Colorful Appliances Make a Comeback

About a year and a half ago I wrote a post called "A Rainbow of Kitchens." It featured a whole rainbow of kitchens with cabinets in a myriad of colors. They were examples of brave soles who chose to think outside the refrigerator box so to speak of kitchen cabinet colors. But even in researching that post I didn't come across colorful appliances.

Well, things have changed in 1 1/2 years.

Don't worry - stainless steel appliances aren't going anywhere. It's still the #1 desirable appliance color when buying a home. But if stainless steel isn't your thing, and you want other options for your kitchen, guess what? Colorful appliances are making a comeback in a BIG way. And they are so COOL!

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/The Big Chill/

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/My Desired Home/

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/NYC Style & a Little Cannoli/

/This Old House - Viking Color/

/Arizona Wholesale/

Are you brave enough to create a kitchen with colorful appliances? I have a good friend that was a complete trend setter and when she redid her kitchen she used an Oxblood Red Stove and everything else was stainless. Her stove was the highlight of the room. It looked amazing.

What do you think? Would you consider adding more color into your kitchen? If I didn't have a cooktop (and I actually cooked more often), I would totally get a new stove in blue!

xo, CM

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Copyright 2014, Cristina Mullins Interiors

Frame It Out

I love looking at pictures of apartments in Paris. I don't know why, but they always have a ton of tall white walls and they mix that with antiques and modern pieces. The style is beautiful and bohemian and classic and very, very, well ... French. The intricate moldings on the walls and ceilings are really what make the rooms so special and old-world. They are almost always painted white. And it's beautiful and classic and clean.

Now, don't get me wrong, I love the look of white trim - set against any paint color it immediately makes the room seem cleaner and brighter and more finished. But what would happen if instead of white trim you picked another color? I know, I know. Scandalous stuff. Hold yourself together 'cause things are going to get a bit crazy as I show you what rooms look like when you add color to the trim.

Ready? ...

First and foremost I'm going to start with black. I mean it is the antithesis of white. It's also oh-so-bold and graphic. But does it not look elegant and amazing?!

This grey trim on the watery blue walls is subtle and divine.

Slate blue trim on creamy white walls makes this beautiful bride's picture evening more sophisticated.

Love that the case moldings, baseboards and built-ins are all in the same elegant grey.

 Additional images available on my Houzz Ideabook - see below... So pretty.

If you would like to view these and other examples of painted crown moldings and trims, please visit my Moldings Ideabook on Houzz.

Moldings, Baseboards & Trim

What look is your favorite? Or do you still prefer white on white? Let me know.

xo, CM

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Thank you for visiting My Head Space!

Copyright 2014, Cristina Mullins Interiors

Climbing Up the Walls

My current decorating obsession revolves around wallpaper - or wall coverings if you are fancy or Google.

(If you Google wallpaper you get wallpaper for your computer screens. I guess Google is "fancy" too. Maybe they should hang out with Iggy Azalea. Now I can't get that "Fancy" song out of my head.. I digress...)

So wallpaper. It's a big trend making its way back into home design and I love it and I want it on all of my walls in every pattern and color. There are just so many to choose from!

Wall coverings really impact the room in a BIG way, probably more so than any other decorating choice since you're talking about putting a lot of color and pattern all over the room - and spending a lot more than you would on paint. So choosing wallpaper can be tricky - and why you most certainly need someone with a trained eye, like myself, to help you pick it out. :)

OK, so how do I look for wallpaper for my clients? 
1. What is the function of the room?
2. How do you want the room to feel?
3. What color pallet do you want for the room?
4. What other elements exist in the room?
5. What is the budget for that room? 

Then I go searching through hundreds of books - and online under "wall coverings" for the color first. Next, I think about the style and size of the room and the wall space available and I weed out patterns that won't work. Once I do that, I'm typically left with a handful of patterns and I will usually give my clients a choice of my top 2-3.

To give you some examples of wallpaper, here are some rooms I absolutely love - and some I don't...



I absolutely love this! For a bedroom, this pattern is - well - dreamy. It's beautiful, not overwhelming. As if you are waking up in a small forest. So out of an elegant Disney fairytale...

Traditional Bedroom by London Architects & Building Designers Hill Mitchell Berry Architects

I actually love this wallpaper and it's a bold choice for a small bathroom. I don't like it in this room - with that floor. I think that it competes with the river rock floor tile. Had the flooring been simpler it would've worked. But busy tile and busy walls - too much!

Eclectic Bathroom by Washington Interior Designers & Decorators Margaret Carter Interiors

Also love! Because the space is so bright and open, and there is so much of the white, the very bold pattern works. And on those incredible barreled ceilings too. A-mazing!

Traditional Bathroom by Philadelphia Architects & Building Designers Eberlein Design Consultants

If you have a home with a very long hallway or entryway, the most fabulous thing you can do is cover the walls. Especially if the wallpaper peeks into the other rooms in the home - and those rooms have coordinating color pallets. Gorg!

Contemporary Living Room

Another example of entry/hallway.

Traditional Entry by Dublin Architects & Building Designers Optimise Design

I'm not always a fan of focal walls, but I love it in this case. If you have an odd wall that sticks out, or you don't have an actual focal point in a room, you can make one by using wallpaper. So fun!

Midcentury Living Room by Other Metro Photographers Fotograf Lisbet Spörndly

How adorable is this laundry room? It's small, but oh so cute!

Eclectic Laundry Room by Minneapolis Interior Designers & Decorators Lucy Interior Design

I really want to like this room, I really do. The owners of this room were super brave and really went for it. To me it's a bit overwhelming. The pattern is so strong and there are hardly any breaks for your eye to rest. It's kinda hypnotic - and not in a good way. Maybe if the back wall was also a painted bookcase? 

Eclectic Family Room by New York Architects & Building Designers Incorporated

What can I say? Like, like, like.

Transitional Family Room by Minneapolis Interior Designers & Decorators Martha O'Hara Interiors

This is an ideal way to add texture and color - and they carried it into the kitchen area. So beachy!

Traditional Living Room by Larchmont Photographers FISHER HART

Refined elegance in a kitchen? Absolutely. No veggies or chickens in site in this kitchen.

Transitional Kitchen by Brooklyn Photographers Jacob Snavely Photography

These people have a good sense of humor about their dining room. They took a space that is normally so formal and serious and had some fun. Bravo!

Eclectic Dining Room by Los Angeles Media & Bloggers Lisa Borgnes Giramonti

I love the mix of non-traditional pieces with the very traditional wall covering. (I used the "wall covering" here because I happen to know this is exquisitely expensive so wallpaper just doesn't seem to fit it.) It makes the room unexpected and interesting - in a good way.

Contemporary Dining Room by New York Architects & Building Designers Dufner Heighes Inc

I could go on and on, but you have an idea of what I mean about wallpaper. It's transformative of a room in a way that no other single element of decorating really is. Only paint color comes close to that amount of impact - and even then not nearly to the degree as wallpaper.

Like? Don't like? Are you brave enough to cover your walls? Tell me what you're thinking.

xo, CM

See something you like? Let me know. And follow me on Facebook, Pinterest or Twitter.

Thank you for visiting My Head Space!

Copyright 2014, Cristina Mullins Interiors

Something Wicked This Way Comes... Outside

Have you already decorated for Halloween? My girls won't let me yet - they say it's too early, though I'm itching to put out our decorations - and to do my 2nd annual pumpkin painting.

So in the spirit of Halloween - and if you are still searching for some great Halloween decorating ideas - here are some of my favorites.


If I had a large holiday decorating budget, time, ability and/or a handy husband with the time to help me, and the place to store it after the holiday is over, I would SO do this!

Traditional Exterior by Atlanta Media & Bloggers Between Naps on the Porch

Simple. Love it.

Eclectic Patio by Cherry Hill Interior Designers & Decorators EASYdesigns

Piles of pumpkins!

Traditional Entry by Dallas Landscape Contractors Southern Botanical, Inc.

Great use of your existing flower beds - and some bails of hay.

Traditional Landscape by Boston Photographers Mary Prince

These are so fun - and a couple of hours of work max!

Spaces by Madison Media & Bloggers Erin Lang Norris

Cheese-cloth in place of that nasty, cheap webbing. Spooking - and reusable!

Spaces by Union City Interior Designers & Decorators Full Circle Interior Solutions

Adorable!

Traditional Porch by Dallas Media & Bloggers Sarah Greenman

Creepy crawly...

Contemporary Exterior by Dallas Media & Bloggers Sarah Greenman

Love the hanging hats!

