Tchochkes

Cobalt blue pigment in its natural form

 Color trends are all about the way we see things.  There are many paint & color forcasting companies that publish current trends in color and design at the start of each New Year.  I use this information as a guide for fashion and home furnishings. There are local and international resources to choose from, here you can check into Israeli paint company Nirlat’s color trends report.  They are updated through spring 2008. 

An all blue room…

Blue is one of the most popular colors.  I call it a genderless color, it is accepted in both male and female circles.  This year Pantone, a leading color forecasting service has predicted it as “The Color of The year“.  here it is, Blue iris; a rich red based cobalt blue.

I like blue for its soothing qualities.  It is a color that reflects the oceans and the sky.  Historically, royalty and richness were associated with blue.  There are so many shades of blue to choose from, like the combination shown here that utilizes turquoise blue with yellow walls.

Very Mediterranean blue, this door is framed with a different shade altogether.  And just by changing the shade of blue as on the door below, we are instantly transported to the french countryside.   

Recognize this flag?  This year Israel celebrates its 60th year being blue… we are so in fashion!

We are not the only ones, here is an entire blue city in Jodphour India.

Well, I have herd of a white elephant but never a blue one…

Very cool blue!

There are two sides to every story and the same is true for Moroccan style .  The use of bright bold colors as we see in this photo of Majorelle Gardens in Marrakesh, Morocco and the all white walls with colorful accents as used in the room below.  Each city in Morocco has its own color story, a great book that covers each region is “Moroccan Modern” by Herbert Ypma.

Living here in Israel we have the pleasure of being influenced by Moroccan style on a daily basis.  If you walk the streets of Tel Aviv like I do, you can still find buildings with this architectural influence.

This one is on the corner of Rothchild and Allenby streets.  The arched window openings and the dome on top of the tower are definitely Moorish features. 

Here is my contribution to Moroccan style.  I used a futon as a base and added a bright orange fitted sheet and some colorful pillows and change-o-presto, rock the casaba!

There are so many interior design accents that highlight Moroccan style.  A good shopping resource here in Israel is Turkiz, they carry all sorts of Moroccan items including large furniture and home accessories.  Of course I have mention Old Yafo in Tel Aviv as an additional shopping resource.

Carved wood hand painted table

 Tile fountain done in traditional ”zillij” tecqunique

 Cut out metal lamp

Traditional moroccan textile

Vibrant glazed ceramic bowls

Dyed leather pouf

Moorish chest with inlaid shell

These are just a few of the beautiful items that you can add to your home for a touch of Moroccan style.

Decorating tips:

* Colors: Royal blue, fuchsia, deep purple and bright red combined with neutral accents and white.

* Mixing textures and patterns: Rough walls with silk curtains and carved wood furniture.

* Key hole shaped doorways and windows, arched  display niches.

* Wall paintings and ethnic stencils like the faux head boards shown here.

Blue and yellow are a classic color combination which originates from the south of France and French Provincial design.

I love these colors together. They scream happy in the nicest way.

The family room, above, and the bedroom and dining room, below, are all from House Beautiful and are fantastic examples of how to use blue and yellow together in a room.

I love the painted furniture in all of these rooms. The living room might be a bit twee for me, but it’s still a great example of how to use color in a space. The different shades of yellow and blue combine well and blend to give the space more interest. I’m not nuts about the shape of the blue sofa (wouldn’t a nice denim slipcovered piece look great there?) But the yellow lamps totally pop in that space.

What a fantastic airy dining room. The dark wood table anchors the space, and the chairs accent the color of the countertop and the pillows on the windowseat.

The bedroom shows how blue and yellow can bring some life into an all-white space, keeping it from becoming too cold. I would change the fabric on the benches in front of the bed, and I might even change the color of the chandelier. The yellow side tables are totally fabulous. I have some IKEA side tables in my bedroom which I have been debating on painting for ages now…

If you want to bring some yellow and blue elements into your own home the LL Bean Sandollar Quilt and Sham above ships to Israel. Keep in mind the shipping charges and the 15.5% tax on every shipment that is over $50. Even still the extra charges - with the falling dollar now is the time to take advantage!

