Valentina Expressions

The blue of this year is vibrant and cheerful, it is at least the way I am using it. I don’t like a room that feels like a cave, painted dark blue, with dark furniture as I see it everywhere on Pinterest and magazines, that’s not me. I can do so many things with the new blue color without giving the blues to the person living in this new expression of blue.

I am working at a home addition built last year, a very small place that was intended as the in-law’s quarter. The in-laws never showed up, thus now the place will have a new function, it will be an air B&B. Thank goodness, the client is as vibrant as she can be and excepted the color challenge I proposed.

The hardwood floor was reclaimed from another home, I found it at the architectural salvage yard, where all kinds of treasures can be found, just like second-hand vintage stores, except these salvage yards are for home building on a budget. An array of beautiful items with characters are available, one needs the time to rummage through to find that particularly interesting item.

The hardwood is now stained green and looks stunning with the wood coming through, it looks rustic and casually elegant.

(Click on each photo to view it larger).

Color Palette with Green Stained Floor

In the living room, I selected blue and yellow chairs, a blue top side table, green plants, colorful lamps in all shapes, sizes, and designs, nothing matching.

In the bedroom, the striking painted blue wall with splashes of red color will grab the attention of the guests. I absolutely adore this treatment done over a plaster, a bit expensive, but worth it. No rules to follow for this treatment, it’s really an imaginative faux finish, plaster goes on first, let it dry, then apply the blue which will go into the fold of the plaster and will look tridimensional. The accent splash can be any color: red, gold, silver, copper, anything that strikes your fancy. The painter who will take on this job is very good and experienced.

Verdigris-Blue Effect

In this room, some white furniture will distract from the dramatic blue wall. I have selected whimsical red lamps mixed with other hues, they will have different shapes and sizes. The lamps are from PixieStixDesigns on Etsy. Like a miracle, I found the vintage bed headboard, made of whitewashed distressed wood. I wasn’t even looking for a headboard that day, it fell on my lap, sort of speaking.

Wood Whitewashed Headboard

The common denominator in both rooms will be white furniture with gold accents and splash of red here and there. That’s it.

Blue Wall

I hope you can be adventurous with your living spaces as well. Your home is your space, show your personality.

Allow me a little shameless promotion of my latest book on the subject of colors:
©Red – A Voyage Into Colors, Second Edition. On Amazon.

Red-A Voyage Into Colors-Second Edition

Ciao,
Valentina

Copyright © 2020 Valentina Cirasola, All Rights Reserved

Valentina Cirasola is an Italian Interior Designer since 1990, specializing in interior and exterior, color analysis, kitchen, bath, wine cellar, and outdoor kitchen designs. Often people describe her as “the colorist” as she loves to color her clients’ world and loves to create the unusual. “Vogue” magazine and many prominent publications in California featured Valentina’s work. RAI–Italian National TV invited her to appear in “Cara Francesca Show” and she has made four appearances on T.V. Comcast Channel 15. Author of five published books, one of which is on the subject of colors ©RED – A Voyage Into Colors, Second Edition. Find her books Amazon  and Barnes & Noble