Amy Butler's Chandelier

I just finished the coolest DIY project using the IKEA Maskros. I can't wait to share the photos and tutorial with you very soon (probably Monday)!

In the meantime, isn't Amy Butler's gold spray painted version so great? Apartment Therapy did a pretty amazing whole-house tour here.

Faux Tortoise Shell Mirror

I stopped in to Todd Romano's lovely store the other day to look at some Bob Collins fabric for a client. While I was there (after getting distracted by the table covered in juicy Christopher Spitzmiller lamps) I noticed this beautiful bamboo mirror in a blue faux finish and couldn't stop thinking about it all day. I started thinking about trying a faux finish on one of my mirrors.

I've had my heart set on trying a tortoise shell finish. And then I saw this amazing table in this month's House Beautiful and I love the idea even more. Miles Redd had it painted to look like green tortoise shell.

I did some googling and came up with this image for inspiration.

The next step is getting the technique down. Does anyone have any experience with tortoise shell faux finish? Or maybe a good book to recommend?

(PS This Ballard mirror (which is 20% off right now!) would be a good choice for a project like this. You'll want to go as simple as possible with the face of the moulding for a more realistic look.)

Faux Bois Floors

Marianne from Haven and Home posted this image from Coastal Living recently, and I'm obsessed with a number of elements including but not limited to:

1) The great color on the ceiling. That light fixture is pretty killer too.

2) The mahogany counters that are sealed in glossy shellac. NICE.

3) And most of all, the faux bois floors (obviously). You can get a similar look with this 5" wood grain painting rocker (or the rollers might work well, too). I would probably put this fun treatment in a kids bathroom, a mudroom or a laundry room. Note that the paint colors are black and white. Such a graphic touch!

Albert Hadley's Blue Wall

I'm working on my own version of the blue wall Albert Hadley has in his NYC apartment.

I think this is a genius way to incorporate a pretty color on the white walls of a rental. Just a quart of gorgeous paint, some inexpensive molding and a bottle of liquid gold leaf.

Ralph Lauren Paints

Did you hear that Martha Stewart paints will be sold at Home Depot beginning April 1? I'm really excited to see her new line (assuming it will be different from the Valspar/Lowes line).

I am bummed though that the Ralph Lauren paint line will be discontinued to make way for the Martha paints. I guess that Home Depot will keep all the RL formulas in their computers and they will also keep a fan deck of the old line behind their paint counter for color matching.

This morning I was at Home Depot picking up some supplies for a project at my mom's house, and I had a few minutes to spare so I stood in front of the Ralph Lauren paint chip display and took one of each chip. I would have felt silly, but I've done this before (with the Martha line for Valspar) and knew it wasn't that big of a deal. I have those MS chips hole-punched and stored on rings, but I think I want to figure out a better, more protective solution for my Ralph Lauren chips. I'm just so glad that I didn't miss that chance to get the paint chips before they are gone. Now when I want a RL color, I can just bring in my chip and Home Depot will color match for me in a Behr brand paint.

And speaking of the actual paints, the RL bases are all 50% off right now, so be sure to take advantage of the sale if you need any paints this month.

Now I'm off to work on some projects, but here are a few photos of rooms or projects featuring Ralph Lauren paints to inspire you:

Erika's daughter's crib, painted in 'Golden Candlesticks'

Thom Felicia used "Palais Royal" in this showhouse bedroom featured in House Beautiful.





In another showhouse bedroom featured in Southern Accents, RL's "Bitter Orange" covers all the ceilings and walls.

Thom Felicia painted these great chairs RL's Mango Gold for the showhouse featured in House Beautiful.

Eddie Ross used Ralph Lauren's "Brompton" for this pair of vintage chairs.

Domino featured this beautiful dining room painted in RL's "Purple Embassy." I love how rich this unexpected color is here.

I love "Galvenized", a really rich chocolate brown, and used it as a base for the silver leaf night stands,



and for the legs of my coffee-table-turned-ottoman.

We used "Abassador Sterling" from the Regent Metallics line on the backs of the shelves on my mom's dining hutch. And recently she painted her ceiling another great color from the same line.

Room Painting Ideas - 32 Pics

Beautiful colour combinations for your room paintings.
While most of us may not spend a lot of time thinking about color, it affects every day of our lives. Color can influence our mood and our thoughts. Colors affect people in many ways, depending upon one’s age, gender, ethnic background or local climate. Certain colors or groups of colors tend to get a similar reaction from most people - the overall difference being in the shade or tones used. So it’s important to choose wisely.