FabSugar

Ask Casa: Help Me Choose Paint Colors

CasaSugar — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 08:00:19 -0800

Hi Casa,

My boyfriend and I are about to move into our first house and I couldn't be happier! I can't wait to get in there and start putting our touch on things! The only problem is that I am having a tough time picking a paint color for the living room.

A few years ago, I bought a set of three prints that I absolutely love. I want to hang them above the sofa in our new place, but I'm having a tough time finding the right paint color to highlight them. When we first bought the prints, our living room was white and they popped beautifully. But now I'm a little sick of white and want to add some color, but I'm not sure what direction to go. The living room in our new place opens onto the dining room, so whatever color we choose will have to continue into the dining room too.

Any suggestions?

Thanks for the help,
KatieMise

To see my suggestion for KatieMise, read more.

Hi Katie,

Great prints! I love them. This isn't a tough one. When choosing a wall color for a wall with artwork, my rule of thumb is always to choose a hue that's an accent in the art piece, but not the primary color. You should choose a complementary color, too. In this case, the background colors of two of your prints are a greenish-blue and a true blue, and in all three prints there is reddish detailing. So, I think a red or watermelon hue would really make your prints pop. Not only are they on the opposite side of the color wheel from those greens and blues, but reddish walls will make the red detailing in your prints pop!

I made a couple of mock-ups to give you an idea. But the best thing to do is head to your paint shop and grab a few samples in these colors, and then bring them home to see what works with your prints. Then, test the paint on your walls before you paint the whole thing. If a whole room in a red color is too much for you, you can always just paint an accent wall and then leave the rest of the walls white. I think it works with the artwork, too, because red is a really important color in Asian culture.

Hope this helps!

Cheers,

Casa

Color Theory: Bold, Beautiful Red

CasaSugar — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 09:00:18 -0800

You can't go much bolder with wall color than red. The color of fire and blood, red is associated with passion, love, power, energy, and determination. Given its intensity, it's sometimes hard to get red just right. Check out these successful examples of decorating with the color red.

View Slideshow ›

Color Theory: Mix Pink and Red

CasaSugar — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 07:00:00 -0800

When you're talking fashion, there are a lot of rules about color. No white after Labor Day. Black and brown clash. A lot of these rules have fallen by the wayside now that people dress a bit more bohemian, but for interior design, they've never really applied. You can be more liberal with the colors in your home. There's no doubt about it that red and pink clash, but if you mix them purposefully, it works!

I love the color pairing of these photos from stylist Olga Naiman. The solid red corner headboard and solid magenta bedspread on the left were very clearly designed to be used together, and it looks chic in a bold way. On the right, patterned and textured pinks and reds were mixed in a very playful manner. Since it's a low, lounge-y space, there's no need for those formal rules to apply. You'll see in both images that neutral colors were used on the walls and furniture; this tames the palette a bit. Mixing these colors also gives them a new association. On their own, pink is girly, while red is seductive. Together, they are lighthearted and fun. Try this at home!

Link Time! Joseph Gordon-Levitt Hosting SNL This Month

BuzzSugar — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 13:30:55 -0800

Joseph Gordon-Levitt and January Jones have been tapped to host SNL this month - The AV Club
Julia Roberts's production company has acquired the movie rights to unpublished book In the Neighborhood - Moviefone
Morgan Freeman will star in comedy Dirty Old Men - Cinematical
12 facts about the Mayan apocalyptic prediction and new film 2012 - Rotten Tomatoes
Taylor Swift has set a record for longest Billboard chart run this decade - HitFix
Helen Mirren has joined the cast of comic book adaptation Red - Coming Soon
Half of all DVR users don't actually skip commercials - Vulture
Nathan Fillion dishes about the Dr. Horrible sequel - MTV Movies Blog
Would you do, dump, or marry Andy Samberg? - TresSugar
Watch Christopher Walken reading Lady Gaga's "Poker Face" - PopWatch

Olga Kurylenko, Lady in Red Valentino: Love It or Hate It?

FabSugar — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 07:23:22 -0700

Ukranian beauty Olga Kurylenko has been MIA for a while, but she's back, and bolder than ever. At the 2010 Campari Calendar cocktail party in Milan, the actress showed up in a can't-miss-it red Valentino couture gown that perfectly matched the red carpet. Up top she's fully covered in a turtleneck and long sleeves, but she's showing a bit of leg and thigh in a high slit. She's way more covered than she has to be, but if you look back on previous looks, her gutsy nature is no shock. What do you think of this lady in a lot of red?

Take all of my Love It or Hate It Polls here! Also, don't forget to join my Love It or Hate It? group.

Get the Look: Red Gossip Girl Room

CasaSugar — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 05:30:11 -0700

In last night's episode of Gossip Girl, Blake Lively and Tyra Banks got cozy in their silk robes on a red velvet settee. The showstopping piece certainly makes the room, but the matching red damask wallpaper and blue velvet curtains continue the baroque theme throughout the room. Then, accents like the black and white embroidered pillows, brass bird wall sculpture, and rope tassels add another element of luxurious detailing. To get the look in your home, read more.

Start with the Ballard Designs Sofia Settee ($1,159) as a base. You can have it upholstered in red velvet. Or, search 1st Dibs for "red velvet settee" to find something more precise.

For the rest of the look, read more.

Photo courtesy of The CW

Get the Look: Folksy Red Cushion Room

CasaSugar — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 15:00:03 -0700

After reading my Decorating With Cozy Fall Throws slideshow, one reader wrote in saying, "I am in love with this room and want to know where everything is from, particularly the pillows and the artwork." You know me, I love to help you all "get the look," so here we go!

The success of this room is driven by the mix of pink and red textiles, including cushions, a throw, and a floormat. Those particular cushions are from Designers Guild but are no longer available. The artwork is from Pimpernel & Partners in London, but you can easily find similar artwork by searching "vintage floral paintings" on Etsy or eBay. To see more products to help recreate this look, read more.

Source

2010 Spring New York Fashion Week: Phillip Lim

FabSugar — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 18:15:59 -0700

When the runway is red and the invite has a threaded red stripe through it, does that promise a red-hot collection? When it's Phillip Lim it does. As expected, Lim's first couple looks were red - a lipstick-red double-breasted shirt jacket and roll-down waist pants, a slick red rain trench, red crystal sunglasses (have to have those). But Lim knows you can have too much of a good thing and quickly switched to cool gray knits and his favorite tomboyish shorts, cardis, and button downs.

Unordinary details like "illusion" bow fasteners, embellished belts, and collaged textures separated Lim from the rest. And then came the sparkle. Bronze and silver sequin panels on accordion pleat dresses and a straight-up silver sequin shirt dress surely sent front rowers Lauren Conrad and Leighton Meester's hearts aflutter. And the finale dress, on death-staring Karlie Kloss: ivory lace tiered "compilation" dress with abstract cubist sculptural organza appliqué. The mirrors at the entrance of the runway made Karlie appear to be strutting through the looking glass . . .

For more red-hot Lim Spring, read more.

View 40 Photos ›

Don't forget to check out all of our New York Fashion Week coverage and follow my Fashion Week adventures on Twitter!

Technicolor Toys: Red Gadgets and Accessories

GeekSugar — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 09:05:57 -0700

It's common to see red when your hard drive quits, but sometimes seeing cherry colored gadgets is a good thing. Red is a staple hue for gadgets and gear this season - from rosy cameras, fire engine laptops to brick USB devices. The powerful color is cheerful, unisex and will help you spot your gizmos in a flash if they aren't neatly organized in one place. Take a peek at a few of the hottest lust-worthy red goodies below.

We're going to show you a whole rainbow of gadgets, gizmos and accessories this month to support creative back-to-school shopping so log on tomorrow to see what bright delights we showcase!

Crave Worthy: Harwick Bench

CasaSugar — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 05:30:29 -0700

You don't need to paint your house a neon hue or put a middle finger sculpture outside your home to make heads turn. Set a glamorous, cerise bench like the Charleston Gardens Harwick Bench ($1,195) on your front porch, and your neighbors will be drooling with envy. If you'd prefer this elegant Chinoiserie-style seat in a more subtle color, the cast aluminum bench is also available in a powder-coated white or black finish. Whatever you choose, rest assured, this durable piece has a 15-year warranty!