THE MOODY BLUES…..

So how do you feel about

blue?  

Did you know that blue is the most preferred colour?  Probably because it reminds people of the sea and sky. 

Blue – light blue, navy, denim blue, sky blue, baby blue.  Blue has many different personalities. 

Psychologically, blue symbolizes serenity and sadness.  Mention a blue sky and images of calm summer afternoons and wide spaces appear in our minds, talk of blue feelings and the mood can seem very dark.

The two sides of blue come from its intrinsic coolness, which can either soothe or chill us.  If blue is placed along natural wood it will heighten the warmth of the wood and also provides a respite from it’s heat. 

This photo shows how the blue cools off the wood in this home – which is actually a tree house!

Used alone, blue can cause a room to recede visually.  The warmer shades of blue tend towards the green side of its spectrum and are the easiest choices for interiors.

Usually people who like blue have introverted tendencies.

Blue can cause us to feel serene, peaceful or melancholy.  It lowers our blood pressure and slows our respiratory rate, it cools and relaxes us and is an antidote for the colour red.

Behaviourally, blue is associated with responsibility, loyalty, authority and conservatism, it can also be seen as rigid and narrow-minded which would explain why it’s used for police and postal workers uniforms.  Blue isn’t great with food and is a poor choice for restaurants.  When you think about it you don’t see too many blue restaurant interiors do you???

Royal blue or azure conveys richness & superiority.

Pastel blues suggest springtime while deep blue is a colder weather colour.

Blue and green mixed together create a soft, watery like effect in a spa bathroom.

Mixed with gray, blue creates an understated elegance.

Sky blue or robin egg’s blue combined with a neutral brown, tan or beige create an environmentally friendly atmosphere.

 

To tone down a hot red or orange room add blue for some coolness.  The opposite of yellow - blue will subdue a yellow room.

Navy blue is a little warmer and lighter than black and navy and white always makes us think nautical. 

However, navy with metallic accents has a rich, elegant appearance.

 

So that’s the scoop on blue – it is actually a cool colour but like all colours it really depends on it’s neighbour as to whether it reads as cool or warm. 

So are you like the many and love blue or are you like the few and hate it??

I believe that every space can be comfortable, warm, elegant and beautiful. I would love to help you achieve your beautiful space!

Email me at lisa@lisagouletdesign.com or if in the Ottawa area call me at 613-762-0818.

Lisa 

LATEST COTTAGE TREASURE UNVEILED!!

Okay, I won’t keep you in suspense any longer.  This is the latest in my posts about the little treasures my cottage revealed. 

As I mentioned before, when we purchased our cottage six years ago it came with some furnishings and a completely packed bunkie! 

After many trailer loads to the dump there were a few things that I’ve kept because I thought they were interesting and that they may have some value. 

Well this is one of the treasures we found -

 

A wallpaper sample book from Empire Wallpapers Limited (a Sunworthy company) called Studio Masterpieces.  As you can see the cover has some mildew damage as it has been stored in that unheated bunkie for who knows how long.  And I have to admit it is a little smelly.  There have been a few protests about it’s odour since I brought it home….

The previous owner’s used the book as a place to press leaves and flowers and there were tons of them still in the book when I found it.  Luckily that didn’t seem to do much damage to the pages inside.  

As there was no date anywhere on the book I did some digging and found out that this book is from the 1940’s (twenty years older than what I originally thought).

Here’s some of the beautiful designs:

This one is called Dinner Date here’s the description of it that they included below.

Some more floral patterns. 

 

 And some leaves in different colourwaves…..

  This one is called the Canadian Sportsman – the description follows below.

This one is called Pillement Chinese.

This one is called Williamsburg. 

There’s even some ones called Moderne.

 

This whimsical one is called Old MacDonald.

  And this one – Scarlet Pimpernel – of course!

These wallpaper samples are all painted and I was thinking of framing some of the images or perhaps framing them inside wall mouldings as a feature.  Though, I have to admit I feel a little apprehensive about actually cutting them out of the book.

What do you think I should do with them?

I hope you are all enjoying your summer I certainly have been and I’ll be taking some time off so this will be my last post for a little while.  Have a great weekend!  Cheers!

 

I believe that every space can be comfortable, warm, elegant and beautiful. I would love to help you achieve your beautiful space!

Email me at lisa@lisagouletdesign.com or if in the Ottawa area call me at      613-762-0818.

Lisa

A LITTLE SPRING HOPPER!

Here's a cute little tree frog that I snapped a picture of last year at our cottage. I think he is so cute and he makes me think of spring!