glass half full

I think this Monday calls for something spirited, and this room has spirit to spare. This bright area is attractively modern. The elements are simple, but perfect in their way. Vivid, unembellished bursts of color stand out from the organized possessions of everyday life. Here, it looks easy to be optimistic.

Image Source: L'appartement. Uploaded by maxime clair on Flickr.

his and hers

This angular bedroom is unexpectedly feminine and romantic. I'm sure the flowers have something to do with it, but so too do the soft, diffused lighting, chromatically layered bed linens, and the plush carpeting and headboard. The clever combination of masculine and feminine makes this subtle room stand out.

Image Source: photo by Alexandra Rowley

serene and warm

This calming, simple interior makes wonderful use of a very basic palette. The kicker, clearly, is the lighting-- the warm candlelight and the classic lamp give the lavender-greys a richness that feels like coming home. While such an arrangement is unpractical (especially for the less graceful of us), it would make quite an impression for an occasion you wanted to be striking or intimate.

Image Source: Martha Stewart Living Editorial. Interior by Anthony Cochran Design.

neoteric

Striking, isn't it? This hallway is actually located in a hotel, but can you imagine how dramatic such a room would be in a house?

Image Source: Photo of the Murano Oriental Resort. Posted by Brocade Design etc.

high contrast

I've never seen a room quite like this. Everything is absolutely black or white, with a few jewels of color that make the room shine. I love how the black outlines the main elements of the architecture; it's like an imaginative drawing rendered in ebony ink. I find the whole conceptual feel of this bedroom really inspiring-- it's easy to imagine spending time working on creative endeavors in such a setting.

Image Source: "Cabo Cool" in Western Interiors Magazine. Interior by Kara Mann. Photo by Matthew Millman.

squares and orbs

This interior is put together so skillfully. Most of the elements here I would not ever choose on my own, but here, they look fantastic. The sharp angles of the room structure, the couch, the canvas, and the cushioned stools are set off by the round shapes of the light fixture and the inner yellow of the map painting. Also, the complex texture of the wood grain on the coffee table and the black on the map provide focal points amongst the solid colors of the rest of the interior. I'm finally starting to enjoy this color combination that's becoming so popular: steely greys and lavenders with sunny yellow. All of this together makes for a marvelously modern atmosphere that took an impressive designer to envision.

Image Source: Annie Schlechter

a warm kitchen

There is such an interesting mixture of modern and natural in this kitchen. The juxtaposition of the burnished metal wall lining above the counters, the sharply angled appliances, and the polished metal barstools against the wooden countertops and floor sets off the best of both. Still, the dominant earthy palate keeps the whole room in sync, and the effect is really attractive.
The layout of this kitchen looks sharp. It's hard to cook in a kitchen that doubles as a hallway, and this one is enclosed. There's no obstructions in the middle, so the cook can easily move around.
A lot of times, kitchens have an overly bright palate that just ends up being jarring. At the same time, it is important that a good kitchen avoid being dank and depressing-- not the effect you want. I think this kitchen provides a happy medium, warmth.

Image Source: The Emily Todhunter Group