Pantone Color of the Year: Viva Magenta

January 20, 2023 Sara Hillery

Pantone’s 2023 Color of the Year, Viva Magenta, bursts with vibrant energy. This strong color in the red family may be too extra as an “all over” color- However, used sparingly, it brings a surprising liveliness and fun-loving sensibility to the spaces it graces.

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Slide 1: Kip Dawkins Photography, Slide 2-5: Gordon Gregory Photography

Scroll through for a few of my favorite Viva Magenta (and Viva Magenta adjacent) items to add a bit of this color’s brightness into your life!

Try out this year’s color without the commitment: on your nails. Such a vibrant nail color will give you an instant lift whenever you look at it, even if it’s during your fourth zoom meeting of the day.

Magenta Silk Dupion Gathered Lamp Shade, The Ginger Jar Lamp Co., $131

This silk dupion lampshade will add a fun touch of whimsy to any room! Pair it with a sleek modern base in black or white for a dramatic contrast or experiment with pattern for a playful accent.

Dip-Dyed Alpaca Throw, Casa Branca, $465

This dip-dyed alpaca throw will instantly zhuzh up a plain sofa- and feels super luxurious to cuddle up with!

'Sissinghurst with Blue Bowl' by Dana Gibson, Scout Design Studio, $660

I love local RVA artist Dana Gibson’s still life paintings, and this print with its bright background will instantly infuse personality to even the most ho-hum room or hallway.

Seaweed, Blackwell Botanicals, Contact store for pricing details

This gorgeous seaweed, with its ruffle-like appearance, is a very cool, unexpectedly chic addition for nature lovers.

Visit Ibiza without leaving the coziness of your own home with this coffee table book that is made to be displayed and admired.

Ikat Silk-Velvet Cushion, Matches Fashion, $120

Ikat is always in style!

Dessert Plate Set of 2, La DoubleJ, $125

I love the contrast of this 3D geometric pattern on a round plate!

A simple pitcher in a striking hue.

A touch of the tropics for your next dinner party!

Flower Quilted Placemat - Pink, Furbish Studio, $11

I cannot get enough of this cheery batik print!

Icon Pink 24-Pc Setting by Sabre, Gracious Style, $486

Love this classic flatware set in an unexpected color!

I love these tumblers – There is something so fun about their shape!

Color Block Tissue Box, Jaye's Studio, $64

This tissue box cover in such a bright color is way too happy!

Love these napkin rings in an orchid motif as a fun way to dress up your table!

A stylish diffuser to add a sophisticated fragrance to your home.

These are the sweetest candle holders!

White & Pink Beaded Floral Motif Handbag, The Well Appointed House, $151

A classic pattern meets peak glam. How fun are these beaded details?

Hexagon Beeswax Candles Pack - Raspberry, Matilda Goad & Co., $55

These cheerful tapers provide a little more style than your typical candle.

Scallop Edge Napkin in Pink & Azalea, Matouk, $135

Perfect year-round from Valentine’s Day to Christmas!

Bohemian Floral Lavender & Rose Napkins, Pomegranate, $56

Add block print details to your table for a chic and casual look!

Pantone Color of The Year 2022

January 18, 2022 Sara Hillery

PANTONE 17-3938 Very Peri, Pantone’s color of the year (and a brand-new color creation), was selected to reflect our changed and changing world. It’s a bold and brand-new color creation that, according to the Pantone Color Institute, “ displays a spritely, joyous attitude and dynamic presence that encourages courageous creativity and imaginative expressions”.

We are all about courageous creativity and bringing a more joyous attitude into our lives and our homes, and colors in the periwinkle family are surprisingly versatile. Veri Peri, which brings together beloved, calming blue with an energizing violet red undertone, can be used throughout the home to give small doses of color therapy.

Between zoom fatigue, the uncertainty of the next few months, and the fact that most of us feel like we’ve been in our own personal Groundhog Day movie since March 2020, injecting a little zest and vibrancy into our lives sounds pretty appealing right now. Cheers to the new year and to new energy in our homes and in our lives!Between zoom fatigue, the uncertainty of the next few months, and the fact that most of us feel like we’ve been in our own personal Groundhog Day movie since March 2020, injecting a little zest and vibrancy into our lives sounds pretty appealing right now. Cheers to the new year and to new energy in our homes and in our lives!

Here are a few ideas for how to incorporate this hue:

This floral periwinkle pillow will add a modern touch and a color boost to a sofa or couch in a more neutral shade.

A periwinkle carpet, particularly with a soft, shag texture, is a feast for the eyes…and feels amazingly cozy on feet too.

In Sara Hillery Interior Design’s County Lines textile, the color of the year gets complimented and contrasted with other saturated shades for a playful pattern that subtly salutes Virginia geography.

Entryway periwinkle flowers

Not sure you want to commit long-term to periwinkle in your home? No problem: in this light-filled entryway, a vase of periwinkle flowers brings a natural, lively pop of color.

Museum Fix

May 25, 2021 Sara Hillery

Museums are slowly opening up, and returning to more traditional travel is (knock on wood) on the horizon, but jetting around to the latest exhibitions seems ambitious at the moment.

For those of us who are still committed to armchair travel to get our fix of arts and culture, we have some compelling online options, several of which are hands on and fun for the whole family.

One of the silver linings of the pandemic is that museums and galleries have put more of their pieces and the stories behind them online, so you can access them anytime!

Museum of International Folk Art

In addition to exploring the museum’s mind-bogglingly extensive online collection of folk art from all around the globe, you can try your hand at some of their DIY art projects, inspired by traditions including Mexican paper making and Japanese fans.

Tate

Through podcasts, articles, videos, and more the Tate offers a deep dive into numerous pieces in its collection and the passionate creators behind them. We also recommend the Create Like An Artist series, with fantastic hands-on projects for both kids and adults with options including soap carving, making chocolate paintings inspired by Jackson Pollack, and using the techniques of master watercolorist Joseph Turner.

The Louvre Abu Dhabi

Online options at this gorgeous museum are extraordinary. We could spend days exploring, from an online book focusing on clothes and costumes in the collection to curated playlists to spoken word poetry inspired by various galleries to a “futuristic audio and visual experience”.

National Museum of India

Looking for some bite-sized art education? The National Museum of India’s Museum at Home features short videos on sculptures, artistic traditions, and more. The video gallery also offers quick, insightful dips into India’s fascinating art and history.

Bata Shoe Museum

This quirky Toronto museum focuses on shoes throughout history (yes, the collection is as amazing as it sounds). With the museum’s #BSMFromHome offerings, you can brush up on your knowledge of various shoe-making techniques, get a virtual tour of exhibitions, or de-stress with some shoe-themed coloring sheets.

Petra

If you haven’t been able to cross off the architectural wonders of Petra off your bucket travel list (or if you just want a return trip), this comprehensive “tour” of the Rose City might satiate your wanderlust for a short time. It’s not technically a museum, but there’s enough history and art to make for an educational and inspiring armchair voyage.

Pantone Color of The Year

January 6, 2021 Sara Hillery

After a year like 2020, most of us could use some uplifting and some grounding. Pantone is ushering in the New Year with two colors that emanate emotions both calm and bright. While Ultimate Gray and Illuminating are not shades we frequently utilize, we’ve gathered some visual ways to make these colors (or similar hues) livable from our past projects.

Incorporating a shiny golden-hued ceiling is a little like living just a bit closer to the sun. We used warm shades of yellow throughout this room along with gold accents and creams (and even a honey-hued seagrass rug) to keep it light and bright.

Just a pop of this yellow is enough to transform a room. The bone-colored busts of composers, earned from participating in piano recitals and a nod to the family’s avid interest in music) pop, especially when situated within a contrasting black frame.

Sunny yellow and gold unite the furniture, artwork, and accessories in this sitting area, while the subtle differences in shades add texture and vibrancy. The two-toned sofa is a modern, refreshing choice.

Incorporating calming “greige” roman shades might seem like a minor style decision, but they offer just enough contrast to the white carpet and walls to help create a soothing transition for the eye.

We love all the earth and jewel tones in our client’s beautiful collection of pottery and vases. Selecting sunny yet subtle yellow chairs with matching chevron pillows helps to lift the space while also drawing attention to the variety of pieces on display.

Pantone describes the color duo as a “marriage conveying a message of strength and hopefulness that is both enduring and uplifting”, and we hope you begin 2021 harnessing that fortifying, uplifting energy in your homes and in your lives.