The blue and yellow french provincial Orleans tablecloth from Williams Sonoma, above is another fabulous piece to brighten a space. Unfortunately, Williams Sonoma does not ship to Israel. Maybe if enough of us write to them and ask them to ship here they will change their policy? Otherwise requests will have to be made to friends visiting the US soon…

I’m not sure if you can tell, but the walls in the kitchen above are a light light yellow - the lamps is obviously a lovely blue. This is a modern way to add color to a space.

The blue hutch above is fabulous. Hate hate hate the walls. It’s too dull of a yellow (more of a dirt color actually) against the blue. Brings down the whole space. When using blue and yellow together it’s better to use a clean bright or light yellow, like all of the pictures above.

Eggshell white…

The best way to appreciate white is by placing it next to other colors.  Technically, white is not a color but a pigment.  It is by far one of the most important pigments rivaled only by the pigment black.  Black and white can be super chic if used in a sophisticated way as in this photo below.

Pure and clean, white is a blank canvas for designers to create from.  Historically, white goes way back to some of the first cultures.  Horn white was made from crushed horn, Pearl white comes from oyster shell powder and eggshell white is simply powdered eggshell.  All of these pigments were used firstly in their natural form.

White exteriors are always impressive.  White allows us to appreciate the original details on this facade, contrasting doors and windows also make these details pop.

A white kitchen always looks clean but in reality it is always in need of a cleaning. I do not recommend painting a kitchen all white.  The floor is one area to consider doing in a different color, unless you like bending down to clean it!

This room is a nice alternative to stark white.  I especially like the ethnic details on the sideboard along with the wood floor and patterned rug which work to liven up the space.  I can see adding a color on the archway over the door, maybe a beige of some sort would work…

There is so much white in this photo that is hard to focus on.  Too much white can be disturbing.  This room needs a designers touch.

A while back a reader complained that Israeli pottery is dull. It lacked the color and vibrancy of the ceramic artists from her original land. I made a mental note that day to track down the colorful artists I know and prove that person wrong. ‘Israeli’s are colorful’ I insisted. ‘You just don’t know where to look.’

Then life got in the way.

Tonight I remembered the complaint when I was contemplating what to write (I actually have 3 homes ready to be reviewed for house tours, but I need to re-size the photos and for that I need some software - the first should be up by next week).

Ceramic Artists Association of Israel has a website featuring a huge collection of ceramic artists and their work. I have to admit that the bulk of the work didn’t help my arguement any. In fact, the pieces you see in this post were the most colorful functional pieces I could find. However, these are not all of Israel’s ceramic artists.

The first and last pieces in this post are from Hizi Raya, a Tel Avivi artist who loves to make pots. I like her use of color and pattern.

The green and blue cannisters above are by Hakkert Sara, a Haifa artist who prefers to focus on functional pottery. This is more the type of thing I prefer in my kitchen. I like to use the art we collect.

Bell Julian created the vase and bowl, above. I like the fading color - but I will admit this is more subtle in it’s color.

Ok, I’ve given weak arguements for the color debate. Even though the red plate above is gorgeous and glossy, there was only one on the site out of a lot of artists. The problem is that some of the best artists live on moshavim or small cities and don’t do computers. Michal Beckman in Beit Lechem Ha Glilit for example or Galia Jackson of Zichron Yaakov.

Wait… there is one… and that will be my next post in 2 days…

Obviously green in this otherwise neutral neighborhood, this small house makes a statement.  The house, recently featured in the April issue of ”Itsuv (Design)magazine”; located in a Moshave in the Sharon was designed by architect Shuli Beimel.

An orchard once stood in the spot of this new neighborhood and adding back some green keeps history fresh in the minds of surrounding neighbors.

From the front you can see the natural wood entrance door.  I think the combination of wood with the stone of the outside wall and walkway works well. 

Adding a lively mosaic or decorative accent to the entrance creates a natural welcome to any home.  This mosaic by artist Merav Feglin draws inspiration from the nature outside to guide us in.

