a beach-house-inspired color palette

I will be the first to support a girl who loves blue and a boy who loves pink, but when I see this color palette (inspired by Paul Fuentes’ lovely work) it immediately reminds me of a boy’s nursery. Is that terrible?

My daughter Em has 2 sippy cups she uses for milk: one pink, one blue. In order to give her some sense of “control” over her life, we always ask her which one she wants to use. She ALWAYS picks blue, and that makes me sooo happy because I love that she favors blue over pink.

But why am I trying to fight color/gender stereotypes in my personal life when, professionally, I’m telling everyone that colors set very specific tones that we have to be careful about? In one scenario I’m saying be free, break all the rules! and in another I’m saying—insert nerd emoji here—rules are made to be followed.

Here’s my answer to that :: when it comes to your brand, it’s all about communicating a message as CLEARLY and as QUICKLY as possible. Billboards are not philosophical debates; they are messages, images, and ideas that need to be absorbed within seconds. The truth is, colors carry meaning whether we want them to or not. I may be proud my daughter doesn’t love pink [yet], but I guarantee that if you print your birth announcements on blue paper, everyone will assume you had a boy. ;) Choosing a color palette for your business is not about your personal preferences (or attempting to go against the grain); it’s about using color strategically (i.e., using those “annoying” rules to your advantage).

Looking for more color inspo?

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BURNT ORANGE #DD7649 / TANGELO #F4A24C / SAND #EBDECB

FADED AQUA #C1DBD0 / BEACHY BLUE-GRAY #95ACA4

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WHAT ARE THESE COLOR CODES? The “hex codes” above are provided as a courtesy for those customizing website colors or looking for general color inspiration. They are not based on paint or Pantone chips. Remember that ink on paper will never look the same as light on a screen. If you like a combination you see, we recommend saving the image and heading to your local hardware store to find paint chips that match. Digital colors will change depending on your phone/tablet/computer screen, so be sure to color match with real swatches. Also, I make up all the color names.

Happy Friday!

a pastel-paint-inspired color palette

I will always be a fan of blush pink paired with indigo blue, but Shift Creative’s addition of tangerine gives it a warmer, more earthy vibe that I am really digging. It’s the perfect combination of cool and warm in a gender neutral palette! Quite possibly one of my new favorites.

Looking for more color inspo?

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INDIGO #366775 / GRAY-BLUE #A2B4C0

BRIGHT BLUSH #F7D0CB / WARM PEACH #F4AC94 / TANGERINE PEEL #D66D50

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WHAT ARE THESE COLOR CODES? The “hex codes” above are provided as a courtesy for those customizing website colors or looking for general color inspiration. They are not based on paint or Pantone chips. Remember that ink on paper will never look the same as light on a screen. If you like a combination you see, we recommend saving the image and heading to your local hardware store to find paint chips that match. Digital colors will change depending on your phone/tablet/computer screen, so be sure to color match with real swatches. Also, I make up all the color names.

Happy Friday!

a greyhound-cocktail-inspired color palette

If you read last week’s post, you’ll be expecting this slightly more saturated palette of grapefruit, peach, gray, and green. For me, both the colors and the cocktail say, “I’m refreshing but not too sweet.” It’s the perfect mix of cheerful, bright, and gender-neutral.

Get the recipe for this Italian Greyhound with Rosemary Sugar here and stay tuned for next week’s cocktail-inspired color palette!

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PEACHY ORANGE #ED8967 / GRAPEFRUIT #F0AD92

GREYHOUND #D8D1CB / SAGE #B6BCB0 / LEAF #68745C

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WHAT ARE THESE COLOR CODES? The “hex codes” above are provided as a courtesy for those customizing website colors or looking for general color inspiration. They are not based on paint or Pantone chips. Remember that ink on paper will never look the same as light on a screen. If you like a combination you see, we recommend saving the image and heading to your local hardware store to find paint chips that match. Digital colors will change depending on your phone/tablet/computer screen, so be sure to color match with real swatches. Also, I make up all the color names.

Happy Friday!

a floral-flat-lay-inspired color palette

Today’s color inspiration is extra exciting because A) I LOVE this rich yet unexpected combination of burnt sienna, gold, peach, and taupe, and B) the image is part of a DIY post that shows you how to make your own styling board. I followed this exact tutorial to make a styling board of my own, and I use it all the time! You can see it used here, here, and here. If you’d like additional tips, read to the end of this post!

