Well, it was time for another…field trip! The International Window Covering Expo was in Tampa in March, so I decided that, since it was so close to home, I had to make this one, no excuses! So, I drove over there and brought Mary with me. Mary has been with me since I started this journey of decorating, and she has stuck by me through thick and thin. She is an amazing seamstress, having produced hundreds of beautiful draperies, bedding, and pillows for all of my clients for the past 14 years. I would be lost without her. We ventured off early in the morning and had a great time and ,of course, had to indulge in some adult beverages afterwards, at my favorite venue, The Columbia Restaurant. So glad we went, very informative, and a LOT of great products and ideas!

Next month I’ll bring you up to date on the nursery decorating, and more photos to come! And speaking of the nursery, I’m also planning a “Parents to Be Party” in May for my son Ryan and daughter-in-law Jenny! I love throwing a good party and will post my tips for creating an elegant and fun event. Stay tuned.

#bwg_container1_0 #bwg_container2_0 .bwg-container-0.bwg-standard-thumbnails { width: 724px; justify-content: center; margin:0 auto !important; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.00); padding-left: 4px; padding-top: 4px; max-width: 100%; } #bwg_container1_0 #bwg_container2_0 .bwg-container-0.bwg-standard-thumbnails .bwg-item { justify-content: flex-start; max-width: 360px; } #bwg_container1_0 #bwg_container2_0 .bwg-container-0.bwg-standard-thumbnails .bwg-item a { margin-right: 4px; margin-bottom: 4px; } #bwg_container1_0 #bwg_container2_0 .bwg-container-0.bwg-standard-thumbnails .bwg-item0 { padding: 0px; background-color:rgba(255,255,255, 0.30); border: 0px none #CCCCCC; opacity: 1.00; border-radius: 0; box-shadow: 0px 0px 0px #888888; } #bwg_container1_0 #bwg_container2_0 .bwg-container-0.bwg-standard-thumbnails .bwg-item1 img { max-height: none; max-width: none; padding: 0 !important; } @media only screen and (min-width: 480px) { #bwg_container1_0 #bwg_container2_0 .bwg-container-0.bwg-standard-thumbnails .bwg-item0 { transition: all 0.3s ease 0s;-webkit-transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; } #bwg_container1_0 #bwg_container2_0 .bwg-container-0.bwg-standard-thumbnails .bwg-item0:hover { -ms-transform: scale(1.1); -webkit-transform: scale(1.1); transform: scale(1.1); } } #bwg_container1_0 #bwg_container2_0 .bwg-container-0.bwg-standard-thumbnails .bwg-item1 { padding-top: 50%; } #bwg_container1_0 #bwg_container2_0 .bwg-container-0.bwg-standard-thumbnails .bwg-title2, #bwg_container1_0 #bwg_container2_0 .bwg-container-0.bwg-standard-thumbnails .bwg-ecommerce2 { color: #CCCCCC; font-family: segoe ui; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; padding: 2px; text-shadow: 0px 0px 0px #888888; max-height: 100%; } #bwg_container1_0 #bwg_container2_0 .bwg-container-0.bwg-standard-thumbnails .bwg-thumb-description span { color: #323A45; font-family: Ubuntu; font-size: 12px; max-height: 100%; word-wrap: break-word; } #bwg_container1_0 #bwg_container2_0 .bwg-container-0.bwg-standard-thumbnails .bwg-play-icon2 { font-size: 32px; } #bwg_container1_0 #bwg_container2_0 .bwg-container-0.bwg-standard-thumbnails .bwg-ecommerce2 { font-size: 19.2px; color: #CCCCCC; }

/*pagination styles*/ #bwg_container1_0 #bwg_container2_0 .tablenav-pages_0 { text-align: center; font-size: 12px; font-family: segoe ui; font-weight: bold; color: #666666; margin: 6px 0 4px; display: block; } @media only screen and (max-width : 320px) { #bwg_container1_0 #bwg_container2_0 .displaying-num_0 { display: none; } } #bwg_container1_0 #bwg_container2_0 .displaying-num_0 { font-size: 12px; font-family: segoe ui; font-weight: bold; color: #666666; margin-right: 10px; vertical-align: middle; } #bwg_container1_0 #bwg_container2_0 .paging-input_0 { font-size: 12px; font-family: segoe ui; font-weight: bold; color: #666666; vertical-align: middle; } #bwg_container1_0 #bwg_container2_0 .tablenav-pages_0 a.disabled, #bwg_container1_0 #bwg_container2_0 .tablenav-pages_0 a.disabled:hover, #bwg_container1_0 #bwg_container2_0 .tablenav-pages_0 a.disabled:focus, #bwg_container1_0 #bwg_container2_0 .tablenav-pages_0 input.bwg_current_page { cursor: default; color: rgba(102, 102, 102, 0.5); } #bwg_container1_0 #bwg_container2_0 .tablenav-pages_0 a, #bwg_container1_0 #bwg_container2_0 .tablenav-pages_0 input.bwg_current_page { cursor: pointer; text-align: center; font-size: 12px; font-family: segoe ui; font-weight: bold; color: #666666; text-decoration: none; padding: 3px 6px; margin: 0; border-radius: 0; border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; border-color: #E3E3E3; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 1.00); box-shadow: 0; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s;-webkit-transition: all 0.3s ease 0s; } jQuery('.bwg_nav_cont_0').remove() if( jQuery('.bwg_nav_cont_0').length > 1 ) { jQuery('.bwg_nav_cont_0').first().remove() } function spider_page_0(cur, x, y, load_more) { if (typeof load_more == "undefined") { var load_more = false; } if (jQuery(cur).hasClass('disabled')) { return false; } var items_county_0 = 2; switch (y) { case 1: if (x >= items_county_0) { document.getElementById('page_number_0').value = items_county_0; } else { document.getElementById('page_number_0').value = x + 1; } break; case 2: document.getElementById('page_number_0').value = items_county_0; break; case -1: if (x == 1) { document.getElementById('page_number_0').value = 1; } else { document.getElementById('page_number_0').value = x - 1; } break; case -2: document.getElementById('page_number_0').value = 1; break; case 0: document.getElementById('page_number_0').value = x; break; default: document.getElementById('page_number_0').value = 1; } bwg_ajax('gal_front_form_0', '0', 'bwg_thumbnails_0', '0', '', 'gallery', 0, '', '', load_more, '', 0); } jQuery('.first-page-0').on('click', function () { spider_page_0(this, 1, -2, 'numeric'); return false; }); jQuery('.prev-page-0').on('click', function () { spider_page_0(this, 1, -1, 'numeric'); return false; }); jQuery('.next-page-0').on('click', function () { spider_page_0(this, 1, 1, 'numeric'); return false; }); jQuery('.last-page-0').on('click', function () { spider_page_0(this, 1, 2, 'numeric'); return false; }); /* Change page on input enter. */ function bwg_change_page_0( e, that ) { if ( e.key == 'Enter' ) { var to_page = parseInt(jQuery(that).val()); var pages_count = jQuery(that).parents(".pagination-links").data("pages-count"); var current_url_param = jQuery(that).attr('data-url-info'); if (to_page > pages_count) { to_page = 1; } spider_page_0(this, to_page, 0, 'numeric'); return false; } return true; } jQuery('.bwg_load_btn_0').on('click', function () { spider_page_0(this, 1, 1, true); return false; });

#bwg_container1_0 #bwg_container2_0 #spider_popup_overlay_0 { background-color: #000000; opacity: 0.70; }

if (document.readyState === 'complete') { if( typeof bwg_main_ready == 'function' ) { if ( jQuery("#bwg_container1_0").height() ) { bwg_main_ready(jQuery("#bwg_container1_0")); } } } else { document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', function() { if( typeof bwg_main_ready == 'function' ) { if ( jQuery("#bwg_container1_0").height() ) { bwg_main_ready(jQuery("#bwg_container1_0")); } } }); }

Just the name sounds powerful and mysterious, but this color is a strong bluish violet, that the Pantone Color Institute says is ‘inventive and imaginative, Ultra Violet lights the way to what is yet to come. A dramatically provocative and thoughtful purple shade, PANTONE 18-3838 Ultra Violet communicates originality, ingenuity, and visionary thinking that points us toward the future.’

Pantone is an international color-matching system, the industry standard, that provides complete matching of standardized color for all materials used in interior design, architecture, manufacturing and related industries (like textiles) and printing. If you have a brand color or colors – or just something you’re trying to match precisely – it’s likely Pantone will be involved in the process.

Laurie Pressman, vice-president of the Pantone Colour Institute, said: “The Pantone colour of the year has come to mean so much more than ‘what’s trending’ in the world of design; it’s truly a reflection of what’s needed in our world today.” Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the institute, said: “We are living in a time that requires inventiveness and imagination. It is this kind of creative inspiration that is indigenous to Pantone 18-3838 ultra violet, a blue-based purple that takes our awareness and potential to a higher level.”

So back to Ultra Violet. Wow, at first blush, it looks pretty intense, a bit tough to dive into. But the more I spent studying it, I could see a variety of ways to use it that would not only enhance, but totally beautify designs. And when I went online and looked at how some people have already used the color in their design work, I was blown away, and I’ll be sharing some of those images with you below. This bold, blue-tinged purple hue, while highly regal, is not as easy to decorate with as a color like blue, for example. But here are a few ways to work Ultra Violet into interiors:

Use it as an accent – The easiest way to start decorating with a new color is to take baby steps, like having a rug with a few violet threads, or a pair of purple throw pillows, or a few sprigs of violet flowers (or lilacs) in a vase.

Soften it with other purples, pinks, and blues – This is a great way to utilize a bold color like Ultra Violet, by working with other shades in the same family of colors – mauve, blue, blush lilac, etc. – which will soften it and have the color feeling completely at home.

Create a moody theme – “Moody” is a great description of purple, dark and romantic. A very bold approach would be to embrace other supersaturated dark colors and rich luxe fabrics like leather, velvet and dark-colored woods. Big, bold…deep and intense…are you up for it?

So check out some examples of some wonderful interiors utilizing this new color in various ways (isn’t Pinterest great?!). Of course these designs are copyrighted by their respective designers, but that’s what PInterest and Google are for…inspiration! Have at it – and let me know what you think, if you find yourself inspired with this vibrant, interesting, rich new color for 2018. Is this color inspiring you? I’d love to hear your thoughts! Email me at: carmen@sohointeriordesign.com or call me at: (407) 947-7718