Traditional Exterior

Boo!

Traditional Exterior by Denton Interior Designers & Decorators In Sight Designs Unlimted

Layers of fun, decorative lights.

Traditional Spaces by Dallas Media & Bloggers Sarah Greenman

How cute are those pumpkin ghosts?

Traditional Kids by Dallas Media & Bloggers Sarah Greenman

Have you put up your Halloween decorations yet? Please share. I would love to see them. 

xo, CM

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Thank you for visiting My Head Space!

Copyright 2014, Cristina Mullins Interiors

Underfoot

Carpet, hardwood, tile. You would think this would be a rather short post, but step into a flooring showroom and you are reminded that there are seemingly endless possibilities when it comes to the flooring in your home.

There are some awesome options out there that you may, or may not, know about. Here's what I'm liking of late...

Who said wood floors have to be expensive? Particle board with a high gloss finish.

Contemporary Home Office by Melbourne Architects & Building Designers Statkus Architecture Pty Ltd

Plywood floors with a satin stain.

Contemporary Kitchen by Altona Design-Build Firms Challenger Living

Herringbone pattern for the wood floors. Makes a standard wood floor that much more fabulous!

Traditional Living Room

Elegant and concrete? Normally not two things you would think of together. But this sealed and polished concrete looks amazing in the elegant, modern home. You can mix in any color you like for the look you want too.

Modern Entry by Los Angeles Architects & Building Designers make architecture

Wood and marble tile. So Old English Manor.

Traditional Powder Room by Fort Worth General Contractors Glendarroch Homes

Painted wood, for less than fabulous wood floors is a great option. And when they start to wear a bit, they look even better.

Traditional Sunroom by Winnetka Interior Designers & Decorators Jeannie Balsam LLC

How incredible does this brick paver flooring look? Fantastic for high-traffic areas.

Mediterranean Entry by Washington Architects & Building Designers Barnes Vanze Architects, Inc

Wall-to-wall carpet tiles are so fun. You are limited only by your imagination.

Contemporary Kids by Brooklyn Photographers Alexander Johnson Photography

Modern Dining Room by Rockwall Design-Build Firms Modern Craft Construction, LLC

Sisal is a amazing carpet option if you want some texture under your toes, but want easy clean-up too.

Traditional Staircase by New York General Contractors Benco Construction

Carpeting brings a softness and elegance that no other flooring can provide.

Contemporary Bedroom by Osterville Architects & Building Designers Nicholaeff Architecture + Design

The antelope pattern (not real antelope!) in this runner blends in perfectly with the hardwoods, and adds a layer of pattern in an otherwise boring hall/staircase.

Transitional Staircase by Houston Interior Designers & Decorators Sally Wheat Interiors

The big star in this room? The carpet. Wow.

Midcentury Bedroom by Santa Barbara Interior Designers & Decorators Maienza-Wilson Interior Design + Architecture

Carpet that mimics the pattern and color of hardwood? Kinda cool.

Traditional Basement by Stratford General Contractors Craftsman Construction

So, so lovely.

Traditional Bedroom by Larchmont Photographers FISHER HART

Glass is so unexpected to incredible effect.

Mediterranean Dining Room by Other Metro Architects & Building Designers Wortmann Architects

Contemporary Bathroom by Edina General Contractors John Kraemer & Sons

Oooh. Sumptuous leather.

Traditional Kitchen by Stillwater Interior Designers & Decorators Kelli Kaufer Designs

You know all those pennies you see lying around...This is one way of using them.

Spaces by Vancouver Photographers Tyler Wilman

The look of wood, the durability of tile.

Contemporary Bathroom by Alpharetta Kitchen & Bath Designers Keri Morel Designs

Laminate flooring has come a long way.

Traditional Basement by Northvale Design-Build Firms Creative Design Construction, Inc.

Yes it's parquet flooring and yes it's beautiful.

Eclectic Entry

I could probably keep going, but you only have so much time (and interest) to spend on flooring. I know, I know. Only a design geek like me could be so excited over flooring. But as you can see, there are boundless options beyond just your standard Home Depot hardwoods, tile and carpet. (Not that I have anything against Home Depot, 'cause I don't.)

xo, CM

See something you like? Let me know. And follow me on Facebook, Pinterest or Twitter.

Thank you for visiting My Head Space!

Copyright 2014, Cristina Mullins Interiors