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BURNT SIENNA #6A1605 / CHESTNUT #9A4B0E / YELLOW GOLD #CA9B3B

PEACH #F5D3C1 / TAUPE #E2D8CF

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WHAT ARE THESE COLOR CODES? The “hex codes” above are provided as a courtesy for those customizing website colors or looking for general color inspiration. They are not based on paint or Pantone chips. Remember that ink on paper will never look the same as light on a screen. If you like a combination you see, we recommend saving the image and heading to your local hardware store to find paint chips that match. Digital colors will change depending on your phone/tablet/computer screen, so be sure to color match with real swatches. Also, I make up all the color names.

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A Few Spackled Styling Board Tips:

1. I used more spackle (aka, premixed drywall compound) than I anticipated, so I had to make a second trip to the store. I recommend buying at least a size up from the mini container…just in case.

2. I got a little carried away spackling, so my layer was pretty thick. As it dried (and subsequently shrank) on my wood board, it actually made the wood bend. This isn’t a huge deal, but my board is no longer perfectly level. If you want to prevent this from happening, use your spackle sparingly.

3. My over-spackled board required a LOT of time to dry. I left it overnight and it was still a little tacky. It seriously took about 48 hours to dry completely!

4. The “white” spackle I used wasn’t a very bright white once it dried. So, I added some white acrylic paint and that helped brighten it up a bit.

CLICK HERE TO MAKE YOUR OWN STYLING BOARD!

a pencil-set-inspired color palette

If my 2019 New Years Resolution wasn’t “spend less,” this luxury pencil set would be packaged up and on its way to me. (Though, now that I think about it, I’d probably never use these glorious writing instruments. I’d treat them how I treated my prize stickers when I was little :: save them in a box somewhere, lose them in a move, then cry that I never got to use them.)

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MARIGOLD #DB9B3F / ERASER PINK #F5BAAD / EUROPEAN BLUE #BBC2C8

BLUE-GRAY #6E8692 / DARK BLUE-GRAY #3D515C

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WHAT ARE THESE COLOR CODES? The “hex codes” above are provided as a courtesy for those customizing website colors or looking for general color inspiration. They are not based on paint or Pantone chips. Remember that ink on paper will never look the same as light on a screen. If you like a combination you see, we recommend saving the image and heading to your local hardware store to find paint chips that match. Digital colors will change depending on your phone/tablet/computer screen, so be sure to color match with real swatches. Also, I make up all the color names.

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SHOP THIS PENCIL SET FOR YOURSELF

a paper-still-life-inspired color palette

Welcome to the seventh week of my color palette series featuring ARTISTS + MAKERS!

As a bonafide Art History nerd, I love a good still life. But throw in gorgeous handmade paper flowers and I’m ALL IN. Margie Keates of The Lovely Ave is the talented soul behind this hand-cut, -folded, -painted, -pinched, -crinkled, -twisted and expertly-arranged masterpiece called “SAMIRA.”

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SLATE BLUE #46494E / BLUE-GRAY #889DA2 / MAUVE-PINK #DDB5A9

MUTED PEACH #E8A37C / ORANGE POPPY #FEA94F

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WHAT ARE THESE COLOR CODES? The “hex codes” above are provided as a courtesy for those customizing website colors or looking for general color inspiration. They are not based on paint or Pantone chips. Remember that ink on paper will never look the same as light on a screen. If you like a combination you see, we recommend saving the image and heading to your local hardware store to find paint chips that match. Digital colors will change depending on your phone/tablet/computer screen, so be sure to color match with real swatches. Also, I make up all the color names.

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First, I have a confession. I almost bought this. I have been stalking Margie’s IG feed for almost a year now, after she shared a sneak peek of her first still life in December 2017. In fact, I’m pretty sure there’s a comment on that post in which @akulakreative asks if/when this would be for sale…

Well, friends, my stalking paid off because The Lovely Ave Still Life Collection is now FOR SALE! Sadly, my absolute favorite had sold before the collection went live; however, I am still obsessed with “SAMIRA” above. Blue and orange isn’t even my favorite color combination, but the way Margie used that pale blue paper backdrop with delicate blooms in yellow, orange, peach, pink, and white is jaw-dropping. Like I want to redecorate/remodel my dining room or breakfast nook just to hang it on the wall. (You think I’m exaggerating but I seriously sat here at my desk thinking HARD about how I could make it work in one of those rooms.)

