Color Notes: Room Full of Blues

Welcome to the third Color Notes posting. The purpose of this series is to share inspiring products and helpful ideas for the many hues you might want to incorporate into your home's design scheme.

Given America's 233rd birthday this weekend, I thought I'd kick off this new feature with Red, White and Blue. You've seen Red and White already. This Blue posting concludes our All-American series. Let me know which Color Notes hue you'd like to see next time in the Comments section below.


Why blue?

Blue is associated with water and sky, military and royalty. It's considered a cool color, and is great for relaxation spaces, as it evokes a coastal vacation for so many fans. I love blue paint in kitchens and baths - azure with white cabinets or pale sky shades with cherry spice or espresso finishes. Blue works with most wood floors, from whitewashed to blondes to deep ebonies, and with many tan or golden-tinged tiles. It's also perfect with white trim and shutters, and white window sheers. The blue shown above right is Benjamin Moore's version of Blueberry Buckle by Olympic.


Where not to go blue?

If your goal is to make a room feel warm and cozy, the cool blue palette won't meet your needs. Most parents won't buck tradition and use it for a girl's nursery either.


I love blue with...

Creamy tans, especially azure, seen here, or navy
This is Smith + Noble's Soft Roman Fabric Shade in Voila Stripe/Mist

Yellow, especially in French or Mediterranean-influenced prints

White, especially in comfy, retro prints
Shown here is Sunspot Bedding from the Sundance Catalog

Brown, as long as the blue is pale
As shown here in Ballard Design's Mantova Stripe Wallpaper Chocolate Fog

And, of, course,

Red and white, in crisp Americana-inspired prints
Seen here on Pottery Barn's Chesapeake Double Chaise

Cool blue collection

It was fun collecting images of cool blue design gear. My own home has tons of blue elements, and in many of the pairings shown above. Here are some blue pieces you might enjoy having in your home.


Built-in blues

I love blue accent cabinets!
Beautifully showcased here in a showroom vignette at
Glen Alspaugh Kitchens & Baths in St. Louis

Recycled Cobalt Skyy Blue Glass Countertops from Vetrazzo
(That's not a typo; these are made from Skyy Vodka bottles!)

Contemporary color for your kitchen...
Preference Series Appliances in Blue Water by Dacor

And an Old World opposite
Chateau Range by La Cornue

Blue has light-hearted fun in Artistic Tile's Effervescence series
(Spotted this on my recent New York City design visit to the A&D Building)

Mother Nature's Beauty: Blue Pearl Granite
Pair it with creamy white or toffee maple cabinets for a knock-out look

Furniture Blues

Arne Jacobsen's Egg Chair in Aqua
at Design Within Reach

More retro seating!
Urban Outfitter's Lulu Chair in Aqua Tweed

"She wore blue velvet..."
The Dauphine Headboard, that is, also at Urban Outfitters.com

You love garden stools, I love garden stools!
Here's Wisteria's Chinese Garden Stool in Light Blue

Banish your bedtime blues with PB's Charlotte Bedside Table

Decorative blues

Flor it! with Modern Mix Carpet Tiles

Light it up with Anthropologie's Crystal Drop Chandelier

Or with Bellacor's Blue Ceramic Gourd Lamp

Catch one of these Blue Fish Ceramic Planters at Pier1

Or grab one of these Blue Glass Cabinet Pulls at VanDykes.com

At the end of a long day, cuddle up with this yummy Monogrammed Solid Cashmere Throw
Compliments of Williams-Sonoma Home

Enjoy the entire Color Notes series...

Color Notes: A Red-time Story
Color Notes: A Room Full of Blues
Color Notes: The White Album
Color Notes: Purple Haze
Color Notes: Orange Crush
Color Notes: Green Day