Speaking of blue from earlier this week, how do you feel about it? I have to say, blue has never been my go-to color for decorating, but I’m learning to like it more and more.
The February issue of House Beautiful is dedicated to all things blue. Blue rooms, blue paint, blue accessories. And it was pretty fun to flip through and see all the shades of blue that are out there.
Little Rock, AR designer, Tobi Fairly is prominently highlighted in this issue with a fabulous house that she designed with a lot of blue. Don’t those lamps just jump out at you in a really good way? I love that subtle damask backdrop too, maybe wallpaper. Such a pretty entryway.
From the same house, this is the livingroom, which just exudes happiness with all the blue. You can’t see the rug pattern very well, but it’s a blue and white design that is so pretty. It’s amazing to see all the shades of blue in this room, but they really do work together. Tobi is a fabulous designer, in my book.
(Designed by Kim Coleman & Michele Green; Interview: Bob Morris; Photographs: James Merrell)
Doesn’t this room (above) just make you smile? This is a beachouse in Southampton, NY.  Reminds me so much of the seafoam green I had in my house back in 1985. Only back then, we were pairing this green with mauve. Yuck! No more mauve for me. How about those crisp white sofas?
From the same beach house, this is one of the bedrooms. Very fun, don’t you think?
(Designer: Kristen Panitch)
A beautifully designed blue dining room.
(designer: Marshall Watson)
How vivid the blue is against the crisp white cabinets in this kitchen?
Trellis wallpaper in a pretty robin’s egg blue.
(Designer Tom Sheerer)
What a delightful kitchen this is. I adore those blue painted backs in the cabinets. Wouldn’t that be fun to wake up to every morning?
(all photos:Â House Beautiful)
Also in this issue, there are 50 blue fabrics and 70 years of blue rooms, like the one above from Mrs. Wright, decorated in the 50’s. So, this goes to show that blue has been around for a lot of years and is not likely to ebb anytime soon. I think that room looks pretty classic and stylish.
How about you? Do you like blue? If so, which shades turn you on the most?
I’d have to say, I’m loving the lighter, aqua-turquoise-y blues the best right now.
I love blue and have always had something blue in each room. Country blue is my favorite. I really do like that blue living room you have a picture of.
I have lots of blue in my house. I think it’s very traditional and always looks good. Right now it’s really in vogue, but that doesn’t really matter to me. I like it in all rooms, except dining rooms, which I think need warmer colors to encourage people to eat!!!
My favorite color has always been blue, any shade of blue!!! Those pictures you posted are all so beautiful. I wear a lot of blue, but my house is not done totally in blue. I have lots of other colors throughout my house. Love & blessings from NC!
Rhoda, I have to say that I am not a person who enjoys blue a whole lot. I had my fill of it in the ’90’s. But, when we moved into our house it had a newly finished blue family room in the basement and I have left it blue because it is my husbands domain. And, he loves blue. But I am hoping one day that I can paint it a lighter shade of blue. I am loving all of the light aqua shades, I think I could very happily live with that.
Hugs, Cindy S.
Beautiful rooms. Great Inspiration! Thanks for sharing!
I love blue & many shades of blue…more towards the purples than greens on the color wheel. Some of the rooms in the pix are a bit much. My favorite was the dining room. I have a comforter that is similar in colors.
Beckie in Brentwood, TN
I will have to agree with some of the other commenters….not really keen on the “blues”. It puts me in mind of the trendy colors of times past…like…umm…the mauves of the eighties…the burgundy and hunter greens of the nineties. I personally believe it would be something I would get really tired of really quick!! I’m a neutral kind of gal! 🙂
i love that trellis wallpaper. I’ve dogeared that page to add to my idea book.
My home has been in the red and white theme for years and just one year ago I started to change the red to blue… it is slowly looking so nice and calm.. I just love the photos you have posted… the kitchen is my favorite.. I painted all my cabinets white and incorporated blue and now I’m lovin it!
http://thewondersofdoing.blogspot.com/
J’adore le bleu, but this you know. I absorbed every page of this edition of HB and was delighted to see you feature some of my favorites. I think the only blue I dont’ care for is that medium denim blue fabric in decor,but everything else I love. Bring on the turquoise, the robin’s egg, the cobalt, the indigo. Blue is peaceful, calming, like the sky and ocean. Thank you for sharing !
I love that blue is back. I have plans for a dining room of butter yellow walls with blue willow china for that perfect pop of blue!
I think blue works in small amounts. I am not crazy about blue walls, blue furniture, blue……… I say to decorate with the colors that you love and that you are comfortable with. I love the teals, but I would hesitate to do a whole room in it. The blues and teals work well with so many other colors, so use in moderation!
This is stunning. It’s been a while…your blog looks great!!!
I am with you, I am more of an agua-blue, blue-green, light blue-gray kind of gal. I do LOVE splashes of blue here and there, like the bright lamp shades…So cute! I think would go crazy if I had a whole room painted blue.
LOVE the new issue of HB… almost as much as I love blue. I gave in to blue about ten years ago… at a time when it wasn’t very popular. I realized I simply couldn’t be happy in a home without blue. Right now, most of my blues are cobalts (think Blue Willow and Chinese porcelains) and true blues, pale chambrays and grey blues and a shade that leans toward aqua. Blue is the perfect mate for almost any other color… my pale blues look great next to red and the bluer blues really shine against white or golden yellow. The Kristen Panitch dining room with the big block print on the chairs is far and away my favorite here. Hooray for blue!
Hi Rhoda,
First time visitor to your blog. It is beautiful. I like the lighter blues myself. I am thinking of changing the paint color in my LR and DR, maybe a blue, but will I wonder if I will have to change everything else. There are just so many choices now a days. Love your blog and I just signed up to follow.
Carey
My three favorite Benjamin Moore paint colors: 1) April Skies (a very, very light blue – used in our master bathroom); 2) Emerald Jade (a very, very light bluish green; and 3) Oriental Silk (a creamy color with just a hint of light yellow – used in all of our bedrooms and family room and kitchen).
Rhoda, made a road trip to Pelham/B’ham this week to check out some of your recommendations( Treasures, Encore, Consigning Interiors) , thanks!! We found several things to resale in our booths!! Keep up the good work and great pics!
I love that South Hampton beach house and the first kitchen! I do love blue. Not the country, dirty blue that we had for the first many years of my marriage (due to hand-me-down furniture) though. I love the light, airy soft blues. I also really like the deeper peacock colors.
What a coincidence! I’ve been wanting to add a teal into my master bedroom scheme, but didn’t think it would fit in without changing a lot. Then I saw the HGTV dream home master suite. They have sage walls! We have walls in that color hue! And look how they’ve added pops of the teal. That’s all I would want, just pops here and there:
http://www.hgtv.com/dream-home/master-suite-photos-hgtv-dream-home-2010/pictures/index.html
I’d have to change our bedding and maybe the curtains, but I’m a little tired of our bedding right now anyway. I’m just thrilled that I can now see how this can work for me!