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Singing the Blues
Who doesn’t love the color blue?
It is the clear, powdery sky on a perfect summer’s day. It is the deep ocean crashing against the shore. It is the colorful surprise in a field of green.
Azure. Baby blue. Cerulean. Cobalt. Cornflower. Corporate. Cyan. Indigo. Midnight. Navy. Prussian. Robin’s egg. Royal. Sapphire. Sky. Slate. Steel. Blue comes in so many different wonderful shades, there’s something for everyone.
by the Deity
to be a source
of delight.”
—John Ruskin
Soft, cool, calming . . . blue. It soothes and heals . . . and can lower the pulse rate and body temperature. It is the perfect color to use for a relaxing retreat.
Decorating with the color blue
Painted walls provide a dramatic backdrop for this traditional living room (Photo: HGTV).
[top left to right] 1. Taking its color cue from a collection of vintage pottery, royal blue brings two plush armchairs into bloom (Photo: Better Homes and Gardens); 2. A lighter shade in a pitcher-and-bowl collection invites a subtle, almost translucent, aquamarine print (Photo: House Beautiful); 3. Porcelain plates on an aquamarine wall give this breakfast area a dash of added flair (Photo: House Beautiful).
[above] Soft white furry, fun fabric with a baby blue looks comfortable, warm, and inviting—couldn’t you just curl up in the bed? (Photo: New England Home).
[left] Powder blue with a peach accent pillow— wow! Note how the six photos, framed in black, are being used as a headboard and nicely update the furniture. (Photo: Better Homes and Gardens).
[left and below] This bedroom is all dressed up in coordinating patterns, and an abstract painting picks up different shades of blue—but the real story here is the paneled, painted ceiling that stretches to the sky . . . and that view! I want one! (Photos: HGTV)
The Power of Blue
I love a great before-and-after, and this is one of my favorites. No major changes here—everything done was cosmetic. Cobalt blue-and-white paper on the walls.
A new mirror. A new crisp white window shade. A new rug, wastebasket, navy towels, and two pots of wheat grass for contrast. And, for the shower curtain and stool, a fabric in the same pattern as the wallpaper. The result is stunning!
(Photos: House Beautiful)
[left to right] 1. Blue-and-yellow is a classic color combination. Here, striped drapes look great with patterned wallpaper, and the yellow corner cabinet showcases the blue china beautifully. The dark sisal area rug and yellow flowers on the table tie everything together. Makes for a nice formal space right off the kitchen! (Photo: Traditional Home). 2. Blue cabinets with vintage-inspired hardware and beadboard give this kitchen a country cottage look. The top cabinet doors with glass fronts and sides are a nice touch (Photo: Better Homes and Gardens).
Vibrant blue subway tiles work well with the crisp white cabinets and checkered Roman shades
in this stunning kitchen (Photo: House Beautiful).
[left to right] 1. It’s easy to create this striking stairway effect: Using little test pots of paint, paint the stair balusters in twos, pairing them on adjacent steps—one on lower step/one on next step up make a pair—and graduate the tone from light to dark; 2. Painting the interior of kitchen cabinets (or bookcases) always adds color, depth, and interest (Photos: Martha Stewart).
This blue and white living room takes advantage of its wraparound view
of the beautiful blue sea (Photo: Sarah Richardson).
Singing the Blues
Do you love the color blue? See my collection of all things blue on Pinterest. My boards are always changing as I add new and exciting things to them, so be sure to follow Our Empty Nest to get all the updates!
Top Photo: Lark Elizabeth Roderigues of Lark Pottery.
Filed under 
colors, home decor
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Hello . . . and welcome to
Our Empty Nest! We are a couple of baby boomers who happen to love love LOVE life. We're over the proverbial hill, but still have a lot of living to do. With our children grown and on their own, it's just the two of us. We've downsized to a smaller house on a lake; and now it's time to travel a little, laugh a lot, sit back, and enjoy the simple pleasures life has to offer. Read more
Random Posts . . .
- Old Garage Upcycled
- Cabin in the Woods
- Growing Wheatgrass
- Singing the Blues
- Living Like a Star
- Lovely Down Under
- Downsizing for $4.3 Million
- Maine Island Home
- Black Magic
- Going Green
- A Hint of Purple
- Sisse’s Fab Farmhouse
- Living with Winter White
- Stunning West Seattle Redo
- Cottage Charm at the Beach
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LOVE this page. All the blues – my favorite color! I’m inspired to starting redoing my house.
Kathleen, I’m glad you like it. Blue is my favorite color, too. Good luck redecorating!
That blue kitchen with the subway tile and all the windows is great, but where are the cabinets for dishes? I imagine the dishwasher is near the sink. It’s not too convenient not to have cabinets above it. Still, it is awfully pretty and bright.
I’m guessing the cabinets are on the opposite wall (not in the photo). I agree, it does make things less convenient; but, as cheery and bright as this kitchen is, I might be willing to walk the few extra steps (from dishwasher to dish cabinets) just to have that wall of windows.