Sticks & Stones: Finding Color Inspiration in Nature

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The weather has been so beautiful here in Georgetown, KY, we've spent many afternoons that melt into evening outside soaking up the sunshine. Watching the kids play in the backyard with "stick swords", it made me think of how this time of year, with the blooming trees and mild days, makes our entire home feel lighter and brighter. It's like someone threw the window open to the soul and let all that light and fresh air sink right down to the heart.

Since you and I both know that it's just as likely to snow tomorrow as it is be 75 degrees and sunny (oh, Kentucky weather), here's a few ideas for bringing that outdoor-glory-in and creating a space that's evergreen.





PicturePicture Give your home a sense of harmony with a color palette.

Planning a color palette is an easy way to create flow from one room to the next. It's likely that you have a subtle palette already since we tend to be drawn to a handful of colors that we incorporate through paint, decorative accessories and art. I like to take a "gathering walk" through my home to collect items that inspire me or evoke a feeling (let's say, peacefulness). You can collect anything that jumps out to you, whether it be a picture from a magazine, a favorite sweater or even a piece of jewelry. Take note of the colors and textures that captured your attention. For me, I'm drawn to driftwood, pebbles, water-hues and weathered-wood. These things make me feel calm so I use those colors from room-to-room.

Feature walls are a fun way to play with color.

If you're afraid to commit to bright, vibrant hues, consider painting a feature wall. I love feature walls because they are bold without being permanent. Painting a feature wall is a quick and inexpensive job you can do in an afternoon so you won't feel such an obligation based on time or money to stick with the look if you decide later it isn't working for you. Play! Have fun with your home. I love this nursery feature wall painted in Glidden's Cool Metalwork Grey.

Plan a "rainy" day.

If you're looking for a color that you can use throughout your home to really freshen up your space, one of my very favorites is Glidden's Quiet Rain. It is such a beautiful and versatile color that provides a perfect canvas for experimenting with other hues through your decor. You can see it featured above in the HGTV Dream Home foyer.

Add instant-character with richly-detailed floors.

Even if your home is a new construction, you can get the look of weathered-wood with products like Mohawk's Textured Planks, shown below in Toasted Chestnut. The detail looks incredibly authentic and the color will add warmth to your home.

Shop your own backyard.

It sounds simple but bringing in a few natural elements from your own yard like clipped blooming branches can bring a look together. I snipped these branches from our yard and tucked them in vintage bottles for a pretty pop of color against our white shiplap fireplace but even a pop of green leaves would be pretty and fresh.






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