn’t mean you need green walls or furniture. Maybe it’s just a beautiful vase or a tranquil piece of art.
I’ve paired some photos I took in Rome with simple green accessories. It’s a colour I never tire of.
Painting from Art Interiors.
I can always find a place for this tall green vase.
I picked these flowers and thought they looked so lovely against a chair I painted Farrow and Ball’s Plummet. This gorgeous shade of purple would be beautiful in a striking print fabric. Imagine an intense purple pattern on a throw cushion or an interesting occasional chair.
This orange poppy looks and feels like tissue paper. It magically appeared one day in my garden — a nice surprise. The colour reminds me of one of Farrow and Ball’s most popular new shades – Charlotte’s Locks. You don’t need much of this in a room – perhaps a highlight wall or a niche.
The Trillium (Ontario’s provincial flower!) sprouts up in cottage country every spring. To me, this flower is simple perfection. For a pure white paint colour, consider Farrow and Ball’s All White or Benjamin Moore’s Decorator’s White.
The next time you go for a walk, take a closer look at the world around you and think about how you can incorporate nature into your home. It helps you zero in on the colours you love and what makes you feel happy. Enjoy!
All photos by canadianoriginals.
