It’s cold, it’s February and it’s Valentine’s Day. It’s time to seize the moment and spice things up…
In feng shui, the color red brings the feng shui fire element energy. I don’t profess to be an expert in feng shui but I do try to include something red in most rooms I design, but let me share what I have read with regard to the color red. The feng shui energy of color red is the energy of arousal. It is hot, passionate, rich and celebratory. Red is the Chinese color of luck and happiness, the marriage color in India, and the symbolic color of love and romance, courage and passion in the West.
Some of our favorite finds and things which offer that touch of red.
A cranberry glass bowl such as this one would be a rare find. Check out your local antique stores and auctions. Cranberry glass is very valuable as it contains gold and is quite intricate to make. For more information check out Fenton Art Glass. The way light plays on the glass is lovely.
Nothing says romance, passion and love like chocolate covered strawberries as offered by the Red Envelope. Purely decadent. Almost to pretty to consume. We left these treats out on display as we prepared one of our staging projects for a photo shoot – only to come back a day later to an empty plate. What a surprise???
It doesn’t always have to be fancy or elaborate, red and white linen aprons and dish towels from Libeco Lagae are a must have for any household. Every single project we touch has something from Libeco, whether it be a dish towel, napkin, tablecloth or even a full set bedding. Their ready made duvets and pillow shams are wonderful.
Pottery Barn pillows are a staple in our BjtO Designs inventory. This would make a terrific Valentine’s gift.
Etsy is becoming one of our favorite web sites for finding unusual handcrafted items. We buy a ton of pillows every year as it is a great way to introduce color and sentiment into a room that might otherwise seem blah or far too neutral.
Now for the elaborate and “wow factor”. If you haven’t discovered One Kings Lane, here is your chance. Introducing Michael Taylor’s Bamboo chaise and console table at a very reduced price. A bit more than a pillow from Etsy but these are treasures… I think you will agree.
To top it off every house needs a Wolf dual fuel stove with what else but
RED KNOBS
Last but certainly not least, a pair of stools with bright red bases and metal seats. Available from one of my favorite shops, European Country Antiques on Huron Avenue in Cambridge.
Happy Valentine’s Day to all…
Blue Moon is a favorite ale of Maine Cottage’s Creative Director, Lauren Russell. The ale label inspired her to group the Adeline Arm Chair in Gimme-A-Ring / Marine with the Wendy Side Table in Almond Soy. The Adeline Arm Chair is a timeless chair that coordinates well with any design style. And, did you know that the pattern called Gimme-A-Ring was coincidentally inspired by the patina of drink rings on an antique side table? To bring it full circle, the pedestal on the Wendy Side Table follows the circular shape of the moon in the label and the fabric.
Duvel’s logo has a font that is very old world and strong. It carries the duo-tone palette of Tomato and Ale well. Our Interactive Director, Amber Shriver, selected the Hazel Chair because of its simple lines and very strong structure and chose to upholster it in Otto / Tomato . The Infinity Stool in Ale is the ideal height for a low profile occasional chair like Hazel. The best part? When you are done with your beer the Infinity Stool can be placed in front of the chair as a foot rest! We LOVE multifunctional pieces.
Senior Designer, Sarah Wright, chose the Sierra Nevada Pale Ale label for her inspiration. The label is traditional in style with a fresh lime green ground color. The label looks hand-crafted just like every piece of Maine Cottage Furniture. Notice the loops around the words “Purest Ingredients” and “Finest Quality”. The Camille Chair has classic, strong lines that mimic the lines of the label. Sarah placed the Camille Chair in our Leaflette / Ale fabric and painted it Wheatgrass. She pairs it with the Cecilia Tall End Table in Creamsicle. Refreshing color combination, wouldn’t you say?
