You can't go wrong with AF Collector's Item

Every morning I wake to Benjamin Moore's AF 45 Collector's Item. I like it so much and it is so versatile that I plan to paint my guest room the same colour!  Of course, I will have different accents and the room will look different because of those choices. It is a beautiful colour to hang art work on, and if you are fair it makes your skin look beautiful! Not a bad thing when you have to look in the mirror every  morning. I can't think on an accent colour that would look terrible with  Collector's Item.  I choose a soft green with a secondary accent of grayed purple. There's a mix of silver and gold in the accessories and there's even a little pink and soft blue floating around. <br /><div style="text-align: left;">  <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguTamycOiP1y3VE1fUi6iOD8YtF9EbsLgFHe3ghq2GD__GwsGCBMhyphenhyphenaBdzfsA3w9e-QbDzaLGQtMVK0nj018eX_7Dvo8_lFNADC_LAoK__xwhKS8W9qOcdUz38HfN_-HlCI_wkGz0xg2Pu/s1600/DSCN8735_01.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguTamycOiP1y3VE1fUi6iOD8YtF9EbsLgFHe3ghq2GD__GwsGCBMhyphenhyphenaBdzfsA3w9e-QbDzaLGQtMVK0nj018eX_7Dvo8_lFNADC_LAoK__xwhKS8W9qOcdUz38HfN_-HlCI_wkGz0xg2Pu/s640/DSCN8735_01.JPG" width="640" /></a></div> My mid centrury love is showing in all the furniture. I'm getting ready to upholster the  chair which has to just sit there because the space is so limited.  On the left is the ensuite door. .  This  geometric fabric left over from another job is my current like, but that could change next week.  I know I want something with a little pattern.<br /><br /> I can't seem to re-gift my Tiffany lamp even thought it is slightly off in the room. Sentiment wins with me every time. I guess you've already figured out I don't have matching furniture.   It's the artist in me.  I love to take assorted items and make them work. <br /><br /> The official description of Collector's Item  on the B Moore website as a "soft off-white hue with pink undertones" that "quietly supports a space like a pedestal supports a sculpture" is spot on.  Don't be thrown by the pink undertones in the description.  I like it because it doesn't have any  hints of yellow which is not complimentary for  someone with silver hair  and fair skin.   If you want to look good in the morning this is a the wall colour for you.<br /><br /> I've  also seen  Collector's Item  used as a trim colour  with darker neutrals such as Ashley Gray or <a href="http://www.benjaminmoore.ca/en-ca/for-your-home/rooms-by-colour/sophisticated-neutral-entry">Taos Taupe (2111-40)</a> as seen on the Benjamin Moore Site.  <br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdbjMtbY-T7l6aGYdU00gZdirtfcKp2mV1gkkKQKvjVn_iMx4PAhAp1hiq1zJ5OVPdooeYmVX35z3KuhzAlayXGyEwKsnBDe9k7V2RyAFy3R_oJTSktmsw3-3n6r6axSj_KIw5hZ3KH0SH/s1600/Fairview+Taupe.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div>

You can't go wrong with AF Collector's Item

Every morning I wake to Benjamin Moore's AF 45 Collector's Item. I like it so much and it is so versatile that I plan to paint my guest room the same colour!  Of course, I will have different accents and the room will look different because of those choices. It is a beautiful colour to hang art work…

Read more »

