Street Smart: Room Color Ideas from an Ice Cream Shop
Brooklyn mural inspires the use of playful watercolor hues around the house
I live in a loft in Brooklyn, a recent transplant to Greenpoint (love my neighborhood!). I work as a freelance writer, blogger, stylist, gilder, and crafter. I curate a daily personal lifestyle blog called the Haystack Needle (http://www.thehaystackneedleonline.com). I'm also one half of the shop Cabin 7 (http://www.shopcabin7.com) — a collection of gilded objects for the home. I started out in magazines, working in the home department of Real Simple magazine and later worked as the home editor of Redbook. I love to scout cool finds for the home — everything from an amazing loveseat to a green laundry detergent that really works. I'm a new mama to our baby girl, Juniper, who amazes me every day with her curiosity for life and big smiles.
I live in a loft in Brooklyn, a recent transplant to Greenpoint (love my... More »
The Van Leeuwen ice cream truck is a familiar yellow truck parked on corners around New York City. In my Brooklyn neighborhood, the artisan ice cream can also be found in its own shop outpost.
Two things make me happy in that ice cream shop: treating myself to a currants-and-cream cone and the colors of the shop's whimsical wall mural. The pops of coral reds, coral pinks, and turquoise in the balloons of the mural is a color palette that I'm loving right now.
Two things make me happy in that ice cream shop: treating myself to a currants-and-cream cone and the colors of the shop's whimsical wall mural. The pops of coral reds, coral pinks, and turquoise in the balloons of the mural is a color palette that I'm loving right now.
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The truck, balloons, and party garland in the mural at Van Leeuwen's Greenpoint ice cream shop are simply outlined in black, so your eye immediately goes to the splashes of coral and turquoise in the balloons. The colors are intense in the middle and fade out, like an ombre effect, and remind me of watercolors.
Color tips
If you're looking to decorate a room with this color palette, keep in mind that coral red is a bold color choice. Think about bringing in a splash of coral reds and pinks through accessories or one stand-out piece (like a headboard.)
Play around with various hues of this color palette. An intense coral red pops against a pale turquoise. A deep turquoise looks pretty against a pale coral pink.
Here are a few favorite finds inspired by these watercolory splashes of painted color.
Color tips
If you're looking to decorate a room with this color palette, keep in mind that coral red is a bold color choice. Think about bringing in a splash of coral reds and pinks through accessories or one stand-out piece (like a headboard.)
Play around with various hues of this color palette. An intense coral red pops against a pale turquoise. A deep turquoise looks pretty against a pale coral pink.
Here are a few favorite finds inspired by these watercolory splashes of painted color.
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These mini ombre pots would awaken any windowsill with a sweet splash of color.
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I'm loving the coral watercolor stripes of these birthday cards — such a fun way to wish your friends a happy year.
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Old-fashioned milk glass has a watercolor feel, since the glass has a special translucent quality. These green milk glass cake stands are vintage gems. Couldn't you picture them in an ice cream parlor, too?
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Pillows dip-dyed in aquamarine color — I'd love to try this as a DIY project. These pillow covers make a lovely readymade option.
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Imagine the work that goes into the papercut designs of these topographical map cards. The gradient effect of the coral colors against the crisp white cardstock is modern, whimsical, and just plain rad.
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Painting a radiator in an ombre pattern like this one from WaryMeyers brings in a bright dose of color.
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This fabric flower garland features all the colors in my current favorite palette: turquoise, coral reds and pinks. Bring a little party into your house with this whimsical strand of fabric flowers.
by betsy burnham
»
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This bedroom personifies the color combo I'm loving right now: bright coral with a light turquoise blue.
More: Great Ways With Orange and Blue
How to Choose the Right Coral
How to Choose the Right Blue
More: Great Ways With Orange and Blue
How to Choose the Right Coral
How to Choose the Right Blue
Ideabook published on Oct. 21, 2011.
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