 Red kitchen appliances! I like…

A perfect compliment to the green outside, this red kitchen adds pizazz the the entire house.  I love the stainless steel appliances but I would not want to clean them.  I have a small “simplehuman” trash receptacle in my home and it is a job in itself to keep clean.

Cool tiled bathroom, never a dull moment in here…

The tiles in this bathroom were designed by Merav and then hand crafted for the space.  It is unusual to use so much pattern in such a small room but the rest of the house is white so this room just off of the kitchen adds a welcomed suprise upon entry.

The other two full baths which are predominantly white don’t use as much pattern.  I like the subtle accent of the small multi tiles on the floor in this shower. 

On my way out I snapped this photo of the lavendar bushes with the green exterior and the gray outdoor tiles.  These designers thought of everything and it shows.  

Color Trend Alert!

Be bold, be beautiful, be bright…

Some designers have been using them for years, like Tricia Guild featured in the photo above.  More recently I have seen brights emerging in collections across the board. 

I found these “no twist” Thomas O’Brien towels online at Target.  I just learned about “no twist” yarns on a recent trip to New York from a friend in the towel business.  This up to date finishing process gives the towels a super soft hand.   Too bad Target does not ship to Israel… I’ll keep an eye out for the no twist here and keep you posted (no pun intended!).

And these super colorful leather Moroccan puffs from John Derian are a sure update to the leather 70’s bean bag chair seen in every wood panneled play room back in the day… well, back in my day!  I like the cheery colors, but these don’t look very comfortable. 

How about a bright leather date book or two from Graphic Leather to go with the towels and the stools?  Their collection also includes leather pens in the same bright colors, easy to spot around the house! 

Silk is one fabric that takes bright dyes really well.  The Silk Trading Company has a collection of textiles that are bold, bright and beautiful. I have also found silk pillows and bedcoverings here in Israel at the Home Center at reasonable prices.

If you keep looking you can find more and more brights from fashion designers like Jil Sander and big name stores like The Conran Shop. 

Happy shopping!

YELLOW

Yellow is one of the most talked about colors of all.  It can be associated with vitality and sunshine, or seen as a blaring nusciance.  Depending on the way it is used in a designers line up, you either love it or hate it!  I love it in the Mexican adobe house shown above.

Typically used in kitchens, yellow brings in the concept of a ” sunny breakfast nook”.  Shown here in much lighter tones it is rather soothing.  White is a natural partner for yellow.  It blends nicely when used as an accent on trim, garden furniture and accessories like these white dishes. 

This is a little overwhelming for a bathroom… a bit too much yellow for me!  Painting the yellow wall on the right white would help and adding a colorful shower curtain may take it over the top as a “so ugly it’s beautiful” room.

The soft yellow walls in this French country kitchen bring the light in from outside. Additional subtle accents of deep golden yellow ceramic dishes and the white counter top are great compliments.

Yellow is happy, vibrant and joyful… it breathes life into all it surrounds!

After waiting what seemed like donkeys years Tollman’s finally has their new site up - the site is brilliant and is well worth the wait. It gives background on the designers as well as a fantastic overview of the style of the store - übermodern.

I was in their Herzelia Pituach store a few weeks ago, and I have mixed reviews. Their product mix is consistent, clean, and their vision of the perfect home is clear. The state of the store itself, however, was a tad disappointing. The office secretary is by the front door and behind her desk is an electricity box and other unsightly things which one doesn’t need to see when shopping in a store. There were a couple of fire extinguishers leaning against a wall in a room display on the second floor. However, the important thing about the store is the merchandise - and with that, while the store was spare (probably because it’s so big) it was spot on.

I am absolutely in love with the Gioivannoni broom below. The color, the lines. It’s what industrial design is meant to be - turning an everyday object into a work of modern art. The furniture is equally stunning. The Philippe Starck bed is just waiting to be moved into the Yoo tower in Tel Aviv.

Their tableware, accessories, and other small decorative items are fantastic. They have the best of the European designers selection filled with color and humor. They are expanding their range to include kitchens and office. I’m certain that they won’t disapoint.