Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Living brightly


I'm a colorful girl. One look in my closet would reveal this as true. I don't wear much black, usually preferring to don pretty pastels and summery shades. Maybe it's the California girl in me, but I just like color.

The same goes for my design sensibility. Growing up, my room was as girly as a room could get. Think pink pink pink with a floral bedspread that perfectly matched the rosy wallpaper that perfectly matched my grandmama's hand-painted wall plates-- also in a floral motif. It was a bit uncanny how it all went together. And I loved it.

But once I got into my teens, I wanted a change. My obsession at the time was all things stars and I had just begun my love affair with the color yellow. (Up until then, my favorite hue was cerulean. Now the colors of the sea and the sun hold my attention equally.)

So what did I do? I painted my bedroom the brightest shade of yellow I could find. My parents questioned the choice but went with it (gotta love 'em). I accented the look with stark white Ikea furniture and pops of blue. A star mobile, star rug and many other star-shaped things completed the look. And you know I had a cheap copy of van Gogh's "Starry Night" hanging, too.

I simply loved waking up in that room. It was hard to be blue, shall we say, in a space that was so darn happy. Today, however, my living quarters aren't so vibrant. Beige walls and a brown couch are fine but I long for something more cheery, especially since my home is my office, too.

One day, I will have a house full of color, full of pattern and texture, full of ... life. Till then, I will just dream. And look at design magazines (ha!). I pulled some photos for future inspiration and I think it is safe to say that, if I had my way, my home would look something like this: (click *** for source)









Do you daydream about how you would decorate your ideal digs? Do you go for in-your-face brights like me or perhaps something more classic and subdued? Do share!



Top image found on Oh Joy! a while ago. If you know the direct source, please let me know!

17 comments:

Amber said...

My apartment now is mostly neutrals and browns with a pop of colour thrown in here and there. I plan on being a bit "brighter" in my next apartment, though.

I do have a bright red couch :)

Erin {pughs' news} said...

I love the cherry tree mural on the teal blue wall, the stripey yellow bathroom, the lovely little office space... Gorgeous! And isn't it fun to dream?

Unknown said...

Our apartment was recently rehabbed so we aren't allowed to paint over the stark white walls. So I've tried to be creative with decorations but it's hard because our ceilings are actually higher than normal. So wall decorations have been tricky for me. If I coudl paint though, I would paint light blues and bright colors - I used to live in an apple green room and I really enjoyed how different it was. And I too grew up in a pink room with a floral comforter and borders. Oh to be a little girl again...

Analiese said...

I'm a color girl too! I can't get enough. I just painted my bathroom a bright buttery yellow. Apparently, yellow has the psychological effect of making you feel happier - and I think it's working! I love all the photos, btw.

trishie said...

i had a pink pink room when i was a little girl too! lovely pics you got there, hope one day your home will be bright and colourful like you are!

tinypaperheart said...

these pictures are so great! :)

Helen said...

Ooh, love these pictures! I agree, one day, I'll definitely have a house with tons of color too! :)

Dionne said...

I want a place as colorful as these! Lots of white and pops of bright!

Phoenix said...

There is not much else on this planet more awesome than the right shade of bright yellow with the perfect blue :)

When I lived with someone (and was not very happy) it was all sleek steel and gray and black...

When we split up, my bedroom and bathroom practically exploded with color because that's what I needed more than anything. And it's been that way since! :)

Barkfoot said...

Why not cover that boring couch with a lively throw, and paint those walls with a colour to lift the heaviest mood. Release your inner child and put a paint pot in her hand...

Shannon of HAPPINESS IS said...

Can you paint your walls at all? My walls are aqua, orange, dark teal, and apple green :) I love bright colorful spaces! xo

Carissa Thilgen said...

re: barkfoot and Shannon--

I would paint the walls of our apartment if I knew we were staying awhile... but since we're month to month at the moment, it kind of seems like it would be a waste of time! plus, I don't know the rules for sure with our apartment, but I think we'd have to paint them back to beige before we moved out... at least there's always accessories :)

and Shannon, your home sounds like my kind of place! so many happy colors! :)

Shoshanah said...

All of those photos looks awesome! I was going to tell you my favorites, but I think its pretty much ALL of them. But if I have to narrow it down, it would be all of the ones with a blue and pink theme.

You Are My Fave said...

My teenage room was bright yellow too. I still love sleeping in that room when I go home.

amber and hilary said...

love the last space!
great blog xx

http://amberwhitecliffe.blogspot.com/

Andhari said...

The last picture is so cute. I wouldn't say no to have my room decorated like that :D

Jodi Kendall said...

i love that yellow-and-white striped bathroom, although it would never work with my home's decor!! maybe I need to get a cottage somewhere.... ;)