As I watch the 2010 FIFA World Cup soccer games, I keep seeing the coolest fiery orange color on the field at the feet of many players.  As a foot flies in the air, captured by the camera is the brand name, NIKE.  This World Cup edition cleat comes from the Nike Superfly line.  The style and colors of the soccer shoe (or also known as the football boot) are sleek and fast looking especially when worn by some of the greatest soccer players in the world.  

This fiery orange color that stands out on the field also has the same effect when used with interiors.  A fire color is great in a kitchen especially mixed in with black and silver (even if the silver has a purple hue to it!).  Like on the soccer cleat, this combo of colors has a modern and progressive feel.

The mix of orange, silver and black extending past the kitchen, creates an innovative looking space for this living room below.

A little bit of fiery orange can go a long way and stand out in a crowd.  Enjoy watching those feet move for the final World Cup soccer games!

Color reaches every element in a room so, it may not just be the walls that need a lift!  It could be the contents.  If you love a piece of furniture that you can’t get rid of, give it a color lift!  There are those precious pieces that we have a love-hate relationship with primarily because they don’t fit in the space with the rest of the contents.  How about reviving the piece by painting or staining it?  You may want to stain it in a cool color like turquoise or create a design on it like these awesome photos below.  Also, consider adding new hardware that's either old and rustic or new and modern depending on the furniture and the look you are going for. 

Colorful Stain Design on Table Top by upcycler on Etsy

Stain Design on Table Top by upcycler on Etsy

How’s that chair with the outdated fabric on it; driving you nuts?  Do you feel like you need to match your whole dining room to those chairs because your family passed these heirloom pieces on to you?  The next question is, do you recover them with fabric?  I say, enjoy the pieces while you have them.  It’s furniture and most likely, your ancestors reupholstered your pieces but no one knows this because they didn’t tell anyone for the same reason you feel responsible to upkeep these pieces and keep them in the same condition you got them … Guilt?  Respect?  I went through this years ago and finally asked myself, why?  I decided to recover the cushions to some heirloom chairs with faux animal skin fabric.  Afterwards, I loved them.  You are not ruining the piece by reupholstering it. You are reviving the piece so it may be enjoyed … in this modern day.  Go ahead, live on the wild side!  Maybe only a few will roll over in their graves.  See the chair below that was given a second chance!

BEFORE - should it stay or should it go?

AFTER  - reupholstered cushion with a pillow made to match

Reup by The Color Design Shop

When you are looking around your room to find what doesn't fit or make sense, you may not have to get rid of the piece that sticks out like sore thumb.  It may just need a colorful boost!

   Need color for your space beyond the walls and ceiling? Add ARTWORK! One big painted canvas over a sofa, with a little hue in the pillows and a colorful rug can change an entire living room. When it comes to color, it's important to create a space that does not irritate and make you bored but create one that pulls you in with excitement!

   If you desire to invest in an original piece, then the search begins to find all the badly advertised artists and their amazing work!  Try local art shows in small or large venues.  Ask friends with great artwork.  Interior Design shows will showcase artist's pieces.  If you like the hunt, there are estate sales, yard sales and junk shops that turn up treasures for usually a fairly low price.  You can even negotiate an even lower price at these places.  I've seen great photography for sale in coffee shops.  If you are open to finding originals, they will appear!

   If you have a creative side, painting or taking photos to create your own originals is a way to add to your home collection.  This can be a lot of fun to do with family and friends as well.  Check out the site below, a local Santa Monica PAINT:LAB.  You pay for the canvas and a low daily fee (includes paint and supplies) and WA LA! .... You leave with a painted canvas.

http://www.paintlab.net/

PAINT:LAB is pleased to present an exhibition of works by Bénédicte Pourchet at an opening reception for “Brights” on May 22nd from 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm at PAINT:LAB

NOTE FOR THE DAY:  Don't be afraid to add color.  Nature isn't!

   Not many people realize that negotiating THE CONTRACT for the building of your home also should include the timeline for when to paint the interior.  I spoke to a builder years back who enlightened me on their process for painting an interior.  These guys got the big jobs and knew how to remedy the issues that come up with painting.  In their contract, they come back 1 year later to paint the interior.  Reason 1:  A newly built house settles and after a year, they come back and fix the cracks that naturally happen as the house settles into it's new foundation and then paint.  Reason 2: The owners now have an idea of what their wall colors should be once they buy new furniture and get everything they own into it's place.  Reason 3:  Happier clients, more referrals, and a successful business!  

   I don't know how many times (and I'm sure my color colleagues will sympathize) I have walked into a newly built empty home with paint color fans in tow and the proud new owners are looking at me for inspiration!  Let's just say, many many times.  Ultimately, the last colorful decision for a room is the wall color that brings everything together.  Color also plays off of other colors and for instance, if you want a bright focus wall when nothing is yet in the room .... it will scare you off without the furniture there!  Focus colors are usually very saturated or just strong colors and flirt with contents of a room.   You may have a rich Caribbean blue wall that has driftwood furniture and grounded neutrals in the accessories and together it's sensational!  Alone, frighteningly bright.   Neutral colors throughout the main areas can even take on tones that are irritating when no furniture is there to ground them as a soft neutral.  Some neutral colors have green in them and the green can stand out and annoy without content around. 

   So, when buying a new home, look at your contract.  My best advice, negotiate the interior of the home to be painted 6 months to 1 year out.  I realize it's more of a pain to move your furniture around yet you will have a much better idea of what colors you want throughout the entire house.  With a color specialist and your contents as color inspiration, the interior colors will be best decided upon last!  Also, the settling cracks get fixed!  

   Remember, a contract is always negotiable!  Read it carefully before you sign on the dotted line.

An example of adding color to your walls that compliments the contents: