Friday, May 17, 2019

Hue Are You? with Arianne Bellizaire

Welcome to HUE ARE YOU




A weekly blog series exploring different creatives' views on color and its use in interiors, art and design. We will dive deep into their obsessions with color. How and why they use color. You will get to know their stories and you may even gather some tips for using color in your own home. What is better than learning from the experts!





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Hue Are You? 

Designer Spotlight: Arianne Bellizaire




We are pleased to have as this weeks guest, Baton Rouge based interior designer, Arianne Bellizaire. Arianne is the owner and principal designer of Arianne Bellizaire Interiors LLC. Her design philosophy is to ensure that each client achieves their projects needs while making the experience as painless as possible. Her designs are not a "one size fits all" approach. With an informative and inspiration design blog called "Inspired to Style" plus her home renovation videos which include her husband and her kids, Arianne is full of design tips and if you are lucky enough to hire her then you'll get a gorgeous completed project too!

Let's pick her brain about color......

Susan Jamieson:  What one color represents your design style? 

Arianne Bellizaire   If we’re talking color psychology, then I would have to say that yellow is probably the color that best describes my design style. It can be cheerful and welcoming in its lighter shades, but it can also add punch and drama in its darker shades. There is also a sense of optimism and intellect represented by the color that I hope my designs reflect.



SJ: Do you use color as a dominant role in your designs or as an accent? 

AB Early in my career, I definitely used color as the driver of my design concepts. Now, I find that I use color in a more nuanced way—another layer on top of a firmly established, solid design foundation that focuses on function and flow first, then the specific elements that we’ll bring into the space. Because there are so many options available to us for customization, it’s not hard to create a piece that’s the right color or develop a custom paint color that is the perfect thread to tie a space together.




SJ: How do you feel about matching colors in a room? 

ABAgain, something I’ve learned over the years is that the more layers and gradients of colors we use (or the pairing of complementary colors) the more interesting space it makes. I don’t believe that colors should match, but I do think that the mix should “feel good” to the person who will live in the space.



SJ: What color represents your personality? 

ABHere’s where that pink comes in. LOL! I think pink is inherently feminine but it’s also playful and there is a sense of whimsy associated with it. A dusty rose has the femininity but there’s also a maturity to it. It’s what makes the color palatable to even the most “masculine” man. 



SJ: What color comes to mind when you talk about: 

Your favorite City .......    London. I think pink because of the beautiful floral displays during Chelsea Flower Show Week

The House You Grew Up In .........     Yellow because the exterior siding was painted yellow.

Last Fabulous Dinner You Had ........ Golden Brown because it was the color of the southern fried pork chop I ate at South of Beale in Memphis, Tennessee.

Your favorite Flower .......      White because it’s the color of my favorite variation of hydrangeas.

Your favorite season ...... Orange for Fall. I love house the air is crisp and foliage is so colorful.

Your Favorite Art ......  Black because there’s an abstract piece by Alyson Kahn that I’ve recently fallen in love with. Although the piece is quite colorful, it is grounded by just the right amount of black.

Your Favorite Room in Your Home ..... Blue for the Master bedroom. I love to make this space restful and tranquil.

Your Favorite Beauty product ....   Seafoam for my Kale and Spinach Green Tea Hyaluronic Acid facial moisturizing cream by Youth to the People.

Your Favorite Article of Clothing ...... Blush Pink for my favorite ALDO high top sneakers.


SJ: Name a color you never use? 

AB: I can’t say there is any color I wouldn’t use. If the color is right for the space and the client, then it’s the right color!



SJ: Name a color you use frequently? 

AB I actually love the color pink, but it’s a tough sell for design projects! I find that most of my projects incorporate some shade of blue—whether it’s a pale blue-green or a bold indigo. This might be the case because many of my projects involve couples, and blue is a good compromise color. There’s also color psychology that says that blue encourages feelings of trust and credibility, and this is something that I really focus on with clients from the first interaction to the last!



SJ: If you could pick a name for a color what would it be? 

AB   Hmmm. This a tough one. I’ve been known to describe colors as delicious and yummy. Maybe it stems from a love of food! LOL! If I could name the perfect shade (whatever that is) I’d probably call it “Scrumptious.”



SJ: Do you have a pet? What color reminds you of him/her? Do you have a nickname for this pet? 

ABNo pets. L

SJ: What is the Now Neutral? 

AB I think we’re moving away from gray as the go-to neutral and back into beige or pale taupe territory. 



SJ: What is your prediction for the next big color trend? 

AB: I’m hesitant to predict trends, but from what I’m observing in the design landscape, I think there is a general shift to more color, period. Instead of neutral-based or white-on-white-on-white,  people are embracing the opportunity to use bold colors to show off their style and personality.



SJ: What are the best color combinations? 

AB I love the classic Black and White combo because it creates the perfect foundation for a modern minimalist space as well as a bold traditional space and everything in between.



SJ: Best advise when it comes to picking paint colors? 

AB:  Choose the paint color last. There are so many options, it’s easier to find the right fit after fabrics and hard finishes have been selected!




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Sunday, March 10, 2019

6 Top Kitchen and Bath Trends from KBIS 2019

Every year we wait for the vendors to unveil the latest trends in the Kitchen and Bath World. This year's Vegas show was the biggest yet. I was thrilled to be invited by Modenus as one of their designers #designhounds to report on the latest finds both from our sponsors and our own point of view. While there I was asked to be on a panel discussion with design magazine editors and another designer where we talked about trends from 2018.  




My top trends from 2018 were based on what I was seeing in the world of design not necessarily the KBIS world. Thank You Design Milk and Jaime Derringer for inviting me to speak. 

Here are my 2018 trends: 

1. Statement Range
2. Open Shelving
3. No Upper Cabinets 
4. Larder
5. Flush Walls
6. Unlacquered Brass
7. Thick Countertops
8. No Curb Showers
9. Side Faucet

Let's see how these relate to my KBIS 2019 trends as this show is about what the manufacturers are putting on display as prototypes for upcoming year. 

1. Technology
2. Wellness in the Home
3. Mixing Metals
4. Hard Surface, Porcelain and Terrazzo
5. Indirect Light
6. Hidden Appliances



Technology

Everything is sync'd to Alexa - faucets, appliances, showers, cabinets. At Thermador their appliances work with an app to schedule turning the ovens on or off. They even partnered with Home Connect as a way to connect and control all of your home appliances. 



Talk about trend - anyone see a little Memphis styling going on here at the Thermador booth to show off those integrated appliances. 







Wellness

Aspects of bringing heath and wellness into the home were in both the kitchen and bath areas from new countertop water filtration systems from Franke, recycled tiles from Ann Sacks



DXV's Aqua Moment Airbath with chromatherapy and of course our favorite steam shower maker Mr. Steam with over 40 plus benefits to adding steam to your shower. 


New: Sleek linear steam heads and the tilt glass shower window to release the steam. Brilliant!




If you follow me then you know I am doing a LIVE wellness Instagram video each Thursday am on tips for bringing wellness into the home. I do think this is the next big trend since we eat organic why not make our homes healthy. Follow me on Instagram @bridgetbeari


Mixing Metals

There is no longer just chrome, brass, satin nickel, and polished nickel. All the brands offer at least 10 different options. The latest was Brizo's Brilliance Luxe Gold and Lots of Copper. I think designers are definitely mixing metals in the kitchen. 


Also customization was big. Brizio's mix and match options of luxe gold and black crystal. Changing finishes and handle shapes. Perfect for any style. 



Loved this range by Cafe, a GE brand. Look how they mixed the metals with the copper bar handle and the stainless top. 



Also Thompson Traders wide array of metal sinks and hoods fit right into this mixed metal theme. 


Farm Sinks are still a big trend. Like this beauty from Thompson Traders. 


Even door hardware was showing a mix of metals. Like these from Emtek



Hard Surfaces

Hard Surfaces are not just for floors and as we discovered at the New American Home sponsored by Caesarstone, the possibilities are endless. Each year Caesarstone partners with a builder to create a new home in Vegas, well, outside Vegas in Henderson. Here they show off their latest and greatest in product. 

I loved this shower floating in the middle of the room. 


Mixed materials and Terrazzo! 



Textured and dimensional tiles


Adding metals strips between materials! This was one of my trends from my 2018 list. Long live the schulter strip! 


Thin material is hitting the market strong with porcelain brands like Florim and Sapienstone
Adding slabs to walls, seaming for thickness, durability these are all a designer's dream. I see big things for these porcelain companies. 

Again Terrazzo in porcelain....



                           Indirect Light 

 Light has always been an important feature in the kitchen and bath area but now we are seeing indirect and ambient features. 

Loved these fixtures from Lamp Plus and yes they do have a trade program!




Check out these Robern lights in the cabinets and the mirrors. 



Hidden Appliance

This year was all about hiding the appliances and making them look like cabinetry or a flush wall. Similar to my 2018 trend of the flush wall but almost everyone was showing this look. 

Wellborn Cabinets showed a wide range of styles and colors ranging from traditional styles to super flush modern. 
Lots of hidden cabinetry and motorized options. 


Easy ways to add extra storage to the kitchen. 


Another hidden appliance idea was the glass door for Monogram Appliance by designer Richard Anuszkiewicz

Love the idea that it is a display cabinet as well as a refrigerator! 



Well that was my world wind tour of KBIS for 2019 and my thoughts on the latest trends! It will be interesting to see what trends make it to the builder and designer market and what trends stay in Vegas! 

Our journey to Palm Springs for Modernism Week was not as easy as it snowed in the desert 8" shutting down the highway - and they say there is no global warming. 

Thanks for reading and next up will be my review of the Modernism Showhouse in Palm Springs! 




Friday, March 8, 2019

Hue Are You? with Hooper Patterson

Welcome to HUE ARE YOU




A weekly blog series exploring different creatives' views on color and its use in interiors, art and design. We will dive deep into their obsessions with color. How and why they use color. You will get to know their stories and you may even gather some tips for using color in your own home. What is better than learning from the experts!





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Hue Are You? 
Designer Spotlight: Hooper Patterson



      Hooper is an interior designer with office locations in both Wilmington North Carolina and Chicago. Her projects are diverse in style, geographic location and budget. Specializing in mixing patterns and texture, Hooper's style has been described as "traditional with a twist" and includes a "current, yet timeless, Southern Bent." 

Let's hear how this Southern girl uses color and how her recent move to the windy city has influenced her. 

Susan Jamieson:  What one color represents your design style? 

Hooper Patterson I love blush tones. They are neutrals, warm and feminine. I love how they glow with natural light, candlelight and how they pop with crisp white trim. Blush tones are beautiful with grays, saturated colors like peacock and artwork really shines with blush as a backdrop. 




SJ: Do you use color as a dominant role in your designs or as an accent? 

HPI see it as an accent. I love bold color in fabrics, wallpaper or carpets. Pops of color, layered with pillows, throws, lamps and artwork add the personality to a space. 




SJ: How do you feel about matching colors in a room? 


HP I don't prefer to match. I know clients often feel comfortable when colors, furniture and fabrics match. I find it to feel too much like a showroom - it seems to lack character. When you can pull colors that compliment and contrast, you create a space that feels more collected and tells a story. 




SJ: What color represents your personality? 


HPI love green - the bright leafy green. It has always been one of my favorite colors. It pulls from the outdoors, can be punchy and still feels organic and fresh, all at the same time. 








SJ: What color comes to mind when you talk about: 


Your favorite City .......right now, we are living in Chicago for my husbands job. It is winter, so gray comes to mind. However, we live on Lake Michigan. We just moved from Wilmington, NC, my hometown. It is on the coast. As long as I am looking at the water, I feel at home. There are days in the winter, when the Atlantic and the Lake have a dark blue undertone. I love that saturated smokey blue. In the Summer, the rich aqua of the Atlantic (and a color, I am hoping to see this Summer in Chicago) is one of my favorite hues. It exudes coastal living - wherever you are. It also exudes warmth - something this Southern girl will be ready for! 




The House You Grew Up In .........The house you grew up in:  We had a kitchen in my early childhood home that had mustard cabinets. It was the early 80's and it still scars me to this day. It is a color I am hesitant to use. Who knows, maybe my mom was on trend at the time?



Last Fabulous Dinner You Had ........It was last night. I ordered a pasta with pesto and the bright leafy green sauce was not only delicious but one of my favorite hues. 

Your favorite Flower .......


My favorite flower is the Daffodil. When I was a child, my uncle had a daffodil farm. We picked them as children and it has always been a promenade flower at the centerpiece of family gatherings, weddings and most recently, at my grandmother's funeral. That flower and bright yellow hue always bring a smile to my face because it reminds me of my "Mimi" - she loved them and to this day, every time I see them, I think of her. 




Your favorite season ...... 


Many hues of Blue - Summertime. Growing up at the beach, we spend summers on the water - swimming, boating, shelling. I get to work on a lot of homes on the coast and clients always request hues that can be found in the sea. Blues, aquas and everything in between remind me of my favorite season.... Summer! 






Your Favorite Art ......



makes me think of gold....  Last year, for my birthday, I bought my first "major" piece of art. I fell in love with it the second I saw it and knew I had to have it. Her name is "Grace", by Brenda Bogart, and she is made of paper and gold leaf. I have her lit in a very prominent spot in our home and her gold leafing just glows. 


Your Favorite Room in Your Home .....That changes but right now, I am really loving my dining room. I painted the walls and trim the 2019 Ben Moore color "Metropolitan" in a high gloss. The back wall is accented with a gold leaf/floral by Anna French. The wall color is rich, yet it is still a neutral. It's a glossy gray with a hint of green. Throughout the day, it changes. At night, it looks almost like a  smokey green which pairs great with candlelight, but in the morning light it feels bright and fresh. It is certainly unexpected with the wallpaper. 

Your Favorite Beauty product .... Pale pink. My favorite beauty product is a lip gloss by Sara Happ. It is called "the nude slip". It has just enough pink not to wash out my skin tone, but is natural and feminine and works day and night. 


Your Favorite Article of Clothing ......That changes too! Right now, I am loving a pleated navy and gold velvet skirt. The navy is so rich and it looks great with a dressy black blazer or a brown leather jacket. 


SJ: Name a color you never use? 


HP: I never use red. I use tones of it - wine, pink, blush, fuschia, cranberry, even shades of orange, but I really struggle with integrating red into my designs or my wardrobe. When a client requests it, I always work it in and am so happy with the result, but I always hesitate. Maybe I need to expand my horizons! 


SJ: Name a color you use frequently? 


HP: 
I have used Benjamin Moore's "Pink Damask" in several different types of spaces. It is romantic in an bedroom, but sophisticated in a living room.  It reminds me of "Duchess" by Bridget Beari paints. It is subtle and beautiful! 



SJ: If you could pick a name for a color what would it be? 


HP:  
If I was going to name my favorite green, I think it would name it "green with envy" 





SJ: Do you have a pet? What color reminds you of him/her? Do you have a nickname for this pet? 

HP: We have two dogs. "Teddy" is a buff colored cocker spaniel and "Herald" is a solid black cocker spaniel. Herald is so black, his fur is almost navy. Teddy's coat changes throughout the year. It bleaches out in the summer months, but in the winter, it is a medium copper. 







SJ: What is the Now Neutral? 


HP: Blush!




SJ: What is your prediction for the next big color trend? 


HP: I really like dark purple tones. I have been using lilacs over the last few years, but am now really leaning toward the dark purples and rich wine tones. Not Burgundy - that is not my favorite, but more like eggplant or deep purples. 




SJ: What are the best color combinations? 


HP: I love lilac and blush tones paired with really saturated colors like peacock blue. I always love the richness of chocolate with any shade of blue or orange - or both! Being a beach girl - all colors that come from the ocean view are gorgeous paired together. Blues and aquas go great with pale greens and bright saturated greens - it reminds me of the Summer marsh along the Intracoastal.




SJ: Best advise when it comes to picking paint colors? 


HP: Seek professional help if you can. A designer has so many in his/her bag of tricks that they know are tried and true. If you can't - be careful of neutrals. I have had people tell me that they picked a gray or white because it should have been easy. It isn't. There are thousands of shades of both. I have seen grays go purple, green, brown and just plain drab. I have seen whites go pink, lilac, blue... so do your research. Sites like Pinterest and Houzz make good recommendations if you don't have a designer to help you. They also show spaces with the selected color so you can gauge if it will work for you. If you can get a small sample, do it. Paint it on a wall or a piece of cardboard. Tape it up and look at it throughout the day and night. It will change dramatically. 




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