Thank-You Chic Muse

White Chic

Patricia Gray

Using white in a room can make it have surprising depth - I use several shades of white to bring out the architectural details in a room, or I layer the space with strong forms in different tones and textures of white and use some strong contrasts to outline and bring the white into focus. Some of my favourite whites I use are: Benjamin Moore - Cloud White, Simply White, Ballet White, Designer White. Not every white is snow white. Try using: ivory, cream, antique white, and palest beige.

Nothing is more chic than WHITE ON WHITE

Patricia Gray

Some white facts from the web:

Ultimate Light: White is purity, cleanliness, and innocence. Like black, white goes well with almost any color.

Culture of White: In most Western countries white is the color for brides. In the East, it's the color for mourning and funerals. Some cultures viewed white as the color of royalty or of deities. Angels are typically depicted as wearing white. In early Westerns the good guy wore white while the bad guy wore black.

Using White: In most cases white is seen as a neutral background color and other colors, even when used in smaller proportion, are the colors that convey the most meaning in a design. Use white to signify cleanliness or purity or softness. Some neutral beige, ivory, and creams carry the same attributes as white but are more subdued, less brilliant than plain white. Use lots of white for a summery look. Use small amounts of white to soften a wintery palette or suggest snow.

Using White with Other Colors: Used with light or pastel tones, white is soft and Spring-like and helps to make the pastel palette more lively. White can make dark or light reds, blues, and greens look brighter, more prominent.

White Words: These words are synonymous with white or represent various shades of the color white.

pearl
antique white
ivory
chalk
milk white
lily
smoke
seashell
old lace
cream
linen
ghost white
beige
cornsilk
alabaster
paper
whitewash

Elle Decor

Victoria Hagen

Purple Area
Lamp by Tobias Wong

- with a coat of white paint even the most traditional forms can be transformed into something altogether new.

Coat rack by Seattle artist Erich Ginder

Patricia Gray Regina Chair

Wing Back chair by Victoria Hagan

Ghost Chair by Philip Starck
John Saladino Porticus Bench

Simplicity interior

If you are like me and so many others with busy lifes and careers, I am always on the search for ways to simplify my life, organize my work, keep on top of things, file information so I can find it when I need it. So when I came across this book I thought maybe it held the answer.

The book Laws of Simplicity offers ten laws for balancing simplicity and complexity in business, technology, and design. But after I had tried to this book, which I found to NOT be a simple read. I have to say it falls under Law #9Failure - some things can never be made simple. Like I am always trying to achieve the simplest of designs which I find are the very hardest, because everything has to be detailed to perfection equates to Law 5 - simplicity and complexity need each other. Sometimes I love the simplest of design and sometimes I am attracted to over the top design. Sometimes simplicity works and sometimes not. Maybe there is something to the adage that "opposites do attract".

Simple things I love: my Ipod, my Blackberry, blogging, designs by Christian Liagre
Complex things I love: travel (getting through security), playing the piano, finding the perfect bottle of wine, designs by Kelly Wearstler

TEN LAWS

1. REDUCE The simplest way to achieve simplicity is through thoughtful reduction.
2. ORGANIZE Organization makes a system of many appear fewer.
3. TIME Savings in time feel like simplicity.

4. LEARN Knowledge makes everything simpler.
5. DIFFERENCES Simplicity and compleity need each other.

6. CONTEXT What lies in the periphery of simplicity is definitely not peripheral.

7. EMOTION More emotions are better than less.
8. TRUST In simplicity we trust.

9. FAILURE Some things can never be made simple.
10. THE ONE Simplicity is about subtracting the obvious and adding the meaningful

Simple ....but complex

Complex ...but simple

Outdoor Furniture

At this time of year my body and mind wants to be outside enjoying every minute of nice weather we have. I love to create outdoor spaces that are an extension of our indoor space. For people living in apartments and townhouses with decks, creating an attractive outdoor space can serve many functions. It can give you an extra room for entertaining, lounging, working and sleeping (ahh afternoon naps on those warm summer days). If it is properly lit and heated for those chilly evenings it can be an wonderful spot for those BBQ's and lingering guests.There are many new and innovative products on the market for outdoor spaces. Here A few that I have been enchanted with:

http://www.unicahome.com/p31957/gandia-blasco/the-mdulo-series-pergola-by-gandia-blasco.html
This pergola's elegant, sleek and sophisticated design is quite a stunning addition to any setting. On the patio, in the back yard or poolside, the módulo provides stylish seclusion and soothing shade.