Lessons learned

Vivid greens are subtly moving into golds and oranges and there's a bite in the air even on sunny days.  My mind is  moving on to what I want to do to herald the  fall season.   I never go all out in these things because my design aesthetic is very understated. The only vibrant things in my home are paintings which for some reason seem to have a lot of orange!  I guess I'm honouring fall year round. <br /><br />I was at the dollar store the other day and saw some great deals on fall foliage.  Usually that means pulling bouquets  apart and rearranging them so they don't look like they came from the dollar store.  Follow the arrangement as I move it around my kitchen and dining room to see where it looks best.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPiRMteDVETx-goSxn1wVeAgq6-F40_8mKxtQqwRhgTkiiUHzYINPjz8w_DKmH0rRcEKo1wBHPgdU-Xf5JYbgk2T9WHXp2oWTpGTyicnN8P9MKs6EZV-CbDp4Qf5luRmSjEwLVatwx-AED/s1600/DSCN8707_01.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPiRMteDVETx-goSxn1wVeAgq6-F40_8mKxtQqwRhgTkiiUHzYINPjz8w_DKmH0rRcEKo1wBHPgdU-Xf5JYbgk2T9WHXp2oWTpGTyicnN8P9MKs6EZV-CbDp4Qf5luRmSjEwLVatwx-AED/s640/DSCN8707_01.JPG" width="480" /></a></div> Would you like to see something taller and a little larger here? I feel there is just too much space between the light fixture and the arrangement.  The black chairs are very dark and they demand something larger in scale . Better start looking for more deals and find tall, dark elements and another vase.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmy0yAyfp6CrxyQIs2uZMCLJILQJHCTjeVJAtKxuLZeIVxUTzIA0REVOe7gS5u8oyRBoJ_cIKtJPFUAxsWyzeZK1zXSPN7ItSqGr3xJFG3NFdAW5NPHNx4zsgOBA4k-g1jtI4wVOxy67nX/s1600/DSCN8720_01.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmy0yAyfp6CrxyQIs2uZMCLJILQJHCTjeVJAtKxuLZeIVxUTzIA0REVOe7gS5u8oyRBoJ_cIKtJPFUAxsWyzeZK1zXSPN7ItSqGr3xJFG3NFdAW5NPHNx4zsgOBA4k-g1jtI4wVOxy67nX/s640/DSCN8720_01.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br />This arrangement I keep in my dining room illustrates  what a difference height makes even without the bold colours of fall.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0qU7GIus3Fao27n3JXnMio1Yjk17t6bcMhSi0dtCeWqQEnn5CkzinPbCGcPTD1x4G1wej_KfxW3F-0JF1kapNWdNVEirS5CwYSeLqOnB2W8U7XnXk9T3FoGFsl6Xu3OlYrZyqcMxmBnsq/s1600/DSCN8718_01.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0qU7GIus3Fao27n3JXnMio1Yjk17t6bcMhSi0dtCeWqQEnn5CkzinPbCGcPTD1x4G1wej_KfxW3F-0JF1kapNWdNVEirS5CwYSeLqOnB2W8U7XnXk9T3FoGFsl6Xu3OlYrZyqcMxmBnsq/s640/DSCN8718_01.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">When you crop the picture  the arrangement looks bold and eye catching. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLB4XssSq1L8_AelRN5qkTedlwHd4H6zbJTfqMVrkZKEFWOeQEPGwKNp0y01mlcIzRfaY26w1WGXKobtYR2GxPwdEJ89Vi1FiImK2zf-35eK3Tnai-rBJrJVqlQDP0oxiZWYjWasaGTs-u/s1600/DSCN8708_01.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLB4XssSq1L8_AelRN5qkTedlwHd4H6zbJTfqMVrkZKEFWOeQEPGwKNp0y01mlcIzRfaY26w1WGXKobtYR2GxPwdEJ89Vi1FiImK2zf-35eK3Tnai-rBJrJVqlQDP0oxiZWYjWasaGTs-u/s1600/DSCN8708_01.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLB4XssSq1L8_AelRN5qkTedlwHd4H6zbJTfqMVrkZKEFWOeQEPGwKNp0y01mlcIzRfaY26w1WGXKobtYR2GxPwdEJ89Vi1FiImK2zf-35eK3Tnai-rBJrJVqlQDP0oxiZWYjWasaGTs-u/s640/DSCN8708_01.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>With or without the straw placemats ? Your choice. With the placemats it  is homey, without is more styled and contemporary. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJPAQ0QkhDbMNohNESrfy33SEjHSzgirf-KeenWGQZMAec4bMX3jkHWOsbeOoaeSt6l1XXOXxn4V74ujtlKV3u5dYVXxhBhZT21rUizsM7G0Gjj5TkIngYlhUAEVZvR0PJQ6MbS-b3YI9l/s1600/DSCN8714_01.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJPAQ0QkhDbMNohNESrfy33SEjHSzgirf-KeenWGQZMAec4bMX3jkHWOsbeOoaeSt6l1XXOXxn4V74ujtlKV3u5dYVXxhBhZT21rUizsM7G0Gjj5TkIngYlhUAEVZvR0PJQ6MbS-b3YI9l/s640/DSCN8714_01.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">  When you pair the arrangement with our giant red mug it seems smaller and less eye catching. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSr-Gc6tLxcaaArNlu9KdHz67VZVL7Hwyk5CIu8grr_iEfOsDhvFHd8NaWq7TS8-3Pwj4-Peb6Z1S9ETw2nFzeWdf9vbvXWt2BlBWeUIqbuAEJHag5MVqLxoriW9aGYLQgQp6mQugOpgrS/s1600/DSCN8712_01.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSr-Gc6tLxcaaArNlu9KdHz67VZVL7Hwyk5CIu8grr_iEfOsDhvFHd8NaWq7TS8-3Pwj4-Peb6Z1S9ETw2nFzeWdf9vbvXWt2BlBWeUIqbuAEJHag5MVqLxoriW9aGYLQgQp6mQugOpgrS/s640/DSCN8712_01.JPG" width="344" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"> The bouquet just can't fight the scale and vibrancy of this painting; therefore, it looks totally insignificant. You need something  taller.   </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu7-PQl02sDEdLzGLbDIDCg2_tfl9DkZiLI3n_x4c5SAAPLW8Y-G6M0nFtVEFSDngCJQuJJZq_-gzw5qPbiSlaVjLjgXTOCtZbJeeSqVlUZfXC4tc5GqHY8c87VnUJyceJFS3E4M4CSF2M/s1600/DSCN8723_01.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu7-PQl02sDEdLzGLbDIDCg2_tfl9DkZiLI3n_x4c5SAAPLW8Y-G6M0nFtVEFSDngCJQuJJZq_-gzw5qPbiSlaVjLjgXTOCtZbJeeSqVlUZfXC4tc5GqHY8c87VnUJyceJFS3E4M4CSF2M/s640/DSCN8723_01.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">Enter our trusty arrangement for the sake of comparison. This arrangement works so much better because of its lack of colour and height. There's no way you can compete with the colours in the artwork so don't go there. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglNhO2c1w2z68U3fxaHNvIYJAFvA3vOzCfIAnqgYCjdEV5FUu0JBEPt_1kaTmWWo7ARi_XaH9HW5_F8oc-Sjk5GYg4PKBmfTZhnqx520AFPFb6eBJEIieSp1Vr5GuKI88f2AlZwaNFqV05/s1600/DSCN8711_01.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglNhO2c1w2z68U3fxaHNvIYJAFvA3vOzCfIAnqgYCjdEV5FUu0JBEPt_1kaTmWWo7ARi_XaH9HW5_F8oc-Sjk5GYg4PKBmfTZhnqx520AFPFb6eBJEIieSp1Vr5GuKI88f2AlZwaNFqV05/s400/DSCN8711_01.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"> Nestled on my window ledge the bouquet  looks comfortable, but I've created another problem.  The little art work next to the bottle looks lost, and all the colour is on one side.   The vignette needs balancing with an object more colourful and larger than the painting. Hummmm, what can I find? </div><br />Do you consider scale and colour  when you add accessories to your home?

