The last few weeks…

Some of you who read my blog may have noticed it’s been awhile since I’ve posted.  October certainly took off with a bang for me and hasn’t stopped since!  I just returned from earning my color expert certification and am truly looking forward, more than ever, to working with the new clients I signed prior to my trip.  New clients are always fun to work with and October is traditionally the month that everyone begins thinking of their home, particularly in the context of the holidays, because they are thinking of family gatherings and begin to see all of the things that bother them about their interiors.  I love working with clients at this time of year in this context because they are so focused on creating a wonderful space for family, though I always strive to be realistic about what we are and aren’t able to accomplish in the time between now and Thanksgiving or Christmas and Hanukkah.  And, with my new-found passion for color, my guess is we’ll see some of that reflected in their rooms!

The beautiful detail around the doors along with the wainscoting, centerpiece and delicate chandelier set a stage for a warm, fun gathering here. (pinterest)

I spent the past week in Vancouver with a terrific and fun group of other designers, earning our color expert certification.  We absorbed a huge amount of information and it was virtually impossible to go anywhere after each day wrapped without seeing how color is misused in many of our public and private spaces!  Ahhh, I wondered to myself.  Is this a curse or a gift??

With the correct colors, this home in Vancouver could be stunning. The main color has a pink undertone, which doesn’t work well with the colors in the cement and landscaping.

What was a gift was the city of Vancouver itself and the stunning Loden Hotel.

The Coal Harbour area of Vancouver at night

The people of Vancouver are second to none…kind, intelligent, outgoing people and our hotel was amazing!  For any of you who are considering a trip to downtown Vancouver, I highly recommend the Loden Hotel. The attentive staff, excellent service and quiet, comfortable rooms were wonderful to come back to after a long day and the shuttle to Whistler is a few blocks away.

The Loden is a smaller, boutique design hotel in the heart of the Coal Harbour area of Vancouver. Canadians primarily drink a tea or espresso and I had mine here in the morning by the fire. (Loden Hotel)

The glass on each side of the fireplace is darkly etched with images of trees and plays perfectly off the stone detail of the fireplace surround and wide hearth. (Loden Hotel)

All of the colors used in their interiors work so well together, it was easy to feel relaxed and happy each time we walked in.

Color is a great way to unify and set the correct overall tone for a space, so I’m looking forward to beginning a few new projects this week and to sharing my expert color knowledge with my new clients! What are you up to?