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Holiday

Be My Fresh Valentine!

By 02/13/2014February 23rd, 201734 Comments

Pat from Santa Monica sent me this beautiful image of a room perfect to post on Valentines Day!

She said “I’ve found a pink living room that just makes me sigh with relaxation every time I pull it up”.

I totally agree. Thanks Pat, you totally inspired this post!

pink room

 Photography by Clive Tompsett Farrow & Ball Middleton Pink #245.

The placement of the art on the wall reminded me of this quote I pinned the other day. . .

space called 'ma'

Of course the sofa table placed asymmetrically behind the sofa with the plant and accessories help to fill that empty wall as well. So pretty.

Be my Valentine

Another photo by Clive Thompsett. I couldn’t resist posting this too, it feels calm, fresh and well, early.

Speaking of fresh, that is the new word for the Parisian gray trend. You know how the Tuscan brown trend would be considered earthy?

For years, my clients would say “I looooove earth tones, that’s what I want!” Well, I’m not hearing it anymore. Not that there’s anything wrong with earth tones, but I have so often moved a client in the right direction in their design project just by asking the question:

“But you’re looking for fresh right?”

Yes.

“Well”, I’ll say “Here’s how we’re going to get there with your house. . . “

Then the skies part, the angels sing, and everything’s easy after that, hee, hee. Actually I am serious. These last two days with my new True Colour Experts™ in downtown Vancouver is when we distinguished it together.

All of you, my readers are my Valentine! I so appreciate every one of you! I love your comments and your emails, thank you for making my life so happy! I hope you have a wonderful love day!! xo Maria

Related posts:

How to Inject Fresh into your Earth Toned House

The Difference Between Fresh Greens and Yellow Greens

10 Ways to get a Fresh Look with a Black Sofa

7 pins

34 Comments

  • Mary says:

    I thought it was a storage room.???

    1
    • Amy T. says:

      Yes, it’s a little too rumpled for my taste, too. But I like the wall color.

      1
    • Stacy says:

      I understand your point, but I like seeing a room that isn’t too decorated for once (too perfect). Although staged, this one at least looks lived in like “real people” live there. Note the glasses, paper, yarn and tea set on the table 🙂 I personally like it regardless if it seems slightly “cluttered.”

      1
    • Judy Jensen says:

      Tsk! Tsk!

      1
    • Kathy says:

      Looks “real” and lived in, like most of our homes look after a day of real use, rather than the “picture perfectness” of most decorating photos. I’m not a pink fan, but this room feels relaxed and comfortable and I could spend time in it….Happy Valentine’s Day Everyone!

      1
  • Sat Hari K says:

    So pretty is right. Love the gold and orange and pop of raspberry with the pale pink sofa! So much beautiful color out there!

    1
  • Sat Hari K says:

    Happy Valentine’s Day to you too!

    1
  • KimM. says:

    Happy Valentine’s Day Maria! I downloaded your book the other day and I’m really enjoying reading it. 🙂

    1
  • BillP says:

    It looks very English.
    Happy Valentine’s Day!

    1
  • Sheri says:

    Happy Valentine’s Day to you too Maria! I am SO looking forward to your Spring True Color Experts class and can’t wait to finally meet you.

    Have a wonderful weekend!

    1
  • Happy Valentine’s Day! I like the wall color, but I agree, it’s a little too rumpled for me.

    1
  • Fran says:

    Happy Valentine’s Day to you and Terreeia. Great post, as always!

    1
  • StagerLinda says:

    Happy Valentine’s Day, Maria! Gotta say I’m not a fan of the floating small pictures. Room color is pretty.

    1
  • sandyc says:

    Love the pink living room though I don’t care for pink and the room is a bit cluttered, but then when I turn around from my desk and look at my living room, who am I to criticize? Above all, the room looks so unabashedly happy and lived in, almost as if Clive whipped out his camera and shot while the owner stepped out to get the coffee.

