Eye For Design

Monday, April 7, 2014

Decorating With Mint Green

Once associated with baby showers, mint green burst into adulthood alittle over a year ago and has been growing in popularity ever since. Mint is versatile and as you will discover while viewing the images I have posted for you, it can be cool and refreshing as well as warm and charming. I hope this post will give you something to think about if you are considering a make over and have never been properly introduced to mint green.

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Mint green is the perfect pastel combination of youthfulness, elegance and vibrance.

First let us look at Mint's warmer side

Jacques Garcia

Mint has always had the ability to create antiquity without appearing aged. The backdrop of these wonderful mint green library shelves is perfect for shades of pink.

Howard Slatkin

When combined with darker colors mint becomes warm and invigorating.

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Mint, soft blue and muted reds...always a great combination.

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Lemon and mint.......luscious!

Jacques Garcia

Mint is a color that works wonderfully with charming Cottage interiors.

mimosalaneblog.blogspot.de

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Mint and cream buffalo checks take center stage in this lovely bedroom.

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Mint is a solid choice for someone who wants to bring color to their decor without it being too much of an attention-grabber. The striped window treatments and pretty patterned pillows are just the right touch.

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Now for Mint's refreshing side

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When set against the shiny surfaces of metal, mint brings refreshment.

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The coolness of mint emerges when used with a grey walls and black damask print pillows. The silvered sunburst mirror pushes the cool factor even further.

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The punch of mint upholstered Versailles chairs and the zebra rug bring energy to this room.

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The glass table, mirror, and this cool shade of pink all help to make this mint and white room cool and refreshing.

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When paired with white refreshing mint really lets it's cool side shine.

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Atlanta Homes Magazine

Again mint is great at adding color without dominating the scene.

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thehandmadehome.net

No matter how you decide to use it mint green is a lovely color to decorate with. This room has a wonderful mix of patterns.

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Stick to using small burst of the brighter color against the larger surfaces of mint.

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The mint Paris dining room decorated by antiques dealers Françoise and Yves Gastou.

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Colors in the orange family look good with mint. Here is an example of how pretty it looks when used with soft coral.

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And the bright orange looks equally fabulous.

Chateau de la Verrerie

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If you don't want a room totally saturated with mint......

......it can be mixed with brighter colors to add a fruity punch to one’s decor like the Sitting Area in the Queen's quarters in Hampton Court Palace

Click here to see the previous post!

http://www.eyefordesignlfd.blogspot.com/2014/04/decorating-with-laurel-wreath-motif.html

This blog post was published by Lisa Farmer

Tuesday, April 1, 2014

Decorating With The Laurel Wreath Motif

As you know from reading past posts, I love using classical motifs in my home and always look for furniture, picture frames etc. that have either a crest, Fleur de lis, or Greek Key hidden somewhere on them. This post is about another of my obsessions, the laurel or laurel wreath which is predominate in Neoclassical Decorative Arts.The laurel wreath is a common motif in architecture, furniture, and textiles. The laurel wreath is seen carved in the stone and decorative plaster works of Robert Adam and in Federal, Regency, Directoire and Beaux-Arts periods of architecture.

The period of Napoleonic rule lends its name to the late Neoclassical style.

Napoleon I encouraged French textile, porcelain and furniture workshops to increase their production for the greater glory of France and to promote his regime of revolutionary conquests by incorporating motifs that represented fame and victory. Napoleon liked to surround himself with all things military, and this resulted in “le style héroique”, featuring spear heads, campaign tents, coloured silks, serge, merino wool, and damasks featuring laurel wreaths and swan motifs. Louis XVI style of antique forms and ornament now included Napoleon's imperial symbols, which included the bee, the letter N surrounded by a laurel wreath, stars, the eagle, and hieroglyphic motifs gathered from his Egyptian campaign.

Architecturally, it was characterized by similarities to classical structures as well as the Renaissance, classical world, often containing political themes including bravery and war.

"Victory, A Knight Being Crowned With A Laurel Wreath" by Frank Dicksee.

Below are some images of ways you might consider if you are interested in bringing this classical element into your interiors.

Enjoy the music!!

amyhowardathome.com

Look for laurels on stands in home decor stores. Amy Howard offers these beautiful hand made replicas, in her new accessory line.

architecturaldigest.com

You can always choose a wallpaper that has laurel wreaths. I once had a robin's egg blue Dining Room papered in laurel wreaths and I loved it because it looked so regal.

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These antique laurels are fabulous. This is something I would love to collect if one could find them.

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The laurel wreath forms the back of this beautiful French chair.

pictureofelegance.blogspot.co

www.amyhowarddaily.com

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www.lisafarmerdesigns.com

These pictures are from pieces in my office. The picture has a small ormolu wreath mounted on top and the cabinet has a brass mount. In decorative arts, especially during the Empire Period, the laurel wreath is seen woven in textiles, inlaid in marquetry, and applied to furniture in the form of gilded brass mounts.

ashfieldhansendesign.blogspot.com

A wonderful door knocker with hand, laurel, and lion.

www.cococozy.com

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The Abdication Room of the Fontainebleau features sovereign motifs, such as laurel and oak wreaths.

Maison de Stencils Paris Laurel Wreath by maisondestencils.com

This design is easy to stencil so it can be used in a number of ways. If you have never stenciled before, the laurel wreath is a good project for beginners.