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A Sophisticated New Wedding Color Palette

August 5, 2011 By Leave a Comment

When you are designing your wedding, one of the best places to start is with your color palette. From traditional to modern to eclectic, the colors that you choose will have a major impact on the overall feeling of your wedding. When subtle sophistication is your goal, consider one of the newest colors for wedding, charcoal.

Charcoal may sound a bit drab for a wedding, but when used in combination with a bright color like kiwi or raspberry, it can be understated and yet still festive. It is a color that can be used at any time of the year, as well, making it quite versatile. Charcoal has the advantage of being less harsh than black for brides who like sophisticated colors and design.

When you are using a color palette of charcoal plus a bright color, you can adjust which color is emphasized based on the wedding location, season, and time of day.

For example, if your wedding is going to be held on a summer afternoon, you would do well to have the bright kiwi green or raspberry be the focal point, with the charcoal used as an anchor to keep the brighter color from becoming overwhelming. On the other hand, couples who are having formal winter evening receptions may prefer to use more of the subdued charcoal, with the brighter color used as a cheerful accent to liven things up.

The charcoal and bright color combination is being done on some very elegant letterpress wedding invitations, which is an excellent way to introduce your wedding style to your guests. Look for designs that combine charcoal with one or two bright colors in an interesting design. The lettering will look the most elegant and be the most legible in the charcoal. You can even have the names on the envelopes written in a graceful charcoal calligraphy.

There are several ways to use your color palette for your bridesmaids.

Their dresses can definitely use your chosen hues in combination. If you can find an attractive print that has your featured colors, great; if not, it is certainly easy enough to select a solid color dress in charcoal and accent it with a sash in kiwi or raspberry. For a lighter more summery look, choose a bridesmaid dress in kiwi or raspberry, and have it trimmed with subtle charcoal piping along the neckline. The final accent is the bridesmaid jewelry. Grey freshwater pearl necklaces and earring would make perfect bridesmaid jewelry gifts to tie in with your color scheme. Grey pearls are a sought-after accessory that your bridesmaids will be delighted to receive.

The table linens and flowers are another great place to use your wedding colors. Rich charcoal would make an elegant tablecloth, especially when brightened up with centerpieces in shades of raspberry, hot pink, and burgundy. A wonderful flower choice would be orchids, some of which are available in a deep pink and green combination. They would work well with the wedding color palette while adding that extra touch of sophisticated elegance for which orchids are known.

There are so many great ideas for wedding colors that it can be hard to narrow it down. Brides who are looking for a color scheme that is understated, sophisticated, and yet festive will love the look of charcoal with kiwi or raspberry. The subtle yet bright color combination will add an elegant flair to your wedding.

Laura helps brides with their wedding plans by offering advice on selecting bridesmaids gifts, reception ideas and other aspects of planning a wedding. Bridesmaid jewelry can be handcrafted in pearls or crystals to match your wedding theme or colors.

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Orange and Green Wedding Color Palette

August 5, 2011 By Leave a Comment

At first glance, pairing orange and green might sound like a mis-match. Both are fairly strong colors, and if done poorly, they could certainly clash. However, if done well, orange and green can actually work in harmony, creating a wedding color palette with enough contrast to add pop and sizzle. Take a look at all the ways in which you can use an orange and green wedding color palette to create a stunning wedding at any time of the year.

Before you dismiss the notion of orange and green as an impossible color combination, consider this: they definitely do exist side by side in nature. Orange flowers rest on green stems which are planted in green grass, after all, and no one has ever complained of orange blossoms clashing with their stems, right? In fact, the orange stands out nicely against the cool green, and you can use this great warm-cool juxtaposition to create a wedding design with real style and individuality.

Knowing that, it makes a pink and brown palette seem just a little bit too safe, don’t you think?

When it comes to introducing color to a wedding, the flowers are a great place to start. If your taste is classic elegance, try combining orange calla lilies with green hydrangeas. For a more exotic approach, mix fabulous orange and green orchids. By choosing the same type of flower, it will help to balance out the contrasting hues of the blossoms. Other wonderful possibilities for wedding flowers would be lovely dusty orange roses, hypericum berries, and even bright lime green Kermit mums (for a pop art style wedding).

Orange and green can be adapted to suit the season of your wedding. In the spring, opt for softer versions of this color combination for a romantic yet modern style. You could choose pistachio green organza bridesmaid dresses to pair with bouquets of roses in a creamsicle shade of orange. Custom wedding jewelry in one color or the other will help to complete the look. (You can keep the effect subtle by mixing classic white pearls with a few colorful crystals to create custom wedding jewelry). The softness of the orange and green can be continued by using a lot of sheers. Tie organza ribbons around chair slipcovers, drape tent poles with sheer fabric, and the like. A soft cream would be a fantastic neutral accent.

In the summer, colors tend to get brighter, so this is a great time to use the boldest version of an orange and green wedding palette. Lime, citrus orange, and pure white will look fresh and dynamic, especially in patterns. Combine the colors in funky modern letterpress invitations, on the tablecloths, and especially the wedding cake. A bold pop art-inspired pattern would be fantastic for a fondant covered cake. You can play up the citrusy feeling of the hues by using fresh oranges and limes in your wedding decorations. They look fantastic filling the bases of clear glass vases topped with flowers for the centerpieces.

In the autumn, try deeper shades of rusty orange mixed with a olive green for a rich take on the orange and green wedding palette. You could also opt for a dusty sage green to keep the colors a bit lighter. Add in touches of rich chocolate brown for a showstopping wedding design scheme. If your wedding happens to fall in the winter months, you can pair true orange with a deep green the color of a glossy leaf. Accents of black and white will bring sophistication to the color combo, making it breathtaking for your winter nuptials. With so many options, it turns out that orange and green is actually a very versatile wedding color palette, not to mention one of the most unique.

Bridget Mora writes for Silverland Jewelry about wedding planning, design, and fashion. Let the friendly staff at http://silverlandjewelry.com/ help you design the perfect custom bridal jewelry for your wedding. We are pleased to offer free crystal samples for color matching and complimentary shipping on all jewelry orders over .

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How To Choose A Home Color Palette

August 5, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Article by Jim A Richardson

For new homeowners or those that want a fresh look throughout the house, choosing the right colors for walls and fixtures can be a daunting task. The number of paint colors, finishes, types of wood, shingles, siding, even cabinet knobs and window treatments are infinite. For the creative and color-savvy decorator these choices are fun and easily make sense, but for others, matching samples and textiles is tougher than physics.

The good news is, an innumerable amount of choices usually means there are a lot of helpful hints, tips and experts out there to guide you as well. Don’t get discouraged – just start simple. When you are visiting friends or family, take a look around their interiors to see what you like and do not like. Browse through design magazines and pamphlets, bookmarking the styles you like the most. Even if you hate the color of the walls and couch but love the side table, mark it for your reference. Next, visit a kitchen showroom or home show and you will definitely know what you’re drawn to.

1. Try to put a name to the style you like. Classic, country, modern, rustic, shabby chic, European, Victorian, clean and simple, etc. Once you have something nailed down, it will be easier to pick out things that fit that style, rather than finding many things you like but do not blend well. Decide what the inspiration of the room or theme is:

- a wall color

- a certain piece of furniture

- a painting or piece of artwork

- a designed room from a magazine or website

2. Begin to pick up color samples. Don’t underestimate the handiness of samples, because once you narrow your choices down they will be become necessities in matching your walls to trim, furniture, or draperies. With a paint strip you will see the range of intensity of the same color shade, and some places will even let you borrow or buy a color wheel, a collection of all the strips or colors available. Keep in mind, though, that if you would rather base your theme off a piece of fabric and cannot find that color, one can be made to match.

3. Narrow down your favorites color palettes. They may not all match at this point, which is ok. You will undoubtedly have a number of options that you like and feel that you have to choose only one, but that isn’t necessarily the case unless you are only doing one room. Ask other people to give their input, and if you really don’t know what looks right, sit down with a designer. It is ok to have an earth-tone palette, a palette of blues, and a bright color palette. They can be used in different rooms with matching elements that run throughout the house.

4. If your room design will be based off a color, choose your favorite, thinking about what you already own and the style that you are going for. If you have an inspiration item

you are basing your plans around, find the best matching color palette that draws out the characteristics you love in your item.

5. You are ready to paint your room. Once you are focused on your color or the item that you are matching to, you can find accents that enhance them. Consider artwork, displayed bowls or pitchers, or area rugs that bring out that vintage, country cottage, or sleek modern style you decided on in the beginning.

6. The colors you decided as favorites may be very similar. If so, it will be easy to paint or incorporate them as a theme throughout your home. If you had an eclectic mix of colors, though, there are a few ways to enjoy them all without ruining the flow of a certain style:

- If you want all your walls a different color, keep the flooring neutral. Use the same carpet for your carpeted rooms, and use hardwood or natural-looking tile in your kitchen and bath.

- Keep the trim the same in all the rooms. This way you know you are in the same color family or intensity because they must all match the trim, which unites the palette of colors you have chosen.

- Paint the ceilings white. White ceilings make a room look larger and more open. A colored ceiling can feel closed in, especially when used in connecting rooms.

Choosing the style and colors of your home can be a fun job that only comes around once in a while. Take the time to make a space you will enjoy, and remember the resources that are available to help you design a comfortable home.

Jim Richardson is Vice President of Your Home Supply (YHS), the definitive website for Home and Garden products and information on a variety of home improvement products.Get more information regarding ceiling fans.










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