    The placement of the art and the comment are so right and inspirational. Unfortunately, my beloved aspens are the perfect size for over my couch but get lost on the vaulted wall which runs from 8′ at the window wall junction to 16′ where the wall abruptly ends and the open foyer exists. Despite thousands of pix on HOUZZ for vaulted walls/ceilings, haven’t found any ideas that work. Can’t achieve this look but it does get me thinking again in a slightly different direction, so thank you for that Valentine, Maria.

    Have a great day and eat lots of chocolate!

    1
    • Karen J says:

      I have super high vaulted ceilings too. It’s taken a while, but I’ve collected LARGE canvases that I love and arrange them them “gallery” style on the walls. I *LOVE* it now.

      1
  • Cynthia says:

    I think it’s lovely. I like a place that you can feel you can flop down on the sofa and have a nice cup of tea and relax. That is what makes life living!

    1
  • Love, love, love Farrow & Ball paints. I think the depth and nuance of their colors stands head and shoulders above others. Thanks for the lovely pink room on Valentine’s Day!

    1
    • Stacy says:

      Agree, I did a lot of “research” on full spectrum paints; a color that doesn’t use any black in the mix. While BM claims to have full spectrum paint, it’s not achieved the same way. In addition, F&B sheens are marvelous. Unfortunately, I couldn’t afford it throughout my house. But I did discover another brand called Ellen Kennon that is also true full spectrum and half the price of Farrow & Ball 🙂

      1
  • KMS says:

    i do think the wall color is soft and pretty. But I see dirty and clean colors and also yellow and pink undertones all together. I thought this was a no-no. I am confused!!

    1
  • Lisa Lucas says:

    A great Valentines post because we get this great visual reminder that this is not a furniture showroom or been styled for a magazine but rather a place the owner truly loves and you can feel it ringing true. I always admire those that are comfortable making a space appeal more to themselves rather than thinking about will impress. Wishing I could do a bit more of that when making selections for myself. Not what is on trend but rather about choosing things that I love despite the scale or a few wrinkles.

    1
  • Sharon says:

    I echo what Lisa says wholeheartedly. Although at first glance I thought “rumpled”!, I then realized the beauty of it was just that! As others have already said, it looks simply inviting to grab a coffee and curl up and watch the Olympics!

    1
  • Loribeth says:

    I hadn’t seen that quote before!!! Now I can use that quote when people want a print larger than I can provide. I think it will really help me with my sales! Thank you!!!

    1
  • Lesli DeVito says:

    LOVE IT….maybe even more than my OWN pink loving room…something about that tone on tone sofa upholstery that truly mass me weak…xo happy valentines sweet Maria!xo

    1
    • Kathy says:

      I think Maria has told us elsewhere that if we want a space to feel calm (like this one does), that the sofa/couch should match the wall color? but then my memory is not something to trust these days…

      1
  • Absolutely brilliant to say “But you wanted it fresh right?” I’ll have to try that. Love it. It puts everything in perspective and pulls client’s back from going back to the Earth tones. Thank you!

    1
  • Roberta says:

    I love everything about this room Maria! I’m sure it was styled right down to the bright pink yarn ball on the floor:)) Where can we see more of this room? I haven’t been into pink lately but the other colors make this room sing!!
    Happy St. Valentine’s Day Maria!

    1
  • Melanie says:

    I love it. I get a sense of calm but aliveness all at the same time. Happy Valentines day to all and belated for those of us where it is now the day after.

    1
  • Mary says:

    Happy Valentine’s Day. Thank you for the picture of the pretty pink room.

    1
  • Ange says:

    Maria, Happy Valentines Day! Not my favorite room, not a big fan of pink. But I do love the coffee table.

    1
  • Livia says:

    Great post Maria. So much information in so few words. I pinned that quote as we’ll, and I used it twice so far with my clients.

    1
  • Connie says:

    Reality question, so you know any man who would want that living room?

  • Happy Valentine’s Day! I hope you are making it through this latest winter storm.
    Patty at Home and Lifestyle Design
    Interior Design, 2014’s Color Trends For Your Home

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