Hi everyone – it’s been such a long time since I last blogged. Life just gets in the way sometimes, and before you know it, so much time has flown by!
Have you all been enjoying this amazing weather? I sure have but I have to admit, I’ve been away on not one, but TWO trips recently that took me to warmer climates. One trip was to Mexico for a week with my husband and girls and the other trip was back to my homeland Australia, to spend time with my elderly parents. On both trips, I was really struck by the amazing colours in the natural surroundings and the brilliant and strong light that accentuated the colours in the landscape. Of course, I love the tropical plants and flowers and am always amazed at their sometimes gawdy colours and over-the-top enormous leaves. It’s almost like they are showing off! Who can blame them really, when they grow in such perfect, warm conditions and in such beautiful places.
It got me thinking about the relationship between the colours and textures in nature and the colours and textures we can bring into our home decorating in the form of furnishings and accessories. Of course designers have been taking inspiration from nature for ages, but sometimes, if you’re not sure what colours you’d like in your own home you can look to nature to see what colours you are naturally drawn to and go from there.
Some people are naturally drawn to the cool colours of green and blue whilst others love the vibrant colours of yellow, orange, pink and red. Natural textures and neutral tones are a favourite too, and are often used as a background to the other, more flamboyant colours.
Here are a few ideas and thoughts I had using my pictures from the two trips and pictures of some products we have in the store.
If you love the blues and greens of the tropics, you can bring these colours into your home with pillows, vases, placemats, rugs and bedding.
If you are drawn to the many shades of coral, yellow, orange and pink that you see in so many beautiful flowers in the Summertime, here are some examples of how to bring these colours into your home.
Of course, during the summer, our inspiration in decorating often comes from the seaside and all the wonderful, natural textures and colours it brings. Things like pebbles, sand, driftwood, shells, starfish, textured, neutral coloured fabrics and wicker.
And how could I forget the beautifully coloured plumage of the tropical birds and the vibrantly coloured fish that I saw on my trips! Talk about inspiration! Here is a photo I’d like to share of a cheeky Rosella parrot sitting on the telephone wire overlooking my parents’ backyard. He’s holding a stem of seeds and having afternoon tea in the sunshine before a dip in the birdbath below him. Imagine having all those colours in your house!! Wow! Isn’t he gorgeous?
“With glowing heart”, I’m so happy to be back in this beautiful part of the world with it’s soft skies, silvery blue waters and deep green trees.
Enjoy the early Spring and all the lovely colours it brings!
Ingrid
What a creative eye you have. It’s amazing to see where many of the home decorating pallets must originate from. Mother nature is one clever cookie! I think too that peoples who’s homes are from one pallet or another tend to like those same coloured places and elements in nature and they often wear those colours too! Interesting isn’t it. Thanx for sharing your sharp eye.
Hi Ingy! Great blog…your photos are fabulous and I love how you talked about the relationship between decorating inside and pulling ides from the colourful outdoors!. I look forward to hearing more!:-)
thanks Helen – great to get your helpful feedback. I’m still learning!
Thanks so much Julie – we can learn so much from being observant especially where Mother Nature is concerned. I’ll be talking about that in my next blog! thanks for your comments.