A wonderful fresh black & white curtained balcony

I hope you enjoy every minute of your time outdoors this summer......

Patricia

Day Dreams on Umbrellas

I live in Vancouver and it has been raining for the last two weekends. I long for sunny days and being able to use an umbrella to sit under to escape the "sun" rather than the rain. So in the meantime, my mind has been occupied with sunny thoughts and day dreams of umbrellas. There are a lot of great umbrellas out there so when the sun does come we can hide out in the shade. These pictures are downloaded from the following sites:
http://www.janusetcie.com/
http://www.coroitalia.com/
http://www.extremis.be/eng/outdoorfurniture/outdoor_furniture.htm

Inspirational Quotes

"For a house to be successful, the objects in it must communicate with one another, respond to and balance one another"
Andre Putman

"…a house is much more than a mere shelter, it should lift us emotionally and spiritually.”
John Saladino

“When you’re building a room, you’re building character, and character is the strength and wisdom of a home”
Rose Tarlow

“We shape our homes……, and then our homes shape us.”
Winston Churchill

“It's all in the Details.”
Patricia Gray

Diary of an Interesting Year

A Rendering of my Living Room done by Michelle Morelan and given to me as a Christmas gift.

2009 is a great year to reflect back on, now that it is almost over. Whew, what a turbulent year - full of challenges. I am not one to buy into the doom and gloom of the economic climate (I have weathered others through the years: early 80's, early 90's, late 90's), but this year was a year of an down economic climate that has seemed to have escaped no one in the 'world.' There is a saying that when the going gets tough, the tough get going. It is hard to see when you are in the midst of chaos, until you have come through it.....hopefully we are through it!!! One of the benefits for me was that I kept busy and was continually looking for ways to recharge and re-inspire. I was fortunate to have four wonderful trips this year to do just that. It is very important when you are working in a creative field to be continually evolving and expanding your horizons, and travel helps me to do that. I also full filled a life long dream this year and went back to school and took two Art classes in Mixed Media Painting. I subsequently turned my garage into an Art Studio and have spent many glorious days there immersed in painting.

Palm Springs in the early Spring - where I became fascinated with and wrote a Blog posting on the Mid-Century Post Modern resurgence of 'screen block.'

Palm Springs Modern Architecture and the Use of Screen Block

A trip to the Okanagan with my Dad and a visit to the The Nk'Mip Winery and Resort in Osoyoss - where I was inspired by the use of Rammed Earth in Modern Architecture.

Rammed Earth Wall NK'MIP Winery Osoyoos

A trip to New York in September and another in December. What can I say about New York, other than that it is one of the most exciting and visually stimulating cities in the world. Being able to see the artwork of great masters at the MOMA, Georgia O'Keeffe at The Whitney, and Kandinsky at the Guggenheim - it just doesn't get better than that. I shopped for clients at the D & D Building, A & D Building, and the New York Design Center, explored Soho, Tribeca, the Meat Packing District, Canal Street, walked Central Park, 5th Avenue, tried the Subway, enjoyed live theatre, ate at wonderful restaurants, enjoyed the lights and shop windows all decorated for Christmas, met new friends, and connected with old friends.

Kandinsky at the Guggenheim / The Meatpacking district and Highline / South Pacific at The Lincoln Center

Mixed Media Painting Classes at Emily Carr University of Art

Frottage 1 24" x 36" Mixed Media: Pastel, Acrylic, Gesso on Glassine

Experimenting with Mono Prints

Acrylic on Canvas

The Salton Sea, CA 23" x 36" Mixed Media on Paper

West Coast Landscape 24" x 48" Acrylic & Mixed Media on Canvas

Triptych: Be Still My Bleeding Heart 72" x 36"' Chinese Ink on Bronze & Silver Metallic (left) / Diptych: Koi Pond 16" x 16" Gold & Pearl Opalescence (right)

My painting companion - Nicole


I am very honored to be on the 'Board of Experts' for LoftLife Magazine in 2009, and to have an article published in BC Home Magazine

I wish you all a very Happy, Healthy, and Prosperous 2010 and may all your dreams come true!!

Patricia Gray is an award winning Interior Designer in Vancouver, Canada who blogs about WHAT'S HOT in the world of Interior Design: