you don’t require a lot of art to make a bold decor statement. minimalism can actually speak volumes and draw your eye in immediately. so say perhaps you’re on a bit of a budget when it comes to adding artwork to finish off your look — you can do that by simply buying one really impactful piece, and grow your art collection from there. or, you can simply leave it as is. i have just one really large print hanging above my sofa and i love it. i do adore a gallery look, too, but i think these rooms make a statement, but very minimally and it works.

• photo credits in order of appearance: the design files; Barbara Trautmann, Song I via galerie thomas; fantastic frank; the line; fran parente photography; Patricia Miyamoto Architectural Design; emma hos; @sfgirlbybay; Bold Abstraction Wall Art from anthropologie; my unfinished home; frenchy fancy; fantastic frank; architectural digest; atpatelier; vtwonen; PENNY FARTHING DESIGN HOUSE Torryburn-Loop print; hannas room; pampa; vtwonen; domino; 1st dibs.

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growing up in suburban los angeles mid-century modern house, i always dreamed of a two-story house. not so much for the second level, per se, but for the staircase itself. there’s something so romantic about a staircase, yes? how many movies have depicted a love scene location? plenty, i reckon. i have an outside staircase to my home, but it’s rustic wood and shouldn’t be painted. so i’ll just have to fantasize about these pretty steps. i’ve noticed a trend stepping it up a bit — jet black staircases, making them even a bit more dramatic. swoon-worthy and scene-stealing for certain.

• photo credits in order of appearance: homezoic; fantastic frank; jj locations; 6 sq ft; 47 park avenue; cocorrina; archello; visualize; dario mulas debois; the shoot factory; hotel de seze, paris; design*sponge; the ultra linx; oracle fox; remodelista; 1st dibs; 47 park avenue; the berry; jj locations; angie mcmonigal; my paradissi; hus & hem; home edit; painted therapy; house and garden uk; decor design review.

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these season’s blue seems to have taken on a romantic, moody side. everything i’m seeing out there on the interwebs leans towards the deeper hues of blue, whether they be a dark gray-blue like benjamin moore’s gravel gray, or farrow and ball’s almost seafaring shades of stone blue and drawing room blue (all clever names for a dramatic color!). feeling a bit of trepidation? might i suggest starting off slow with one eye-popping accent wall? here are a few looks to inspire those moody blues.

• photography credit in order of appearance: benjamin edwards photography; helen cathcart; claire cottrell photography; benjamin edwards photography; mti baths; @AGNIJAGRIGULE; house and garden; hoxton paris hotel; Lorenzo Pennati; rue magazine; line klein; designer lorenzo castillo; rue magazine; Jesper Florbrant photography; claire cottrell photography; Graham Aitkin-Hughes; Jesper Florbrant photography; artilleriet journal; benjamin edwards photography; new york times.

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i certainly don’t have the guts to go this bold, but i sure do admire it! this corner apartment in The Hague was created by the form makers — an interior design and concept studio in the Netherlands. the creative couple who live there are avid collectors and were looking for a home large enough to display their stunning objets d’art and eclectic furnishings in a stylish atmosphere. the result is definitely colorful and very beautiful. their home reminds me quite a bit of abigail ahern’s amazing and dramatic aesthetic, with tall ceilings, incredible crown moldings, and those daring dark walls. bravo to going bold!

• photography courtesy of the form makers.

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we’ve been pretty ‘light hearted’ around here lately — i blame spring! so today, i’m headed back to the dark side. i like going there on occasion and especially when i find some darkly dramatic decor filling up my pinterest feed. some of these rooms have really gone to the extreme — painting their walls richly black, but then adding all black furniture and bedding too. i’m not sure i could personally go there, but it does have a certain soothing appeal, doesn’t it? i feel like i could dream for days in some of these all-black bedrooms. don’t be afraid to darken your doorstep — after all, it’s only paint!

• photography credits in order of appearance:: andrew simpson architects; andrew simpson architects; libertyn interiors; stylist megan morton; batiik studio; artilleriet studios; batiik studio; uno living; the socialite family; Heidi Lerkenfeldt; zsazsa bellagio; inrichting huis; my domaine; digsdigs; sara woodrow; Frank Dobrushken; blood and champagne; the socialite family; la maison champs elysees; home and decoration; luxxu; you and me; gubi; suzanna scott photography.

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new Orleans is known for bold and colorful, so it’s perhaps no surprise that liz solms’ nola holiday home featured recently in domino is a virtual cornucopia of color. a tiny shotgun house dating back to the 1800s located in the historic Bywater neighborhood of New Orleans, liz’s home is an eclectic and very charming blend of vintage finds, including an enviable nude painting collection (note: super marché has a load of vintage nudes coming to the shop next week, should you love this look). though her bedroom is small, she makes that campaign bed fit perfectly within the space and a vintage bamboo daybed doubles as an extra sleeping space for out of town visitors. for the full tour, visit domino.

• AUGUSTA PHOTOGRAPHY for domino.

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Wallpaper is something I typically adore from afar but have yet to implement in my own space – – and I’m not sure why! With its innate drama and an incredible knack for completely changing the feel of a room, wallpaper is one home trend I’m genuinely happy to see coming back around lately. When I rounded up my favorite light fixtures last week, I knew I wanted to do the same for all of the peel-and-stick and traditional wallpaper options tugging at my heartstrings right now. From dark and moody florals to subtle neutral patterns, I’m loving a pop of pattern in every space.

Keep scrolling for a few of my favorite motifs.

xx, chelsea

• sources in order of appearance: drop it modern; anthropologie tall grass wallpaper; Studio Four NYC + Sally King Benedict faces mosiac; anthropologie logan wallpaper; house of hackney smoky rose wallpaper; studio four nyc shibori buff wallpaper; studio four nyc x avo; betapet botanical wallpaper; drop it modern femme terracotta wallpaper; kelly wearstler channels wallpaper; floral coloray soft leaf wallpaper; betapet monochrome herringbone wallpaper; Urban Caterpillar Wallpaper by Genevieve Gorder; drop it modern ‘body paint’ wallpaper; drop it modern shape shifter mural in blush; betapet delicate marble wallpaper; chasing paper crosshatch wallpaper; anthropologie meadowfield wallpaper; kelly wearstler askew wallpaper; chasing paper starburst tile wallpaper; Chasing Paper And Kate Zaremba Swansy Removable Wallpaper.

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one of my favorite online resources for great design, bolig magazine recently featured the home of designer trine skoller, and it’s a beauty. colorful and a little bit whimsical, trine has mixed traditional favorites with vintage flea market finds creating a home that’s truly eclectic and reflects the personality of its owner and her family. cozy, art-filled nooks are everywhere, and the home feels charming, unpretentious and inviting — the kind of space you’d like to curl up with a good book and a glass of wine, or — host a big dinner party with all your best friends. it’s just that enviable and inspiring mix of personal hideaway and welcoming weekend home. for the full home tour, visit bolig magazine.

• photography by Thomas Dahl for Bolig Magasinet.

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i’m back with another case of the blues, just for you. i can’t stop, won’t stop because i’ve clearly fallen back in love with blue. there was a while there where i thought of it only as a very traditional color, perhaps even preppy but after my visit to europe, i see it’s got all kinds of personalities — from super sophisticated navy to bright colbalt farmhouse french and an awful of fun in-between. whether you slather an entire wall in some dreamy shade of blue, or simply pull up a comfy indigo-colored chair, i think you’ll see blues get along quite well with an abundance of other colors, no matter what the hue of blue.

• photo credits in order of appearance: anna gillar; vtwonen; @kforgara; elle decoration; lonny; BYE Risograph Print by Sarah McNeil; @atshandmadewithlove; modernizor; the devil wears zara; @jessicacomingore; bonnie tsang; ceramic collage via bloomingville; architectural digest espana; The Apartment à Copenhague; elle decoration; vtwonen; lonny; elle decoration; adenorah; architectural digest espana; kk living; @freshexchange.

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Although terra cotta and rust are similar, in my mind they are two very distinct shades equally worthy of spending time exploring (and drooling over). The of-the-earth hue is reminiscent of desert days, endless summers, and a whole lot of sartorial goodness. Whether you’re wearing the color or placing strategic pops of clay around your home, I think you’ll agree that this shade is one to inspire.

xx, chelsea

sleeper dijon lounge dress; duo de mar coral bag; j. hannah polish in saltillo; the smith chair by barbaby lane; anthropologie dipped clay pot and stand; niconico clothing vermont tank bodysuit; moroso josephine sofa.

• photography credits in order of appearance: studio caroline gomez; arthur apparel; serena mitnik-miller; Verner Panton Bachelor Armchairs, 1956; reformation guava bikini; call me the breeze; natasha mead; the moptop; daughter co; taylor sterling; doen; kelly brown; urban outfitters; emily benziger; DAVE WHEELER via Sight Unseen; Fantastic Frank via the design chaser; the moptop; in bed.

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i love the look of modern, understated elegance. where classical architecture merges with the use of contemporary and eclectic elements to create spaces that are unfussy but so obviously well-thought out. these rooms for instance — i quite like the idea of pairing vintage textiles and wallcoverings in a minimalist space or allowing a bold wall color to speak for itself. just a few of your favorite things — perhaps the use of a beautiful lighting fixture, an ornate wall sconce or a portrait painting as dramatic accents and a lot of the rest of the room kind of undone in that unexpected, restrained sophistication and effortless nonchalance.

• photography credits in order of appearance: nicolas mathéus photography for elle decor france; semikah textiles; coqui coqui via remodelista; vtwonen; the socialite family; katherine pole; residence magazine; swarm home; Boezio in carcere; remodelista; @wsjmag; nicole franzen photography; brooke bennett photogrpahy for rue magazine; ana degenaar; peacock print; coqui coqui via remodelista; le bibliomane; libertyn interiors; roomer design; expressen; studio b.

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chances are, you’ve seen architect and designer Guillermo Santoma’s Casa Horta unfurnished and very colorful home around the internet — it’s that good that the architecture stands alone. located on the outskirts of Barcelona, casa horta was recently featured in full, furnishing included in t magazine and a few other publications (see credits below for more!) and it’s even more beautiful than before. Guillermo Santoma’s last name means “hand of a saint” in Catalan and using an inheritance from his grandmother of 190,000 euros he’s put his hands to the most inspiring use — taking this abandoned 1920’s 3-floor house and transforming it into essentially not just a home, but a work of art — a true masterpiece in pink and green and a whole lot of texture and personality, too! i’ve gathered images (before and after furniture) from the various features around the web to share with you. perhaps over the top, but a fearless and stunning home, nonetheless. i’d live here in a big pink heartbeat.

• photography credits: Ricardo Labougle for T Magazine; Pablo Zamora for Architectural digest; Constance Gennari for the socialite family; simon watson; silvia conde for ignant

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i’m so excited to share this studio tour with you! today we’re visiting the creative studio of lighting and furniture designer jason koharik of collected by. i met jason when he was working out of his garage which is just down the street from me, so we’re neighbors. i was inspired daily with what i would see jason creating in his garage, so i was a little sad when he opened his new studio in L.A.’s cypress park. but when i walked into the studio, i literally did a happy dance because it was so overwhelmingly beautiful. i didn’t know where to look first, because jason is so prolific — not only does he create stunning lighting fixtures, but he also designs unique furniture and accessories and repurposes some vintage classics into the most uniquely gorgeous pieces — that also double as sculptural works of art. he also actually paints, as well, so there’s so much creativity happening in his space, that you kind of don’t want to leave. interior designers, you need to know jason, and fans of design — you do, too. you’re going to be so inspired — be sure to follow him on instagram for more. here’s a peek into jason’s inspiring world.

How did you get started in your career as a lighting and furniture designer?

I have always been designing, for as long as I can remember. Growing up in a small town in Ohio, I was lucky to have good public school art programs and teachers. My work often was very conceptual and functional. And It was encouraged. After a brief moment in an Art school at Kent State University, I moved to Los Angeles and was immediately ushered into the world of commercial film, where I found an outlet for art. This world was an inspiration for me. I created sculptures: gold plated carts, rabbit fur sandbags, Arri 2c cameras made of ten-year collection of camera tape. C-stand lamps and stools, paintings woven from miles of stolen raw stock film with vignettes directly from my experiences there. Directors and producers soon took notice of my interest towards art and design and I began finding and designing pieces for their homes. A gallery here in Los Angeles discovered some of the lighting, furniture,  and paintings I was making for these homes and started selling them. What was a silent, obsessive, “hobby” — fast became a “career”.

What kinds of things do you design?

I design and hand make furniture, lighting, and decor as sculpture for the home. My intention is that these pieces occupy space as both art and furniture and I feel successful when you cannot tell the difference.

Are you doing what you always imagined you’d be doing?

Yes. From my youngest memory, I always wanted to be making and creating art. With my hands and my heart. From the inside out.

What part of your job would we find most surprising?

Maybe that I do most or nearly all of it myself. The designing and then making. The wiring, painting, powder coating, finishing — the driving around this town for materials, the pickups and drop-offs. The PR, The photography — Installs. I even used to do all the “books” —  financials, invoicing. But I have since been gifted the Incredible Toby — She keeps me in line these days.

How would you describe your design aesthetic?

I don’t feel I am attached to any specific genre aesthetically. It is Silhouette I am most drawn too in a specific piece. How it occupies space. It can be so impactful, creating romance or whimsy. Be nostalgic. Evoke a scent, or remind a song. Create Environment and mood. Tell a story. A poem. Cause catastrophe — A room can have all of this. And for my needs too.  I think I design with that in mind. I hope that what I make creates a feeling. Sometimes a smile. Often that it is polarizing. Creates tension. A disagreement. An asymmetrical balance. I wish it to live in any ‘aesthetic” — either as a secret. Or as the “elephant in the room”.

How does someone visit your showroom, is it open to the public?

The studio is open by appointment, But it is easy — nothing formal. I’m there generally every day by myself. Let me know when and then come on by. Email is best. I do have special visits from time to time “Tea with dangerous people” —  those are spontaneous or deeply planned.

What’s the easiest way for you to find inspiration?

I am constantly inspired. I am a true believer that inspiration comes from the inside out. I think when I am balanced, at my best ‘self’. When I am listening and acting and creating from a guttural response. I am inundated with thoughts and ideas — a busy mind. And I am grateful for it — It is me and Everything around me.

If you had to select the perfect soundtrack for being your most creative, do you have a musician, album or genre you’d recommend?

It surprises people that I like to work in silence, But music is beyond important to me. Again mood and tone of an environment. I listen to so much different music. I create endless “playlists” I grew up in the time of “mixed tapes” they were novels in my young life. If I had to commit to just one that can combine the beauty and joy and melancholy and saddens that is the catalyst for at least a moment of creativity. I would say Yann Tiersen’s Amelie soundtrack.

What are some of your favorite instagram feeds?

@annstreetstudio, @arootahkah, @youthofthebeast, @sfgirlbybay, and @1milliondiamonds.

Who’s your favorite artist or the last great exhibit you saw?

I have so many. Painters, mostly sculptors. Henri Matisse, Caravaggio, John Singer Sargent. A true favorite is Anders Zorn — He made so many beautiful portraits using four pigments. Designers That have been in my heart from the beginning, Jean Prouve, Jacque Adnet, and most certainly Jean Royere and Tony Duquette. Most recently I saw the Constantin Brancusi Exhibit at MOMA in New York — among my favorite sculptors.

What is the best advice you’ve ever received?

I love the Arthur Ashe, quote: “ Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.”. I find myself silently repeating that.

Do you have any tips for small business owners?

I’ll take some?  My advice is to see more sunrises.

What does success mean to you?

I have always had such trouble with that word success but I understand its importance as a question. Success has come in growth. I had to grow to see it. There have been moments of pride in accomplishment, from putting together entire showcases of all my work, selling that work, success in money from time to time, sales that change the game giving me more opportunity to create bigger and better more realized pieces. Success in accolade, moments when peers show interest and support. But the most successful experiences come when I see an impact I make on my son directly related to who I am. And what I am trying to be as a teacher for him. He is polite, empathetic and kind and when I see him conscientiously practicing this with others, this is success to me.

Who would you like to sit down to drinks or ‘dangerous tea’ with?

I Smile. When I was a young man maybe 13 or 14 my art teacher had a poster: “100 ways to be an artist” and I think #2 was invite someone dangerous to tea. “Enough said” I read no further. Anyone, Everyone. There is so much I can learn from someone. There are contemporary artists around me, in Los Angeles, artists like Stephen Kenn and Marry Little. Our conversations are fuel. And are often geared towards encouraging each other, and towards some sort of “good’ we can do for a community with the skills we may have to offer. “Dangerous Tea” is a conversation and it is “play” with peers who I admire. Who encourage and challenge. I don’t like to use the word inspire — It is to EVOKE. Light fires. Build temples. Write poems. I hope in this time we get to be here, creating, and following the passions of our hearts, we can cross paths, listen, drink tea, force hard truths, and nearly regretful dares. And find the unlikeliest of strangers who become fast friends or forever soulmates.

What is your idea of a perfect day?

This question makes me think of my last day. Alive I mean — In a good way. A perfect day would be An acknowledgment and a silent bow between all those who were the closest in the time I was here. “Human skin has been equally hard and joyful to live in, all is forgiven, I carry the best of our time together.”

Any favorite secret spots we should know about?

Secret spots. So many categories. I have my hunting spots, dining, and late night hauntings. But art, I always take people I love, from out of town, to the top of Glendale Forest Lawn memorial. The museum there has great exhibits. And the grounds themselves are beautiful. Incredible works in stone. Monuments and sculpture, Gardens and stained glass. There is a church whose outer walls are littered with Rudyard Kipling poetry. Go in the rain.

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i’m still very into the blues. i have a shipment of vintage treasures arriving from france for super marché arriving any day now, and our purchases we’re very much inspired by this rich color palette. i especially love deep navy blue combined with black, but blue pairs well with so many different colors — gold, brass, and orange and red, of course. these rooms run the gamut of blue hues — from turquoise which is bold and playful to deep navy which is more restrained but oh so liveable. whether it’s small doses or it’s completely saturating the space, today, i’m just so blue for you.

• photography credits in order of appearance: Jocelyn Low photography for uncommon projects; dos ombré; colombe design; irene lichtenstein; @alicepamment; Amedeo Modigliani, Blue Caryatid II; farrow and ball; made by sohn; viciously cyd; louis maclean photography; devol kitchens; @emilypayneart; blue tile floor – unknown; cathy hsiao; camille styles; my domaine; pietro russo; bloomingville; Nicolas Godin’s home by Marion Berrin; devol kitchens; mad about the house; creative maxx; ayca güney; revista axxis.

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whenever i think of pairing pink + black, those sweet little licorice allsorts come to mind — perhaps a flashback to my mum’s favorite british candies. but pink and black are pretty classic, too and look oh so great together. this week’s color palette is slightly on the feminine side but is a perfect pairing anyway you wanna style it. a large format print looks smashing and a splash of pink paint with some black accents looks super sharp — a little bit goes a long way. here’s some color pairings inspiring me this week.

• photography credits in order of appearance: annabelle kutucu interior design & styling; nördsjo pink door; making nice in the midwest; junk food clothing; pink stairs Photo art by Annaleena Leino Karlsson; @lucillelawrence; @crosbystudios; artist marie bortolotto; elle decor; @sarahirenemurphy; femkeido; @little_nicki_; cultivated arrogance; celeste noche photography; house and leisure; stijlvol styling; @designstuff; @crosbystudios; kiki & polly pink bather print; the socialite family; Dale Hardiman furniture via sight unseen; Annaleena Leino Interiors; artist henri laurens; the socialite family; bekka palmer.

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i’m so excited to share this studio tour with you! today we’re visiting the creative studio of lighting and furniture designer jason koharik of collected by. i met jason when he was working out of his garage which is just down the street from me, so we’re neighbors. i was inspired daily with what i would see jason creating in his garage, so i was a little sad when he opened his new studio in L.A.’s cypress park. but when i walked into the studio, i literally did a happy dance because it was so overwhelmingly beautiful. i didn’t know where to look first, because jason is so prolific — not only does he create stunning lighting fixtures, but he also designs unique furniture and accessories and repurposes some vintage classics into the most uniquely gorgeous pieces — that also double as sculptural works of art. he also actually paints, as well, so there’s so much creativity happening in his space, that you kind of don’t want to leave. interior designers, you need to know jason, and fans of design — you do, too. you’re going to be so inspired — be sure to follow him on instagram for more. here’s a peek into jason’s inspiring world.

How did you get started in your career as a lighting and furniture designer?

I have always been designing, for as long as I can remember. Growing up in a small town in Ohio, I was lucky to have good public school art programs and teachers. My work often was very conceptual and functional. And It was encouraged. After a brief moment in an Art school at Kent State University, I moved to Los Angeles and was immediately ushered into the world of commercial film, where I found an outlet for art. This world was an inspiration for me. I created sculptures: gold plated carts, rabbit fur sandbags, Arri 2c cameras made of ten-year collection of camera tape. C-stand lamps and stools, paintings woven from miles of stolen raw stock film with vignettes directly from my experiences there. Directors and producers soon took notice of my interest towards art and design and I began finding and designing pieces for their homes. A gallery here in Los Angeles discovered some of the lighting, furniture,  and paintings I was making for these homes and started selling them. What was a silent, obsessive, “hobby” — fast became a “career”.

What kinds of things do you design?

I design and hand make furniture, lighting, and decor as sculpture for the home. My intention is that these pieces occupy space as both art and furniture and I feel successful when you cannot tell the difference.

Are you doing what you always imagined you’d be doing?

Yes. From my youngest memory, I always wanted to be making and creating art. With my hands and my heart. From the inside out.

What part of your job would we find most surprising?

Maybe that I do most or nearly all of it myself. The designing and then making. The wiring, painting, powder coating, finishing — the driving around this town for materials, the pickups and drop-offs. The PR, The photography — Installs. I even used to do all the “books” —  financials, invoicing. But I have since been gifted the Incredible Toby — She keeps me in line these days.

How would you describe your design aesthetic?

I don’t feel I am attached to any specific genre aesthetically. It is Silhouette I am most drawn too in a specific piece. How it occupies space. It can be so impactful, creating romance or whimsy. Be nostalgic. Evoke a scent, or remind a song. Create Environment and mood. Tell a story. A poem. Cause catastrophe — A room can have all of this. And for my needs too.  I think I design with that in mind. I hope that what I make creates a feeling. Sometimes a smile. Often that it is polarizing. Creates tension. A disagreement. An asymmetrical balance. I wish it to live in any ‘aesthetic” — either as a secret. Or as the “elephant in the room”.

How does someone visit your showroom, is it open to the public?

The studio is open by appointment, But it is easy — nothing formal. I’m there generally every day by myself. Let me know when and then come on by. Email is best. I do have special visits from time to time “Tea with dangerous people” —  those are spontaneous or deeply planned.

What’s the easiest way for you to find inspiration?

I am constantly inspired. I am a true believer that inspiration comes from the inside out. I think when I am balanced, at my best ‘self’. When I am listening and acting and creating from a guttural response. I am inundated with thoughts and ideas — a busy mind. And I am grateful for it — It is me and Everything around me.

If you had to select the perfect soundtrack for being your most creative, do you have a musician, album or genre you’d recommend?

It surprises people that I like to work in silence, But music is beyond important to me. Again mood and tone of an environment. I listen to so much different music. I create endless “playlists” I grew up in the time of “mixed tapes” they were novels in my young life. If I had to commit to just one that can combine the beauty and joy and melancholy and saddens that is the catalyst for at least a moment of creativity. I would say Yann Tiersen’s Amelie soundtrack.

What are some of your favorite instagram feeds?

@annstreetstudio, @arootahkah, @youthofthebeast, @sfgirlbybay, and @1milliondiamonds.

Who’s your favorite artist or the last great exhibit you saw?

I have so many. Painters, mostly sculptors. Henri Matisse, Caravaggio, John Singer Sargent. A true favorite is Anders Zorn — He made so many beautiful portraits using four pigments. Designers That have been in my heart from the beginning, Jean Prouve, Jacque Adnet, and most certainly Jean Royere and Tony Duquette. Most recently I saw the Constantin Brancusi Exhibit at MOMA in New York — among my favorite sculptors.

What is the best advice you’ve ever received?

I love the Arthur Ashe, quote: “ Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.”. I find myself silently repeating that.

Do you have any tips for small business owners?

I’ll take some?  My advice is to see more sunrises.

What does success mean to you?

I have always had such trouble with that word success but I understand its importance as a question. Success has come in growth. I had to grow to see it. There have been moments of pride in accomplishment, from putting together entire showcases of all my work, selling that work, success in money from time to time, sales that change the game giving me more opportunity to create bigger and better more realized pieces. Success in accolade, moments when peers show interest and support. But the most successful experiences come when I see an impact I make on my son directly related to who I am. And what I am trying to be as a teacher for him. He is polite, empathetic and kind and when I see him conscientiously practicing this with others, this is success to me.

Who would you like to sit down to drinks or ‘dangerous tea’ with?

I Smile. When I was a young man maybe 13 or 14 my art teacher had a poster: “100 ways to be an artist” and I think #2 was invite someone dangerous to tea. “Enough said” I read no further. Anyone, Everyone. There is so much I can learn from someone. There are contemporary artists around me, in Los Angeles, artists like Stephen Kenn and Mary Little. Our conversations are fuel. And are often geared towards encouraging each other, and towards some sort of ‘good’ we can do for a community with the skills we may have to offer. “Dangerous Tea” is a conversation and it is “play” with peers who I admire. Who encourage and challenge. I don’t like to use the word inspire — It is to EVOKE. Light fires. Build temples. Write poems. I hope in this time we get to be here, creating, and following the passions of our hearts, we can cross paths, listen, drink tea, force hard truths, and nearly regretful dares. And find the unlikeliest of strangers who become fast friends or forever soulmates.

What is your idea of a perfect day?

This question makes me think of my last day. Alive I mean — In a good way. A perfect day would be An acknowledgment and a silent bow between all those who were the closest in the time I was here. “Human skin has been equally hard and joyful to live in, all is forgiven, I carry the best of our time together.”

Any favorite secret spots we should know about?

Secret spots. So many categories. I have my hunting spots, dining, and late night hauntings. But art, I always take people I love, from out of town, to the top of Glendale Forest Lawn memorial. The museum there has great exhibits. And the grounds themselves are beautiful. Incredible works in stone. Monuments and sculpture, Gardens and stained glass. There is a church whose outer walls are littered with Rudyard Kipling poetry. Go in the rain.

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one thing these rooms have in common besides their beautiful shades of blue is drama! indigo blue will do that for you — whether it’s painting an entire room a daring, deep shade of navy, or simply adding an accent wall or backsplash tile, a bedspread, or some interesting art or accessories. blue evokes powerful moods — whether it be soothing or bold, it’s just a classic color that can create something magical without much effort. have a look and see what i mean — i just love all the lovely shades of indigo!

• photography credits in order of appearance: la minervetta maison; @zoeannamadeleine; selvedge; macro macremé; blue & white pattern wallpaper; painting by misty mawn; blue velvet armchair from super marché; gingerbread house; masumi; pearson lyle photography; kat klerks; hemnet; skinny laminx; apartment therapy; show home; art.com ; unconditional magazine; buff strickland photography for camille styles; t. duffy & associates; elle decor; modern sanctuary; period living; vintage room screen from super marché; blue area rug unknown; waldo balart; skinny laminx; la minervetta maison; nightshade; @beyondordinaryguides via @coasttocosta; yellow trace; Williams Burton Leopardi Studio hallway; elle decor sweden; domino; in bed store.

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As December comes to a close, one of my favorite things to look forward to is Pantone’s the of Color of the Year and it’s finally upon us — 2019’s shade is Living Coral! Pantone describes the hue as an “animating and life-affirming shade of orange with a golden undertone” which sounds like just the type of color I could get used to seeing.

More than simply a reflection of color trends, the selection of a shade to mark each year is a “concerted cultural moment” and I’m excited to see this moment chronicled in fashion, interiors, and all myriads of design. Rooted in the seriousness of the fate of our coral reefs and with a nod to playfulness, living coral is an impossibly fluorescent yet subdued hue. From vibrantly pigmented beauty products to the artfully aged walls of the Moroccan Medina, coral seems, all of a sudden, to be omnipresent and seriously smile-inducing.

Pantone’s color institute executive, Leatrice Eiseman, told Refinery29 of the hue’s timely appointment: “it expresses warmth, that kind of harmony, human interaction and social connection that we’re looking for. I think that’s something so inherent in the human mind. It pulls you in, gathers you in, in such a warm and inviting way that it opens up an avenue to positive thoughts, not negative. That, we felt, was a really vital part of expressing the Color of the Year with Living Coral.”

Are you loving the color as much as I am?

xx, chelsea

mango water-repellent quilted coat; bonnie and neil holiday tile pillow; Herbivore Botanicals Coco Rose Lip Tint; glossier cloud paint in dawn; rms beauty lip-2-cheek in smile; medusa’s heirlooms yoga claw; redbubble spiral notebook; Allsteelsofa; below: Babette by Torremato from LightCo.

• photography credits in order of appearance: elle decor uk; domino; madewell wide-leg utility jumpsuit; pantone; jasmine dowling; stella maria baer; l’echappee belle; madewell butterfly top; Krewson Design via Houzz; mei yee; Britt Lucas via Ellie Louise Coker; Abbie Paulhus; stella maria baer; madewell wide-leg utility jumpsuit; ezz wilson; vintage coral print via victorian wall art; architectural digest; Mari Giudicelli Rose Leblon Mules; Villa Kérylos in Beaulieu-sur-Mer, France; Pintai Suchachaisri via conde nast traveler; urban outfitters Phaedra Medallion Tufted Rug; Black Crane Coral Classy Dress.

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I’m a sucker for a good pink and rust combo and this bedroom designed by Sarah Sherman Samuel really lifts my spirits. Photographer Caroline Ingraham Lee, her husband Jayden and brother Robert purchased the A-frame house from Sarah, who also redecorated the home for the color-loving family after moving out. I love how the whimsical, Art Deco bed keeps the room from being definitively “desert bohemian”. And Sarah manages to design several spaces in the home with different color palettes while keeping the candy-hued home cohesive and just the right amount of 1960s Palm Springs, without becoming too kitschy. They haven’t revealed the full house tour yet, but there are snippets of some of the other updated rooms up on Caroline’s Instagram. Stay tuned for the full reveal on their social media! you can source all the products on sarah’s post, and Caroline’s also selling prints of the framed photos featured in her bedroom in her Team Woodnote print shop.

cheers, ezz.

• Photography by Caroline Ingraham Lee.

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we see a lot of white and bright kitchens out there, like yesterday’s beautiful kitchen from our food stories. but what about the dark side? i love a dark and dramatic kitchen. i’ve only gone partway there, with my black smeg fridge and appliances, but i’ve yet to pull the trigger on a totally black space. but look how sophisticated these kitchens look? all could take is a can of paint (my go-to black paint is benjamin moore’s onyx black) or perhaps you just tile your backsplash with some very black beauties like these from clé tiles. or, you can just chicken out and find yourself some black crockery, kitchen counter appliances, or the ultimate black smeg!

• photography credits in order of appearance: no glitter no glory; kim verbist interiors; food52; @_foodstories_; kara rosenlund photography; domino; sfgirlbybay; my scandinavian home; my scandinavian home; my ideal home; grace bonney; our food stories; nicholas valla; my domaine; interior stylist laura seppanen; a.s. helsingo ; decor object</a; catherine kwong; lonny; remodelista; no glitter no glory; architectural digest; nordic design.

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