Designing with Black and White!

What is it about Black and White that grabs your attention, 

creates drama and screams elegance? 

I think the saying below explains it perfectly!

I think it's because it was an emotional story, 

and emotions come through

much stronger in black and white. 

Color is distracting in a way, it pleases the eye 

but it doesn't necessarily reach the heart. 

~Kim Hunter~

What do you feel when you see a black and white room?

Which one of these is your favorite? 

source: South Shore Decorating Blog, Surroundings, Decorator's Best, Centsational Girl, Interiors Style and Design.

Interior Design Blues

Sometimes I wonder what I'm gonna do
'Cause there ain't no cure for the summertime blues

Barclay Butera

I have never been a huge fan of the color blue. But this summer various 

combinations of blue have been flying around the design world.

I now have a good case of the summertime blues! It is really growing on me!

Cynthia Jorgensen

I love the blue ceiling! 

Thibaut wallcovering, waterbury trail in navy, really livens up
this laundry room.

 The walls are covered floor-to-ceiling in blue and white delft tile 
(expertly placed there by another blue and white lover and 
previous owner Carolyne Roehm).

The purple walls are an interesting choice with the 
blue bedding and drapery fabric.

Great choices of blue in this coastal chic room!

You will really feel like you are by the sea in this blue
and white bedroom.

I can never get enough of blue and white porcelains! It
works with almost any decor. I even have them 
in my house!

Blue and white porcelains work in a variety of rooms.

 Amazing blue lacquer for the cabinets. This room has
a large scale yellow and white wallpaper that doesn't 
show in this picture. 

Nothing wrong with taking your blue and white outside!

There are many shades of blue. This room pulls fabrics and 
paintings that are soft and calm.

The use of blue tile in this bath gives it a spa like feel.

I have always loved this Clarence House 
wallpaper in the blue background.

This blue wallpaper even looks great in the kitchen!

I could go on for hours adding blue pictures, but
if you want to see more blue go visit my 
My Blue e Bianco board on Pinterest.

Maybe this is why so many people love blue!

source: Pink Clutch blog, my design chic, Veranda, the glam pad, 
home bunch, belclaire house blogspot

It is Decorator Showhouse time!

Chateau Soleil, Atlanta, Georgia

It is that magical time of year. Filled with glitz and glamour,

calm and serene, old and new and sometimes completely

over the top! What is it you ask? 

Spring is Decorator Showhouse time. 

Come with me as we visit some of the countries best

Designer Showhouses and see what you like and don't like

about this years homes.

Loren Audrey Taylor and Carolyn Abrams Taylor

We will start with the entrance hall at

the 2015 Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Show House – Chateau Soleil

This Chateau has 14,000 square feet plus!

Parker Kennedy Living -  The Front Study

Breakfast Room and Den - Vern Yip

DC Design House Mclean, Virginia

Our next house is outside of Washington, DC.

It was built by Artisan Builders and designed by Harrison Design.

It replicates an Old American Farmhouse with a scale and atmosphere 

not often seen in new construction today.  

Family Room - Iantha Carley

Dining Room by Jeff Akseizer and Jamie Brown 

Loggia - Nancy Colbert

Celebrating 50th Anniversary - Pasadena, California
We are going to head across country to the 
Pasadena Showcase House of Design. This is the Queen Mother 
of all design house and garden tours in the country. 
After all, it is the largest and oldest continuously running house and garden tour. 

Salon - John Cole

Vintage Nursery - Amy Peltier

The Media/Game Room - Jerome Thibault and Lucero Gutierrez

San Francisco Designer Showcase

Continuing our tour in California, we head off to San Francisco.
If you love contemporary, high-end, dramatic interior design,
 then you will love this years San Francisco Designer Showcase.

Kitchen -Navarra Design

Playroom - Allison Caccoma

Laundry Room - Evars & Anderson Interior Design

Lake Forest, Illinois
We are heading north to the Lake Forest
Showhouse and Gardens. It is the former home of the 
late John Hughes, Jr. best known for movies like Pretty in Pink,
Sixteen Candles, Ferris Bueller and the Breakfast Club.

Butler's Pantry - Wiley Designs

Teen Girl's Bedroom - Jeannie Balsam 

Nursery - Steve & Filip Design

Arthur Sachs Mansion at 55 East 66th Street

There is none more exciting than the renowned 

Kips Bay Decorator Showhouse. in Manhattan.   

Phillip Mitchell Design turned the elliptical stairwell into a glorious 

gallery of nearly 300 works of art.

Beautiful Bedroom - David Phoenix

Study - Thom Filicia

The Alabama Symphony Showhouse - Vestavia

We are heading back South near Birmingham to 

wrap up our Showhouse Tour. 

This property sits on ten acres and includes a stream. 

Outdoor retreat - Summer Classic designers,

Robin Jones and Allen Westbrook

Sitting Area in Master Bedroom - Stock and Trade Design Co.

Den - Birmingham Wholesale Furniture, Stan Nelson 

I hope you have enjoyed your tour of the Spring Showhouses 

across the country. 

See you again soon! 


Source: Thank you to Kandrac and Kole, Washingtonian,The Front Door, Making It Lovely, Architectural Digest, AL.com