Lessons learned

Vivid greens are subtly moving into golds and oranges and there's a bite in the air even on sunny days.  My mind is  moving on to what I want to do to herald the  fall season.   I never go all out in these things because my design aesthetic is very understated. The only vibrant things in my home are…

Read more »

Opinions

How do you feel about this colourful  vignette ?<br />Are there things you like?<br />Are there things you would change if you had an opportunity to do so?We all have our own take on a space, our likes and dislikes. That's what makes decorating an imperfect science. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0hSWJhw4KiPsic3vNoScqq_gwN1ik59BB8cLxMGbzWHEdZZPRP94DKnLgGYF3_krGhEFQwkAr5-0id6hoEU-eT0rv54sXlrB039p-8sKUtDky1a3Z6LCEGK6vSS8MKnNYcGyP7g18YXzx/s1600/112660428149043092_QSKF2964_f.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0hSWJhw4KiPsic3vNoScqq_gwN1ik59BB8cLxMGbzWHEdZZPRP94DKnLgGYF3_krGhEFQwkAr5-0id6hoEU-eT0rv54sXlrB039p-8sKUtDky1a3Z6LCEGK6vSS8MKnNYcGyP7g18YXzx/s640/112660428149043092_QSKF2964_f.jpg" width="422" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://amberinteriordesign.blogspot.ca/"> Amber Interiors</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>When I glance at this room I am immediately attracted to the bold magenta dresser.  It commands the eye because of its  colour and its size in comparison to everything placed near it.  The chair paired with it is just as commanding for different reasons (pattern and texture). I like the rounded back, but not the pattern or the colour.  Perhaps something in a deeper aqua  with a rounded back would be a better foil for the dresser.   "Breathing space" is important and this chair doesn't have any.   If you needed a chair there  and that was the only amount of space available, a darker aqua chair   would fit better visually and connect with the other elements.   <br /><br />When I'm adding accessories to a striking piece like this dresser , I always want larger scale pieces  that provide colour contrast and variety in shapes. I like the white box, but I would choose a larger plant and a more rounded third object  and then overlap the arrangement to move your  eye around. <br /><br /><br /> The artwork would work better with a different chair.<br /><br />And that's my take! What's your opinion?  Come on, you know you have one.  <br /><br /><br /><br />

Opinions

How do you feel about this colourful  vignette ?Are there things you like?Are there things you would change if you had an opportunity to do so?We all have our own take on a space, our likes and dislikes. That's what makes decorating an imperfect science.  Amber InteriorsWhen I glance at this room I …

Read more »