Long story short, I decided to shoot Margie an email before checking out with “SAMIRA” in my cart. I’m soooo glad I did because guess what. She’s going to make me my favorite still life WITH a few custom changes!! I have been searching for THE perfect piece of wall art for our home, and I am sooo glad I held out for this. (If you want to see the original it will be modeled after in all its three-dimensional glory, click here.)

STILL LIFE BY THE LOVELY AVE + PHOTO BY ASHLEE BROOKE PHOTOGRAPHY

Margie, not only have you found a way to make exquisite paper flowers, but you’ve also done something NEW with them. As someone who genuinely understands how difficult it is to come up with something 100% original, my hat’s off to you. I am SO honored to be a future owner of one of your still lifes. (Eeeee, I’m still squealing with excitement over here!)

Happy Friday!

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FOLLOW THE LOVELY AVE ON INSTAGRAM

SHOP THELOVELYAVE.COM

a neon-leaf-inspired color palette

Whoa. I think I just went blind.

BTW / I wouldn't recommend this color palette for a business...unless it was an ice cream truck. Fall is pretty spectacular, though, and these cooler temps call for *celebration*!

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PURPLEBERRY #B529A3 / NEON PINK #FF126B / PAPAYA #FA4F22

ORANGESICLE #FA8C22 / SCHOOLBUS #FFBC00 / LEMON #FFD817

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WHAT ARE THESE COLOR CODES? The “hex codes” above are provided as a courtesy for those customizing website colors or looking for general color inspiration. They are not based on paint or Pantone chips. Remember that ink on paper will never look the same as light on a screen. If you like a combination you see, we recommend saving the image and heading to your local hardware store to find paint chips that match. Digital colors will change depending on your phone/tablet/computer screen, so be sure to color match with real swatches. Also, I make up all the color names.

Happy Fall, y'all.

a robin-inspired color palette

When trying to figure out what type bird this was, I discovered that the size of a robin's "red" breast and frame of gray feathers help communicate the bird's age and sex. Apparently, if a young male bird detects a large area of coloring on another male's chest, he'll know not to pick a fight.

Color is a powerful thing, my friends.

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LIGHT MINT #DCE6DD / SEAGLASS #B8CDC6 / SEAFOAM #97B5A9

DRIED LAVENDER #65637B / WET STONE #4B4C5E / TANGERINE #F58D06

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WHAT ARE THESE COLOR CODES? The “hex codes” above are provided as a courtesy for those customizing website colors or looking for general color inspiration. They are not based on paint or Pantone chips. Remember that ink on paper will never look the same as light on a screen. If you like a combination you see, we recommend saving the image and heading to your local hardware store to find paint chips that match. Digital colors will change depending on your phone/tablet/computer screen, so be sure to color match with real swatches. Also, I make up all the color names.

Happy Friday!

an orange-tree-inspired color palette

Have you noticed that orange, leafy green, and sky blue are popping up more and more these days? Maybe it's because summer is on the horizon...

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PEACOCK BLUE #0098B0 / SKY BLUE #C1DEEE / PEACH #FFCA96

TANGERINE #F9A241 / DEEP ORANGE #DD6D00 / LEAF GREEN #09AA3A

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When I saw this photo, I was immediately reminded of a recent painting by one of my favorite contemporary artists: Janet Hill.

I've been in the market for an original for months now. (By the way, dog lovers, if you're unaware of her Miss Moon series, you're in for a treat.) Despite stalking her Facebook page like there's no tomorrow, her work always gets snatched up before I have a chance to ask myself, "Would Andrew mind if I treated myself to a painting?"

ONE DAY, Janet Hill, one day.

WHAT ARE THESE COLOR CODES? The “hex codes” above are provided as a courtesy for those customizing website colors or looking for general color inspiration. They are not based on paint or Pantone chips. Remember that ink on paper will never look the same as light on a screen. If you like a combination you see, we recommend saving the image and heading to your local hardware store to find paint chips that match. Digital colors will change depending on your phone/tablet/computer screen, so be sure to color match with real swatches. Also, I make up all the color names.

Happy Memorial Day Weekend!